Philippe Defechereux, author of Watkins Glen, The Street Years 1948-1952, is a former automobile advertising executive, consultant, historian and author. His last book, focusing on James Dean’s racing career and Porsche in America, titled James Dean – From Passion for Speed to Immortality was successfully published by Dalton-Watson in 2005. Originally from Belgium, Defechereux has lived and worked in the USA since 1969. He earned a Master’s Degree in Business from Columbia University and rose to manage major car advertising accounts for Ogilvy & Mather and DDB Needham. For the past 15 years, he has also been a long-standing member of New York’s Madison Avenue Sports Car Driving & Chowder Society. He is also an accredited International Motor Press journalist with IMPA.