Thompson is Back!

Thompson Speedway, in the Northeast corner of Connecticut, had the official reopening of their road course this weekend, with a big Vintage show. Here's a few photos.

Sunday AM they had a display in the pits, including some of the faster cars, and some that raced there back in the day.

The pace lap of the first race, form the hill that overlooks the final turns before the front straight. Here's where they come off the oval and onto the road course.

Another view of the same section. The previous photo was taken from the hill on the right.

And last, the new garage

It was a fun day, made better because the its only about 35 miles from my home. Much closer than Lime Rock.

Stu

Great pictures Stu. I was there Saturday and Sunday. Great new race course for Southern New England, great weather, great racing. Couldn't ask for more ... except maybe a few more spectators. Did you get a chance to talk to Mike in the #7 red Spitfire (CM forum "OF Racing") and Nial in the #909 green MG Midget (CM forum "aeronca65t")?

I saw the red Spitfire, the yellow roll bar padding, right? But didn't talk to the owner. I'd meant to get back there, but we helped a guy push his MGA, talked to the Stutz owner and the guys with the Cortina... we just never looped back through that side of the paddock. I probably saw the midget too, bit didn't make the connection. More pics at:

http://www.pbase.com/sb_photos/thompson

Stu

Score 1 for the good guys!

How long a track is it? I go to Limerock often, Where do they post a schedule? maybe I'll get to Thompson this year?

The track is about 1.7 miles around, but it appears they can run some shorter configurations, too. Just Google "Thompson International" to find their web page, with all the info you need.

Stu

Ahh yes I'm in heaven. Just spent the weekend of July 12-13 at Thompson again ... SCCA New England Region regional races. Excellant road racing action, grass roots style (uhh, no caps for publisher Tim, this is real grassroots motorsports). And I might say excellent value for a spectator too ... $10 for the entire effen weekend!!! Compare that to the $45 per day tariff that the VSCCA/VRG imposed on spectators a couple weeks ago. In any case, SCCA regional racing is superb road racing, especially Spec Miata and FV. Everybody should experiance that live. Anyway, anybody reading this in the Southern New England area needs to get their butt to Thompson for the next road racing event. Check the schedule. Do it.

Hey, Nial/"aeronca65t" ... just received my Sept. issue of Vintage Motorsport and you're in it. Page 122 shows you dicing with the '58 Elva of Mike Oritt at Thompson in the Sunday race. Good show!

Incidentally, VM did an excellent write-up of the first official event at the new Thompson circuit. They seem to always provide the in-depth race reports and news that is pertinent and has value to us as enthusiasts of "classic motorsports." They also featured Ray Stone and his Bugeye, which he bought in the fifties as a teenager and attended driver's school in '63 at Thompson track configuration #2. He's still racing it and participated at Thompson configuration #4 in June. Very interesting stuff!

It was great to see Ray at the Vintage event, and give him a shout-out at the Sat night dinner there. I raced bugeyes in the late 80s, but could never catch him. Glad to see he's just as fast now, and still running the same car! The Stones are a great New England racing family... Floyd was a factory driver in the Little LeMans at Lime Rock in the fifties.