Chris Rallo "the kid"
-- "wrenching and racing" -- "will race for food!" -- "Onward and Upward"
Actually, Chris, I gave LRP a *LOT* of credit. I grew up in Texas simply dreaming of the "mystique" of Lime Rock Park, relishing the Memorial Day race on TV after watching the Indy 500 and the Coca Cola 600 (?) the weekend before. When I came to CT for the first time my visit to LRP was the *first* thing I did, even before going to the hotel. And, yep, I ducked the first time I drove under The Bridge.
But since then, the mystique has quickly worn off. I've driven nearly two decades at that place, most of it on worn, buckled, and cracking pavement (on places where it wasn't a concrete patch). Most of it has been paddocking on dirt (when it wasn't mud or out-and-out standing water). Bathrooms are minimal - non-existent in the B Paddock - and it's only recently I haven't had to pay someone extra to clean them. Showers? Yeah, right.
And then there's the track. It was world-class course -- in 1959, when there were few other choices. Only 1.5 miles, visually attractive mostly because it has "park" in the name. Only recently has it been redesigned such that it won't ALWAYS kill you when you make a simple mistake, and that was only due to coming *this* close to losing one of its very few profitable weekends. And, recently the costs involved in playing there as a club has nearly tripled, and it's rare that I get out of there as a spectator for two bills when all is said and done.
And, of course, each time I decide to race (or sometimes spectate) there, it usually requires an additional day off work because there's no racing on Sunday. Oh, but that adds to the mystique, right...?
Bottom line, the dogs bark but the caravan moves on. Lime Rock Park was nice in its day, but that day is long past; there are so many better, world-class facilities, some of them historical but highly revised, most of them built within the last couple decades. Hell, even crappy-ass Nelson Ledges and Hallett are better tracks as driver's courses! If someone built Lime Rock Park exactly as it sits now, it would be heralded as a great "country club" facility for those with tons of money to drive their Ferraris around, but it would be unlikely to garner a lot of attention from the racers. And it would NEVER get a major date like ALMS. Not in a million years.
I do like the breakfast sandwiches and tots, though. Could live on those for a long time.
Hey, you always remember your first time: I still hold a soft spot for Texas World Speedway with its crappy roval configuration and a long sense of history with Indy and NASCAR. But in the light of day, when you look back at the high school yearbook photo of the girl you got your first kiss from, you soon recognize she was as dumpy as the rest of them...
I'm not sure I'm catching your drift Greg??
LOL
I ducked the first time under the bridge at LRP. I also drove one of those Sprinter vans with an A/C unit on top at one of the schools. They strongly "suggested" not hitting the brakes while going under it............. Even under power I still heard a "thump" as I went under.
It's not the down hill at RA that's scary............ it's the concrete walls that seem to be only feet off the pavement at the bottom!!!
To each his own on tracks. I'm probably the only one in the world that likes Pocono.
Jeff L
ITA Miata
2010 NARRC Champion
2007 NERRC Championship, 2nd place
2008 NARRC Championship, 2nd place
2009 NARRC Championship, 2nd place
Nah, Steph likes Poke-In-Nose also. Don't know why, I find it boring.
Ed Funk
NER ITA CRX, ITB Civic, ITC CRX (wanna buy a Honda?)
Smart as a horse, hung like Einstein!
WTF? No racing on Sunday? Sunday IS race day. When are the races, Fri and Sat? That makes it tough on the club racers with jobs.
No dog in this fight and I'd like to drive LRP sometime. But my only experience with it is in iRacing and it seems a bit short for a road course. But, hey, you have to drive what you have nearby and if this is it then so be it, still looks fun.
You're just using to driving the NX too much there. Bet if you did that with Pablo or another B car you'd be faster. Actually, Chris Albin and Justin Poole "showed" me that.Uh, 'fale'. You're not going fast if you do that.
Dave Gran
Real Roads, Real Car Guys – Real World Road Tests
Go Ahead - Take the Wheel's Free Guide to Racing
You just lost the bet.
You must not have heard, I drove Pablo there two days ago. If I had tried to keep Pablo checked up so I didn't have to drive out over that exit curb under the S/F stand I would have lost a lot of speed on the straight (yes, I have DL-1 data). I watched the ARRC races and all the leaders (and fast guys) were tracking out. I can't IMAGINE why ANYONE would think that pinching in a car on track-out is faster; would you do the same on the Downhill at LRP? Of course not, that's just silly.
And, by the way, I was faster than Chris Albin in qualifying.
A 6-pack of Sam's Octoberfest would be a fine ante-up. Better hurry, it's soon to go out of season.
GA
No beer for you! At least not for that reason.
We're talking two different parts of the downhill. I'm talking about going down the hill before the right hand turn; you're talking about track out. I suppose one could stay far left down the hill and try not tracking out as far.Heck, if one's doing it right they're not fully at the left going down the hill to save real estate.
I'm thinking about doing some really dumb things just so I can get my butt down there next year. Stupid racing!
Dave Gran
Real Roads, Real Car Guys – Real World Road Tests
Go Ahead - Take the Wheel's Free Guide to Racing
Ah! I pretty much go all the way left there, but I can see the basis of the variation of opinion. Probably not a viable alternative in faster cars though.
If you are doing things in order to ensure participation in the ARRC, they cannot, by core definition, be dumb, no matter what they are. Resolved!I'm thinking about doing some really dumb things just so I can get my butt down there next year.
Greggy-poo (as Diminio likes to say), reading comprehension ownz you!
Jake Gulick
CarriageHouse Motorsports
for sale: 2003 Audi A4 Quattro, clean, serviced, dark green, auto, sunroof, tan leather with 75K miles.
IT-7 #57 RX-7 race car
Porsche 1973 911E street/fun car
BMW 2003 M3 cab, sun car.
GMC Sierra Tow Vehicle
New England Region
lateapex911(at)gmail(dot)com
Jeff-
I love Pocono All the configurations!!! also Love RA and LRP!
Nothing beats Mt. Washington though!!! Wish that was still an option
The only track I really don't like is NHMS.... Havn't raced at the track in 3 or 4 years I think??? And I lived within 20 or so minutes from the track until recently!
Raymond "I want to go to Summit and VIR!" Blethen
RST Performance Racing
www.rstperformance.com
Summit Point Labor Day event next year!!! It's one of the best overall weekends and has something for everyone. There's a ton of racing, the wives and others can head into D.C. or whatever, lots of B cars, neat track......
Dave Gran
Real Roads, Real Car Guys – Real World Road Tests
Go Ahead - Take the Wheel's Free Guide to Racing
^^^Sexist pig!!
I'll go shopping, Steph can stay and race!!
Ed Funk
NER ITA CRX, ITB Civic, ITC CRX (wanna buy a Honda?)
Smart as a horse, hung like Einstein!
You talkin' 'bout me!??!
Ed Funk
NER ITA CRX, ITB Civic, ITC CRX (wanna buy a Honda?)
Smart as a horse, hung like Einstein!
What are you talking about, I thought you were the wife Ed?
Dave Gran
Real Roads, Real Car Guys – Real World Road Tests
Go Ahead - Take the Wheel's Free Guide to Racing
Nah, I'm definitely the boss! She's at a trade show and not on-line today, so for a couple days, I'm in charge!
Ed Funk
NER ITA CRX, ITB Civic, ITC CRX (wanna buy a Honda?)
Smart as a horse, hung like Einstein!
Bookmarks