i was six years old, but i was there... damn Motor Racing Research Center is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Formula One racing at Watkins Glen
WATKINS GLEN, Jan. 19 -- The International Motor Racing Research Center kicked off a year-long celebration Tuesday -- a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first Formula One race at Watkins Glen.
Dignitaries from village and county government, racing royalty in the person of Jean Argetsinger, and students from a Watkins Glen High School history class studying the history of local racing were on hand for speeches and a cake-cutting.
Speeches were presented by Racing Center President J.C. Argetsinger, Watkins Glen International President Michael Printup, Racing Center Historian Bill Green and Racing Center Director Mark Steigerwald. They reminisced about the history of Formula One racing at Watkins Glen, about the role of the Center in promoting that history, and about the celebration. Speaker Argetsinger unveiled the Center's celebration logo, created by Ben Hendee, a graphic artist and motorsports artist who lives in Unadilla, NY.
Mario Andretti, although unable to attend Tuesday's kickoff, is serving as honorary chairman of the celebration. Andretti raced in the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix at Watkins Glen in the 1970s and was Formula One world champion in 1978.
The celebration will include displays and exhibits at the Center, including every race poster for the full race run of the Watkins Glen F1 series, which lasted from 1961-1980, and the original paintings by English artist Michael Turner used for the race program covers from 1969-1980. A 50th anniversary celebration poster created by graphic artist Nick Phoenix will be released in the spring.
"Formula One put Watkins Glen on the international racing map, a place of respect it holds to this day," J.C. Argetsinger said. "The local community is proud of this rich and exciting history, and visitors to the Center prove time and time again that the Watkins Glen years are important to their racing memories, too."
A series of Formula One cars will be featured at the Center through the year, starting with a historic Cooper Climax T51 Formula One vehicle due to arrive soon. Sir Jack Brabham drove that car to victory in the 1959 Sebring race to clinch his first of three World Championships. The vehicle is owned by racing author Joel Finn, a friend of the Center.
The longstanding monthly speaker series, Center Conversations, will focus on Formula One racing. The talks will start with one on Feb. 26 featuring historian Green and author Michael Argetsinger. Celebrated motorsports writer Pete Lyons will speak on April 16, discussing his coverage of Formula One racing in Europe across the years.
Racing great Bobby Rahal will talk May 7 about his racing experiences in Formula One and at the Indianapolis 500, which is celebratng its 100th anniversary this year.
Other highlights will be the Sept. 9 Grand Prix Festival, and the launch of a new book by Michael Argetsinger titled "Formula One at Watkins Glen: 20 Years of the United States Grand Prix 1961-1980." It is a venture between David Bull Publishing, the Center and author Argetsinger, with all profits going directly to the Center. The book, still in development, will be on sale at the Center.