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| Empire
Division Driver School and Dust Off at Lime Rock
by Michael Frank, Jaguar Touring Club posted 5/22/04 |
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Every year, Empire Division runs a Driver School at Lime Rock race track in Lime Rock, Connecticut. This year's meet was especially noteworthy for the wide range of activities packed into an exciting, two day event. With the cooperation of several sponsors, there were three additional events running concurrently with the driver's school. Empire Division sponsored a Dust Off, or non-competitive concours, for those who simply wanted to show their cars. Jaguar hosted a party to introduce prospective customers to the Jaguar line. And a local club, Brits of the Hudson, hosted a slalom in the Skip Barber paddock area. The event was held May 21-22 under threatening, but dry skies.
Limerock is a beautiful anachronism - classic 1.53 mile track, which
first opened in 1957. Although the plan is basically an oval, the track
includes significant elevation changes, and challenging curves. Prominent
features include Big Bend, a complete 180 degree turn located at the end
of the main straight. A sudden uphill elevation leading into the back straight
gives the track roller coaster like excitement, while the sweeping downhill
turn leading back to the main straight is pure exhilaration.
The Empire event is a driver's school. There are no times kept, no prizes,
and minimal passing. It's all about the fun of learning how to drive your
car, fast! Participants are divided into three classes: red, yellow and
green. The red class, newbies, are given comprehensive instruction, including
track time with an instructor in the passenger seat. In future years, today's beginning
drivers can move up to yellow, which is the novice class, and eventually
to green, which is for experienced drivers. But no matter what car you run,
or what into which class you're slotted, you're going to have a great time.
As has become an annual practice, Jaguar hosted a customer event in
conjunction with the driving school. Prospective customers could drive
any car in the Jaguar range: S-Type, X-Type, XJ, or XK (including R variants).
For these lucky customers, the driving event included laps of Limerock's
cart track, followed by parade laps of the main course. A very nice lunch
was served, and a masseuse was available to help you relax after your drive.
Four electronic race simulators let you try your skill as a Formula 1 driver.
The Dust Off, hopefully to be an annual event, brought out folks who
rarely drop in for the track event. Among the many magnificent cars, we
must single out Skip Barber's pristine C-Type for special mention. Particpants
included club members from Empire, JTC JANE, and JCSNE. We look forward
to this event within an event growing into a major regional show.
Brits of the Hudson hosted
a slalom in the Skip Barber paddock area. As they are not a JCNA organization,
the slalom was not run to our standard pattern. But the participants had
a great day, running a variety of lovely cars through the pylons. We have
to give special thanks to BOTH, as their members volunteered for flag service
on the main track.
Finally, many thanks to Charles Bordin and Bob Milstein of Empire for putting together another great event! Click any thumbnail for larger image |
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