This  weekend, Lime Rock Park will roar to life as the Connecticut track is set to celebrate Ford as the honored marque for Historic Festival 42 (Aug. 30-Sept. 2). The five-day celebration will not only commemorate the 60th anniversary of one of the most iconic and enduring muscle cars in automotive history, the Ford Mustang, but also pay homage to the significant contribution Ford has made to automotive innovation.

 

But, what if you want to completely immerse yourself in everything that is Historic Festival? The event itself has grown and so has the number of things to do around the track that will keep fans busy for the entire five-days of the Festival. The Lime Rock Park staff has chosen 15 (Non-Racing) Things to Do while you’re here- most of which are included with a General Admission ticket.

 

View the full Historic Festival 42 guide, complete with schedule, entry list and track map in the Daily Rev:  https://online.flippingbook.com/view/578671622/

1. Watch the Historic Festival Parade presented by NBT Bank

When: Thursday, 5:00 p.m.

Where: 17 miles around the Lakeville area, starting at Lime Rock Park and ending at Falls Village Inn

Fast Fact: Free event for the community, featuring a 125 rare and vintage car parade.

About: The five-day festival kicks off on Thursday with the Historic Festival Parade presented by NBT Bank. Now that the Salmon Kill Bridge construction is complete, the parade will revert to its traditional route, including a 17-mile tour through local towns on some of the most scenic and entertaining roads in northwest Connecticut. Historic Festival Chair Skip Barber hand-selected 125 of the rarest and most interesting entries for the parade, promising an exciting collection of cars touring through Northwest Connecticut. The parade will start with a send-off lap around Lime Rock Park at 5:00 p.m. and will conclude at the town of Falls Village with a street fair featuring a free concert from Wanda Houston.

Insider Tip: Bagpiper Careyanne Armstrong will join the parade as the parade’s Grand Marshall before it enters Falls Village, which means the cars will make a slow rolling stop as they enter town, perfect opportunity for photos!

 

2. Screen the Movie Rush with Us at a Historic Theatre

When: Thursday, 8:00 p.m. 

Where: Colonial Theatre North Canaan 

Fast Fact: Free event for the community, featuring the movie Rush

About: New to this year’s HF42 festivities is a special free community movie night at the Colonial Theatre in North Canaan, Conn., immediately following the Historic Festival Parade presented by NBT Bank celebrations in Falls Village. The featured film for the evening is Rush, a thrilling portrayal of the intense rivalry between Formula 1 drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda during the 1976 racing season. Directed by Ron Howard, this gripping film captures the excitement and drama of one of the sport’s most famous rivalries, making it a perfect start to the Historic Festival 42.

Insider Tips: While the event is free, Colonial Theatre requires all fans to reserve tickets in advance. Reserve tickets here: https://canaancentennialtheatre.thundertix.com/

3. Take a Guided Paddock Tour

When: Saturday (11am-noon, 2-3pm) and Monday (11am-noon, 2-3pm)

Where: Tours start at the Info Booth located in the Midway at the entrance of Spectator Hill

Fast Fact: Free and open to anyone with General Admission ticket

About: The Vintage Sports Car Club of America will be offering Guided Paddock Tours again this year. The tour guide will take fans around the paddock, telling historical stories and interesting facts about select cars, allowing participants to get an up-close look at rare race cars.

Insider Tip: If you can’t make the guided tour, pick up an entry list and paddock map at the Info Booth and host your own tour

 

4. Attend a Special Proclamation 

When: Saturday during Lunch – ~1:35pm

Where: Sam Posey Straight

About: Scheduled Grand Marshal Governor Ned Lemont & U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal will make a special presentation during lunch that dedicated Lime Rock Park fans won’t want to miss!

Insider Tip: This will be a special surprise for Skip Barber, shhhhhh.

 

5. Meet Peter Cunningham

When: Saturday, 10-10:30 a.m.

Where: Toyo Tire Display, Midway

Fast Fact: Peter Cunningham will have some of his World Challenge cars displayed in the Toyo Tire display for photos if you miss him for autographs.

About: RealTime Racing, winners of 15 World Challenge Drivers’ Championships, will bring four of its turn-of-the-century World Challenge race cars to HF42. The cars are part of the Toyo Tires Turn-of-the-Century World Challenge Group created specifically for this year’s event. RealTime owner Peter Cunningham will drive the team’s first-generation Acura TSX, which the team won three World Challenge Touring Car Championships; in 2005 and 2008 with Cunningham and in 2006 with Pierre Kleinubing. Historic World Challenge co-founder John Whitaker will drive a second-generation RealTime Acura TSX, a model Kleinubing won the 2009 Touring Car title and Cunningham drove to two World Challenge GTS championships. You can meet and get Peter’s autograph during this time. 

6. Add Sunday in The Park; Lime Rock Park Concours to your HF42 experience 

When: Sunday 10am-2pm

Where: Lime Rock Park

Fast Fact: This experience requires an additional ticket from GA race days ($40)

About: Sunday is two events in one. Sunday in the Park: The Lime Rock Concours offers a special line up of beautiful and historic cars across several groups to vie for the Best-in-Show Award. The Gathering of the Marques hosts enthusiasts and clubs representing nearly every make and model, all arranged around the 1.5-mile Lime Rock course. With more than 1,000 cars expected, the event will showcase an incredibly diverse display of cars grouped by make, model or country of origin.

Insider Tips: Food vendors will be spread out around the track for you to stop and enjoy some food and cold drinks as you tour the car show. The rare Lime Rock Concours cars are lined on the Sam Posey Straight, the Gathering of the Marques are arranged all around the track.

 

7. Sign Skip’s Giant Card

When: Friday-Monday
Where: Year of Skip Booth on the Midway
Fast Fact: The “card” stands 8×8 foot tall!
About: 2024 is the Year of Skip Barber and Lime Rock Park is honoring Skip and his contributions to the motorsport community with several events throughout the year. While we know Skip has left his mark on the business and competition side of racing, he’s also had a major impact on the fans. This is your chance to leave your favorite memory of Skip or just a special message for him. This card will be up all season and at the end of the year we will present the card to Skip!
Insider Tip: Skip’s LRP edition M3 will also be on display at the booth so be sure to snap a pic.

 

8. View Skip’s March 701 in the Cartainer
When: Friday-Monday
Where: Point of Paddock A
Fast Fact: This car was built for Formula 1 but raced in Formula 5000 – Skip still made it to the front of the pack in it!
About: Displayed in a climate-controlled, clear Cartainer, fans will be able to get a 360 degree view of Skip Barber’s 1970 March 701 F1 Car that he drove in Formula 5000 in 1971.
Insider Tip: If you’re camping at the track, the container will be lit up at night, so come down and get a unique perspective under the moonlight.

 

9. Tour Ross’ Myers Rare Ford Collection

When: Friday-Monday

Where: Paddock A under the white tent, Along the front straight Sunday only

Fast Facts: The display will include 1922 Ford Kookie Kar, 1932 Ford Ricky Nelson Roadster, 1932 Ford Pinin Farina,1932 Golden Rod, 1936 Ford Ed Pink Coupe, 1957 “Battlebird”, 1963 Competition Cobra 289, 1965 Shelby GT350 Type R, 1967 Trans-Am Cougar1970 Trans-Am Mustang No.16, 1983 Ford Mustang GTP #06, 1993 Bud Moore Thunderbird #15 Motorcraft, 1992 Roush Mustang T/A GTO #15, 1996 Roush Mustang T/A #11 All Sport, 2006 Saleen S7R and the Crawford Daytona Prototype PD03-004

About: Ross Myers, a regular competitor in Historic Trans-Am and a long-time competitor at Lime Rock Park, is the benefactor of Boyertown, Pennsylvania-based 3 Dog Garage Museum and will bring 16 rare Ford-powered cars that will be on display throughout the weekend and during Sunday in The Park, including the Paul Newman-raced Daytona Prototype, Carrol Shelby’s championship-winning 1963 Competition Cobra 289 and several original historic Trans-Am cars.

Insider Tip: Get a full history of each car on display in the Daily Rev. DOWNLOAD HERE

 

10. Walk with Heroes

When: Friday-Monday

Where: Garden along the Sam Posey Straight in Paddock A

Fast Facts: Learn all about Skip Barber’s career and contributions to motorsport. 

About: Lime Rock Park will reveal its newest art installation – Walk of Heroes – this weekend. The Walk of Heroes will honor those who’ve had an impact on Lime Rock Park’s history. The first hero honored will be Skip Barber, part of The Year of Skip Barber, and each year a new hero will be unveiled. 

 

11. Find Food

When: Friday-Monday

Where: Paddock A, Outfield, Spectator Hill and the Midway

Fast Facts: Lime Rock Park has its own beer by Great Falls Brewing Company. Cold, velvety and easy to drink, Lime Rock Park Lager is a Pilsner Style Lager. This “cruising beer” was designed to be enjoyed in the infield, outfield and winners circle.

About: Park Provisions has great choices all over LRP. All the concessions will still have your favorite the Lime Rock Burger, our famous Chicken Tenders and several fresher options. The bees have been hard at work at The Park, and you can try it on top of the house made granola available in A Paddock concessions. You can also grab a LRP Hard Lemonade made with Tito’s and fresh Lemonade served in a Lime Rock Park souvenir cup in the Beer Tent. The Midway will also be filled with several food trucks serving good eats from ice cream, to turkey legs to gourmet grilled cheese, there’s something for everyone. See full list of vendors under the Midway section..

12. Wear the Kids out in the Kids Zone

When: Friday, Saturday, Monday

Where: Behind the Info Booth on the Midway

Fast Facts: Everything is Free in the Kids Zone

About: The Kids Zone is for children or for the kids at heart. Families can spend hours in the Kids Zone with lots of things to do like face painting, a photobooth, a real race car that they can actually touch, yard games and an activity booth.

Insider Tip: Put sunscreen on before you get your face painted.

 

13. Explore the Historic Festival Midway

When: Friday, Saturday, Monday

Where: Behind Spectator Hill

Fast Facts: Support local artists under the Artist Tent on The Midway and take group pictures beside the LRP letters, the LRP Frame and in the I Heart Radio car. Mohegan Digital will be onsite for fans (ages 21 and older) with a variety of casino-style games, exclusive giveaways and the chance to interact with Mohegan Digital representatives.

About: The Historic Festival Midway is packed this year. You’ll find collectibles, antique cars on display, racing gear, good eats, free swag, hard-to-find car parts, an artists’ tent and so much more. There are so many vendors we couldn’t list them all, but see the map below so you can strategically plan your route

Insider Tip: If you want first-look at all the free swag, explore the Midway on Friday (before lunch) so you have dibs on the good stuff and don’t have to wait in line!

 

14. Admire More Classics in the Car Corrals

When: Saturday and Monday

Where: The Infield 

Fast Facts: While you have to pay to park here, it’s absolutely free to take in even more cars!

About: The new Collector Car Marketplace presented by Hemmings and the Hagerty Parking Corral is a great place to see classic, modern and unique cars all in one place surrounded by like-minded automotive enthusiasts. 

 

15. Make a Deal at The Swap Meet

When: Friday-Monday

Where: Far side of B Paddock, near the maintenance past false grid. Fans can follow the signage from the A/B Paddock split.

Fast Fact: Find a new die-cast or grab some vintage racing memorabilia, pick up some parts for your race car and even shop for a new-to-you classic.

About: The HF42 Swap Meet is a collector’s dream, featuring a variety of vendors with vintage automobilia, auto/racing merchandise, vintage car parts and even a few cars for sale. All things cars will be available at the Swap Meet.

Insider Tip:  If you’re planning on going to the Swap Meet, it should be the first thing you do, since most vendors only have one of whatever they are selling. The area is open 9am-5pm Friday, Saturday and Monday and from 10am-2pm on Sunday.