Lime Rock - CT

[RickieFrat]

Now this post is see what type of interest there could be to possibility get your own vehicle on the track @ Lime Rock. I contacted the track yesterday and spoke to Cathy who gave me allot of info. Although our "club" s not as big as it was there are ALLOT of grey areas to be had. She did mention of a guys name of Simon that takes car of "Club Events" that might be able to squeeze us in to their track time of a different club. Cathy informed me that there is allot of paper work to just get a club on the track including the proper insurance to cover not only the track but the personnel working there. There are clubs that already been established with all the proper paperwork and they host plenty of track days.

Please do not clutter this tread with useless BS or it WILL get deleted or locked to where you would need to send me a PM for the thread to be edited.

I'm simply looking for feedback to see who would be interested in an event like this. Price of the track session has not been established so don't ask. Simon is on vacation and I won't be able to talk to him till next week.

I also have a photographer that might be willing to take pictures of your car on the track for an additional fee. She is a friend of the family so I could get a reasonable price from her for the day.

If we have enough interest - we might be able to add it to the list of things to do for 2010.


Happy SHO'ing :wave:

 

[Bob Gervais]

Depending on the date and price, I'd be interested. (which, I guess, would be most peoples' situation)

 

[zak]

I have run the 'rock with EMRA Time Trials a couple of times, once with Drivinhard (on a third occassion with SCCA). With EMRA TT you get three 20 minute long practice sessions (grouped based on driving experience) during the day, and then a 4 lap run at the end (where you are only on track with one or two other cars) where they time you.

Has quite the time watching Drivinhard spank Lotus Elise (on street tires), most of the vetts, an A Sedan Mustang (newbie driver IIRC) . . . . the flip side of that is that my SHO got oggled quite a bit during Tech (not used to the reaction "whoa, this is an SHO").

EMRA usually is at Lime Rock right around Halloween. I like their classing structure where you can be modified, and get points for each mod that can bump you up a class or two.

SCDA is another group that does HPDE at Lime Rock couple times a year. CART also does one or maybe two events a year there, more similar to EMRAs format.

Lime Rock HPDEs/Time Trials are expensive, likely looking at in excess of $200 in fees for the day. If I had a bolt in roll bar I would be there more often . . . . anyone have a Rickety bar gathering dust?

Maybe this is more info than you were looking for . . . .

 

[zak]

50% sure Simon is the SCDA guy I can look through my notes from last years Convention track day planning.

 

[thebigjimsho]

I have not seen an event for Lime Rock that has been for less than $350 per day. It's one of the most expensive tracks in the country...

 

[zak]

I know for the convention we were looking at $275/day for a private event with instructors supplied by SCDA (they are for profit). Guess it was about 5 years ago that Mark an I ran there for around $225 (EMRA, which is all volunteer/for the love of the sport).

EMRA just announced that the time trial date for Lime Rock will be August 27th That is a Saturday so the event will fill almost as soon as registration opens. Sunday will likely be their road race date.

CART will be June 17th and will include a time trial. Cost not yet annouced. Transponder rentals are around $35.

 

[Racer X]

Depending on price, I'd be in. $350 is probably not in the cards, but $225 or $250 is a safer bet.

 

[drivinhard]

IGuess it was about 5 years ago that Mark an I ran there for around $225 (EMRA, which is all volunteer/for the love of the sport).

I don't remember the totals back then but I remember Limerock being more than the rest.

It's a pretty fun little track, good sensation of speed.

I think a well prep'd track SHO on Hoosier A6's could run a 1:00 flat there.

It's very similar to Road Atlanta, without all the long straights.

 

[zak]

What do you make of the track changes that were made (after we ran there)?

http://www.timlinerud.com/racing/Lime_Rock/Lime_Rock_Track_Changes-1.pdf

 

[Bob Gervais]

I have not seen an event for Lime Rock that has been for less than $350 per day. It's one of the most expensive tracks in the country...

If that's the case, I'm out. Not saying it's not worth it, because I've never been, just doesn't fit into the budget very well.

 

[frosho]

Same here. Need moar monies.

 

[RickieFrat]

Thats just the thing - if the cost would be everyones budget it could be a done deal. I have to wait till next week to call back or send an email to the guy that runs the race events with other clubs. There was just a huge grey area insurance wise for the SHO's to get track time.

This was an option that I was tossing out there to get feedback on what people think ....

 

[zak]

Rickie,

To run a SHO only event would require 100 drivers (80 or so at other tracks), I think its over $7000 just to rent the track alone (no insurance). We would be far better off picking a club, getting a half dozen of us to sign up, and just attend their event. See the clubs and dates I've listed above.

Don't get me wrong, its a great idea, but take it from someone that helps organize and run autocross events, and was involved in organizing the track day for the National Convention - trying to get 80 or 100 SHOowners to actually show up is just going to be too hard.

 

[thebigjimsho]

Thats just the thing - if the cost would be everyones budget it could be a done deal. I have to wait till next week to call back or send an email to the guy that runs the race events with other clubs. There was just a huge grey area insurance wise for the SHO's to get track time.

This was an option that I was tossing out there to get feedback on what people think ....

Rickie,

To run a SHO only event would require 100 drivers (80 or so at other tracks), I think its over $7000 just to rent the track alone (no insurance). We would be far better off picking a club, getting a half dozen of us to sign up, and just attend their event. See the clubs and dates I've listed above.

Don't get me wrong, its a great idea, but take it from someone that helps organize and run autocross events, and was involved in organizing the track day for the National Convention - trying to get 80 or 100 SHOowners to actually show up is just going to be too hard.

Yeah Rickie, I appreciate the effort. It's just I've never seen anyone in any group get ANY break from Lime Rock. The place is just plain expensive. You'd be better off working with NHMS.

Or drive a teeny weeny bit extra for Monticello...

 

[drivinhard]

wow, I didn't know they had reconfig'd it. I would imagine it's slower with the new config. are those parts permanent or do they cone off those sections and run it in either "classic" config or new config?

Leave it to alan wilson to screw up a perfectly good track everybody sings his praises but all the tracks where you feel like you are actually going somewhere weren't done by him.

 

[RickieFrat]

Rickie,

To run a SHO only event would require 100 drivers (80 or so at other tracks), I think its over $7000 just to rent the track alone (no insurance). We would be far better off picking a club, getting a half dozen of us to sign up, and just attend their event. See the clubs and dates I've listed above.

Don't get me wrong, its a great idea, but take it from someone that helps organize and run autocross events, and was involved in organizing the track day for the National Convention - trying to get 80 or 100 SHOowners to actually show up is just going to be too hard.

I'm not looking for a SHO only event due to the cost factor. I'm well aware of what is needed. I was aiming at joining another group that has the track time already if the cost is where people would like to see it. I for one would like to get my own Mustang on the track.

By all means - getting 80 - 100 SHo owners together at one place is like pulling teeth. Maybe 10 - 20 dedicated people to say **** yea it might work.


Why knows - snow is flying once again in Providence and I need to get back to work. I'll be lurking and gathering more info in weeks to come.

 

[thebigjimsho]

wow, I didn't know they had reconfig'd it. I would imagine it's slower with the new config. are those parts permanent or do they cone off those sections and run it in either "classic" config or new config?

Leave it to alan wilson to screw up a perfectly good track everybody sings his praises but all the tracks where you feel like you are actually going somewhere weren't done by him.

Yeah, it looks like it really messes up the flow...

 

[zak]

From my limited understanding the track can be easily reconfigured back to the old style, but may only happen for vintage races.

Having put two wheels off on the uphill turn after getting a hair exhuberant on good street tires (and having the common sense not to **** the wheel but very slowly steer her back on the track), I have to agree on what they did there, also, the downhill going to the main straight was a a bit of rollover hazard before. Rest of the changes? Don't like them.

Not sure I'll ever hit 120 on the main straight again . . . maybe on sticker A6s with a cam'ed 3.2?? One can dream.

Rickie I suggest we aim for the CART event on June 17, it should only cost $10 or $15 to join that club. I would love to do NHIS again and promise not to pass 3 abreast on the main straight again ;-)

Couple former SHO guys I know from the BMW club were telling me SHOs should show up at their NHIS events (think they are a hair undersubscribed with the economy). I know SHOnut would like to come down for an event there it is only 6 hours for him (maybe less), and SHODOWN would be into it. COM events at NHIS sell out quickly in my experience.

 

[thebigjimsho]

**cough**

It's NHMS now...

 

[zak]

Learn something new every day. Thanks for the correction.