Lime Rock Park gears up for its 60th anniversary

Photos courtesy Lime Rock Park.

The historic Connecticut road course, Lime Rock Park, has announced an expanded "Road to 60" program, seeking fan support to help prepare for the facility's 60th anniversary in 2017. The 1.5-mile circuit held its first race on April 28, 1957, when about 7,000 fans showed up for an SCCA New England Region event, and in the years since, it has played host to some of racing's finest drivers. Fans are being asked to acquire memberships that will allow the track to properly celebrate, with improvements set to include:

• Construction of a Sam Posey-designed Legends of Lime Rock Wall of Fame, which will commemorate the track's legendary figures such as John Fitch, Paul Newman, Mark Donohue, Roger Penske and Posey himself
• A new Fan Walk with personalized bricks
• A video leaderboard
• Improved cellular coverage, wi-fi and an enhanced PA system
• Expanded restrooms and showers
• Improved disabled access
• Additional landscaping
• Expanded medical facilities
• Improved hospitality infrastructure

The changes come on the heels of recent improvements to the facility (also in preparation for the track's 60th anniversary), which include recontouring the infield spectator hillside to improve sight lines and extending the viewing area through the inside curve of the Righthander, giving fans a better view of the No Name Straight and the Uphill. For those participating in driving events, the A and B paddocks have been expanded and regraded to provide more room, and some landscape improvements have already been made. The changes are designed to make Lime Rock Park "the most fan-friendly road course in North America," in the words of Skip Barber, but they will also make the facility more attractive to automakers and companies looking to host driving events in the New York Metro area.

Lime Rock Park when it was a potato field and gravel quarry. Founder Jim Vaill and Jack Fisher play in Fisher's MG.

For those looking to support the track, "Road to 60" memberships range from $60 (Road Crew) to $600 (Road Warrior) and $6,000 (Road Master), though major sponsorships for the Lime Rock Park Wall of Honor are also available, priced at $60,000 . For more information, go to  LimeRockRoadTo60.com.

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