Historic Festival 33 at Lime Rock Park
The anticipation was palpable as I made my way to the Historic Festival at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut, my favorite weekend of the year. The event was set to showcase vintage cars on the raceway, and the aroma of race fuel in the morning air was invigorating; who needs bacon? The three-hour drive was a joy, with the Berkshires' stunning scenery unfolding around me. The winding roads over the mountains, adorned with vibrant foliage reflecting off my car's silver paint, were a sight to behold. Although tempted to stop and capture this picturesque adventure, the excitement to reach the raceway was too strong. Fall, in its full glory, was on the horizon, and I knew the photos could wait.
Pitching a tent at the campsite during big events has become a tradition for me, despite the allure of hotels with their comfortable mattresses and private showers. The reason is simple: I want to fully immerse myself in the experience without being confined by my lodging. Staying at the campsite allows me to move freely from one party to another, meet new people, and explore the paddocks late at night to capture photos of unwrapped cars. There's a unique peace that comes with walking the track at midnight, gazing up at the stars, and listening to the laughter and music drifting from the hillside parties. It's a feeling of contentment that fills me up.
Upon arriving at the track, I quickly set up my tent on the back end of the track, just about 30 feet away. Eager to start the weekend, I headed down to B paddock to join the Lemoines, who had their RV set up for selling products. Spending time with them was a joy—they're a fun group with a wealth of knowledge about the cars at the event, always ready to share stories and insights. As I wandered through B paddock, I stopped to chat with a few racers, including my good friend Frank Grimaldi, who races in Group 7 with his 1968 Chevrolet Camaro "Old #80". I also caught a brief moment with Bill Warner, founder of the Amelia Island Concours D'Elegance, as he geared up for his race in Group 4 with his 1979 Triumph TR6. Our conversation was short but it's always a pleasure to connect with fellow enthusiasts and racers.
After the qualifying sessions on Friday, I grabbed a quick dinner and headed back to my tent for a short nap. I wanted to be well-rested for the evening's activities—specifically, some light painting in the paddocks, which is my specialty. Ryan McIntosh kindly allowed me to experiment with photographing the motorcycles after they had been moved into the tent, following John Taylor's barn finds. Respecting the importance of these priceless bikes, I made sure not to cross any boundaries or go past the ropes for a dream shot. Moving around in the dark, I was cautious not to be "that guy" who ends up making headlines: "Photographer Knocks Over Motorcycles, Damage In Millions".
On Saturday morning, fans flooded into the park for the races. Some set up tents for their overnight stay, while others arranged their chairs on the lawn facing the asphalt where the vintage race cars would later tear it up. It was an exceptionally hot day, and being trackside with no shade meant I ended up looking like a lobster by the end. Fortunately, I had my bathing suit with me, and conveniently next to the RV was a mini adult pool. During the lunch break, I happily plopped myself into the pool to cool off and rest my feet. What a luxury!
Some of the races lasted only 2-3 laps due to a couple of accidents throughout the day. For dinner, Jake from Oxford Motor Cars in Providence treated us late-night party people with steak tips.
The best part of Lime Rock Park is the early morning clouds of fog that linger in the valley, with the sun peeking out through the mist. People are usually still sleeping or just waking up. Already at my spot with the camera in hand, I was ready to capture the sunrise. As the cars filled into their positions on the track for the show, the famous Mercedes-Benz SSK “Count Trossi” owned by Ralph Lauren sat alone for a short moment before others made their way to check out this magnificent work of art. I was very fortunate to snag this shot before it became crowded and impossible to get. The 34th Historic Festival is a must for anybody with an interest in vintage cars, and next year promises to be amazing!
