We think most auto aficionados from the Northeast have heard of Lime Rock before. Since it’s still a major event on the American sports car racing calendar it remains fresh in most enthusiasts’ minds, but it seems that there’s a certain mystery about the place, almost as if it’s something to be wary of. After watching a few more videos and getting a chance to drive there, I’ve began to see why it remains a bit elusive.

The main emotion one feels after driving Lime Rock for the first time is fear. This high-speed circuit, nestled in the picturesque hills of Lakeville, Connecticut, has the feeling of an older track which has been cleverly avoiding safety retrofits for the past three or four decades. The most obvious aspect is the track being very narrow. Only at a few corners can two cars run side-by-side and if you are courageous enough to do so, make sure that it’s a corner which has a bit of runoff area.

Bell’s Ferrari running perilously close to the guardrails.

There aren’t many, as seen in this video with former Indycar driver Townsend Bell and his Ferrari 458 GTD. Bell seems unfazed by the guardrails which are only a few feet away from the edge of the track in most spots. Factor in a long straightaway, two very high-speed corners and some tough, off-camber corners which are treacherous in the dry, let alone the wet, you’ll realize that Lime Rock is not a track to be taken lightly. How Bell manages to get around this daunting track in one piece while letting the faster traffic through is beyond me, but that’s why he’s a pro.