Connecticut's Lime Rock Park is one of the nation's oldest and most historic tracks. Today, it's owned and operated by a racing legend, Skip Barber, now in his eighth decade. Jeff Glor reports.
A year of Covid later. Great interview, could've listened to Skip for an hour. I've attended since 1966, 3-Day Barber school 1980. Truly a Cool Labor Day weekend institution. A gem in the Connecticut hills. Damn Covid. Hope to return 2022. I'm 70. Good health be with you Skip👍🏁
i think for me like many kids who grew up going to tracks, we have nobody else to thank but our parents who either grew up around cars, racing, or just had a fascination of both were around for the late 70s and onwards when racing was a big thing with even bigger names. it also really helps that LRP hosts a multitude of events catered to different types and classes of automobile racing. My father having grown up around cars and drag racing that my grandfather did at the now long lost Dover Dragstrip really cemented his love for cars of which he passed down to me. Not only is it seeing the cars fly by you over 100 mph its the sound, the smells, and the sights. Especially in the case for LRP, being able to go in to the infield and physically stand right next to the drivers, crews, and the cars themselves allows for a whole different level of interaction. The ability to go onto pit road before the race and talk to the drivers and see the cars that close up just makes this a whole new level of memorable. As Skip said here for Paul Newman, anyone can go here and it no longer is about fame or the weight your name carries, everyone is there for the cars, the experience and the racing.
No bikes = lame. Not to mention for cars there are SOOOO many better tracks in this area. Palmer for example, njmp, even thompson. Kids do work on their cars, cars became less affordable, as did racing. The sport pushed the regular joes out of the sport in favor of millionaire children with limitless budgets.
