Historic Festival 44 is running out of room, and for good reason. Lime Rock Park’s annual celebration of racing’s living automotive history will return September 3-7 with its largest ever footprint, as increased participation on the track is matched by more significant cars on display, a larger, curated Concours field and an expanded lineup of attractions throughout The Park.
After setting a modern participation record last year, Historic Festival will top it again in 2026, with some 287 race cars entered across three days of on-track activity. Registration was capped after both paddocks reached capacity.
On Sunday, more than 190 rare and significant cars will compete in the Lime Rock Concours, while nearly a thousand more will surround the circuit for the Gathering of the Marques, part of Sunday in The Park presented by HUB International.
Revs Institute founder Miles Collier will serve as Guest of Honor, accompanied by the largest collection that the Naples, Florida-based museum has ever brought to an event. The special paddock exhibit will feature a dozen significant cars, including the 1964 Abarth Simca 2 Mila Corsa, 1929 ARCA “Ardent Alligator”, 1935 MG PA/PB “Leonidis” and a 1934 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300.
Alfa Romeo will take center stage as the featured marque, with more than 40 competition entries representing the Italian manufacturer. Nearly 30 will make up a dedicated all-Alfa field, culminating with a feature race Monday afternoon, and that’s just what’s racing. A special 25-car Alfa Romeo display in A Paddock will bring together the largest gathering of significant Alfa Romeos ever assembled, with selections from the collections of Lawrence Auriana, father-and-son collectors Ven and Nick Fonte and Paul Gould.
Historic Trans-Am will bring another extraordinary collection to The Park, with 20 original cars connected to names including Dan Gurney, George Follmer, Parnelli Jones, Jerry Titus, Sam Posey and Mark Donohue returning to the track. Between sessions, fans can visit Trans-Am Alley in B Paddock to walk among the cars and meet the people preserving one of American road racing’s defining eras.
More than two dozen Formula Juniors will compete in the Jim Haynes Memorial, honoring the former Lime Rock Park owner and 1963 SCCA Formula Junior National Champion. Historic World Challenge, mid-century sports cars, big-bore GTs, Porsches and other groups will fill out the racing program, while historic ARCA machinery will be featured in a paddock display and demonstration sessions Friday, Saturday and Monday.
The weekend will also welcome a deep roster of motorsport personalities, including David Hobbs, Tommy Kendall, Mike Joy, Donald Osborne, Lorenzo Ardizio, Jocko Maggiacomo, Judy Stropus and Dorsey Schroeder. Hobbs, Stropus, Skip Barber, Wayne Carini, “Fast Freddie” Stevenson and motorsport authors Burt Levy, Gordon Kirby and Rich Taylor will be among those participating in Saturday autograph and book-signing sessions.
The five-day celebration begins Thursday, Sept. 3, with the Historic Festival Parade presented by Northwell Health, NBT Bank and Falls Village Inn. Rain or shine, 125 historic and enthusiast cars will embark on the traditional 17-mile route from Lime Rock Park through the surrounding communities before arriving in Falls Village for the annual block party.
Friday is dedicated to practice, with racing taking place Saturday and Labor Day Monday. Sunday turns the circuit over to Sunday in The Park presented by HUB International, where 24 Concours classes will span automotive history from prewar racers and early American machines to homologation specials, American muscle, Fiat-Abarths, Moto Guzzi motorcycles and contemporary supercars.
There will be plenty happening beyond the Bull Ring too. Nearly 70 vendors and fan activations will be spread throughout The Park, including 20 swap meet dealers, a local artist tent and Tesla Ride & Drive. Coca-Cola will offer tethered hot-air balloon rides Saturday, while free VSCCA paddock tours will give fans a closer look at the cars and the people who preserve and race them. Saturday’s pre-race ceremonies will also recognize America’s 250th birthday, with members of the Connecticut Line and Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution performing a traditional three-volley musket salute.
The weekend will continue its longstanding connection to Paul Newman. On Sunday evening, The Colonial Theatre in Canaan will host a special screening of WINNING: The Racing Life of Paul Newman, with suggested donations benefiting The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. During Sunday in The Park, Corey “Smitty” Smith, Skip Barber’s longtime barber, will cut hair for donations to the Camp, while children can paint and race miniature cars. Historic Festival 44 will also recognize two names closely tied to Lime Rock Park history with the unveiling of new Legends of Lime Rock placards honoring Newman and Bruce MacInnes. Newman’s daughter, Lissy Newman, and MacInnes will participate in the recognition.
