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In preparation for this weekend’s 27th annual Lime Rock Park Vintage Festival, Mercedes-Benz engineer and test driver Gert Straub starts the engine of the 1939 Mercedes-Benz W 154 Grand Prix race car — the first time in 70 years the famous “Silver Arrow” was started and then run on a race track.
LAKEVILLE — Based on the 271 race car entries, Sunday car show, swap meet area, car corral, and the celebrity appearance of veteran Formula One driver Vic Elford, this weekend’s 27th annual Lime Rock Park Vintage Festival has something for every auto enthusiast. And with nine different race groups taking the track for three days of competition, fans will be treated to near non-stop race sessions.
Walking through the paddock is a unique experience at the Vintage Festival, with many fans picking favorites after speaking with drivers about their cars, while sharing knowledge about the history of little known makes and models.
Spectators enjoy hearing from car owners about the ups and downs of putting a racer together, keeping it on the track, and the acquired art of driving it in a race in front of thousands of people. For vintage car drivers, a large part of the event is the interaction that occurs in the paddock between races.
Action kicks off this weekend with pre-war and front-engine race cars placed in group 1.
Rare, museum-worthy 1930’s Bugattis will share the track with curious looking 3-wheel Morgans and very early limited-production sports cars. The pace picks up quickly when the group 2 cars take over, powered by engine displacements just above and below 2 liters. Several MG models will combine with Austin Healey Sprites, Porsche 356’s, a couple of Aston Martin DB2’s and some very quick Abarths in what promises to be a lively contest.
Group 3 turns loose with some exceptionally fast, light-bodied Lotus models, Elva racers, a ground-pounding Kurtis and a very quick Triumph TR3 piloted by Dave Spiwak of Bloomsburg, Mass. Spiwak has refined his car and his skills get to the front in past races.
There are some easily recognizable entries in group 4, with Alfa Romeo’s, Mini’s, a Hemi-powered Allard, and a group of MGBs that include an entry by Bob Kilpatrick, traveling from his home in Sarasota, Fla., to try and recreate the magic that brought him a win in the rain against a professionally driven Jaguar XKE at Lime Rock a few years ago. Kilpatrick is remembered for having taken an extra lap at race speed in a heavy downpour after failing to see the checkered flag.
Group 5 is reserved for high performance sports cars, with later model Lotuses battling Datsun 510s, a Ferrari 512S, and a sprinkling of hard charging Triumph GT6 models.
Open-wheel racers strut their stuff in Group 6, finding legendary Brabhams, Coopers, Crossle’s and a McLaren racer paired up with a Merlyn, Titan, and some of the rarest, custom rides.
For those who want even more speed, Group 7 moves ahead in race technology with the 1970s-80s advanced editions we saw in the previous class.
Lightened and with more power, these cars are sure to capture attention.
For those who like the familiar look of a Porsche on the track, Group 8 features 23 of them in heated competition.
The field, primarily filled with 911s, will be joined by a 1986 944 model, as well as a 914.
Part of the Klub Sport Challenge points championship; this match traditionally finds side by side racing in some interesting areas of the track.
Lime Rock releases the raw horsepower of Trans-Am cars for Group 9. Shelby Mustangs line up, outnumbered by Corvettes, against E-Type Jags, an original Shelby Cobra, and an even a rarer Ford GT40 racer, in a battle for the checkered flag.
The weather outlook is perfect for searching for your winter “project car” or daily driver, visiting the countless displays, or sitting on the shady hillside watching some very spirited racing.
You can download a schedule or obtain further information by visiting www.LimeRock.com.
Henry Moore can be contacted by e-mail at him10@aol.com
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