Jim Haynes

Competitor, Track Owner, Promoter
CLASS OF 2021

Jim Haynes joined the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) in 1956 to race his MG-TD. He would go on to win the SCCA National Championship in 1959 with a Formula 3 Cooper Mk. 13, and a second title in 1963 with a Formula Junior Lotus 20. His final race was at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1966, although he continued on the vintage circuit into the mid-1980’s.

Haynes is probably most remembered for his efforts operating Lime Rock Park. As the new owner & promoter, he rescued the Connecticut track from bankruptcy and transformed it into the premiere road course in New England that became internationally known.

Haynes, along with track designer John Fitch, raised enough funds to purchase the track in 1964. While his group sold the track in 1969, Haynes remained its general manager/promoter until 1984. He lead the facility from “just a club track to promoting major races”, including IMSA sports cars and the popular SCCA Trans-Am Series.

He and Skip Barber staged the inaugural Vintage Fall Festival in 1983, which began a long tradition as one of the biggest swap meet & art show happenings on the east coast.

Stars of the day who visited victory lane at Lime Rock during his tenure include Mark Donohue, Parnelli Jones, Sam Posey, Bob Tullius, George Follmer among others.

After leaving Lime Rock, he worked as VP of Special Projects for SCCA from 1987-1989 and then as Road America President until his retirement from the sport in 2000. Jim Haynes passed away on March 3, 2023 at the age of 89.