Voices Of Lime Rock: Dyson Racing

Chris Dyson: "It’s fantastic to be carrying on the family tradition" of racing at Lime Rock Park. Click for Hi-Res Every trip to Lime Rock Park is a special one for Dyson Racing. America’s premier sports car team debuted at the Lakeville, Conn., circuit in 1983 as team owner Rob Dyson competed in a three-hour IMSA race. The squad - based in Poughkeepsie, NY - is hoping this year’s American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix will mark another breakthrough at Lime Rock, where the team will race its two new Mazda-powered Lola B09/86 LMP2 coupes before the home crowd.

Chris Dyson “Well, (last year) was a really emotional weekend for my Dad. The commitment level that is needed to stay in this sport for one year, let alone 25 years, is just incredible. I think looking back on it from a year on, what impressed me the most about it is that my dad still 25 years into the effort gets just as much buzz about it as he did when I was a kid growing up. It’s fantastic to be carrying on the family tradition and to be racing (in 2008) the car in the same colors as when we made our IMSA debut was just fantastic.”

Butch Leitzinger “My childhood memories at Lime Rock, first and foremost, are probably just rolling in the mud as a 3-year-old around the track. One of the great things about racing at Lime Rock in particular is they’re so family friendly. When you look around the paddock, you see multiple generations of people that have been going there their whole lives, and it’s great to see that. It’s kind of a continuing tradition. You see people that I remember as a kid coming with their kids. It’s just great to see the parents handing down their love of racing to their children as well.”

Marino Franchitti (left) and Butch Leitzinger will team in one of Dyson Racing's Mazda-powered Lola LMP2 coupes. Click here for Hi-Res Marino Franchitti “I think I enjoy every type of course we go to - the big open road courses like Road America, Mosport - to the really small tracks and street circuits. Somewhere in between that is Lime Rock. I enjoy the challenges they all bring. You have to have a slightly different mindset everywhere, and that’s quite a good education for me as a driver. I’ve definitely learned a lot and developed a lot from driving on these different types of tracks.”