LAKEVILLE, Conn. (April 11, 2025) – Lime Rock Historic Festival launches into action over Labor Day weekend, August 28–September 1, 2025, with five full days of vintage racing, Concours d’Elegance, and pure automotive joy.

Now celebrating its 43rd year, the Festival brings together a thrilling and diverse field of historic race cars for a one-of-a-kind celebration of speed, sound, and beauty.

It All Starts with the Parade

The event begins Thursday, August 28, with the beloved Historic Festival Parade presented by NBT Bank. 125 vintage race and sports cars set off on a scenic 17-mile tour through the hills of northwest Connecticut, delighting fans. The parade concludes in Falls Village, where fans gather for a lively street fair with food, live music, and a close-up look at the stunning parade participants.

Entry to the parade, which is open to race cars and sports cars manufactured prior to 1975, opens June 1 through Lime Rock Park’s website.

Three Days of Racing. One Unforgettable Weekend.

The racing kicks off Friday, August 29, with practice and qualifying sessions for all nine race groups. Then, on Saturday and Monday, the track comes alive with two full days of wheel-to-wheel competition featuring some of the most beloved and iconic racing machines ever.

Racers from the Del Monte Group are making the cross-country journey to join their East Coast counterparts for a unique celebration of vintage sports car racing. Inspired by the legendary Del Monte Trophy Races held on the scenic public roads of Pebble Beach from 1950 to 1956—including the inaugural win by future F1 World Champion Phil Hill—the group is dedicated to preserving the spirit and cars of that golden era.

Toyo Tires Historic World Challenge is a thrilling on-track tribute to the golden era of World Challenge racing. Championship-winning drivers reunite with their original GT and Touring Cars from legendary marques like Acura, Honda, Cadillac, Porsche, Audi, BMW, and Chevrolet. The group’s legacy at Lime Rock Park includes multiple race winners and series champions—led by Peter Cunningham, who scored a record nine victories here, more than any other track.

Step back in time with the Ragtime Racers, a living history exhibit featuring authentic pre-1920 IndyCars—no replicas here, just the original machines that helped invent American motorsport. These early open-wheel icons are presented in full period detail, from the drivers’ vintage attire to the period-correct tools and even their circus tent garage. Catch these mechanical marvels in motion during parade laps on Friday, Saturday, and Monday, and experience the roots of IndyCar racing up close in the paddock.

A weekend-long celebration of Triumph, a legendary British sports car brand, includes the running of the prestigious Kastner Cup, an all-Triumph race honoring R.W. “Kas” Kastner—the West Coast motorsports pioneer. Expect a full grid of Spitfires, TRs, GT6s, and more in one of the weekend’s most anticipated races, where Triumph’s rich competition history roars back to life.

Nine Race Groups, Decades of History

1. Mid-Century GT / Sports Cars Under 2 Litre

2. The Jim Haynes Memorial for Formula Juniors

3. War-Era: Pre-War and Post-War Del Monte Trophy Racers

4. Toyo Tires Historic World Challenge Cars

5. The Kastner Cup for Triumphs

6. Tin Tops / IMSA RS / Under 2.5 Litre

7. Big Bore / Air-Cooled Porsches

8. Wings / Slicks & Formula Fords

9. GT / Sports Cars Over 2 Litre / Sports Racing Cars

Sunday Concours d’Elegance: A Rolling Gallery of Style, Storytelling, and Shared Passion

The Lime Rock Park Concours and Gathering of the Marques transforms the Park’s infield into a gallery of classic, historic, exotic, and collector cars. From perfectly preserved classics to race-worn legends, Sunday is about style, storytelling, and shared passion.

In conjunction with this year’s Kastner Cup racing events, Triumph will be showcased in prewar, postwar, and competition form.

The 2025 Lime Rock Concours also spotlights Ferrari’s iconic V-12 GTs, including a rare 250 GT Berlinetta SWB, and pays tribute to influential design legend Giorgetto Giugiaro. Additional highlights include the timeless elegance of Stutz, classic Porsche 356s, and the 120th anniversary of Rolls-Royce.

Other classes will celebrate Chrysler’s Hemi-powered heritage, the inventive spirit of early postwar American sports cars, and our ever-popular Preservation class. Expect a wide range of pre-and postwar American and European vehicles.

Additional displays for this year’s event include several classic Italian grand touring cars from the Boch Collection.

Two-wheeled enthusiasts aren’t left out—Triumph motorcycles will be featured, along with a special class for the high-performance, multi-cylinder bikes of the 1970s and ’80s.

A Festival for Fans, Families, and Car Lovers of All Kinds

Off-track, the midway will buzz with activity, including tents filled with automotive art, vintage memorabilia, local food trucks, and craft beer. For those seeking something rare or hard to find, the Swap Meet in B Paddock is a treasure trove of parts, posters, books, and accessories.

Looking for a next-level experience? The VIP Hospitality Tent offers all-day food by LRP Catering, unlimited beverages, private restrooms, and exclusive driver meet-and-greets—all with one of the best trackside views in the Park.

On Friday evening, competitors gather for a time-honored tradition: the Historic Festival Competitor Dinner. This year’s guest of honor is none other than David Hobbs, Le Mans legend and former Triumph Spitfire racer, who will share tales from the track and raise a glass with drivers and fans alike.

A Word from the Chairman

“The Historic Festival has been the heart and soul of Lime Rock Park for more than four decades,” said Historic Festival Chairman Skip Barber. “This year, we’re especially proud to welcome the Del Monte Racers, World Challenge, Kastner Cup, and host the Ragtime Racers for the first time. From the on-track battles to the beauty of Sunday’s Concours, it will be one of our most memorable festivals yet.”

Tickets & Info

Entries are open now for all the Concours classes, and application information is available on the Lime Rock website by clicking HERE.

General Admission and VIP Hospitality tickets for Historic Festival 43 are available on LimeRock.com. Children 12 and under are always free with an adult ticket. On-site camping is available for fans looking to make it a full weekend escape.