All about Cars

There’s always some sort of auto action going on at New London-Waterford Speedbowl. Saturdays bring more conventional spectator events, such as the NASCAR Whelen series. Have fun on the Wild 'n Wacky Wednesdays.

As you head west across Connecticut, think about taking in a car show along the way. You can find a list of some of them here. One of the best is the Klingberg Auto Show, held in New Britain in mid-June. And then there’s the fire truck show at the Shore Line Trolley Museum (check dates). And then there are the informal, if not quite impromptu events, such as the Summer Cruise Nights at the Sycamore Drive-In in Bethel. Held each Saturday night, the cruise nights bring together vintage cars and carhop service in a way that’s just about unique these days.

The racing scene is sublime up at Lime Rock Park, where a LeMans track, as well as top drivers and their cars, weave through some of Connecticut’s most beautiful countryside. There are events most weekends, with big deals over the Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends. Check the website for places to eat and stay in the area, or bring a picnic and spend a day in the country.

If you can’t resist the lure of the track, extend your stay and enroll in a driving course with the Skip Barber Racing School, headquartered at Lime Rock. The 1-Day High Performance Driving School, for example, allows you to take a sports car through a number of settings: autocross, skid pad, threshold breaking zones and the race track itself. See if you’ve got the right stuff.