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Sunday morning I found myself at the best car show I've ever attended, with almost unlimited access to many cars I've only seen in sports car magazines, and news articles about record setting sales results. The Lime Rock Historic Festival in Connecticut left me astounded at the vehicles I could walk up to and drool over without anyone once saying, "Sir, please step away from the car".
We even asked a number of people to open hoods and doors with only the friendliest of responses. Maybe Prozac is distributed in the water supply in this friendly, historic and picturesque state. It was almost as though the owners were saying, "You're finished drooling on my paintwork and would now like to drool on my interior? I'd be happy to open the door to my million dollar car to find a home for your spittle".
The highlights of the show for me were the Mercedes factory racing cars. I've read legends, watched documentaries, etc., about the Silver Arrows, Juan Fangio, and Stirling Moss' Mille Miglia win and at Lime Rock I was able to see the associated cars.
If you get a chance, watch this short well produced video to hear the above Mille car run producing a stunning sound. The video also has a brief documentary and commentary about the race with Stirling Moss.
The Silver Arrow cars are the stuff of legend. Here was a car designed to prove world dominance in a hugely unstable political climate where such a feat was almost possible. A book could easily be filled with the context, politics, races, technology, drivers and etc. associated with the Silver Arrows and if you're interested a quick google search will provide vast quantities of info.
The onsite curator told me this car guzzles a gallon a mile. Inside the cockpit there is a suspension adjustment control because the car changes weight drastically as the 90+ gallon gas tank drains requiring multiple suspension settings between fuel stops.
I'm sad to report that i didn't get a good photo of Juan Fangio's 1955 car although it's a car and driver I've loved watching race (and dominate) in vintage films. I'll post an excellent video below of one such race.
Ralph Lauren's black Mercedes is stunning.
This 1908 Mercedes "Brooklands" race car was a testament to the nature of Brooklands racing. Beastly in proportions, chain driven with little to no suspension technology, or protection for the driver this car is an artifact of one of the most dangerous and brave times in racing history.
On the more personal side, one of the people interaction highlights at the show was chatting with the 1950s NASCAR racer Russ Truelove, who still owns and drives his race car which lived through two seasons of racing, including a nasty flip at Daytona.
One of the best looking cars I came across was a beautiful blue Maserati.
There were a number of rarities I'd not seen before like these two, one of which is Russian and the other I know nothing about.
Two Stutz rally cars added to my tally of cars I'd never seen in person before.
And having never seen a Bristol before, I was surprised to walk up on a group of 4 or 5 of them. Powered by a triple downdraft carb system on a straight six, they're likely to peppy and they are great looking cars.
In the pits I found several 1950s era race cars that looked like something straight out of a Speed Racer cartoon.
There was also a stunning Speed Racer out on the track.
And then, this Allard revolted against all this race car beauty providing an excellent example of function before form. What a beast! Check out those Hemi heads on a 1940s American V8.
Italian beauties were everywhere. I wouldn't be surprised if you added up every vintage Italian beauty I've seen in my life and the number was smaller than the number of Italian gems I saw today.
The British also had a strong showing of beauty.
And there were still more Germans!
Including this 300 with every doo-dad available for a 300 SL including the shaving kit, luggage, and spare fuses box. Impressive in an almost unbelievable way!
And there were Pre-WWII Great Gatsby cars.
Some very nice vintage, historic motorcycles could be found throughout the event.
And, although oddities, these last two cars I'll share pictures of are two cars that sit very highly on the list of cars I'd like to try driving, hard.
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