Today would be a great day for on track action at the Memorial Day Classic at Lime Rock Park; with test, practice and qualifying sessions for five different races series. Hope you like the photos.

After arriving at the track around 8.30 am, walked down the Inner Spectator Hill to the A Paddock to capture the cars in there garages and getting prepared.

At the entrance to the A Paddock was a very special exhibit, Skip Barber’s, 1970 March 701 F1 car. This exhibit was part of the 2024 celebration to honor Skip Barber for all the things he has done to build and establish Lime Rock Park as one of the preeminent race tracks in the world.

Yesterday,  I mentioned how was interested to find out what type of cars were covered in the park at the entrance to the A Paddock. It turns out the cars  were part of the Winners Circle Project, where high school students build Factory Five vehicles, promote their project and build a race team. The cars looked immaculate inside and out.

Continued my walk along the A Paddock, and past one of the technical inspection stations where the cars are checked for conforming to the racing and safety regulations.

The #16 Gymweed Ford Mustang driving by TA class driver Chris Dyson.

A pair of  class TA Chevrolet Camaro’s, and a Ford Mustang in the background.

The #02 Chevrolet Corvette on car stands. Many thanks to the mechanic who let me get some photos of the engine bay and interior of the car.

Really thought the dog livery on the nose of this open-wheel race car looked really cool.

Saw a beautiful Corvette under its canopy garage.

As I continued my walk down the A Paddock, saw an F1600 race car for sale.

About half-way along the A Paddock, walked over to the other side of the paddock and saw the stunning McLaren Lime Rock Park pace car in red, white and black livery.

Walked back along the A Paddock, past the Timing and Scoring Tower, to the Technical Inspection station for the Trans-AM cars, and watched the cars being inspected.

After the paddock walk, headed to the inside of the track near the pedestrian bridge for photos of the cars speeding down Sam Posey Straight. The 1999 Mazda Miata NB #84.

Then followed the cars as they continued under the pedestrian bridge, as indicated by the black shadows at the top and bottom of the photos above. The 2017 Volkswagen GTI #30 (above) and 1996 Ford Mustang #13 (bottom).

After this session finished, went to the outside of Big Bend for photos of the cars as they sped down Sam Posey Straight, then into Big Bend. Arrived here in time for the mid-morning test session for the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) Groups 2,9 and Formula Race Promotions (FRP) cars. The SVRA is one of the largest and oldest vintage car racing organizations in the USA and holds events at many legendary race tracks throughout the country; whilst the FRP is an East Coast hosting body for formula car racing including the F1600, F2000 and Atlantic series. A 2004 Mazda Pro Formula Elan (above).

Really liked the wide stance and large rear wing on the 1969 LeGrand Mark XI.

A 2003 Van Diemen F2000 which runs in the FRP series.

Also saw this interesting looking open-wheeler with no rear wing.

Next up was the International GT (IGT) qualifying session 1. The IGT is a North American racing series that includes different championships for late-model Porsche and Ferrari competitors, and is comprised mainly of sportsman drivers. At the Memorial Day Classic were the Porsche IGT’s. The #262 Porsche.

A couple of shots of the #17 Porsche going around Big Bend. Should also mention, this a great location to see how the Berkshire Mountains surround the beautiful Lime Rock Park track.

For the late morning Trans Am TA2 testing session, went back to the location for photos of the cars coming down the front straight, then under the bridge. The #40 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (top) and the #81 CB Motosports Ford Mustang (bottom).

The #11 IronSmoke / RedLineOil / Carbotech Chevrolet Camaro.

Walked to my left for another vantage point of the cars entering Big Bend. The #75 HendrickCars.com / Silver Hare Chevrolet Camaro (top) and #56 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (bottom).

The #97 VixenMotorcycles / LTKInsulation Ford Mustang speeding past the A Paddock in the background.

It was about mid-day when the session finished, so headed back up to the A Paddock to get some lunch, and saw another view of Skip Barber’s, 1970 March 701 F1 car.

After lunch, walked up the Inner Spectator Hill to the Midway. Along the way, passed this group of spectators who had a great view of the track and the A Paddock, under the shade of a tree.

At the Midway, there is a wide range of things spectators can do; ranging from getting something to eat from the food stands, seeing classic cars on display, buy souvenirs and even try a racing car simulator.

Was really great how they had a large board for people to sign and write their thoughts to Skip Barber.

On my way through the Midway passed a Lime Rock Park caravan and signage for The Drivers Club.

Near the entrance to the Midway was one of the inner field car parks, and it was great to see it full.

The iconic LRP signage.

For the mid-afternoon IGT qualifying session, went over to the outside of the Right Hander. From this vantage point you can get photos of the cars as they pass the Lime Rock Park tower in the background.

Using a long lens you can track the cars as they navigate through the Esses with side, front and 3/4 front panning photos. Really liked the dinosaur teeth livery on the front of the #17 Porsche (middle).

As the cars exited the Esses, you can get photos of the car speeding through this section with the green grass of the Inner Spectator Hill in the background.

It wasn’t long until the mid-afternoon TA2 qualifying started, with all the cars heading out at the start of this session. The #40 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang.

Here’s a series of photos of the TA2 cars going though the Esses (top to bottom): #98 Bring Back The Trades / D&M Elec Ford Mustang, #25 Amsoil Chevrolet Camaro, #30 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang, #81 CB Motosports Ford Mustang and the #16 Regulator by Waypointe Ford Mustang.

After the TA2 qualifying session finished, walked over the Inner Spectator Hill, then went up the hill, crossed the bridge at the top of the track, then walked down the Downhill to Turn 7. Here you can capture photos of the cars descending the Down Hill, then down the Sam Posey Straight. Here’s a couple of cars from the SVRA.

Went back up the side of the Down Hill, and watched the SVRA cars descend, then go around Turn 7 into Sam Posey Straight. Decided to try to capture this. For the photo above, needed to anticipate when the cars would descend the Down Hill, since their wasn’t enough time to watch for the cars, put the camera viewfinder to your eye, then track the car and take the photo. So instead, kept the camera viewfinder to my eye, listened for the car, then immediately panned the camera in the direction where I thought the car was traveling using back-button focus (which enabled me to pre-focus, so the AF wouldn’t be distracted by the trees the car was traveling behind). Missed a lot of photos, but managed to get a couple. A 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport.

Used a different technique for the photo above, where a long lens was used to pan the cars as they sped around Turn 7 into Sam Posey Straight. The #93 Chevrolet Camaro.

As the session continued walked to the top of the Down Hill, crossed the road, then went to the other side of the bridge on the drivers side; for low, front-on photos of the cars.

Turned around for rear photos of the cars as they descended the Down Hill; and timed, pushing the shutter button as they went between a couple of crash barriers, which gave the illusion they want down and along these barriers.

Continued walking along the outside of West Bend and was looking for elements to incorporate into the photos. Noticed how a white curved line from another part of the track would look interesting in the photos. A 2012 Piper DF5 (top) and a 2010 Radon RN100 (bottom) from the FRP series.

I think the 1969 LeGrand Mark XI was one of my favorite cars from this race event, due to the classic open-wheeler design and large rear wing.

Race 1 for the IGT series started at 4.05 pm, and grabbed some photos of the #17 Porsche “T-Rex”.

Crossed the bridge, for inside track, backlit photos of the FRP series cars as they went around West Bend.

Walked down the hill to the Inner Spectator Hill for photos of the Atlantic F2000 series cars as they sped through the Esses. Here’s a series of “Ferrari” photos.

Stayed at this location for the late afternoon TA2 qualifying session. The #3 CMI / Spot-On-Serv Ford Mustang.

The #80 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang “speeding through the grass”.

The #25 Amsoil Chevrolet Camaro exiting the Left Hander.

Exiting the Esses with the #20 Greenlight Simulation / BCR Ford Mustang (top), #90 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (middle) and the #11 IronSmoke / RedLineOil / Carbotech Chevrolet Camaro (bottom). Really enjoyed covering the days on- and off-track action, and looking forward to Saturday. Thanks for spending your time reading this blog.