 Now in its seventh year and already an Historic Festival tradition, Lime Rock Park’sVintage Sports & Race Car Parade “green flags” at 4:00 p.m. this Thursday (Aug. 31) from Sam Posey Straight. Around 100 cars have been accepted by track president Skip Barber to be in the parade; sports cars and race cars that are 1975 and older, and are representative of the makes and models that commonly raced at Lime Rock between 1957 and the mid-70s, were accepted.For the first time, Skip is “charging” the parade entrants money; the fees ($25 per car) will all be donated to the Corner Food Pantry (formerly OWL’s Kitchen).
“The track came to us, out of the blue, asking if we would want to be the charity partner for this wonderful parade of theirs” says Mary Taylor, a Corner Pantry board member. “We were floored. This is so great, so thoughtful and nice of Skip and the track.” “We’ve gotten nothing but positive feedback from everyone involved,” Barber says. “Even as it’s attached to our Historic Festival, the race car parade has developed its own identity and character. The time was right to make it earn its keep,” Barber said with a smile. (The pantry’s website is www.thecornerfoodpantry.org, and Skip is encouraging anyone reading this email to consider donating to its cause; serving individuals and families in the Tri-State region and providing more than 10,000 meals each month to those in need.) The preferred place to watch this unusual parade is on the sidewalks in the center of Salisbury. After leaving Lime Rock, at roughly 4:10 p.m. the parade of cars rumbles through Salisbury eastbound on Route 44, then comes back through town again, westbound on 44, after circling through Noble Horizons. But that’s not all! The race car parade’s destination is the center of Falls Village, just a few miles from Salisbury, where the Street Fair & Car Show begins at 5:00 p.m. You’ll find food, live entertainment and local vendors on the green – a festive, fun, fantastic (and free) way to kick-off Historic Festival 35 Presented by the Prestige Family of Fine Cars. Lime Rock’s Parade Partners from the very first one in 2011 have been critical to its success: Sharon Hospital, Salisbury Bank & Trust, Elyse Harney Real Estate and theFalls Village Inn. Volunteers from the Salisbury Winter Sports Association, Lakeville Hose Company and the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department are critical to the logistical management of the parade, too. Lime Rock Park |