Lime Rock Vintage Festival 2017

[CBUEB1771]

The entrant list for this year's LRP vintage festival (1 to 4 September) has a few silly groupings. Most notably Dave Belden's Mark IX (entered and to be driven by Carl Whitney) and Tony Thompson's Series 1 7 with Climax engine are in a race group with Dickie Attwood in a GT40. The latter is the event's Honored Guest for the weekend. I guess Carl and Tony will need to keep an eye on the mirrors! At this point it looks like Clark Lance will have the only Elan in the field, disappointing not to see more Elans. Roger Sieling has his 20/22 entered in the FJ group. I am planning to be there for the first day. As Dave Belden used to say, "if you want to see me run, be there for the first practice session".

[nhhiker]

Carl ran the David Belden Lotus 9 last Wednesday at Thompson. It ran super with the new motor and gearbox.
Carl was very happy with the way it went.

See you there, Russ

Bill F

[CBUEB1771]

Bill,
So the mysterious misfire has been cured? That sounds great. I will try to make lunch at Tiny's today.
Russ

[Elan45]

We did some tuning on the 20/22 at Monterey, finally getting it to run pretty good, but not really in time to salvage a good result on a track I last ran in 1995 with my Eleven.

We're on the road now, coming across I-40 and concerned about Hurricane Harvey, but if the weather cooperates, we're on the way to Lime Rock. I've tentatively decided against Watkins Glen, just to leave the SVRA politics behind. Hard to believe there was a time they were the only group I wanted to run with.

Roger

[casalunge]

I will be in the FJ race with my Lotus 22

[fjcoopelan]

We'll be there with our Sprint (hopefully). May be in the Sunday concours as part of a special tribute to Roger Becker (tentative).

Foster

[pharriso]

Anyone going to be there tomorrow (Saturday?)

[CBUEB1771]

A few images from Day 1 at the Lime Rock Vintage Festival. Carl Whitney preparing to go out in Dave Belden's Mark IX for practice session #2 with crew chief Gary Anderson in attendance. Carl entering the esses in a rare moment without traffic. Tony Thompson in his Series 1 Seven with Climax engine. A beautiful start to the weekend weatherize although a bit windy.

[lance54]

Another Lime Rock Historic Festival is in the books. Thanks to Russ for posting those great pictures of Carl Whitney in the Lotus Mark 9. That very car was at Lime Rock during the circuits first summer of racing in 1957 and it still looks wonderful in motion.

For me it was 4 race starts and 4 checkered flags finishing 7th, 4th, 5th and 3rd.

Perhaps not as exciting as Paul Tooms amazing come from behind drive at Croft but a fun weekend with family, friends and some really great cars.

Here's some in-car highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay21pput9-o

Race 2 on Saturday afternoon started with a pretty slow rolling start so I slid back to 1st Gear and moved from 7th to 3rd before the first turn. I knew there was a lot of RPM expended but it wasn't until I saw the in-car video that I realized that a bit over 9,500 RPM was reached....not recommended.

[CBUEB1771]

Clark,
Thanks for posting the link to your race footage. I am sorry I didn't get back to visit again in the paddock. Watching your use of second through the esses and the first part of the back side of the circuit I suspect you went back to the larger diameter tire set. Am I right?
Russ

[lance54]

Correct. The 21 in tire was good for Schenley Park but not right for Lime Rock so it was back to the 23 incher.

Here's the closing lap of the Saturday Race 2 from Simon Kirlby's Alfa GTV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAnya-p8PiI&t=277s

It was a busy 12 laps.

[CBUEB1771]

Clark,
Thanks for the link to the clip from the Alfa. The Alfa was very strong on the back half of the circuit. I am used to seeing Elans get swallowed up on the front straight and then pull away everywhere else, at least in the normal groupings at this event. Of course traffic makes a big difference.
Russ

[lance54]

Truth be told Simon in the Alfa is about a second quicker than me at Lime Rock. He was one of the four cars I nipped at the green flag and had he been able to pass I would not have been able to keep is pace.

It also helps that Simon is the Chief Instructor for the Lime Rock Park Drivers Club and probably has more laps at the 1.5 mile circuit that any other individual.

His corner entry speeds for the Left Hander and the Climbing Turn are truly impressive and I've been studying his video for to learn the technique.

The Climbing Turn is a most intimidating piece of pavement where the safe comfortable line is middle of road but that slows both entry and exit speed.

My typical exit of the Uphill....

Simon's typical exit of the Uphill....

The pavement to the left of the white line ends in about 20 yards.


This is where he is the Pro and I'm not.

[CBUEB1771]

The Climbing Turn is a most intimidating piece of pavement where the safe comfortable line is middle of road but that slows both entry and exit speed.

Well said. It is unnerving to have the car get light at the crest of the hill while you are still trying to make it turn right.