Click this link to read the story of THE FASCINATING STORY OF “THE RACE” BY THE DEAN OF MOTORSPORTS JOURNALISM, THE GREAT CHRIS ECONOMAKI
Ask any Lime Rock veteran about The race and they'll know exactly which one you mean. John Fitch has called it "the best race ever held by anybody, anywhere". It occurred on July 25th, 1959 - the race was sanctioned by USAC, paid prize money, and the invited drivers could race what they wanted. The mix of cars and drivers was incredible. There were international stars like Pedro Rodriguez, landmark cars like Bill Mitchell's Stingray (the model for the later Corvette Stingray), well known US sports car drivers like George Constantine, Denise McCluggage, Dr. Dick Thompson, Chuck Daigh, and Lance Reventlow, and American good 'ole boys like Rodger Ward with a Kurtis Midget.
Who would you bet on? Daigh, with his ex-Fangio Formula 1 Maserati? George Constantine in (probably) the fastest Aston Martin in the world? John Fitch in a Cooper Monaco? Would you have even given a thought to Roger Ward in a 91 cubic inch Offenhauser powered midget, with a one speed transmission, rear brakes only - an eleven year old car with over 1,000 races to its credit?
Click this link to read the story of THE FASCINATING STORY OF “THE RACE” BY THE DEAN OF MOTORSPORTS JOURNALISM, THE GREAT CHRIS ECONOMAKI