The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
‘New vision and vitality’ for Lime Rock Park
Former owner Skip Barber welcomes new ownership team
LAKEVILLE — Skip Barber, the name and the face associated most easily with Lime Rock Park, recently turned the reins over to new group of owners.
Barber has owned
Lime Rock for 37 years; the park has operated for 65 years. He will remain a significant owner, according to the partners, and will be “an integral part of its management committee, as the business continues to leverage Skip’s worldwide reputation in the motorsports industry.”
“I am extremely excited and proud to announce the acquisition of Lime Rock Park by Lime Rock
“It’s not just good for Lime Rock. It’s going to be good for the whole region, and it ensures Lime Rock will be here forever.” Skip Barber
Group LLC,” said Barber. “The Group’s General Partners, Charles Mallory, Dicky Riegel and Bill Rueckert, along with a group of private investors, have assumed control of Lime Rock Park and are bringing outstanding new vision and vitality to Lime Rock’s operations and to our local and regional community.
“I’m going to still work there — I’ve got a good job,” Barber said. “I’m responsible for the sanctioned (groups) that are part of Lime Rock. I’ll be part of the Northeast Grand Prix, our biggest weekend (in July); our historic festival, which I love, and our community relations for the park and other things like that.
“What I won’t be responsible for is worrying, and I like that,” he said.
This year has been a time of worry for business owners around the country, and entertainment venues have struggled to stay relevant and open, or at least in touch with their patrons. Barber said Lime Rock is “more than ready” to begin a new season and welcome race and car fans back to Lakeville.
“We’ve been very careful during the pandemic, but we have so much space, that we can have a lot of people and still be socially distant,” Barber said.
He described car clubs as groups of people that want to drive better and have fun with their cars, and not necessarily race cars. “A lot of Porsche clubs use Lime Rock,” he said.
Barber said the sale of the park to the ownership group was the result of a long search.
“I had been concerned for years about who would be the next caretaker or custodian of Lime Rock, and I’ve probably talked to six different groups over the last seven or eight years,” he said. “These are the guys that are really right. There’s three partners and 28 investors in all, all Connecticut people and all Lime Rock fans. A lot of them are car collectors or former racers. And they’re doing it all for the right reasons.”
One investor, he said, started YWCAs and YMCAs in Manhattan; another’s family started Mystic Seaport.
“They come from families that have done things,” Barber said. “It’s not just good for Lime Rock. It’s going to be good for the whole region, and it ensures Lime Rock will be here forever. They’ll really invest in it, and do more activities. It’ll all be good.”
Lime Rock Group principal Dickey Riegel has been a patron for many years. He said he and the other members will continue to include and celebrate their relationship with Barber.
“Our process (to acquire the park) was very organic in its development, born around what was best for Lime Rock Park,” he said. “We see ourselves as stewards of this gem of a place, that’s on the National Registry of Historic Places, one of only two parks to have that. We’re caretakers, and we come out of our experience as car lovers, and also loving our experiences at Lime Rock over many decades.”
Riegel remembers the first time he drove around the track. “It was in 1982, and I was driving a 1931 Dupont, we were going 35 mph, and I will never forget that experience,” he said. “It cemented in me that the park was a home away from home for me.
“Now, 40 years later, being able to be an owner is a real honor and a privilege for me,” he said.
That Dupont is still in the family. “It was my dad’s and now it’s mine, and it will be my son’s,” Riegel said. “He’s also one of the investors.”
Riegel is looking forward to welcoming fans back to Lakeville this year.
“Our main message right now is, Lime Rock is back on track, we’re open for business, and we can’t wait to welcome all of our guests and create a great experience for all. Be part of our Memorial Day Trans Am show. It’s going to be fantastic.”
For full details on upcoming events at Lime Rock Park, visit www.limerock.com or find them on Instagram @limerockpark.