Auto Racing in an Age of Quarantine

Auto Racing in an Age of Quarantine
Photo by Tom Brown

Skip Barber, the owner and operator of Lime Rock Park in Lime Rock, Conn., said he doesn’t anticipate the track holding any major events before Labor Day weekend because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The track has been open already for some small events, such as a private car club on Friday and Saturday, May 22-23. The activities were instructional, not racing.

Barber said the track is following state guidelines for the first phase of reopening businesses, and adding some additional precautions.

There are no meetings, he said, and only one person is allowed in a car at a time.

Moving forward, car clubs must submit detailed information about participants, so that, “We get all the contact tracing information.”

Barber said nobody is allowed in the buildings at the track, except to use the bathroom. Participants must bring their own provisions, as lunch is not being served.

Despite the scaled-down nature of the activities, there is interest in coming to the track, he said.

“There appears to be a pent-up demand to get out and do something.”

And even if some sort of event is held on Labor Day weekend, Barber expects it will be “really restricted,” and likely without any spectators. That is normally the weekend of the Historic Festival, with a vintage car parade through Salisbury, Conn., and Falls Village, Conn., vintage car racing through the weekend and a Concours d’Elegance car show on Sunday.

On Wednesday, June 10, the track held a small event for employees from Lowe’s in Torrington and for the media.

Facilities Supervisor Jocko Jacopino went over the COVID-19 precautions.

He said that visitors have their temperatures taken at the gate. Anyone with a temperature above 100.4 degrees F is asked to move off to the side and wait 10 minutes, then get screened again. If that person is still above 100.4, he or she will not be allowed to enter.

So far it hasn’t happened, he added.

Jacopino said that the process of signing waivers has been streamlined, with just two signatures required, making the checking-in process a matter of 35 seconds or so. 

There are hand sanitizing stations throughout the park.

There are signs everywhere, addressing subjects such as maximum people allowed in an open-air shelter as well as more general information about COVID-19.

Every alternating unit, as Jacopino tactfully put it, in the bathroom is marked as “out of order” to prevent crowding.

“We are very mindful” of the guidelines from state and federal authorities, Jacopino said.

“We want to be the gold standard.”

Latest News

Taking on Tanglewood

Aerial view of The Shed at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass.

Provided

Now is the perfect time to plan ahead for symphonic music this summer at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts. Here are a few highlights from the classical programming.

Saturday, July 5: Shed Opening Night at 8 p.m. Andris Nelsons conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra as Daniil Trifonov plays piano in an All-Rachmaninoff program. The Piano Concerto No. 3 was completed in 1909 and was written specifically to be debuted in the composer’s American tour, at another time of unrest and upheaval in Russia. Trifonev is well-equipped to take on what is considered among the most technically difficult piano pieces. This program also includes Symphonic Dances, a work encapsulating many ideas and much nostalgia.

Keep ReadingShow less
James H. Fox

SHARON — James H. Fox, resident of Sharon, passed away on May 30, 2025, at Vassar Brothers Hospital.

Born in New York, New York, to Herbert Fox and Margaret Moser, James grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. He spent his summers in Gaylordsville, Connecticut, where he developed a deep connection to the community.

Keep ReadingShow less
Richard Stone

FALLS VILLAGE — Richard Stone of Main Street passed away June 25, 2025, at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington.

Born Feb. 12, 1942, in Ossining, New York, Richard was son of the late Howard Stone and Victoria (Smith) Stone.

Keep ReadingShow less