news | New England Auto Museum

22 Jan

AACA Museum opens Lotus: The Art of Lightness January 24

Hershey, PA- The Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum presents Lotus: The Art of Lightness from January 24-April 26 2015. This compelling exhibit offers a selection of Lotus road cars and racing cars throughout their 66 year history covering over 15 models from a 1956 Mark VI to the 2014 Evora and also includes representative examples of Lotus engineered vehicles.

Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus, and the man behind Lotus’ racing successes and iconic road cars said “I believe in getting light weight through elegance of design” translated through folklore as the mantra ‘Simplify and add lightness’. In today’s automotive world, making vehicles lighter is the newest method to extract efficiency and performance. But for Colin Chapman and Lotus it has always been the essence of their design and engineering philosophy.

The first Lotus came from the humblest of sources. In 1948 Colin Chapman, a young engineering student, became enthused with automotive competition and sought to enter the unique world of British Trials competition. The basis for this was an Austin Seven “Chummy”, an antiquated pre-war people’s car that Chapman transformed into his first competition special, dubbed Lotus. His forays into competition were successful and led to the formation of Lotus Engineering by 1954. It didn’t take long for Lotus Engineering to be in full production of bespoke Chapman designed chassis and Lotus subsequently invaded and triumphed in the world of British Club racing and international motorsports competition.

Since those early days, Lotus and the genius of Colin Chapman have been at the forefront of racing technology and automotive design. Colin Chapman’s philosophy of light weight, efficiency of design and innovation resulted in seven Formula 1 World Championships as well as wins at Le Mans and Indianapolis and championships in Saloon car racing, the World Rally Championship, sports car racing and the lower open wheel formulas. Colin Chapman’s philosophy of simplification, light weight and the least amount of parts effectively deployed that went into his racing car design were directly translated into Lotus’ road cars and produced a pantheon of iconoclastic machines such as the Seven, Elite, Elan, Cortina, Europa, Esprit, Elise, Exige, and Evora, truly making them “racing cars for the road”.

In addition to producing class-leading sports cars, Lotus has become a globally respected automotive engineering consultancy, working with many of the world’s most prestigious car manufacturers. Their expertise in ride and handling has made Lotus the standard to which all others are compared.

About the AACA Museum:
The Antique Automobile Club of America Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, displays beautifully restored automobiles, buses and motorcycles in unique life-like scenes representing the 1890s – 1980s in a cross-country journey from New York to San Francisco. This Museum, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, is known to be one of the largest automotive museums. Special exhibits change several times a year and focus on a variety of eras and types of vehicles. The Museum is in South Hanover Township, located just off Route 39, one mile west of Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania. Regular admission $12, seniors age 61 and older $11, juniors age 4-12 $9, children age 3 and under are FREE. The Museum is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Special Note: There will be an opening reception for this exhibit on Friday, January 23rd from 6-9 PM. Tickets are available for $15 per person and can be purchased online or by calling the ticket counter at 717-566-7100 ext. 100.

Images courtesy of Michael Furman

16 Jan

Palm Beach Cavallino Classic Celebrates 24th Anniversary January 21 – 25

The 24th annual Palm Beach Cavallino Classic will be held January 21-25, 2015. This extraordinary gathering is a multi-day convention of automotive owners and collectors and participants attending with their 400 exotic and classic automobiles from the U.S and Europe.

The Palm Beach Cavallino Classic is regarded as one of the top automotive events in the world and the premier Ferrari event in the US. The winners of three different Cavallino Classic Best of Show Awards have gone on to win the prestigious international Louis Vuitton Classic Concours Award for the ultimate Best in the World automobile.

There are two days of track at the Palm Beach International Raceway, including the fourth year of the Cavallino Classic Competition, a racing program for older Ferraris, Maseratis, and pre-war race cars.

There is a Tour of Palm Beach, which will take visitors through the most elegant and beautiful sites of the town and its surroundings. There are evening events also: a Jet Aviation party at Palm Beach International Airport and a Beach Club gala at a members-only Breakers Hotel venue.

palm2

The premier event of the weekend is the Concorso d’Eleganza on the front lawn of the famous Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach on Saturday, January 24. A total of 150 Ferraris will be judged by leading international experts. Awards are distributed at a gala evening party after the Concorso.

This exceptional week is crowned with an unrivaled Sunday program – Classic Sports Sunday held at the exclusive and private Mar-a-lago estate on January 25. Here 120 vintage and classic sporting automobiles of various marques will be displayed and judged on the lawn. This year’s featured marque will be Bugatti. Awards are presented at a charity luncheon for the American Council of the Blind held in the opulent ballroom.

Host Hotel: The Breakers, Palm Beach FL
Reservations: www.thebreakers.com/cavallino24

06 Jan

Lime Rock Offers Winter Autocross Days Beginning January 9th

Anyone can get ‘Slideways’ on the Winter Autocross Course at Lime Rock Park

Lakeville, CT – In what is a first for a Northeast U.S. motorsports venue, starting this month Lime Rock Park is offering Winter Autocross Days. Lime Rock now has large-capacity snowmaking and grooming equipment and has scheduled Friday and Saturday winter autocross events open to any licensed driver. No winter driving experience is necessary.

“First and foremost, driving hard and getting ‘slideways’ in the snow is simply a whole bunch of fun,” said Lime Rock lead winter driving coach Stephan Bastrzycki. “Who hasn’t booted the tail out or hand-braked their car in a snowy parking lot somewhere?

“You don’t have to have any previous experience. Doing this under the watch of our instructors on Lime Rock’s autocross course, not only is it fun, thrilling and very safe, but you cannot believe what you learn with regard to what we call ‘car control skills’ which will make you a much better, safer driver, whether on snow, ice, in the rain or in the dry,” Bastrzycki continued.

“Any vehicle – all-wheel-, rear-wheel- or front-wheel drive – can be driven quickly in the snow. We’ll teach those uninitiated in the fun of snow driving some specialized techniques appropriate to each vehicle type.”

The Winter Driving events – some people call them “snowcross” or “WAX” (winter autocross) – are held on Lime Rock’s 1,200-foot autocross course in the upper infield area. Three or four cars are sent out at a time, with appropriate spacing between each vehicle; there is no racing involved.

A luxury chalet provides a warm respite for restroom breaks as well as snacks, coffee, hot chocolate and beverages. A bonfire will be going at the autocross staging area, too.

Lime Rock’s Winter Autocross facility is the direct result of requests by the members of the private Lime Rock Drivers Club (LRDC). One of its newest members, realizing he could help bring this to fruition, connected us with the right experts and equipment to make it happen. The Winter Autocross facility was created primarily for the Lime Rock Drivers Club, which has graciously opened it up for non-members between the private LRDC days.

The winter autocross developed out of the success of Lime Rock’s Open Autocross Days (including a season-long series championship) held April through November. The 2013 and 2014 Open Autocross seasons saw more than 500 drivers – from teens and seniors to track-day enthusiasts and race car drivers – experience the fun and excitement of driving as fast as they can in a fun, safe environment. Now anyone can do it all winter long thanks to schedulable, weather-independent snowmaking at Lime Rock Park.

The cost is $300 per driver and includes coaching from professional winter driving instructors.

Lime Rock Winter Open Enrollment Autocross Days:
Friday, January 9
Saturday, January 10
Friday, January 23
Saturday, January 24
Friday, January 30
Saturday, January 31
Friday, February 6
Saturday, February 7
Friday, February 20
Saturday, February 21
Friday, February 27
Saturday, February 28
Friday, March 6
Saturday, March 7

Reservations and purchases of Open Enrollment Winter Autocross can be done online. Questions can be directed to the Winter Autocross specialists at 860.435.5000.

Courtesy: Lime Rock Park

All photography by Casey Keil and Rick Roso at Lime Rock Park.

03 Jan

Edward Herrmann, actor and voice of Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, dies

Edward Herrmann had a passion for American classic automobiles and served as Master of Ceremonies for the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

PEBBLE BEACH, CA —Edward Herrmann, the melodious-voiced actor who many on the Central Coast knew as the voice of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, died on Wednesday. He was 71.

Herrmann died at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital of brain cancer, his son, Rory Herrmann said. The actor, who had been hospitalized for several weeks, was surrounded by family members including his wife, and his three children, his son said. “He was full of knowledge and kindness and goodness. … He always wanted to share the great and beautiful things in life,” said Rory Herrmann. That included art, music and classic cars.

Organizers of the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance issued a statement reading, “It is with a sad heart but much fondness and many wonderful memories that we note the death of our great friend, Edward Herrmann. Ed was an award-winning actor with an Emmy, a Tony, a Theatre Guild Award, an OBIE Award and several Audie Awards to his credit. But he was best known to us and to many others for his contributions to the car world, including his longtime participation as Master of Ceremonies at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.”

The statement continued, “Ed first joined our Concours team as Master of Ceremonies in 1999, and he continued to lend his magnificent voice and calm presence to our Concours through this past August-his 16th year with us. Along the way he played a major role in celebrating thousands of great cars as well as the people who created and cared for them. Ed had a particular fondness for great American Classics-for Packards, Duesenbergs, Cords and Auburns-but he had most recently fallen in love with and restored and participated in rallies with a 1934 Alvis. We shared an incredible ride together, and we will miss Ed. Our thoughts go out to his wife Star and his whole family.”

The towering actor brought Franklin D. Roosevelt to life in films and documentaries, won a Tony Award and charmed audiences as the dad on “Gilmore Girls.” The actor’s favorite role was playing President Roosevelt, which he did in projects including the TV movies “Eleanor and Franklin” (1976) and its sequel “Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years” (1977) and in the 1982 movie musical “Annie.”
Herrmann also provided the voice for FDR in Ken Burns’ documentary series “The Roosevelts: An Intimate History,” which aired on PBS earlier this year. His urbane tones were heard on a variety of other documentaries and on hundreds of audio books including Laura Hillenbrand’s “Unbroken.” He had recently narrated a documentary on cancer, Rory Herrmann said.

He appeared frequently on the big screen, in major films including “Reds” and “The Wolf of Wall Street,” and was an acclaimed stage actor whose Tony-winning performance came in 1976 for “Mrs. Warren’s Profession.” Television was also a familiar home, with recent appearances on “The Good Wife” and “How I Met Your Mother. His best-known role came on the 2000-07 series “Gilmore Girls,” on which he played the patrician father of a single mother (Lauren Graham). Herrmann, a native of Washington, D.C., graduated from Bucknell University and studied his craft on a Fulbright scholarship to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 1968-69.

09 Dec

More than 100 Vehicles from the Ron Pratte Collection will Cross the Block Tuesday, Jan. 13, at Barrett-Jackson

The entire Ron Pratte Collection will be auctioned during the 44th Annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction in January 2015.

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Barrett-Jackson Auction Co. will auction more than 100 vehicles from the world-renowned Ron Pratte Collection on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015, beginning at 9 a.m. MST at WestWorld in Scottsdale, Ariz. Selling at predominantly No Reserve, The Ron Pratte Collection includes 140 collector cars, trucks and motorcycles, and over 1,400 pieces of automobilia.

“The Ron Pratte Collection is possibly the largest and most diverse to cross any collector car auction block over the past decade,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “The majority of Ron’s collection was purchased at Barrett-Jackson auctions and it’s only fitting that these fine collectibles come back to our Scottsdale auction to be passed along to their next caretaker.”

The Ron Pratte Collection sale will kick off with his incredible compilation of automobilia on Saturday, Jan.10, at 9 a.m. MST and continue through its culmination on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 1 p.m. The Pratte vehicles with lot numbers between 2000 and 2109 will cross the block on Tuesday beginning at 4 p.m. The remaining Pratte vehicles, with lot numbers starting at 2500 and above, will be crossing the block on Saturday, Jan. 17.

The Collection being auctioned on Tuesday, Jan. 13, includes an impressive mixture of vehicles, including a ’69 Chevrolet Yenko Chevelle 2 door hardtop (Lot #2016), one of only 22 still in existence and the only one known to exist with a column shift; a ’29 Indian 401 motorcycle (Lot #2058), which was restored to as-new condition and is ready to be ridden; and a ’69 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Fastback (Lot #2049), one of the rarest Mustangs available with its original engine, transmission and rear end.

“Because of the size and breadth of the Ron Pratte Collection, we wanted to give bidders a single day to really focus on the amazing vehicles that will cross the block,” said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “Tuesday will be a big day for many collectors who have had their eye on some of these fantastic cars. Of course, we’re also looking forward to the excitement when some of the crown jewels of the Ron Pratte Collection, like the Shelby Cobra Super Snake, cross the block on Saturday.”

Beginning December 11, collectors can follow Barrett-Jackson’s “30 Days of Pratte,” an exclusive look inside the legendary Ron Pratte Collection featuring one Pratte-owned vehicle a day leading up to the first day of the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction. For a complete listing of The Ron Pratte Collection, visit www.Barrett-Jackson.com.

Live coverage of the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale will be broadcast on Velocity and Discovery during 36 hours of live, high-definition TV coverage from Tuesday through Sunday, Jan. 13-18.

Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Barrett-Jackson, is the leader in collector car auctions and automotive lifestyle events. The company produces auctions in Scottsdale, Arizona; Palm Beach, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Reno-Tahoe, Nevada. With broadcast partners Velocity and Discovery Channel, Barrett-Jackson will feature 100 hours of live television coverage in 2015, including live international coverage in both Canada and Latin America. Barrett-Jackson also endorses a one-of-a-kind collector car insurance for collector vehicles and other valued belongings.

(Source: Barrett-Jackson)

03 Dec

Early Offerings at RM Auctions Paris February 3 – 4, 2015

Joseph Paul and Marcel Mongin drove the Delahaye 135 S to second overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1937 (photo: Collection Jean Paul Tissot)

London – RM Auctions will return to Place Vauban in Paris on 3-4 February, 2015 for its annual sale during the Retromobile show week. A permanent fixture on RM’s global calendar, the Paris auction will open the company’s 2015 European calendar with a roster of 60 automobiles.

“Paris 2014 was an important sale for RM, as it allowed the company to establish an auction in what is regarded as one of the most important weeks on the European collector car calendar. After such an incredible debut sale last year, we are excited to return with what is already shaping-up to be a wonderful roster of cars,” said Augustin Sabatié-Garat, Car Specialist RM Auctions.

Leading early entries is a 1935 Delahaye 135 S, chassis no. 46094. The Delahaye has resided in France all of its life, including many years in the ownership of Jean-Philippe Peugeot, of the Peugeot Motor Company. It raced competitively from 1936 through 1949, extensively in the hands of the well-known French driver, Joseph Paul. In addition, it was a competitor at many Grand Prix events throughout the 1940s, claiming victory at the Grand Prix des Frontières in the hands of Willy Mairesse. A veteran of no less than three 24 Heures du Mans, the car’s most notable performance came in 1937 when Joseph Paul and Marcel Mongin piloted it to second position overall in the famed endurance race.

For decades, chassis 46094 has been a familiar sight on the international classic car scene, competing in many of the world’s leading historic races driven by its former owner, Jean Sage. Suitable for road or track, it’s a versatile entry into almost every significant event around the world (Est. €1.200.000 – €1.600.000).

Another early highlight from the RM Auctions Paris 2015 sale with French history and one set to command strong local interest is the 1934 Lancia Belna Eclipse. The Lancia features coachwork by Pourtout and dramatic Art Deco design by Georges Paulin, a dentist who sketched many of the most beautiful French automobiles of the pre-war period and went on to be a hero of the French Resistance.

Paulin was a pioneer of aerodynamic design and new ideas in coach-building, most prominently, one of the world’s first retractable hardtops, which he dubbed “Eclipse.” A simple system, it featured a one-piece hardtop that unbuckled at the windshield frame, with a reverse-hinged rear deck that would be raised to store the hardtop underneath. The patented design was simple and effective and was mainly utilized by French coachbuilder Marcel Pourtout up to the outbreak of World War II. Paulin then went on to join the war-time Resistance movement, passing secrets along to agents who would come to his dental office, until he was tragically captured and executed on March 21, 1942.

1934 Lancia Belna Eclipse by Pourtout (photo: Darin Schnabel)

The Lancia on offer, chassis F341349, is one of only two known examples featuring the Pourtout-built Eclipse coachwork. Built on a French-manufactured Belna chassis, it was discovered by its present owner in Tennessee and was duly restored to feature its current black and bright yellow paintwork with a genuine ostrich skin interior. Widely shown at various American Concours d’Elegance events, including at Pebble Beach in 2004, it has been awarded a string of accolades over the years, including Best in Class at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance (2005), and the Concorso Italiano (2006), along with being judged 99.75 points by the Classic Car Club of America (Est. €300.000 – €375.000).

The February 2015 sale follows in the footsteps of the company’s debut in the French capital earlier this year, an event which grossed €17.7 million in sales and was headlined by a 1955 Jaguar D-Type at €3.696.000.

The RM Auctions Paris 2015 auction will be held at Place Vauban immediately after the Festival Automobile International, 4 December 2014 to 1 February 2015. This event will gather a display of concept cars and pay tribute to car designers from around the world.

For further sale information, or to view a frequently updated list of entries, visit www.rmauctions.com or call RM’s London office at +44 (0) 20 7851 7070.

[Source: Sports Car Graphic]

25 Nov

Amelia Concours Will Honor BMW’s Immortal 328 March 13 – 15, 2015

Jacksonville, FL – The 20th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance will showcase the legend and legacy of the car that set BMW on its path to become known as the “ultimate driving machine.”

Experts, enthusiasts and fans of the Bavarian marque consider the BMW 328 the first sports car worthy of the title.

Eight decades ago BMW responded to a national call that Germany should build not only the world’s fastest and greatest pure racing cars, but the world’s best sports cars as well. While Mercedes-Benz and Auto-Union carried Germany’s racing colors on the grand prix circuit, BMW became Germany’s primary flag carrier in international sports car competition.

The BMW 328 struck just the right balance with elegant and aerodynamic styling, impeccable road manners plus advanced and inspired engineering. Even BMW’s signature split grill that survives to this day as a BMW styling hallmark remains an important component of the 328 design package. So was real world open road performance.

“The 328 is the car that set BMW on its current course,” said Bill Warner, Founder and Chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. “The poise, speed and stamina of the 328 and its descendants are the roots of BMW’s reputation and give genuine credibility to BMW’s ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ label.”

Competition was at the heart of the 328’s genesis. It debuted on the 14-mile Nurburgring’s 154-turn Nordschleife, winning the sports car class of the 1936 Eifel Race. That first BMW 328 prototype not only won the two-liter class (without supercharging), but also achieved the best time of all sports cars. The BMW 328 then won the Belgian Grand Prix des Frontieres in Chimay and the Bucharest Grand Prix.

“The star of the BMW 328 class for our 20th anniversary is the unique 328 Buegelfalte (‘trouser crease,’ for the razor edge fender styling) roadster,” said Warner, “It finished sixth in the 1940 Mille Miglia and is the only 328 special roadster built at the BMW factory. We’re honored to have it on the field for our 20th anniversary concours.”

The 2015 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance will be held March 13-15th on the 10th and 18th fairways of The Golf Club of Amelia Island at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. The show’s Foundation has donated over $2.5 million to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, Inc. and other charities on Florida’s First Coast since its inception in 1996. In 2013 the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance won Octane Magazine’s EFG International Historic Motoring Event of the Year award.

(Source: Vintage Motorsport)

18 Nov

The Connecticut Auto Show Returns to Hartford November 21-23

Hartford, CT – Mark your calendar for the return of the Connecticut International Auto Show at the Connecticut Convention Center, Friday November 21 to Sunday November 23, 2014.

The Auto Show has something for everyone, from gear-heads to carpoolers alike. With hundreds of vehicles to browse and explore, fans can hop in the driver’s seat of the latest models and satisfy their automotive dreams.

The newest 2015 models will be on display, including the latest in fuel-efficient options and new technologies. It’s a convenient way to compare prices and features, saving both time and money. There are cars to suit every budget and lifestyle, as well as entertainment and specialty vehicles.

There’s even a chance to get behind the wheel at the show, thanks to the show’s Ride&Drive programs.

The entire family will enjoy special features like the Fan Zone, gas for life contest, Classic Car and Muscle Madness Showcases and a Kids Stop Pit Stop. Cadillac is sponsoring Friday’s “Heels & Wheels” Night, when, from 5 – 8PM, ladies receive a $2 discount on admission, and a special Cadillac drink and souvenir if they bring an infant item donation for the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center

The Auto Show is great entertainment for serious shoppers, car buffs and the entire family!

Date: Friday, November 21- Sunday, November 23, 2014
Place: Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, CT
Hours: Friday, November 21 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday, November 22 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday, November 23 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Box office closes 1 hour before show closing.
Admission: $10.00 Adults, $5.00 Children ages 6-12
Children under 6 admitted free
Friday, November 21: $2.00 off senior discount, age 65+ with ID.
Friday is Military Day – with proper military ID, military members receive free admission to the show. Friday is also Heels & Wheels Night, when from 5 – 8 PM all women receive a $2 discount on admission.
Information: 800-251-1563
Web Site: www.ConnAutoShow.com
Sponsored By: Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association

07 Nov

Klingberg at the 2014 CT International Car Show Nov. 21 – 23

Governor Dan Malloy with a Connecticut-made Pope-Hartford

New Britain, CT – Once again, Klingberg Family Centers is invited by the Connecticut Automobile Retailers Association to create a display of antique vehicles for their annual car show at the CT Convention Center in Hartford on November 21-23. The exhibit last year featured four exquisite and rather rare examples of early 20th century vehicles from the collections of area enthusiasts who support the annual Klingberg Vintage Festival.

1934 Lincoln, 1905 Ford, 1903 Pope-Hartford,
1905 Stevens- Duryea

The group included a 1903 Pope-Hartford manufactured in the capitol city and a 1905 Stevens Duryea made in Chicopee, MA both owned by Jerry Chase. Also on display was one of 38 remaining 1905 Ford Model Fs, owned by Carlton Pate. You couldn’t help but stop and gaze at a 1934 Lincoln Brunn Convertible Victoria which is one of only 12 made and one of three known to still exist. This gorgeous car was recently purchased by Wayne Carini of Chasing Classic Cars. Wayne was on hand on Sunday of the show to greet those who stopped by the exhibit. And, nearly everyone did stop by all three days of the event. The exhibit was positioned right at the entrance to the auto show in a wonderful, spacious location.

Klingberg Family Centers’ involvement started five years ago when the Association wanted to feature several Connecticut-made automobiles from the early 1900s. They turned to Mark Johnson, Klingberg’s Vice President of Development and organizer of the annual Vintage Motorcar Festival in June. Since then, the Automotive Retailers have served as a Gold Sponsor of the Klingberg event.

1934 Lincoln Brunn Convertible Victoria

Source: Klingberg News

www.klingbergautoshow.org

05 Nov

Lime Rock’s 2015 Event Schedule is Announced

Lime Rock, CT – Today, Lime Rock Park announced its 2015 Major Event Schedule:

Lime Rock’s Traditional Memorial Day Weekend Season Opener
Featuring the Trans Am Series & the Sunday Royals Car Show
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, May 22-24

Trans Am cars are big, bad ass and brutal – and really fast at Lime Rock. With Dodge coming on board to Trans Am in 2014, the real “Pony Car Wars” are back: Mustang versus Camaro versus Challenger. The next day is the sixth annual Sunday Royals Car Show, Connecticut’s best “workingman’s” show, the anti-concours concours; great cars of every kind, from hot rods to sports cars and everything in between. If it’s cool, it’s here.

TUDOR United SportsCar Championship
Featuring IMSA Prototype Challenge and GT Daytona
Plus Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge
Friday & Saturday, July 24-25

IMSA is back after a one-year hiatus, with the super-quick PC Prototypes and the GT Daytona (GTD) production-based sports cars racing together in this mid-summer spree of speed! The ORECA FLM09 prototypes reach more than 150 mph on Sam Posey Straight – and the GTDs (everything from Aston Martins, Audi R8s and BMW Z4s to Ferraris, 911s and Dodge SRT Vipers) aren’t far behind. PLUS, both classes of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge – some of the best stock car road racing in the world – are here. You’ll see the big, loud and fast Camaros, Porsches, Mustangs, Aston Martins, BMWs and 370Zs banging fenders in GS, while the ST race has the quick and agile Hondas, VWs, BMW 128/328, Mazda 3/MX-5 and Porsche Boxsters. IMSA has been racing at Lime Rock since the early 1970s, and the tradition continues.

Lime Rock’s Traditional Labor Day Weekend Historic Festival 33
Featuring the Thursday Race Car Parade and the Sunday in the Park Concours & Gathering of the Marques
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday, September 3-7

Since 1983, the East Coast’s premier vintage and historic motorsport event has been Lime Rock’s Historic Festival and its companion Sunday in the Park Concours & Gathering of the Marques. Honored Guests and Honored Collectors help create five days of motoring magnificence that begins with the free Vintage Race Car Parade and Falls Village Street Fair on Thursday, Sept. 3, continues with racing on Friday and Saturday, the Concours and Gathering on Sunday (more than 1,200 cars are in the Park!), and ends at 6:00 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7, when the final checkered flag falls on the last of 40 races. As always, more than 250 vintage and historic race cars will fill A Paddock, the Swap Meet in B Paddock will be packed, the Midway is alive with activities – and the racing on the track is non-stop from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and Monday. Historic Festival 33… There’s nothing else like it anywhere in North America.

Tickets www.limerock.com