American Motorsports History: Watkins Glen

My first experience at “The Glen” as the Watkins Glen race track has been affectionately called was not what I had expected from what I imagined to be a little track in the middle of know where. The more I learned, the more in awe I am of the great motorsports history right here in America. When it comes to road racing or a road course, Watkins Glen is the centerpoint.

In 1948 a young gentleman by the name of Cameron Argetsinger, who summered with his family on the lovely Lake Seneca, proposed a road race like those conducted through the villages of Europe. On October 2nd, 1948 the enthusiastic hamlet of Watkins Glen, NY hosted 15 cars for 8 laps through the town, up and down the surrounding countryside for a total of 52.8 miles, their first Grand Prix. Mind you, in 1948, not all of the 6.6 mile laps were paved, dirt and gravel were part of the game back then.

Established motorsport names such as Briggs Cunningham with pals and competitors Miles and Sam Collier took part in this inaugural race. For five years the annual event drew racers and huge crowds.  However, after some bad accidents including one which halted the race in 1952 where a dozen spectators were injured and one died, the state of New York put the hammer down on the race going through the town.

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Now comes the answer to my husband asking, “why do they put race tracks in the middle of nowhere?”

Southwest of town on top of a hill in the town of Dix, though considerably more rural, they created another road course. This course lasted three years of which the first year, the SCCA though involved towards the end of the original road course decided not to sanction the 1953 course. Apparently things were not much simpler then. In 1956 the permanent 2.3 mile circuit was built and big racing began.

• 1957 – NASCAR, the first professional race at The Glen
• 1958 – Formula Libre
• 1961 – Formula One
• 1970’s Can-Am, Six Hours, Trans-Am, Formula 500, CART Indy series and more

Big names raced The Glen, Niki Lauda, James Hunt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Jackie Stewart, Derek Bell, Mark Donohue, Mario Andretti, Bruce McLaren and many more negotiated the twisty undulating track. This pavement has history, Graham Hill had his almost life ending crash here. Watkins Glen is a serious racetrack supporting some significant cars.

After some financial woes and ownership changes, track reconfigurations, and a recent increase securing major events, Watkins Glen is back. This fall the track will be closed for repaving, an unfortunate sore spot for many who enjoy the Glenora Wine Cellars U.S. Vintage Grand Prix which was held early this year (July 16-19) and not in conjunction with the Grand Prix Festival in the Village of Watkins Glen which has the cars back on the original course. Eh, a year off in exchange for new pavement. Next year should be fantastic. Keep up to date at Watkins Glen International and click here for more information on the beautiful events in the Seneca Lake region, wineries and more.

On a side note, the International Motor Racing Research Center is located in Watkins Glen, NY if you would like to dig deeper in to motorsports history.