A look at the tumultuous early years of American’s oldest continuously operated road racecourse.
Lime Rock Park in Connecticut—American’s oldest continuously operated road course—came about more by accident than design. Construction of the course began in 1955, when open road racing had been banned in many states, and the use of military and civil airport runways for racing was losing favor with audiences. Dubbed “the Road Racing Center of the East,” the park has a turbulent history bedeviled by financial crises, discord with racing organizers, and extensive legal troubles, but it managed to prevail against steep odds. Terry O’Neil’s book details this history of mixed fortunes during the first twenty years of the park’s existence. Containing more than a thousand images, hundreds of race results, and a wealth of previously unseen material, Lime Rock Park is a thorough deep dive into the rocky beginnings of a crucial site in the history of American automobile racing.
Lime Rock Park in Connecticut—American’s oldest continuously operated road course—came about more by accident than design. Construction of the course began in 1955, when open road racing had been banned in many states, and the use of military and civil airport runways for racing was losing favor with audiences. Dubbed “the Road Racing Center of the East,” the park has a turbulent history bedeviled by financial crises, discord with racing organizers, and extensive legal troubles, but it managed to prevail against steep odds. Terry O’Neil’s book details this history of mixed fortunes during the first twenty years of the park’s existence. Containing more than a thousand images, hundreds of race results, and a wealth of previously unseen material, Lime Rock Park is a thorough deep dive into the rocky beginnings of a crucial site in the history of American automobile racing.
Reviews
Table of Contents
Foreword
Introduction
Acknowledgments
Information
Preface
Chapter One • 1955-56: The beginnings and track development
Chapter Two • 1957: The first races
Chapter Three • 1958: The end of Sunday racing at Lime Rock
Chapter Four • 1959: The sweet taste of professional racing
Chapter Five • 1960: John Fitch resigns
Chapter Six • 1961: Internal politics
Chapter Seven • 1962: The final Petit Le Mans race
Chapter Eight • 1963: Pressure takes it’s toll
Chapter Nine • 1964: James E. Haynes obtains controlling interest of LRPC
Chapter Ten • 1965: Changing trends
Chapter Eleven • 1966: Amendments to the second injunction: issued in 1959
Chapter Twelve • 1967: Trans-Am comes to Lime Rock
Chapter Thirteen • 1968: Continuing conflict
Chapter Fourteen • 1969: Trans-Am, the savior
Chapter Fifteen • 1970: New ownership of Lime Rock Park
Chapter Sixteen • 1971: The snipping continues
Chapter Seventeen • 1972: Showroom Stock Sedans introduced
Chapter Eighteen • 1973: Fears over the fuel crisis
Chapter Nineteen • 1974: Embarrassment and reward
Chapter Twenty • 1975: Actions of the Planning and Zoning Commission
Appendices
Index
Introduction
Acknowledgments
Information
Preface
Chapter One • 1955-56: The beginnings and track development
Chapter Two • 1957: The first races
Chapter Three • 1958: The end of Sunday racing at Lime Rock
Chapter Four • 1959: The sweet taste of professional racing
Chapter Five • 1960: John Fitch resigns
Chapter Six • 1961: Internal politics
Chapter Seven • 1962: The final Petit Le Mans race
Chapter Eight • 1963: Pressure takes it’s toll
Chapter Nine • 1964: James E. Haynes obtains controlling interest of LRPC
Chapter Ten • 1965: Changing trends
Chapter Eleven • 1966: Amendments to the second injunction: issued in 1959
Chapter Twelve • 1967: Trans-Am comes to Lime Rock
Chapter Thirteen • 1968: Continuing conflict
Chapter Fourteen • 1969: Trans-Am, the savior
Chapter Fifteen • 1970: New ownership of Lime Rock Park
Chapter Sixteen • 1971: The snipping continues
Chapter Seventeen • 1972: Showroom Stock Sedans introduced
Chapter Eighteen • 1973: Fears over the fuel crisis
Chapter Nineteen • 1974: Embarrassment and reward
Chapter Twenty • 1975: Actions of the Planning and Zoning Commission
Appendices
Index