Lime Rock revs up for 2025 season of milestones

Lime Rock Park President and CEO Dicky Riegel inspected progress on the venue’s new car storage facility during a tour of the construction in mid-March.
Debra A. Aleksinas
Lime Rock Park President and CEO Dicky Riegel inspected progress on the venue’s new car storage facility during a tour of the construction in mid-March.
SALISBURY — Bucolic Lime Rock Park was abuzz with activity on a recent weekday morning in early March. With less than three months to go before the historic park’s 2025 Memorial Day season opener, several new construction projects were underway.
Ground has been broken on a new beer garden, steel beams are shaping a garage condo storage facility and a new pit lane designed to accommodate 36 vehicles and enhance driver safety is taking shape along the main track, along with newly installed fencing and guardrails.
The park, nestled in the heart of Lakeville, is also upgrading corporate entertainment this year by unveiling a series of premium hospitality experiences including private gatherings at the Connecticut circuit which will debut at the highly anticipated NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series weekend June 27 and 28 and is expected to lure 12,000 to 15,000 guests.
“We are on the cusp of the 2025 season, and April 1st marks the 4th anniversary of our purchase by the LLP and change in ownership,” said Dicky Riegel, the park’s president and CEO, explained. “I can safety say it’s never been in better condition and better shape to host events.”
The historic venue, in its 68th year, is expected to reach a major milestone this season asthe NASCAR event, which is expected to be one of the largest events in Lime Rock’s history, will be broadcast live on the FOX Network to millions of viewers, a first for the iconic venue and its unique 1.53-mile, seven turn road course, according to Jamie Kistner, the park’s chief marketing officer.
In March, Lime Rock Park named the Laborers’ International Union of North America as the official title sponsor of the NASCAR race weekend.
“With LIUNA’s support,” said Riegel, “We’re not just bringing NASCAR back to Lime Rock Park, we’re making history.”
850-horsepower V8’s
Lime Rock will open its 2025 season with the highly anticipated Trans Am Memorial Day Classic, providing a family-picnic atmosphere on the hillsides. The weekend will kick off summer and include an array of racing, plus a car show and beer fest.
The Trans Am Series presented with Pirelli will feature the thunder of 850-horsepower American V8 engines showcased in the premier TA category. The TA2 class revives the muscle car wars of the late 1960s, featuring Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger in a 100-mile race. Import and domestic sports cars will be highlighted in the XGT, SGT and GT classes.
Park guests are invited to bring their Sunday driver to the popular Royals’ Garage Car Show and see if they can take home bragging rights, and possibly a trophy. Proceeds benefit a local charitable organization. The Connecticut Craft Beer Grand Prix will complete the Memorial Day weekend event.
Not to be missed is the 43rd Historic Festival, once again held over Labor Day weekend, Aug. 28 through Sept. 1, beginning with a 17-mile Vintage Race Car and Sports Car Parade on Thursday and on-track action the rest of the weekend.
The 2025 season will wrap up with Lime Rock Park celebrating every generation of the Mazda MX-5 as MiataCon returns Oct. 24 and 25, following a successful second year with over 500 Miatas. Riegel revealed that he will be among the Miata drivers participating in the event.
“We really celebrate the fact that we are a park and unlike many other racetracks in the world, we don’t have ticketed seating here and we intend to keep it that way.”
Building new traditions with race fans
In addition to offering a season full of high-octane thrills, including the 2025 arrival of the ARCA Menards Series, Riegel said he is thrilled that the park will be hosting one leg of the GRIDLIFE Festival Tour, the fastest-growing, youngest motorsports event paddock in the world. The festival will feature a three-day format at Lime Rock, August 15 through 17.
Beyond the track, GRIDLIFE blends car culture with live music, offering structured racing, showcasing vehicles from the ‘80’s, ‘90’s and 2000’s, and delivering high-energy performances on its musical stages.
Riegel noted that roughly 80 percent of those who attend GRIDLIFE are first-timers to Lime Rock Park.
“It’s really more of a community racing group than it is a championship series,” drawing younger crowds and family fun, he noted. “We are 68 years old and have a lot of fans, but we do need to build new traditions with new fans to ensure our future.
Supporting local causes is a priority
Lime Rock Park is dedicated to strengthening its local communities through charitable work and community partners, said its CEO, who had met earlier in the morning at the infield chalet with representatives from Women’s Support Services, a nonprofit domestic violence agency serving the Northwest Corner, to discuss plans for this year’s Trade Secrets Rare Plans and Garden Antiques Sale at the park.
Among the community groups with planned events at the park in 2025 are the Little Guild’s Great Country Mutt Show, the Salisbury Rotary Club’s Lighting Up Lime Rock Park fireworks display and the Litchfield Hills Highland Games.
Riegel said an estimated 225,000 people visit the park annually to drive, spectate and attend community events.
“We are not just a racetrack. We want to be a venue that is most welcoming, most beautiful and has all the amenities so that people will be comfortable here, have a great time and want to come back.”
New garage condos, beer garden
The prior night’s downpour caused huge puddles around the worksite where construction on a 20-unit car storage facility is expected to be completed in June, just in time for the big NASCAR event, Riegel explained as he navigated the mud to check on progress.
The garage condos offer secure storage, direct track access and premium owner amenities, overlooking the track’s West Bend.
“The drivers can park cars on site instead of trailering them to and from Lime Rock Park on rural roads,” said Riegel, who noted that park officials worked closely with the town’s Land Use Office on the project.
Another new project in the works merges craftsmanship and camaraderie: a 26-foot by 52-foot beer garden crafted by the Connecticut-based Country Carpenters, which specializes in post and beam construction.
A ceremonial groundbreaking took place in late February, with a ribbon-cutting planned in May.
Close to the road on a small lot, 79 Gay Street was sold for $245,000, the least expensive single-family residence recorded in Sharon so far in 2025.
SHARON — There were nine real estate transfers recorded in Sharon in July and August. The 12-month median sale price at the end of August stood at $605,000 – the high for the year to date, but well below the all-time peak from a year ago when the median price of a home reached $880,000.
Two homes sold for less than $500,000 with the remaining seven closing above the median price of $605,000.
Inventory of houses for sale has been building and at the beginning of September there were 21 single family homes for sale with only three listed below the median price and 14 over $1 million. Additionally, there are 19 parcels of vacant land for sale which have been on the market for an average of 363 days.
Transactions
208 Low Road — 3 bedroom/2.5 bath ranch on 3.16 acres sold by Glen Joseph Cunningham and Michael R. Mohrlang to Theodore Peck and Ingrid Redman for $855,000 recorded on July 14.
72 Herb Road — 1 bedroom/1.5 bath home on 16.29 acres sold by Samantha Cook and Kellen Medway to Leonard H. Pouder for $845,000 recorded on July 29.
20 Jackson Hill Road — 3 bedroom/2 bath home built in 1906 sold by Marilyn Mullins Estate to Paricia M. Mullins for $440,000 recorded on Aug. 4.
99 Sharon Mountain Road — 4 bedroom/3.5 bath home built in 1749 sold by Long Springs Farm LLC to Nancy J. Ruddy and John Cetra for $1,675,000 recorded on Aug. 5.
79 Gay Street — 3 bedroom/2 bath antique house built in 1870 on 0.37 acres sold by Samuel N. and Karen E. Fitzgerald to Jennifer Thompson for $245,000 recorded on Aug. 7.
1 Still Meadow Road — 2 bedroom/3 bath Cape Cod built in 1962 on 0.61 acres sold by Richard Carl Yurko and John Joseph Thomas to Mark Pigou for $801,00 recorded on Aug. 7.
14 Joray Road — 4 bedroom/2.5 bath house built in 1984 sold by Estate of Kathleen A. Dance to Craig Wilson for $625,000 recorded on Aug. 13.
28-30 Cornwall Bridge Road — 4 bedroom/2 bath/2 half bath home with one bedroom guest house on 2.72 acres sold by Robert C Schnurr to J. Duncan Edwards and Sarah Kennedy Edwards for $1,650,000 recorded on Aug. 18.
112 Knibloe Hill Road — 3 bedroom/3 bath house built in 1948 sold by Travis Wismer and Travis I. Braha to Lawrence and Elizabeth Gile for $1,900,000 recorded on Aug. 18.
* Town of Sharon real estate transfers recorded as transferred/sold between July 1, and Aug. 31, 2025, provided by the Sharon Town Clerk. Property details from Sharon tax cards. Transfers without consideration are not included. Current market listings from Smart MLS. Compiled by Christine Bates, Real Estate Salesperson with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Licensed in CT and NY.
The following information was provided by the Connecticut State Police at Troop B. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Sideswipe and run on North Elm Street
On Aug. 25, Brianne Sebastino, 45, of New Marlborough, Massachusetts had her USPS mail truck parked on North Elm Street approximately 100 feet north of the intersection with Granger Lane in North Canaan. While parked, a white pickup truck driven by an unknown operator clipped the mirror of the mail truck, causing minor damage. The case remains active, and anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact Troop B at 860-626-1820 or Trooper Colon #1159 at jean.colon.carattini@ct.gov.
Deer strike causes road sign collision
Luann Zbinden, 70, of Goshen was traveling south on Route 63 in Falls Village on the evening of Aug. 27 when a deer ran into her Hyundai Elantra, causing her to swerve off the roadway. During the period of no control, the vehicle struck a 45 MPH speed limit sign and traveled approximately 100 yards before coming to a rest on the shoulder. Zbinden was uninjured in the accident, but her vehicle was disabled and had to be towed from the scene. She was found at fault for the accident and was issued a written warning for failure to maintain lane.
Failure to appear arrest
Just after 6 a.m. on Sept. 2, Brian Martinez, 29, of Northampton, Massachusetts was arrested by troopers for failure to appear in the second degree. Martinez was issued a $10,000 cash bond and was scheduled to appear at Torrington Superior Court on the same day.
Rolled vehicle leads to DWI arrest
On the evening of Sept. 3, troopers were dispatched to Cobble Road in Salisbury on the report of a rolled vehicle. After an investigation, troopers found the driver, Johan Arango, 36, of North Canaan to be intoxicated, and arrested him for illegal operation under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failure to maintain lane. Arango was uninjured in the accident, but his Toyota 4Runner SR5 Premium was disabled. He was released on a $2,500 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear at Torrington Superior Court on Sept. 17.
Downed tree collision
On the afternoon of Sept. 4, Colleen Kopec, 75, of Sharon was driving on White Hollow Road during windy weather in a Lincoln MKZ Reserve. Upon rounding a curve, she came upon a downed tree and couldn’t brake in time before colliding with it. The vehicle became stuck on the tree, but passing motorists were able to jack the car up high enough to remove the tree from underneath. The car sustained undercarriage damage but was functional. Kopec was issued a written warning for driving too fast for the conditions.
Falling branch strikes car
On the evening of Sept. 4, Andrea Downs, 57, of Falls Village was driving north on Beebe Hill Road in Falls Village when a tree branch fell and struck the rear driver’s side of her Kia Sorento. Downs was uninjured in the incident, and the vehicle remained functional. As this was an act of nature, no enforcement was issued for the incident.
Fraudulent check arrest
On the afternoon of Sept. 5, troopers took Francisco Paez, 45, of Salisbury into custody for an active arrest warrant on the charge of issuing a bad check over $2000 for an incident that occurred in April of this year. The check, which totaled $5,400, was apparently not connected to any open bank account. Paez was released on a $5,000 cash bond and is scheduled to appear at Torrington Superior Court on Sept. 18.
The Lakeville Journal will publish the outcome of police charges. Contact us by mail at P.O. Box 1688, Lakeville, CT 06039, Attn: Police Blotter, or send an email, with “police blotter” in subject, to editor@lakevillejournal.com
Millerton Police Chief Joseph Olenik shows off the new gear. Brand new police cruisers arrived last week.
MILLERTON — The Millerton Police Department has received two new patrol cars to replace vehicles destroyed in the February 2025 fire at the Village Water and Highway Department.
The new Ford Interceptors are custom-built for law enforcement. “They’re more rugged than a Ford Explorer,” said Millerton Police Chief Joseph Olenik, noting the all-wheel drive, heavy-duty suspension and larger tires and engine. “They call it the ‘Police Package.’”
Olenik worked with The Cruiser’s Division in Mamaroneck, New York, to design the vehicles.
“We really want to thank the Pine Plains Police Department for their tremendous support,” Olenik said. After the fire, “they were the first ones to come forward and offer help.”
Since February, Millerton officers have been borrowing a patrol car from Pine Plains. With the new vehicles now in service, Olenik said he plans to thank Pine Plains officers by treating them to dinner at Four Brothers in Amenia and having their car detailed.
The new police cruisers are outfitted with lights with automatically adjusting brightness to best perform in ambient conditions.Aly Morrissey
Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Good of Lakeville would like to announce the engagement of their daughter, Allyson Good, to Sean Schumacher from Felton, California. The official engagement was on July 3, 2025, in Lake Tahoe, California. The couple resides in San Francisco, California, andis planning a wedding in October 2026.