I drove to the Lime Rock Vintage Festival as my friends said there was plenty
o' gas up there.
I got to LR at about 8:30 am as I like to get a good spot to park so I don't
have to schlep my chair and cooler too far, as well as any stuff I purchase at
the flea market.
There was a line of cars backed up to the entrance road which I never saw
before. They changed the procedures to buy tickets and made those who didn't
purchase advance tickets to park and then walk up to a ticket window rather
than just purchase them at the gate which was the procedure for the last 35
years or so since I began attending races at LR with my Dad when I was too
young to drive. I also entered my Datsun Roadster in the show in 84 and 88 and
my 240Z in 87.
The ticket prices went up 20% which I could accept but then they asked me
where I wanted to park and told me it was an ADDITIONAL $10 to park in the
infield where I always parked for 'free' and the reason I got to the track so
early.
I was furious of the greed of LR and Steve Earl, the organizer of the
festival, to charge for the privilege of parking. I returned the ticket and
left.
Since Steve Earl took over the festival the emphasis has been placed on
expensive cars 'touring' the track. Many racers who raced at the festival in
the past had their entrance forms and payments returned to them as their cars
were just not good enough for the likes of that pompous ass Steve Earl. This
created a furor in the vintage community and many drivers said they would
never attend LR again.
My friend Chris Gross, a SCCA national champion while driving a Mini and who
now drives a Bugeye Sprite was also rejected.
The irony was that Earl and Co. couldn't fill up the fields so they called the
'rejected' and asked them if they would still like to compete. Many declined.
For the last 2 years the 'racing' was done by underqualified rich cats driving
their overpowered and pricey cars and resembled a 'parade' rather than a race.
The restrictions placed by Steve Earl while 'racing' ensured that Earl's
underqualified cronies wouldn't damage their cars and the racing became a
joke. The highlight of the races 2 years ago was watching an MGB campaigned by
Former Glory Racing wipe up the track and sending the Astons, Ferraris, etc.
to the back of the pack and a great cheer rose up when seeing the underdog MGB
pass the Aston and win the race.
Vintage racing was started by common folk who dusted off their former racing
cars and pulled them to the track with their truck or station wagon on an open
trailer. 'Tractor trailer' type racing was the exception to the rule. Today at
LR and Monterey where Steve Earl runs the shows, the exception is now the
common guy racer and the 'trailer tractor' racers are in the majority.
For those who don't know, the 'tractor trailer' racers are for those owners
who can't turn a wrench and who have their cars prepared for them by pros. Fat
cats who buy 'famous' race cars and who think they are Mario Andretti,
Sterling Moss, Jackie Stewart, Brian Redmond, etc. and who, for the most part,
know nothing about their cars other than to know where the 'go' and 'stop'
pedals are.
I will never attend the VF at LR again and only attend SCCA racing events.
Screw Steve Earl, who by the way, wiped out his Ferrari 250LM while racing
Stirling Moss and Brian Redmond in 87 or 88 at the Glen. It wasn't the only
cars he owned that he damaged that year at the Glen.
Mike
PS - Come to the Glen and watch Dick Tillinger, Bob Middleton and Mike Unger,
guys like us, blow off the competition and watch 'real' racing. Watch real
mechanics Bob, Dick and Mike work on their cars. Cheer for Bob, Dick and
Mike.
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