Gridlife drifts into Lime Rock

LIME ROCK — A new motorsports association, Gridlife, made its first appearance at Lime Rock Park in Salisbury on Friday, Aug. 19, and Saturday, Aug. 20.

Based largely in the Midwest, Gridlife had its first event in 2014, and has visited tracks countrywide including Road Atlanta and Willow Springs in California.

This first visit to Lime Rock was met with enthusiasm from participants and watchers.

A much different look than Lime Rock’s typical Sports Car Club of American (SCCA) or International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) races, this is a “grassroots” association, making cars and competition much more available to hopeful drivers.

Gridlife Director Adam Jabay describes it as  “a home for every budget, where you can build the car of your choice.”

It’s not so much Porsches, Lamborghinis and factory- supported racers. Instead, the fields are full of Honda Civics and Fits, Subarus and Mitsubishis, some with modifications and roll bars, others looking like they stopped by on the way home from the supermarket.

Competitions include the “Track Battle,” which is strictly for lap time, and “Touring Cup,” which allows wheel to wheel racing.

Car classification is done with a power-to-weight formula that gives all a competitors equality.

The highlight event is surely “Drifting,” a technique that involves turn entry with acceleration, spinning the rear wheels and a full four-wheel “drift” through the turn — steering out of, not into, the turn — with lots of smoke and blasting exhaust notes.

Cars drifting at Lime Rock on Saturday, Aug. 20, as part of a Gridlife event at the park. Photo by Lans Christensen

Cars drifting at Lime Rock on Saturday, Aug. 20, as part of a Gridlife event at the park. Photo by Lans Christensen

Cars drifting at Lime Rock on Saturday, Aug. 20, as part of a Gridlife event at the park. Photo by Lans Christensen

Cars drifting at Lime Rock on Saturday, Aug. 20, as part of a Gridlife event at the park. Photo by Lans Christensen