It’s been a few years since I was last at Lime Rock for the annual Labor Day Vintage Festival, and it had undergone some changes in the interim. This year, things seemed to be changed back a lot like old times at the festival, as there were numerous car corrals for marque clubs, the big car show on Sunday, and an opportunity for corral participants to do parade laps on the track Also back by popular demand was the "swap" meet in the Sunoco Paddock.

The car show was huge — the largest ever, with cars largely grouped by make from one end of the track to the other. During the show, it was common to run into and say hello to John Fitch or Vic Elford, who were circling the track in golf carts or were at their own sales tents pitching their books to eager fans. Speaking of books, Burt Levy was there with a big supply of his books, T-shirts, and other gear; he has promised that the fifth volume in his trilogy of books (his words) that began with The Last Open Road will premiere at Sebring and the Amelia Island Concours next March (yep, the fifth volume got so big that it is now two books).

Many AONE members attended both the Sunday show and the Monday races, with some crazies making Saturday (and even Friday) in addition. Gene Durso, Dan and Deb Donovan, Jim Lehman (our Watkins Glen guide/host/Alfaguy from the 2005 event there), Mark Diamond driving that Pininfarina-designed French car of his, Rod Burdick, Rob Favali, Tom Freiberger with his Montreal, Frank Maldari, Myron Barnett, and others (whom I am embarrassed not to recall but who were there nevertheless) all showed up to make this a great Alfista turnout along with NY and CT club members.

Out on the track, AONEr Mike Lawton drove the ex-Jim Hayes ’62 101 series Spider in Group 4 competition (the Lakeville Cup).

This is a wonderful event, family-friendly, and should be on every member’s list of must-do’s. I was joined by my wonderful wife and companion of the past 30 years, Diane, and my 16-year-old daughter Kelly and her pal Jenny; all of these girls had a great time not only with the other attractions around Lakeville, but on the track itself. They all said they would come back!

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