Automobile Extravaganza and Car Show Awards Highlight Day Three; Spectators Treated to Automotive Shopping Experience

LAKEVILLE, Conn. – Although official racing did not occur on Sunday at the Rolex Vintage Festival, thousands of spectators flocked to Lime Rock Park to witness an extraordinary display of vehicles that graced the main straight. Per agreements with the surrounding areas, racing is suspended on Sundays, but the Sunday in the Park Automobile Extravaganza allowed spectators to see some of the best cars in the world, in addition to the Lime Rock Car Show, Shelby Sable and the Automobilia Mall.
 
The Masterpiece Collector exhibit featured a 1933 Le Mans-winning Alfa Romeo driven by Tazio Nuvolari and a Ferrari TR61, another Le Mans winner, driven by Phil Hill and Oliver Gendebien. Additionally, two more Ferraris from New Hampshire were present, including the 121LM prototype and a 1964 GTO.
 
The Plastic Fantastics display celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Lotus Elite, along with display vehicles from Porsche, Aston Martin, BMW, Rolls Royce, Bentley and Corvette.
 
Another fan favorite which made an appearance on Sunday was the timeless Woodie, a famous surf accessory and classic travel vehicle. The Pick of the Paddock also brought out some of the best cars racing during event weekend.
 
The Genius of Dr. Porsche was honored this year with a group of cars from the designer, including one of the best Volkswagons in the country and a Porsche Turbo that made its first-ever U.S. appearance.
 
The Lime Rock Car Show included a number of sporting and sedan class cars, including Healeys, Dodges, Hudsons and Ferraris from various entrants.
 
The afternoon concluded with an awards presentation for some of the best vehicles on the track. Awards were given for a variety of categories including the Ladies’ Choice Award and the Pick of the Paddock. The Best of Show Award was presented to Roland Houde of Andover, MA, for his 1954 Cunningham C-3 Continental Couple. This was the first time that Houde had entered the car in a show.
 
“Sunday at the Rolex Vintage Festival is special because spectators and fellow racers have a chance to see these special vehicles up close,” said Steve Earle, president of event organizer Lime Rock Vintage Events. “When you have the opportunity to look inside of the cars and under their engines, it really makes you appreciate them as true works of art.”
 
Along with vehicles on display, the traditional Automobilia Mall and Lime Rock Flea Market allowed fans to survey and purchase automotive-related merchandise from vendors throughout the Northeast.
 
Monday Preview:  Festival Concludes With Labor Day Racing
 
The motors will be revving again on Monday, with warm-up laps in the morning by all groups and 15-lap races throughout the afternoon. The 25th Rolex Vintage Festival presented by BMW will officially conclude with a final awards ceremony afterwards.
 
 
The Rolex Vintage Festival Presented by BMW
Organized by Lime Rock Vintage Events, The Rolex Vintage Festival presented by BMW is one of the largest vintage automobile celebrations on the East Coast, showcasing a diverse field of race cars on Friday, Saturday and Monday of Labor Day weekend that can span eight decades, from timeless pre-war classics to the roar of exotic prototypes from the 1980s.
 
 
General Racing and Lime Rock Vintage Events
 
Lime Rock Vintage Events is the official race organizer of The Rolex Vintage Festival presented by BMW. Lime Rock Vintage Events is a partnership between General Racing and Lime Rock Associates.
 
General Racing stages premier events across the United States to celebrate classic, historic, and vintage racing cars, where they can be shown and driven as intended. General Racing encourages the restoration of the cars as they once were and helps to preserve and promote and the history of motorsports through these events.
General Racing events include The Rolex Monterey Historic presented by Toyota at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, CA; The Rolex Vintage Festival presented by BMW at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, CT; the Wine Country Classic at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA; and the Coronado Speed Festival presented by North Island Credit Union at NAS North Island in Coronado, CA. Additional information is available at www.generalracing.com.