Watkins Glen book now available
Now available in the UK and USA, this new Dalton Watson Fine Books title was on sale for the first time at the Watkins Glen festival in New York State on September 9 and then at the track on September 10 and 11.
The book will be sold by Amy Markle at the Simeone Museum event November 2011 in Philadelphia on Saturday November 19 and Sunday November 20. The author will be signing the book at the event on November 19. On December 4, the author will be signing books at the VSCCA event in Somers, NY at the annual lunch.
• Entirely new 216 page book with more than 100 exclusive color photos
• The early Watkins Glen and American Road racing story told in dramatic detail
• Unique chapter on Concours cars of the era in bright color photos
Click on title for much more detail
In 1948 Watkins Glen staged the first official American race for sports cars since the Vanderbilt Cup races of the early years of the century. This book is about the transformation of post-World War II racing in America and how road racing became a leading sport in the US, beginning at Watkins Glen and followed by Sebring, Daytona, Laguna Seca and other circuits.
These historic first five years are fundamental to road racing in America when the race was staged through the village streets and neighboring countryside until a permanent track was built in 1953. The races introduced famous international marques such as Ferrari, Jaguar, Porsche, Allard, Healey and Cunningham and encouraged a pantheon of great drivers to develop, among them, Briggs Cunningham, John Fitch, Phil Walters, Phil Hill, Jim Kimberly and Walt Hansgen. Later, from 1961 to 1980, Watkins Glen was the site of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.
Cameron Argetsinger, a lawyer and leader in upstate New York, was the man with the dream and the story of how he made it all happen against enormous odds is told in detail. It includes anecdotes and interviews contributed by many of the early participants, and has exclusive color photographs taken during years when color photography was practically unknown.
In 2011, Watkins Glen celebrates the 50th anniversary of its first Formula 1 Grand Prix. Had the early Sports Car Grand Prix of 1948-52 not taken place and quickly become a huge popular success, Watkins Glen would long ago have disappeared in the annals of history. Instead, it remains to this day a challenging race track, with two nationally televised events each year, and it is the home of the world’s first Motor Racing Research Library.
Over 300 photographs provide vivid and fascinating illustrations of the men and machines who threaded together every part of this extraordinary story. Full race results and statistics for all entrants in the 13 races run between 1948 and 1952 are also provided in detail. A final chapter shows how many of the race cars from the early years are now highly valued and are prize-winners at concours events.
Information re Watkins Glen September event: http://www.grandprixfestival.com/
Since 1993, the Grand Prix Festival of Watkins Glen presented by Chemung Canal Trust Company has celebrated our heritage of motor racing. Last year, an estimated 20,000 spectators helped us celebrate. As in previous years, a tribute to the Grand Prix races are featured in a variety of events during this all day festival. Events include the Walk of Fame award ceremony, a historical lecture called The Legends Speak, a pre-race Tech Inspection at Smalley's Garage, and a judged automobile show, the The Chemung Canal Trust Company Concours d'Elegance.
The featured highlight of the Festival is a tribute to the original Grand Prix races using the original 6.6 mile road course. Always a crowd pleaser, the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Tribute is designed to recreate the ambiance of the 1948-52 Watkins Glen street races. The race tribute is open to selected Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) cars participating in the The Glenora Wine Cellars U.S. Vintage Grand Prix presented by Welliver races held at the nearby Watkins Glen International race course on the same weekend as the festival.
In addition to the SVRA race participants mentioned above, if you own a qualifying automobile and would also like to participate in the festival, you are not alone. Nearly twelve hundred festival attendees will choose to participate in the Festival by registering, as driver/navigator teams, in one of seven Stone Bridge Driver events. Each of the participants in these events share two things in common: a passion for driving classic sports cars and a desire to relive some of the excitement of driving on the original 6.6 mile circuit during the festival. Please Note: Only 650 eligible sports and/or classic cars may register for these events and the slots fill very quickly.
At the Grand Prix Festival of Watkins Glen, presented by Chemung Canal Trust, there is something for everyone! Parked along the main streets of the village you will find over 600 classic sports cars of all ages and marques for your enjoyment. In addition to live music, wine tasting, food courts, and assorted other family activities, a variety of vendors of racing items and related Merchandise are provided for your entertainment and pleasure. Oh, and did we mention the fantastic fireworks at dusk?
Sample pictures, images and text
More information re the Watkins Glen book
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