SBRS: Skip Barber Opens Its Doors to Community VIPs

Lime Rock Park and Skip Barber Racing School held their 1st Annual VIP Day a couple of weeks ago. Twenty-six government and business dignitaries from the region attended the day long overview of what the Skip Barber organization does within their community.

The day started at Skip Barber Racing School Headquarters in Lakeville, Conn. where C.O.O. Darren Marshall gave our guests a brief overview of the company, a tour of the offices and a tour of the shop where the Formula Dodge racecar production and driving school vehicle maintenance takes place. The group was then shuttled over to Lime Rock Park “The Road Racing Center of the East” for their racing and driving school activities.

Split into two groups, the first participated in the Dodge/Skip Barber Driving School and got behind the wheel of Dodge Neons, Dakotas and Vipers. Once buckled in, they learned about slides and recoveries on the skid pad and vehicle dynamics on the autocross course. The second group opted for the Introduction to Racing course where they experienced an exciting taste of open-wheel racing in a Formula Dodge racecar. They learned the racing line, race-style downshifting, braking and cornering on Lime Rock Park’s 1.53 mile road course.

“Almost everyone has heard of Skip Barber, but there are probably few that realize all the facets of the company,” said Darrell S. Long, Vice President of the Canaan National Bank. “It gave me a whole new appreciation of the efforts behind the scenes and the people who make it happen.”

After the activities everyone gathered at the Lime Rock Chalet in the park’s infield for lunch. Marshall said a few more words, and was joined by Executive Vice President Simon Kirkby and LRP General Manager Garret Mudd. At the end of the day , instructors Don Kutschall and Brett Roubinek handed out diplomas to the delighted participants.

-Lori Zaharek