Yesterday was my first time at a modern sports car race, and it was probably the most fun I've ever had. Lime Rock is like the ultimate spectator road course. One thing I was surprised with was how close you could get to everything. Just minutes before the race spectators were free to roam the grid and meet the drivers (My dad met Rodger Penske!). Since Lime Rock is so small it's easy to walk around and see all the track. Much to everyone's surprise, the track was already completed with the track changes planned for the end of this summer. I thought the new corners would destroy the old circuit, but the new corners were well planned and didn't interfere with the flow of the old course. Along with the new corners was a few new spectator area, and some of them seemed no more than 20 ft from the track.
Once in the track we got to see some amazing racing. In the morning the ALMS Lites series started, and even with noob drivers in slow cars, the race was fun to watch. Then Formula BMW Americas came out 12:30. They were a bit dissapointing because there were only 10 cars and the leader ran away with the race (just like an LFS race). Then after the grid was cleared at 1:45, the real fun began. With the Prototypes doing 48 second laps, it took a mere 5 minutes for the lapping to begin and then there was always something to watch. A Tequila Petron Acura (run by David Brabham and Scott Sharp) was on pole, but the Porsches were quick and too the lead by the end of turn 1. A few minutes later the silent Audis stormed up to the front and ripped past the Porsches, but with every high there is a low. The #2 Audi had multple spins and dropped a few good positions. Then the #1 Audi, while in first place, had contact with the #008 Aston Martin, putting it out untill the final minutes. For there on the Porsches seemed to dominate, but the Tequila Petron Acura unleased an ambush at the end, and for 7 of the last 9 minutes, the Acura was just 3 tenths behind the leading Porsche. Going into the first corner with 2 minutes left, the Porsche cracked under pressure and the Acure stormed away. Halfway through the last lap(luckly the last half off the lap is mostly downhill) the Acura ran out of fuel. It sputtered it's way on fumes to the finish line for a fantastic win. With such a good ending, it was one of the nicest races I've ever seen.
I will post pics, but there's a good 1,000 of them to sort through.
Once in the track we got to see some amazing racing. In the morning the ALMS Lites series started, and even with noob drivers in slow cars, the race was fun to watch. Then Formula BMW Americas came out 12:30. They were a bit dissapointing because there were only 10 cars and the leader ran away with the race (just like an LFS race). Then after the grid was cleared at 1:45, the real fun began. With the Prototypes doing 48 second laps, it took a mere 5 minutes for the lapping to begin and then there was always something to watch. A Tequila Petron Acura (run by David Brabham and Scott Sharp) was on pole, but the Porsches were quick and too the lead by the end of turn 1. A few minutes later the silent Audis stormed up to the front and ripped past the Porsches, but with every high there is a low. The #2 Audi had multple spins and dropped a few good positions. Then the #1 Audi, while in first place, had contact with the #008 Aston Martin, putting it out untill the final minutes. For there on the Porsches seemed to dominate, but the Tequila Petron Acura unleased an ambush at the end, and for 7 of the last 9 minutes, the Acura was just 3 tenths behind the leading Porsche. Going into the first corner with 2 minutes left, the Porsche cracked under pressure and the Acure stormed away. Halfway through the last lap(luckly the last half off the lap is mostly downhill) the Acura ran out of fuel. It sputtered it's way on fumes to the finish line for a fantastic win. With such a good ending, it was one of the nicest races I've ever seen.
I will post pics, but there's a good 1,000 of them to sort through.
