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LIME ROCK PARK • THE EARLY YEARS 1955-1975
but it wiped out the Lime Rock Corporation bank balance. Crucially, as a result of the new layers of asphalt, the track level was now above the level of the run-off areas surrounding it, creating a potential hazard that needed to be remedied quickly, but it was one of those things that could not be done immediately. Lime Rock never had any spare money. Even before the first race, John Fitch had to arrange for rain insurance, because if the races were rained out, Lime Rock could have gone bankrupt. Lime Rock had just spent their money reserves, so Fitch paid for the insurance from his own pocket.
The track officially opened on April 27, when practice took place with mixed feelings of excitement and apprehension for the races the next day. The new track surface had barely time to settle and Jim Vaill was desperately hoping that it would stand up to the pounding of cars at race speeds. A crowd of healthy proportions came to watch the inaugural meeting, which was deemed to be a great success, but all of the spectators were shepherded to the areas on the outside of the circuit, due to incomplete secure areas on the inside of the track.
Spectators were pre-warned of the shortcomings as Jim Vaill wrote in the inaugural race program, “Do we look unfinished? We are!”
APRIL 28, 1957
“Our conduct at this first event and the impression we make on the local people will undoubtedly set the pattern for our future relations.” (Race Chairman, John Clapp)
A crowd, estimated at 6,600, came to watch the inaugural races, a SCCA New England regional event, which turned out to be a great success under the guidance of race director, John Fitch. Having attracted a number of top drivers and the Cunningham Team to the event, Fitch found it frustrating that he was not allowed by the SCCA to advertise the entrants in the local papers. Had he been allowed to, the crowd might well have been higher and the coffers swelled appreciably. Necessary fencing on the infield and other facilities were not complete yet, so all spectators were limited to the areas on the outside of the circuit where they were ‘protected’ by wire fences. The start/finish line was located on the straightaway that led into a long sweeping “U” turn to the right. After that turn there was one to the left, then an uphill stretch, at which point the spectators perched on the
LEFT: A section of the 152 cars that attended the very first event, a driver’s school. (H)
BELOW: Behind the crude pit area there was room for pre-race inspection and taking on fuel. (TON)
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CHAPTER TWO • 1957: THE FIRST RACES
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