The Lime Rock Historic Festival 2012 was held August 31st to September 3rd at the 7-turn, 1.5 mile Lime Rock Park road course in Connecticut.
More than 300 vintage race cars grouped in 10 racing classes participated in the 30th running of the Lime Rock Historics. Race groups included True Vintage; Monoposto Medley; 1966-1983 F1 Historic Grand Prix; Sports Racers of the ’50s; among others.
British Formula One racing legend Sir Stirling Moss was the guest of honor for the 2012 Lime Rock Historic Festival. Although Moss did not compete at this year’s event, several of his former winning cars were at the festival including the 1954 Osca MT4, winner at the 1954 Sebring 12 Hours and the 1952 Jaguar C-Type, winner at the 1953 12 Hours of Reims. Moss opened each race day driving the OSCA around the track with his wife Susie, trailed by other cars Moss made famous.
Lime Rock Park’s annual Labor Day weekend vintage racing event featured — for the first time — a special Formula 1 race group. Historic Grand Prix, a vintage racing organization that showcases the 1966 to 1983 3-litre era of F1, raced at the 2012 Lime Rock Historics. Highlights included Duncan Dayton piloting his Mario Andretti World Championship-winning 1978 Lotus 79, the 1971 Ferrari 312 B2 of John Goodman, 1974 Brabham BT 4 of Phil Reilly and Charles Warner’s 1979 Shadow DN9B, among others.
In addition to the Formula One racers, other notable entrants at the 2012 Lime Rock Historic Festival included Sandra McNeil’s 1964 Porsche 904; 1959 Stanguellini Formula Junior of Bill Gelles; Ben Bragg’s 1935 ‘Old Grey Mare’ Special; 1932 Alta Le Mans of Nick Grewal; 1954 Maserati 250F of Peter Giddings; Peter Greenfield’s 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C-35; 1957 Monsterati of David Swig; 1955 Jaguar D-Type driven by Daniel Ghose; Doug Elcomb’s very unique Canadian Dreossi Special; 1959 Maserati Type 61 Birdcage of Tony Wang; 1969 Lola T70 Mk3B and 1958 Lister Jaguar of Tom Malloy; 1960 Porsche RS 60 driven by Roger Mandeville; Simon Kirby in the 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL; and Mark Auriana’s 1957 Alfa Romeo SVZ.
Similar to the 2011 Lime Rock Historics and 2010 Lime Rock Historics, photographer Michael DiPleco also documented the vintage racing action from the 2012 Lime Rock Historic Festival, offering the following pictures that not only show the field of historic race cars, but also the park-like setting of the Lime Rock road course.
Lime Rock Historic Festival 2012 – Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)
