
Lime Rock Park CEO Dicky Riegel, right, introduced Skip Barber, at left, during the May 25 dedication of the newly christened Skip Barber Tower.
Shawn Pierce
Lime Rock Park CEO Dicky Riegel, right, introduced Skip Barber, at left, during the May 25 dedication of the newly christened Skip Barber Tower.
LIME ROCK — Skip Barber’s affinity for racing took root at the tender age of 10 in a block-long alley behind his family’s Philadelphia home.
Propped up on a pillow to help him see over the wheel and reach the pedals of a dusty old Ford that had been stored in the garage, the youngster was only allowed to drive it back and forth in the narrow alley. There was no room to turn around.
“I logged exactly as many miles going backwards as I did going forward,” recalled the soft-spoken Barber, who had grown up in a family of automobile enthusiasts. His grandfather owned an auto dealership, and his dad had an interest in cars.
Little did he know that those countless miles logged in that alley in 1946 would lead to his status as an enduring legacy in American motorsports and an icon at Lime Rock Park (LRP), which has declared 2024 as “The Year of Skip Barber.”
As Barber, who sold the majority of the park to Lime Rock Group LLC in 2021, marks the 65th anniversary of his first visit, and first race, at the Lakeville track, the park is paying tribute to him throughout the season through special events, exhibitions and commemorative merchandise.
“As Lime Rock Park celebrates its 67th year of operation it does so with a deep sense of gratitude and reverence for the man whose vision and passion have left an indelible mark on this iconic racetrack,” said Dicky Riegel, LRP President and CEO, of the park’s former owner and founder of the world-renown racing school which bears his name.
“His commitment to excellence and his relentless pursuit of innovation have earned him the respect and admiration of his peers and racing fans,” Riegel said of Barber, who remains a large shareholder in LRP. “The Year of Skip Barber is a fitting tribute to a man whose passion for motorsport knows no bounds.”
On Saturday, May 25, Barber saw his name carry even more significance in the sport as the track dedicated the timing and scoring tower in his name, after which he served as the Grand Marshal for the popular Trans Am Memorial Day Classic.
For decades, said Riegel, Barber has been a guiding force, instilling a passion for racing in countless individuals and leaving an indelible mark on the racing community. “Now the Skip Barber name will live on in perpetuity, ensuring that he continues to overlook Lime Rock Park for decades to come.”
Racing legend Skip Barber was honored during Lime Rock Park’s 67th season kick-off festivities over Memorial Day weekend, which included the dedication of the track’s timing and scoring tower on the Sam Posey Straight, visible in the background, in Barber’s name.Debra A. Aleksinas
‘I think car racing saved me’
From his early days as a competitive racer to his later years as a respected mentor, Barber’s career has been defined by a relentless pursuit of greatness. His eponymous Skip Barber Racing School, founded in 1975, became a mecca for aspiring racers, providing them with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed on and off the track.
During a mid-May interview in a cozy chalet overlooking the picturesque park, Barber, 88, reflected on his journey in racing which began long before he became a household name.
An exceptional student throughout high school, he earned a full scholarship to Harvard. He would have been an English major but his need for speed won out over his desire to study.
“I think car racing saved me. I had good grades in high school and got a complete scholarship to Harvard. And then I didn’t do any work. I really checked out. During that time, I started reading car magazines and I got more and more interested. I decided to take my senior year off, and my housemaster said, ‘Excellent idea, go ahead,’” Barber said with a laugh.
He joined the Merchant Marine to earn some cash and pooled his resources “with a little money from my mother to buy my first race car, an Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite, the cheapest car in the world.”
Back at Harvard a year later, Barber attended the Sports Club Car of America (SCCA) driver’s school at Marlboro, near Washington, D.C., and raced his first race. That race, he recalled, was at Lime Rock Park. Not only was this his first time visiting a racetrack, it was also his first win and the beginning of what would become a decades-long love affair with the Lakeville track and the Northwest Corner.
Little did he know at the time that this would be the start of a remarkable career that would not only shape his own legacy but also transform Lime Rock Park into one of the premier racing destinations in the world.
Skip Barber racing in 1971.Lime Rock Park
Shining moments in the driver’s seat
Barber, who resides in Sharon with his wife, Judy, raced a variety of machinery in the 1960’s and 1970’s, ranging from sports cars to high-powered formula cars. He delivered some shining moments while in the driver’s seat, including beating Jim Clark in an identical car at the then Mosport in his first professional race and setting the ultimate lap record at Lime Rock Park to help push his name to the top of call sheets.
Along the way, he won three Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) National championships, set 32 different lap records, and earned the President’s Cup. Barber was only beginning to build a lasting legacy in American motorsports.
Barber explained how he drove cars the owners or manufacturers wanted to sell.
“It was a great opportunity, and I was very fortunate. The affordable part about racing is what we call ‘getting a ride,’ that’s when someone else is providing you with something to drive,” he explained. The downside, he said, was that he was “completely dependent on other people providing me with the tools of my trade. I was great on the racetrack, but I wasn’t very good at getting the rides” and networking.
At that time, the guru of track racecar engineering in North America, Carrol Smith, referred to Barber as “the fastest guy who never made it big.”
It wasn’t until years later when he started his racing school, that he would become a good marketer, Barber explained, “but that was too late for racing.”
Memorial Day weekend at Lime Rock Park included Mustang vs. Camaro racing.Lans Christensen
Skip Barber Racing School
Although he was “hoping it would never stop,” Barber said he finally realized that his racing days were coming to a halt.
“I had the idea of doing a racing school. It’s not that there weren’t some in the country. There was one in L.A., and another near Montreal, but I did not know about them.”
Believing that racing was a coachable sport, Barber formed the Skip Barber Racing School in 1975 at Lime Rock and Thompson Speedway with four students and a pair of borrowed Formula Fords. During this time, Barber served as president of the Road Racing Driver’s Club.
Recognizing the key role that Lime Rock Park could play in building his growing racing school, and to keep the track out of the hands of developers in the high-value Northwest Corner countryside, Barber led a group of investors, all racing school graduates, who purchased the track from Harry Theodoracopulos in 1983, eventually becoming the sole owner.
His eponymous school created champions in every professional racing series in the United States and produced winning drivers at the Indy 500 or Daytona 500 for decades. Barber sold his school in 1999 and continued to work there until 2001.
“I was told by the current owners that 400,000 students, from all over the country, have become racers and champions,” said Barber.
Graduates include Marco Andretti, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Alexander Rossi, Danica Patrick, AJ Allmendinger, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jeff Gordon and hundreds of other top professional racers today.
“You get big by having multiple schools going all at the same time. We had an office in Lakeville, and the workshops were in four different locations. Lime Rock was our most important track of all the tracks used around the country. It certainly was my favorite,” said Barber.
In 2021, Barber sold the track to Lime Rock Group LLC, a group of investors whom he said were equally passionate about carrying out Lime Rock Park’s legacy into the future. “This is a good group,” he said. “They feel the same way about it as I do.”
These days, Barber said he is happy with his continuing relationship as a large shareholder in Lime Rock Group LLC and his role as an active track management team member. After decades at the helm of Lime Rock Park, including some tumultuous years securing its future, Barber said he now has peace of mind.
“I’m no longer in charge of worrying.”
A Hero of Horsepower
In late April, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America announced its 2025 Induction Class, which recognized Barber as the founder of “the driving school of champions” in the category of Sports Cars along with six other “Heroes of Horsepower” inductees.
The Class of ’25 will formally be presented into the Hall of Fame in Daytona Beach, Fla., on March 10 and 11, 2025.
As he wrapped up the interview, Barber stepped out onto the Chalet’s terrace and viewed the expansive, verdant park and beamed with happiness — and a look of incredulousness. “I am so in awe of its beauty. To think that I’ve owned this…”
State Rep. Maria Horn (D-64) was treated for her injuries at Sharon Hospital.
The day after concluding what has been described as a grueling legislative session, State Rep. Maria Horn (D-64) had a running accident, leaving her with a broken pelvis and collarbone among other more minor bruises and abrasions. Despite the injuries, she is in good spirits and recuperating at home, eager to get back on her feet.
Horn said after spending weeks in the assembly hall, she was eager to get some outdoor exercise in, but perhaps pushed a little too hard too soon. She said she was excited to get a run in on the morning of Friday, June 6, but was still exhausted from her time in Hartford and in the final stretch of recovering from a meniscus repair surgery in December.
Before the run, she told friends she was hoping for a “hard reset for [her] health,” she said with a rueful laugh.
Nearing the end of the loop, Horn said her leg was fatigued and gave out, causing her to fall on the pavement. She is grateful for the community members who helped during the ordeal, including an unknown motorist who waited with her until her husband arrived, and the staff at Sharon Hospital who she said were “wonderful.”
She was directed to keep weight off her hip for 4 to 6 weeks, and since her collarbone is also fractured, cannot use crutches so she’s partially wheelchair-bound for the time being. While she’s disappointed to be missing out on the start of hiking, biking and running season, she’s keeping her sights forward and focusing on recovery.
In the meantime, she said she’s grateful for the video and photo updates from her son, who is hiking the Connecticut portion of the Appalachian Trail: “I’m living vicariously through him.”
Milo Ellison sends a fly ball to left field, bringing home Brody Ohler and Sam Hahn in a walk-off win for the Canaan Pirates June 11.
NORTH CANAAN — The Canaan Pirates advanced to the league championship after a comeback victory over the Tri-Town Red Sox Wednesday, June 11.
Down 3-2 with two outs and two on in the bottom of the 6th inning, "Mighty" Milo Ellison stepped up to the plate and launched a fly ball deep to left field. The single brought home Brody Ohler and Sam Hahn for a walk-off Pirates win.
"Milo did it," shouted a teammate. "Let's hear it for Milo!"
Elite pitching from both sides kept the game close. Starter Sam Hahn pitched five and one-third innings for the Pirates and recorded 10 strikeouts. For the Red Sox, Joey B. struck out 11 batters over five innings.
Sam Hahn threw 10 strikeouts for the Pirates against the Tri-Town Red Sox June 11.Photo by Riley Klein
Milo Ellison led the Pirates offensively, batting 2-for-3 with one run and three RBI. Sam Norbit logged an RBI and went 1-for-2 at the plate for Canaan.
"Nothing like a walk-off," said a spectator after the Pirates won 4-3.
Canaan, which includes players aged 10-12 from the six Region One towns and Norfolk, will face top-ranked JRC Transportation in the Northwest Connecticut District 6 Little League title game.
The Pirates rejoice after winning the Northwest Connecticut District 6 Little League semifinal game.Photo by Riley Klein
The Pirates are the reigning champs of District 6 and have a 10-2 record this season. Brody Ohler, who pitched the win in last year's championship, is expected to start on the mound once again for Canaan.
JRC Transportation led the league this season with a record of 11-1. Canaan delivered JRC its lone loss 1-0 on May 27, but JRC defeated Canaan 15-4 in the June 6 rematch.
The championship will be played at Reeves Field in Thomaston Friday, June 13, at 6 p.m.
The Northwest Connecticut Steve Blass Little League Majors Pirates have a chance to go back-to-back in District 6.Photo by Riley Klein
Kevin Kelly
“I was exposed to that cutthroat, ‘Yes, chef’ culture. It’s not for me. I don’t want anyone apologizing for who they are or what they love.”— Kevin Kelly
Kevin Kelly doesn’t call himself a chef; he prefers “cook.” His business, After Hours, based in Great Barrington, operates as what Kelly calls “a restaurant without a home,” a pop-up dining concept that prioritizes collaboration over competition, flexibility over permanence, and accessibility over exclusivity.
Kelly grew up in Great Barrington and has roots in the Southern Berkshires that go back ten generations. He began working in restaurants at age 14. “I started at Allium and was hooked right off the bat,” he said. He worked across the region from Cantina 229 in New Marlborough to The Old Inn on the Green at Jacob’s Pillow before heading to Babson College in Boston to study business. After a few years in Boston kitchens, he returned home to open a restaurant. But the math didn’t work. “The traditional model just didn’t feel financially sustainable,” he said. “So, I took a step back and asked, ‘If that doesn’t work, then what does?’”
The answer became After Hours. Rather than investing in a single location, Kelly partners with various venues and brings the restaurant experience to them. He uses the commercial kitchen at The Thornewood, a former inn turned workforce housing in Great Barrington. “They didn’t really have much use for the commercial kitchen, and I happened to connect with them when they acquired the property. We were actually the first tenant in the building,” said Kelly. Events are usually family-style and rooted in seasonal, local ingredients, sourced from local farms whenever possible including Dancing Greens, Indian Line, Off The Shelf and North Plain.
Since launching in December 2023, After Hours has hosted more than 150 events and partnered with nearly 100 local businesses including Wards Nursery in Great Barrington, Paige’s Place in Otis, Massachusetts, The Berkshire Botanical Garden, and coming up is a summer residency at The White Hart in Salisbury. From multi-course dinners to casual market pop-ups, its model adapts to the space, the moment, and the ingredients. “We design menus based on the venue,” said Kelly. “Whatever the kitchen allows, we make it work.”
Looking for partnerships that are mutually beneficial adds to the community-oriented business model. “Something we always look to curate with events and event partners is finding ways to mutually collaborate on marketing. So, Wards is a great example where they’re really looking to tap into a younger demographic and that’s something we’re able to really bring to the table.”
Now, Kelly is extending the model with a new initiative called The After Hours Supper Club. A subscription-based model, members will receive monthly meals for two or four with seasonally inspired mains, small plates, desserts, and extras. A portion of the proceeds supports Berkshire Bounty, a nonprofit fighting local food insecurity.
The Supper Club is not Kelly’s first collaboration with Berkshire Bounty. Last Thanksgiving, he launched a “buy one, give one” meal kit where one purchased meal equaled one donated to a local family. “Berkshire Bounty is so grateful for the continued support from Kevin and After Hours. Through Kevin’s creativity and care, together we are making an impact on food security in this community and providing nourishing food for the most vulnerable among us,” said Morgan Ovitsky, Executive Director of Berkshire Bounty.The subscription model allows After Hours to extend its reach into homes across the region. “We’ve had strong early interest,” said Kelly. “We’re fulfilling our first orders in June.”
Staffing such a fluid operation is a challenge. To address this, Kelly also created After Hours Gigs, a flexible labor system where people can sign up for one-off shifts. “Most people around here have three or four jobs,” he said. “This lets them pick up a gig with low commitment.” About 15 to 20 people work regularly through the system, but Kelly is often still scrambling to fill roles on busy weekends. With five events in just four days on the calendar, Kelly keeps moving. “It’s a lot,” he said. “But you just do it. One event at a time.”
There is a distinctly anti-macho ethos to his kitchens. “I was exposed to that cutthroat, ‘Yes, chef’ culture. It’s not for me. I don’t want anyone apologizing for who they are or what they love.” When someone asks what to wear to a gig, his response is simple. “Be comfortable. Be presentable. Be yourself.”
What Kelly has built with After Hours is less a brand than a belief that food should be personal, shared, grounded in place and people. So, what’s the most delicious thing he’s made recently? “A white pizza with ramp pesto,” he told me, eyes lighting up. “We’ve started doing Sicilian slices at the farmer’s market. Breakfast pizzas are next.”
For more information, visit: www.afterhoursgb.com
Dee Salomon on what makes a garden a garden.
On June 20 and 21, the Cornwall Library will celebrate its 10th anniversary of Books & Blooms, the two-day celebration of gardens, art, and the rural beauty of Cornwall. This beloved annual benefit features a talk, reception, art exhibit, and self-guided tours of four extraordinary local gardens.
The first Library sponsored garden tour was in June 2010 and featured a talk by Page Dickey, an avid gardener and author. This year’s Books & Blooms will coincide with Ellen Moon’s exhibit “Thinking About Gardens,” a collection of watercolors capturing the quiet spirit of Cornwall’s private gardens. Moon, a weekly storyteller to the first grade at Cornwall Consolidated School and art curator for The Cornwall Library, paints en plein air. Her work investigates what constitutes a garden. In the description of the show, she writes: “there are many sorts...formal, botanical, cottage, vegetable, herb...even a path through the woods is a kind of garden. My current working definition of a garden is a human intervention in the landscape to enhance human appreciation of the landscape.” Also on display are two of her hand-embroidered jackets. One depicts spring’s flowering trees and pollinators. The other, a kimono, was inspired by Yeats’s “The Song of the Wandering Aengus.”
On Friday, June 20 at 5:30 p.m. writer and garden philosopher Dee Salomon will give a talk titled, “What Makes a Garden a Garden?” at Cornwall Town Hall. Beloved for her “Ungardener” column here in our newspapers, Salomon will reflect on the meaning of gardens and their place in the human imagination. The presentation is followed by a festive cocktail reception at the library, with live music by the Crownback Funk Trio, an improvisational blend of funk, blues, and jazz.
Then on Saturday, participants can enjoy self-guided tours of four distinctive Cornwall gardens, each with docents on hand to answer questions. From a terraced Italianate hillside overlooking the Housatonic River to a wild deer-frequented garden brimming with perennials and daffodils, these gardens tell stories of transformation, imagination, and place.
Books & Blooms is a reflection of the Cornwall Library’s vital role in town. “The library really is the central meeting place,” said event organizer Kirk Van Tassel. “People come here for talks, kids’ programs, art exhibits. It’s a cornerstone of community life.”
To purchase tickets, visit cornwalllibrary.org