With an improving schedule on its slate this season, Lime Rock Park has undergone several changes in attempts to make the experience better and safer for both the fans and racers. Over 1,600 feet of Armco barrier has ed hardy hoodies been added around the outside of the 1.53- mile track, while another 1,800 feet of barrier has been either improved or replaced. Twenty-four hundred feet of catch fencing have been installed. Pit lane was extended to the false grid area. The chicane (the tight turns on the course) was reconfigured to lessen the angle of entry, allowing cars to travel at a higher speed.

Also, transporters will have easier access to the Paddocks thanks to a new paving job.

Lime Rock's season gets under way this weekend with the return of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series.

"We now have the two premier sports car series (Grand American Road Racing Association and American Le Mans Series) in North America competing at our track. Therefore, we felt it was important to make these improvements to our facility," Lime Rock President Skip Barber said.

The project to improve the track costs roughly $500,000.

Car show to be held Sunday

As is tradition, there will be no racing on Sunday at Lime Rock. In its place, Hemming Motor News will host the biggest car show ever held at the track.

The Hemming Sports & Exotic Car Show will showcase pre-1989 sports, exotic and GT cars from Italy, Great Britain, Germany, France, Sweden and Japan and be judged by the staff at Hemming Motor News. There will be People's Choice, Publisher's Choice, Editor's Choice awards handed out as well as Favorite British, French, Italian, Japanese and Swedish cars.

On-site registrations will begin at 7 a.m. The cost to register is $20 per driver and $10 for a second person. Show hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Star power

Actor Paul Newman, a regular at Lime Replica Dewitt Watches Asia Rock Park, is expected to race Monday. Twenty-year old Frankie Muniz, star of Fox's "Malcolm in the Middle," is among the 26 entries for the twin Formula BMW USA races Monday. He will drive the No. 2 car for Jensen MotorSport.

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