Here’s What American Endurance Racing At Lime Rock Park Looks Like

"puppyknuckles" (puppyknuckles)
11/26/2014 at 05:14 • Filed to: AER, American Endurance Racing, LeMons, Lime Rock, ChumpCar, Travis Okulski, Randy Pobst

American Endurance Racing is the new kid on the block for low-buck motorsports. Based around simple rules and a "race what ya got" mentality, it's got lots of appeal to anyone who's ever raced 24 Hours of LeMons or Chumpcar. On an ass-clenchingly cold late November weekend, AER stormed into historic Lime Rock Park and I was there with my cameras to capture the action.

This series is awesome. What AER might lose to LeMons in the pageantry department it makes up for spades with fair, fun racing. Multiple national championship winning driver Randy Pobst was there mixing it up with the grass roots racers and motorsports journalists on track. Jalopnik's Travis Okulski was there; he luckily !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! with only some dented pride. I met the infamous and hilarious Bill Caswell, who you might remember from when he !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . After the first day was over, Randy Pobst projected his in car camera footage and broke it down for us while we all sat around eating chili. It was great.

Anyway, I'm sold. I want to go back. I'll let the photos do the rest of the talking.

Dave Burnett writes and shoots photos. This was originally published on his dumb website, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

DISCUSSION (75)

big eagle > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 06:08

For being called American endurance racing there seems to almost exclusively be German cars on the track. (Except for the red miata and white Nissan)

big eagle > big eagle
11/26/2014 at 06:08

Not a bad thing just kinda ironic.

Tom McParland > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 06:33

That was some seriously good car porn!

whoarder is tellurium > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 07:21

This is a thing?! SO much win. Them Audi... but then that Jetta... and theres that Miata....hnnggg

Kinja'd!!!

thebigbossyboss > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 07:23

Kinja'd!!!

Hahhaha.

thebigbossyboss > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 07:26

Kinja'd!!!

Wow 3 wide!

Captain_Spadaro > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 07:53

What are the basic differences between this and Le Mons?

s38junkie > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 08:06

Great pictures, great racing, and great people! This is my 2nd AER event and I will be back (hopefully under less frigid conditions). As a fellow racer, if you are looking to test the waters or simply don't have your own car, tow gear, etc. I would highly recommend DriveGear. Andrew and team put together well sorted, highly competitive Spec E30s. The white #88 DriveGear car I was driving and the red #89 DriveGear E30 took 3rd and 2nd overall, respectively, and ran without a hiccup for 10+ hours of endurance racing.

Mister Sterling > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 08:14

I go to Lime Rock twice a year for their public SCCA events, and I try to take decent pictures. But these are the best photos of LRP I have ever seen. Great work!!

ORANGE! > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 08:15

Amazing photographs!! Nice lighting, focus and compositions on all of them! You really told the story of that race well, made me feel like I was there watching them cars zoom past as well!! Totally awesome!

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 08:20

Seriously good stuff. Someday I want to build a car to race in AER and the WRL. Both seem really accessibly.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Captain_Spadaro
11/26/2014 at 08:22

There's no spending limit, and you don't have to make your car look ridiculous to be accepted.

Wheelerguy > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 08:30

Kinja'd!!!

Me rock, me shock. Me rock, me strong.

JSC Speed > big eagle
11/26/2014 at 08:44

We (AER) had a very well prepared Mustang at our Watkins Glen event back in October, but yes, the Germans certainly come out in force for endurance racing.

Viggen > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 08:47

This is legit racing though, without the stupid shit LeMons has?

FrederickLawOlmsteez > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 08:49

Kinja'd!!!

Glasses + helmet = pain

JSC Speed > Captain_Spadaro
11/26/2014 at 09:01

AER doesn't have with the subjective car classifications, shenanigans, and parade aspect of LeMons (not that there is anything wrong with that—we have enjoyed playing in the LeMons sand box for many years). We do away with the moving-target rule book of Chump. AER allows for any production based car built to any existing class from any recognized sanctioning body. We also permits Chump Cars and A-class LeMons cars (B-class on a case by case basis; C-class, LeMons cars are not welcome). All drivers must have (or had) a comp license from an recognized sanctioning body or have completed five LeMons/Chump races.

Cars are classed based on qualifying times...it's kind of endurance bracket racing. We have anti-sandbagging measures in place and can re-classify cars as needed.

AER doesn't penalize teams or drivers for racing. Drop a couple of wheels or have incidental racing contact? No worries. Short cut a corner or PIT a competitor? We are going to have a chat...and by "we" I mean the offending driver and me—I am the race steward for AER events.

Noah Porter > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 09:02

Kinja'd!!!

that racing suit is badass! Tommy likey!

Quade > big eagle
11/26/2014 at 09:10

The BMW's are probably the best cheapish track car money can buy these days. That's why racing and tracks days are full of them. Parts are cheap, the drivetrain is mostly bullet proof. If I was doing this, I'd probably pick a BMW.

CleverUsername > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 09:19

Kinja'd!!!

If you're unsure of the capability, potential, and general awesomeness of the BMW E30, hang out at one of these races. They're everywhere, and they're kicking ass.

TurtleFace > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 09:19

Kinja'd!!!

I NEED this sweatshirt.

Blipshift?? Noooo

F1NY > Tom McParland
11/26/2014 at 09:23

Lemon & Lime (Rock)

mlevere1988 > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 09:30

So this is a 3 Make race series? Mazda, BMW and Audi. (oops, I saw a 944/924 in there too. race organizers must have missed it.)

delongedoug > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 09:44

Kinja'd!!!

Lots of great shots, but this is the money shot IMO

fritzo > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 09:45

Woohoo! American Endurance Racing!!! *

*featuring all German and Japanese cars.

Jim > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 09:53

I always forget that Lime Rock is less than an hour away from me and I have never been.

472CID > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 09:57

Kinja'd!!!

E30s and Miatas,

E30's and Miatas everywehere.

Rally Baby > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 10:29

Love it!! Gorgeous Audi!

Voodoo-u > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 10:37

It's called American Endurance Racing, yet all I see are Audis, BMWs, and Miatas. Should just call it the Jalopnik Endurance Racing series.

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 10:56

Ok, so aside from those couple of MX5's and that one Lexus, the rest of the field was all German? Not a complaint, just an observation. And also a complaint: stop killing all the e30's!

spog > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 11:14

Puppyknuckles, what kind of camera gear are you rocking in this shoot? I am drooling all over my desk at some of these. Super sharp images and deliciously creamy bokeh. Awesome shots!

Audi-os, Amigos! > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 11:14

THESE PICTURES ARE ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!

puppyknuckles > Audi-os, Amigos!
11/26/2014 at 11:30

THANK YOU!

puppyknuckles > thebigbossyboss
11/26/2014 at 11:35

And on the precipice of Downhill no less. If you're not familiar with Lime Rock, this section of the track is the high speed right hander that drops you back onto the main straight that I heard Travis Okulski describe as the "big balls section of the track". By yourself, it's nerve wracking. Two wide, it's scary.

Three wide? CODE BROWN

DailyTurismo > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 11:38

Are 'Murican cars allowed in AER?

It's a "Porch-uh" > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 11:44

Boo. No West Coast tracks in 2015. I especially like that they cap the entries a lot lower than LeMons. Saturday is always a parking lot until the imploded cars get towed off.

puppyknuckles > Mister Sterling
11/26/2014 at 11:48

Thanks a lot! I love going there. Here's some shots from the IMSA race this year: http://puppyknuckles.com/imsa-racing-li…

and the incredible Historic Trans Am cars from last year: http://puppyknuckles.com/vintage-iron-h…

puppyknuckles > ORANGE!
11/26/2014 at 11:48

Thanks! (I love orange too, to be honest)

puppyknuckles > mlevere1988
11/26/2014 at 11:49

So, bring a Mustang or something and shake it up!

puppyknuckles > Jim
11/26/2014 at 11:50

This is crazy. It's an awesome place.

thebigbossyboss > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 11:52

Yeah. Would not go three wide. I'm not familiar...but thanks for the info and the post. The only track I went around was the track in Calabogie Ontario. It was awesome though!

puppyknuckles > spog
11/26/2014 at 11:59

Thanks! Two camera bodies, a Nikon D600 and the new D750. For lenses it was my Nikon 70-200 2.8G VRII, a Sigma 35mm 1.4, and the Nikon 24-70 2.8G, but I also rented this monster for the weekend, the mighty 400mm 2.8 VR:

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It's a fucking beast and a bokeh monster.

puppyknuckles > delongedoug
11/26/2014 at 11:59

I am pretty sure I said 'holy shit' when they went three wide on that part of the track.

puppyknuckles > fritzo
11/26/2014 at 12:02

I agree, needs more Mustang.

puppyknuckles > DailyTurismo
11/26/2014 at 12:03

Yes, indeed, I would have liked to see more of them as well at this race.

Anthony Miller > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 12:38

Kinja'd!!!

This picture has everything I want in life in it.

Rally Baby > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 12:49

That would be Tom Brolle. Just another corner. Brass...

JSC Speed > mlevere1988
11/26/2014 at 12:54

People always wonder why there are so many BMWs and Mazdas at these races...it's because they are reliable, fast, fun to drive, and readily available. Also, as one of the owners of AER I can tell you that most of our racing buddies are from the BMW-CCA and a big part of our marketing this year was making sure they came out to do grassroots endurance racing with us.

We've had a smattering of other cars show up at other events this year...a very well-sorted Mustang and a couple other Hondas/Acuras at Watkins Glen back in October...there was supposed to be an MR2 at LRP but they bailed at the last minute...but came to spectate (and then confessed that they couldn't believe how dumb they were for not participating).

honor first > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 13:00

p71 ex police car activate!! Someone convince me to do it

JSC Speed > Voodoo-u
11/26/2014 at 13:02

So what non-BMW, -Miata, -Audi are you campaigning next year?

dr861 > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 13:03

Kinja'd!!!

Best dude ever.

JSC Speed > Viggen
11/26/2014 at 13:04

Correct. No bs. No circus. Good drivers in good cars on real race tracks. Smaller entry caps. No punishments for dropping a wheel or three. No punishments for incidental contact.

Stef Schrader > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 13:10

Kinja'd!!!

SP1 944 is best 944. Want.

THE_MOUTH_OF_FORCORNERSTV > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 13:29

Rad pics Puppynuckles! Fun weekend of racing. Got a shot or two of the Banksy E36 I was driving in there too (:

Joe > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 13:39

Kinja'd!!!

Hey, that #1 BMW SE30 was my old car. Quit beating the shit out of it!

Anthony Miller > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 13:42

Kinja'd!!!

Shit that is cold

Anthony Miller > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 13:42

Kinja'd!!!

Also, these are some serious stones in these cars

becausecars > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 13:44

lol american racing with no american cars

ORANGE! > puppyknuckles
11/26/2014 at 13:52

Besides taking great photos, you got impeccable taste too! Orange is the greatest color!

But for real for a minute, your panning shots are really sweet, as well as when you show the surroundings where the race is happening yet there's still some cars in there. And your behind the scenes shots were filled with action and yet were still very inviting! Great photos!