Fatality at Lime Rock Parks Historics
08-30-2014, 08:43 PM
#1
POSSE ZR-1 Driver
Thread Starter
Fatality at Lime Rock Parks Historics
Connie Ann Kirk
Historic Motorsports Examiner
August 30, 2014
Historic racing at the popular Labor Day weekend event at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut suffered the first fatality of the festival's existence on Saturday, August 30. Lee Duran of Lyme, Connecticut passed away from injuries sustained while competing in the second race of the day for Group 2. He was pronounced dead at Sharon Hospital in Sharon, Connecticut.
Duran drove car #305, a blue 1934 MG PA Special. According to Rick Roso, Lime Rock Park press officer, Duran was fatally injured in a one-car accident when he lost control of his car in the Downhill turn.
Those who saw the crash and its aftermath saw the car flip and end up on the edge of the track upside down. Action on the track stopped, and medical and track personnel arrived on the scene. Duran's car was returned right-side up. Efforts at resuscitation were visible to some spectators in the area as well as writers and photographers in the Media Center overlooking the scene.
According to Roso, Duran’s wife indicated that her husband had raced historic cars for some time and owned several cars. He had taken up sailing for a time as well. He missed the cars, however, and focused on the sport once again.
This is the first time in the 32 years of the popular Lime Rock Park Historic Festival that the event has experienced a fatality. Like other race tracks around the world, the Lime Rock Park track in the Connecticut Berkshires has had other deaths occur over its 57-year existence.
Historic Motorsports Examiner
August 30, 2014
Historic racing at the popular Labor Day weekend event at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut suffered the first fatality of the festival's existence on Saturday, August 30. Lee Duran of Lyme, Connecticut passed away from injuries sustained while competing in the second race of the day for Group 2. He was pronounced dead at Sharon Hospital in Sharon, Connecticut.
Duran drove car #305, a blue 1934 MG PA Special. According to Rick Roso, Lime Rock Park press officer, Duran was fatally injured in a one-car accident when he lost control of his car in the Downhill turn.
Those who saw the crash and its aftermath saw the car flip and end up on the edge of the track upside down. Action on the track stopped, and medical and track personnel arrived on the scene. Duran's car was returned right-side up. Efforts at resuscitation were visible to some spectators in the area as well as writers and photographers in the Media Center overlooking the scene.
According to Roso, Duran’s wife indicated that her husband had raced historic cars for some time and owned several cars. He had taken up sailing for a time as well. He missed the cars, however, and focused on the sport once again.
This is the first time in the 32 years of the popular Lime Rock Park Historic Festival that the event has experienced a fatality. Like other race tracks around the world, the Lime Rock Park track in the Connecticut Berkshires has had other deaths occur over its 57-year existence.
08-30-2014, 08:51 PM
#2
Safety Car
Sadly I was at the track today and saw this. Wasn't a good sign seeing the para- medics performing chest compressions on the side of the track and then watching him bieng taken away (slowly) in ambulance.
Godspeed my friend :-(
Godspeed my friend :-(
08-30-2014, 09:15 PM
#3
Race Director
The two Corvettes I usually crew for, are there. I couldn't go this weekend, but I heard from one of the drivers. Like most forms of racing, vintage racing is a pretty tight knit group, and he told me that it really upset everyone competing there.
I love racing, but it hurts whenever we lose someone. We don't deal with this too often, in vintage racing, but it can happen. Hopefully, things will be better at the Watkins Glen US Vintage Grand Prix, next weekend.
Racing is still dangerous, no matter what you race, so be careful out there!
RIP
I love racing, but it hurts whenever we lose someone. We don't deal with this too often, in vintage racing, but it can happen. Hopefully, things will be better at the Watkins Glen US Vintage Grand Prix, next weekend.
Racing is still dangerous, no matter what you race, so be careful out there!
RIP
08-31-2014, 01:57 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
Sad news! My sincere condolences to his family!
My sincere condolences to his family!
08-31-2014, 04:49 PM
#8
Race Director
He was driving his 1934 MG PA, in Group 2 for pre-war sports and racing cars.
Duran was a regular at Vintage Sports Car Club of America (VSCCA) vintage events. His MG is the second car in line in the photo below. I shot this at Thompson Speedway (CT), at the inaugural VSCCA/VRG Thompson Vintage Festival, back in June.
08-31-2014, 05:22 PM
#9
Safety Car
Dont know exactly what happened...but it was early in the race (I think it was the 3rd lap) and he was in a group that was trying to pass the big '33 Bentley just before the bridge....
