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It's really strange how we seem to get into patterns in our lives. As car enthusiasts the winter months are for planning shows, track events and autocrosses. Some of us that don't want to wait until warm weather venture up north to race across the frozen lakes of New Hampshire at the very limit of adhesion. That's usually about 15 mph. What ever the venue we seem to stick to the schedule year after year. But not this year. For thirty years I've been making the trip out to Lime Rock Park in Lakeville CT. For many years it was in the car that was going to be run at the track. We were always in a rush to get to the pit area to unload the car and get ready to run. Later as the cars were set up better (and less streetable) they were hauled up on a trailer. That meant that the ride was a little slower (not by much) but the pressure to get to the infield was even greater. Unloading took time and the track still beckoned with that sweet song of speed. The last few years saw later departures and earlier returns due to spectator status and other interests (like not sleeping on the couch). But the pattern was always to get there as quickly as possible and return the same way. There were never any stops allowed on the way out since there was food at the track even in the early days. I'm not sure that we knew what it was but after 2 hours on the road anything tasted good. We brought food too but that was usually saved for lunch. As the area along Route 7 began to grow in the 70's there was even a set of golden arches on the side of the road but we seldom stopped, had to get to the track. The return trips were no different, as we always seemed to leave later that we expected and never had time to stop for dinner. There were a couple of exceptions that I remember and to this day I can point out the two pizza shops that had food to go and the Four Brothers Italian cafe on the northbound side of Route 7. The other pattern of travel was the time of year. Sorta like going to the beach in the summer, the trips to Lime Rock Park were always done in warm weather when the rolling hills of the Berkshires looked their best. We had early events that battled some cold weather and some short days in the fall but in all those years I had never been to the track in the dead of winter. Until this year. Looking for a short break, Leigh and I booked a couple of nights at the Interlaken Inn in Lakeville the weekend before Christmas. I had stayed at the Interlaken years ago while attending a Skippy School but didn't remember much about it since I was always racing off to the track every morning. I did remember that they were always booked and there was a great bar upstairs. The fact that they welcomed our dog (a 100 lb Bouvier), when everyone else in the area said no pets, made the decision easy. We would use the Interlaken as our base of operation to visit those antique barns and shops that we had raced past all those years. Of course I wanted to see what the track looked like in winter and it was only three miles away. And if we were unsuccessful in finding a nice restaurant there was always good food at the Inn. Arriving at the Inn in mid afternoon we found the parking lot full of cars. I was astonished since I knew that the area is rural and very quiet in the winter. Leigh was pleased to see the crowd since she was a little apprehensive about staying at a place in the woods near a track that was closed. All the people seemed to be senior citizens (OK, I get that AARP stuff too but I throw it out) and when I asked why they were so busy I was told that it was a group celebrating a couples 60th wedding anniversary. Yes, that made them older that me. By dark the lot held only three cars and one of those was ours. But the bar was open and we were made to feel welcome. The first night found us at the West Main Restaurant in Lakeville about two miles down the road. Great food, great service and nice crowd of local residents. The second night was spent at the Boathouse also in Lakeville. It was recommended by friends and really surprised us. The place was really packed by 6pm (remember that it had been dark for 2 hours) and it was a bit more casual than the night before. The locals were quick to strike up a conversation and share the local lore with us. We even found out why Route 7 crosses the Housatonic River so many times (is it seven or eight?). Lime Rock Park is a completely different place in the winter. There are no cars. Not in the pits, not on the track not on any of the roads near the track. You can drive for miles and never see a car. There are no people either. The gates are all chained shut and even the homes that abut the track property show no signs of life. Maybe they're all down south where it's warmer. It is so quiet in the Berkshires this time of year that it's amazing. Is that because after thirty years of coming around that last turn on Lime Rock Road I expect the lot to be full, the pits to be noisy and the traffic to be backed up at the gate? I stepped through the gate and walked over to the crest of the hill that overlooks the long front straight to snap a few pictures. Even the dog thought that it looked like a perfect playground. I certainly don't need the photos to remember what the track looks like but I guess I took them just to remind myself that it's not just a summer place. The track is there all year, through the long winter, just waiting for the chance to welcome back all the cars, people and noise. Can't wait! As we were driving home on Christmas Eve day it occurred to me that for all the years that I've been driving up to Newfound Lake to run on the ice, I've never been there in the summer. Never been there in the spring or fall either. Unless the lake was frozen enough to run on, why go? Guess I'll have to put that on my list for this summer. I can see that it's going to be a busy year. Keep the Faith! |
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