---
title: "Racetrack to Host Cool Music Fest “for Grownups”"
description: "How do you keep a small circuit alive? Jam bands and wine tasting, man."
date: "2015-12-18"
modified: "2015-12-18"
authors:
  - name: "David Traver Adolphus"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/david-traver-adolphus"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/1379/racetrack-to-host-cool-music-fest-for-grownups"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "Racing"
tags:
  - "Lime Rock"
---

# Racetrack to Host Cool Music Fest “for Grownups”

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/archive-images/121815_bonaroolimerock_hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Connecticut isn’t exactly a big state, and developers have eyed [Lime Rock Park](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/386/lime-rock-park-is-terrifying-in-the-rain>)’s trove of open acres for a generation. Wealthy and influential neighbors have long given Lime Rock a hard time about noise, too, despite the track’s historic roots; there’s even a permanent injunction against Sunday racing now. Of course, the circuit has influential friends of its own, including driver training impresario [Skip Barber](<https://skipbarber.com/>) and Trans-Am hero Sam Posey, among many others. But like any small venue, keeping the gates open in a challenge. That’s why the new [Grand Weekend Lime Rock Park](<https://grandweekendlimerockpark.com/>) is so intriguing.

The new event is an effort to combine luxury lifestyle, automotive culture and music. There’ll be A-list talent, stand-up comedy, a food and wine festival, on- and off-track test drives, vintage and exotic car ridealongs, a car show, and seminars. All Grand Weekend is missing are unicorns and a reanimated Bob Hope to emcee.

It's all the brainchild of two middle-aged [car event promoters](<https://smokydonut.com/>) from Ridgefield, Connecticut. In 2013, Roger Garbow and Dave Goldenberg made the trek to Bonnaroo in a Land Rover LR4 and Airstream trailer, [documenting the trip](<https://www.roadandtrack.com/author/3086/roger-garbow-and-dave-goldenberg/>) for *Road & Track*. “There were people standing in line in the mud for port-a-potties,” they told *[The Hartford Courant](<https://www.courant.com/entertainment/arts-theater/hc-grand-weekend-lime-rock-park-lakeland-20151217-story.html>)*. “We looked at each other and said, This is why people our age don't go to festivals.” So the two hatched a plan for the Grand Weekend, “The first civilized festival for grownups.”

It’s a huge risk. It’s largely outdoors, July 8-10, in a location that’s usually in the upper 80s and humid to begin with—when it isn’t raining. If Garbow and Goldenberg pull this off, it could be a model for tracks around the country. They promise no jam bands at Laguna Seca, and we approve. That ship has [already sailed](<https://archive.org/details/gd88-07-30.nak700-reutelhuber.miller.21092.sbeok.shnf>).

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