LRP - SUNDAY IN THE PARK WAS A RECORD-BREAKER

LIME ROCK PARK

60 White Hollow Road | Lakeville | CT | 06039

Phone: (860) 435-5000 | Fax: (860) 435-5010 | Email: scott@limerock.com

GPS COORDINATES: N 41° 55.7985' | W 073° 23.5072'

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

LAKEVILLE, CT: SEPTEMBER 6, 2009 ..... SUNDAY IN THE PARK WAS A RECORD-BREAKER ..... It was a beautiful, sunny “Sunday in the Park” at Lime Rock, where a record-shattering 722 first-class cars were entered into the traditional Vintage Festival car show. Classic cars from the 1900s through pre- and post-war to late models of every kind graced the grounds. The judges – and the fans in attendance – were massively impressed with the quality of the entrants, culminating in the “Best in Show” winner... a perfect 1934 Packard owned by George Dragone. This California car was in its original multi-hued green livery, the beauty of which also inspired its being chosen the winner of the “Ladies Choice” award.

The last day of the 2009 Vintage Festival at Lime Rock Park is Labor Day Monday, filled with races from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. See you there...

Winners, “Sunday in the Park” Vintage Festival Car Show, September 6, 2009:

Best in Show

1934 Packard Dual-Cowl V12 Sport Phaeton

George Dragone

Motorsport Magazine Award

1929 Bentley 6.5-litre

Roger Noble

Class 1, Antique to 1930

1930 Packard

Frank Wismek

Class 2, Veteran: 1930 – 1945

1931 Bentley

Clayton Greene

Class 3, America’s Finest of the 50s

1959 Cadillac

Phil & Sue Lefebvre

Class 4, Sensational 60s

1961 Chrysler 300G

David Shapiro

Class 5, Detroit Delight, 1970-85

1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda

Eric Smith

Class 6, Sports & GT American-style to 1975

1969 Chevy Camaro "COPO"

Michele Clark

Class 7, GT International-style, 1953-69

1964 Mercedes-Benz

Jerry Robinson

Class 8, GT International-style, 1970-85

1972 Citroen SM

Mark Adams

Class 9, International Open Sports, 1948-76

1963 Porsche 356B 2000 GS Coupe

Peter Bartelli

Class 10, International Open Sports, 1977-85

1980 MGB

Paul Angelico

Class 11, International sedans & Coupes, post-war – 1965

1965 Jaguar E-type

Robert Nimkoff

Class 12, International Sedans & Coupes

1974 BMW 3.0 CS

Duane Sword

Class 13, Veteran Race Cars

1926 Salmson Grand Prix

Alexis Kirk

Class 14, “Properly” Vintage race cars, up to 1959

1909 ALCO-6 Racer

Howard Kroplick

Class 15, “Properly” Vintage Race Cars, 1960-85

1969 Brabham BT29

Class 16, Sports Racers & Specials to 1985

1991 Jaguar XJ40

Mark Hamblin

Class 17, Early Historic Production-based Race Cars, 1960-72

1967 Porsche 911

Bruce Ellsworth

Class 18, Late Historic Production-based Race Cars, 1973-85

1978 Lola 298

Joe Blacker

Class 19, Hot Rod & Custom Road Rockets

1967 Morris Minor Traveller

Jack Deluca

Class 20, Trucks & Commercial Vehicles

1946 Chevy

Ed Beauchaine

Class 21, Almost Autos: Trikes, Micro-cars et al.

2006 Ariel Atom

Keith Goggin

Class 22, Marvelous Motorcycles

1941 Indian 4

Roland Houde

Class 23, The Great Pretenders: Replicas & Others

1965 Cobra Daytona Coupe

Lee Benson & Don Nells

Class 24, Exceptional Original Oldies

1972 Dino GT 246

Lee Barba

Class 25: The Clubs:

Aston Martin Clubs

1964 AM DBJ

Andrew Benenson

Austin-Healey Clubs

1960 Bugeye

Bill & Diane Hare

BMW Clubs

2002t

Larry Schwarz

Citroen Clubs

1978 2CV6 Blue

Lotus Clubs

Lotus Europa

Morgan Clubs

1938 Morgan 4/4 TT

Meleah Artley

Rolls-Royce & Bentley Clubs

1935 20/25 Sedan

M.J. Koly

Shelby Clubs

1965 Shelby Cobra GT 350 (55350)

Howard Pardee

Pick of the Paddock

1964 Jaguar

Elaine Ecosse

Late Entry Domestic

1978 Smokey and the Bandit Firebird Trans-Am

James Napoletano

Late Entry Asian

2004 Subaru WRX

Michelle Tittle

Late Entry European

1964 Porsche 356

Tony Rendano

Late Entry Italian

Giulia SS Red

Collector Car Garage

Pontiac Trans-Am

Visionary Collector Award

The Collier Collection

Scott George

Skip Barber Choice

1928 “Flat Rad” Morgan

Robert Couch

The Worthy Contender

1966 Tatra T-2 603

Ivo Slezak

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BACK TO HEADLINES ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

LAKEVILLE, CT: SEPTEMBER 5, 2009 ..... VINTAGE FESTIVAL HALFTIME; TWO MORE DAYS LEFT ..... A beautiful Saturday at Lime Rock Park for the Vintage Festival was defined by a big, happy crowd, the history making laps at lunchtime by the Mercedes-Benz W154 Silver Arrow Grand Prix car – there was a constant five-deep crowd around the machine in its paddock compound – a Vic Elford autograph session, go-karting for the kids, jam-packed Car Corrals and Specialty Parking, a tremendous celebration of 100 years of the Morgan Motorcar Company (highlighted by a giant field of Morgans on parade around the track) and, of course, a bunch of terrific afternoon races. The Festival drew more than 270 entries, at least 100 more classic racing cars than last year.

“This is one of the best Vintage Festivals in a while, I have to say” Skip Barber said with a pretty big smile. “The fans look really happy, and that makes me happy.”

Vintage Festival Event Organizer Murray Smith was all smiles, too. Especially since it was he who was allowed the honor of driving the M-B W154 in front of the appreciative fans. Smith, a longtime racer himself, told a local TV affiliate that the W154 “...is certainly one of the most spectacular racer cars I’ve had the privilege of putting the stick to.”

Sunday’s weather is expected to be as beautiful as it’s been over the past two days, as a record-breaking number of entries is likely to show up for the “Sunday in the Park” car show. Skip’s goal is to have, for the first time in Festival history, the entire 1.53-mile circuit lined with cars. Car clubs including Rolls-Royce, Morgan, Porsche, Shelby, MG, Corvette, Austin-Healey and BMW have enlisted their forces to bring their choicest specimens, joining the hundreds of individual owners that traditionally enter the show.

On Labor Day Monday, the racing resumes with each of the nine car groups set to go for their second races of the weekend. Everything the fans got today are on hand for Monday, including more demonstration laps of the fabulous Mercedes-Benz W154 GP Silver Arrow and another Vic Elford autograph session.

One more thing, new this year: the VSCCA now uploads its Lime Rock Park race results on the web at www.mylaps.com. Look or search for “2009 Vintage Festival” and you can see all practice, qualifying and race results from the 2009 Lime Rock Park Vintage Festival!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BACK TO HEADLINES ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

LAKEVILLE, CT: SEPTEMBER 2, 2009 ..... A VERY RARE OCCURRENCE AT LIME ROCK PARK ..... In the run-up to the upcoming Sept. 4-7 Lime Rock Park Vintage Festival, there was a very rare motorsport occurrence yesterday – and it was recorded on video...

Video footage of the rare Mercedes-Benz W154 Silver Arrow lapping a race track for the first time since the start of WWII...

Thanks to SCCA driver and corner marshal John Godfrey, the historic event of the last W154 ever built being driven at Lime Rock Park – the first time it’s done so since it finished second at the Belgrade Grand Prix, virtually moments after the start of WWII – was recorded on video.

Godfrey has graciously hosted the video for all to see.

Lime Rock Park Vintage Festival organizer Murray Smith was the driver.

Please click on the following link to see what few eyes have gazed upon until now...

http://www.e-survival.com/w154.mov

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BACK TO HEADLINES ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

LAKEVILLE, CT: SEPTEMBER 2, 2009 ..... THEY ARE NOT STARS; THEY ARE NOT FAMOUS ..... Not in the usual sense, anyway. They are famous in their world, vintage automobile racing. They are stars to their friends and family.

They are the keepers of history. They are the owners and drivers of rare, classic and oft-times important racing cars from the near and distant past.

And they live right in your backyard.

Click here for a COMPLETE LIST of drivers, hometowns and their cars; if you have an interest in talking to drivers from your area, contact Renea Topp or Rick Roso and they will quickly put you in touch with them.

The 2009 Vintage Festival at Lime Rock Park, the 27th edition, begins Friday, September 4 with practice sessions for the nine race groups comprising 270+ cars. The car count exceeds last year’s event my more than 100.

* Qualifying is Saturday morning, followed at 1:30 p.m. by the history making starting up and on-track testing of the exceedingly rare 1939 Mercedes-Benz “Silver Arrow” W 154 Grand Prix race car. This car, considered a landmark car in the sport’s history (700+ h.p., near 200 mph top speed – in 1939!), has not been started and run on a race track in precisely 70 years.

* The first races for the majority of the race groups are all afternoon Saturday.

* The next day is the “Sunday in the Park” concour d’elegance car show, expected to be the largest in Lime Rock Park’s history. There’s a good chance the entire 1.53-mile track will be lined with show entrants, which has never happened before.

* Monday is a full day of racing, with each group competing in its second race of the Vintage Festival’s Labor Day weekend. New this year are some “enduro” races, with the likelihood of pit stops and driver changes.

* The day ends with a “potpourri race”: any car from any group may enter this “VSCCA All Comers” race.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BACK TO HEADLINES ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++