Cameron R. Argetsinger, legend in American road racing, dies April 22

Cameron Reynolds Argetsinger, founder and organizer of the first races in Watkins Glen and president of the International Motor Racing Research Center from September 2002 until mid-2007, died April 22 at his home in Burdett, NY. He was 87.

In addition to his international involvement in motorsports, Argetsinger was an attorney, graduating from Cornell Law School and practicing law in Schuyler County, NY, for 48 years.

Argetsinger’s contributions to motorsports in America are virtually unparalleled.

Inspired by his love of fast automobiles and the area’s natural beauty, in 1948 he conceived, organized and drove in the races through the streets in what would become the world-famous Watkins Glen Grand Prix.

In that first race, he drove his MG-TC to a ninth-place finish. He remained active as a driver through 1960.

Cameron R. Argetsinger is in his Healey Silverstone at the 1950
Watkins Glen Grand Prix. With him is his mechanic, Tony Weinberg.

Argetsinger brought full international races to Watkins Glen in 1958 and in 1961 inaugurated the U.S. Grand Prix for Formula 1, which had a successful 20-year run on the Watkins Glen circuit. 

From the start, Argetsinger was a strong voice for international and professional road racing during a period in the 1950s and early 1960s when the political tides were directed elsewhere. He received the Grand Prix Drivers Association award for the best-organized Grand Prix in the world in an era when promoters negotiated with each team and handled all details of transportation and logistical movement of cars, equipment and personnel. He had the complete trust and confidence of all the European teams and drivers and settled everything on a handshake.

Ultimately, he restructured the entire payment system to accommodate the needs of promoting a major event in America and advanced many professional innovations essential to establishing the success that Grand Prix racing enjoyed in America during that period.

After leaving Watkins Glen in 1970, he was executive vice president of Chaparral Cars and was subsequently director of professional racing and executive director of the Sports Car Club of America, SCCA, from 1971-77. He also served as commissioner of the International Motor Sport Association, IMSA, from 1986-92.

“Nothing that Cameron did was ordinary,” said Bill Milliken of Williamsville, NY, a close friend and who served as head of competition for SCCA at the early Watkins Glen races and in the Formula 1 years would serve as steward of the meeting.

“Cameron’s interests were totally different than the average person. It’s amazing. He had the capability of dreaming pretty big dreams, and then he had the fortitude and strength of character to realize them,” Milliken said.

Argetsinger was appointed president of the International Motor Racing Research Center in 2002. At that time, John Bishop, IMSA founder and first chairman of the Center’s council, cited the experience Argetsinger was bringing to the post of president.

“No one that I know in racing could possibly bring the same expertise and sense of organization and ethics as Cam Argetsinger,” Bishop said. “Cam has done everything there is to do in racing, from being the pioneer road racing organizer, to top official, to president of a sanctioning body to commissioner of a sanctioning body. Nobody brings the breadth of experience that Cam has.”

Argetsinger was a member of the inaugural induction class of the Hall of Fame of the Sports Car Club of America in January 2005. He also is in the Schuyler County (NY) Hall of Fame.

Argetsinger was a visionary who made things happen. Despite his many professional successes, honors and recognitions, he always considered his family his greatest accomplishment.  He remained close to his children, was proud of the achievements of his grandchildren, and took great delight in his great-grandchildren.

He leaves his beloved wife of 67 years, Jean, their nine children, 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

In addition to the grand- and great-grandchildren, he is survived by Jean and his children J.C. and Joan of Montour Falls, NY; Louise and Tom Kanaley of Rochester, NY; Michael and Lee of Chicago, IL; Marya Smith of Elizabeth, IL; Margretta (Getchie) of New York City; Peter and Sjoukje of Sebring, FL, and Watkins Glen, NY: Rob and Elizabeth of Sunset Beach, CA; Sam and Joan of Burdett, NY; Philip (Duke) of Phoenix, AZ; and Susann Gary Argetsinger of Burdett, NY.

Argetsinger lived in the farmhouse near Burdett where his father was born in 1883, overlooking the family vineyard and Seneca Lake.  The only child of Attorney J. Cameron and Louise Williams Argetsinger, he was born March 1, 1921, in Youngstown, Ohio, and spent his childhood summers with his grandparents in Schuyler County.  During World War II, he served as a lieutenant in the Army.

A funeral Mass will be conducted on Sunday, April 27, at 2 p.m. at St. Mary’s of the Lake Church, Decatur Street, Watkins Glen. The family will meet with friends thereafter at the Racing Research Center, 610 S. Decatur St. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Racing Research Center. Arrangements by Vedder and Scott Funeral Home, Montour Falls, NY.

“A Tribute to Cameron Argetsinger” Planned for Saturday, April 26

The Center’s originally planned Center Conversations program on Saturday, April 26, of Jean Argetsinger and Bill Milliken sharing their stories of the early racing years will be, we hope, merely postponed. We sincerely hope that some day Jean and Bill will again agree to do this talk.

The plan now is to host a tribute to Cameron Argetsinger, who died Tuesday, April 22, led by Bill Green, with everyone in the audience invited to share their stories and memories.

The event will be at 1 p.m., next door to the Center in the Elementary School auditorium.

Legends of Watkins Glen Racing History Jean Argetsinger and Bill Milliken to Speak 

Jean Argetsinger and Bill Milliken, both involved with racing in Watkins Glen from when it was just a dream, will share their memories of the people of racing on Saturday, April 26, 2008, at the International Motor Racing Research Center.

Their 1 p.m. talk, part of the Center Conversations series, is especially appropriate as racing in Watkins Glen is celebrating its 60^th anniversary in 2008 and the Racing Research Center is marking its 10^th year of preserving the history of motorsports.

Friends of the Center are encouraged to make it a racing weekend – come to the talk on Saturday, return to the Center the next day at 8 a.m. to watch the live broadcast of the Spanish Grand Prix on Speed and then head to Watkins Glen International to celebrate the track’s official opening day of the 2008 season.

Argetsinger is the wife of Cameron Argetsinger, founder and organizer of the first races in Watkins Glen. From the earliest days, she was an integral part of the races, though she is fond of saying the people of the sport captivated her interest, not the cars.

Jean Argetsinger was one of the key people in the creation of the Racing Research Center to celebrate Watkins Glen racing’s golden anniversary, and she continues to serve on the Center’s Council.

Milliken competed in the early events, famously rolling his Bugatti in the first race in 1948 at the downtown spot now known as Milliken’s Corner. Milliken and Cameron Argetsinger met when Argetsinger first presented his idea of a road race in Watkins Glen to the Sports Car Club of America.

Milliken wrote the race regulations and served as head of competition for SCCA at Watkins Glen and in the Formula 1 years as steward of the meeting.

Between them, Milliken and Jean Argetsinger have countless stories to tell, and some will be shared on April 26. The talk is free, and all are welcome.

The Racing Research Center is located at 610 S. Decatur St., Watkins Glen. It is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No admission is charged.

Porsche Expert to Speak

Author Jerry Pantis will share his love of Porsche in a talk Saturday, April 12, 2008, at the International Motor Racing Research Center, part of the Center Conversations series.

Pantis is the author of the recently released “The Porsche 904, 906 & 910 In The Americas.” It has close to 1,000 photos, driver biographies, race-by-race coverage of events in North and South America where a 904, 906 or 910 was entered, and detailed chassis histories for about 90 individual cars.

He says that putting the book together was a six-year labor of love as well as “ridiculously indulgent.”

“In the end, I’ve written a book that I wished existed on these cars,” writes Pantis of Pointe Claire, Quebec.

Historian to Speak about ‘Race of the Century’

One hundred years ago, in February 1908, six cars from four different countries left New York City heading west. Their destination: Paris. Historian and author Julie Fenster will discuss her book, “Race of the Century: The Heroic True Story of the 1908 New York to Paris Auto Race,” at the March Center Conversations on Saturday, March 29, starting at 1 p.m. at the International Motor Racing Research Center. The route that those early racers used stretched across more than 21,000 miles over three continents and six countries. Fenster’s book tells the fascinating tale of this great challenge. Fenster began her career at Automobile Quarterly. She has written several on a wide range of historical topics, including books on Packards and Corvettes. Fenster also has written for American Heritage, the NewYork Times and American History.Center Conversations is a free monthly talk series that takes listeners behind the scenes of motorsports. The talks are informal, and everyone is invited. The Racing Research Center is located at 610 S. Decatur St., Watkins Glen. It is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No admission is charged.

For more information about the Center and Center Conversations, call (607) 535-9044

Green Grand Prix Celebrates Alternate Fueled Vehicles

Watkins Glen, N.Y. (March 21, 2008) – Drivers of alternate fueled vehicles and hybrids have a unique opportunity to put their vehicles to the test and have a lot of fun while doing it at the 4th Annual Green Grand Prix in Watkins Glen.

Entries are now being accepted for the May 3 event’s unique time-speed-distance road rally through the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of Central New York. The rally is the only road rally for alternate fueled vehicles and hybrids in the United States sponsored by the Sports Car Club of America.

The SCCA has a long association with world-renowned Watkins Glen, which is marking 60 years of competitive racing.

This year’s 4th Annual Green Grand Prix is hosted by the International Motor Racing Research Center, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2008.

The rally over miles of scenic roadways is one of the highlights of the daylong Green Grand Prix, based in downtown Watkins Glen at the Racing Research Center. After they return to the village, rally drivers and their navigators will join the public in a variety of educational activities throughout the afternoon.

The Doris Bovee Memorial Road Rally is named in memory of a well-known area environmentalist. Bovee taught for many years in the Corning-Painted Post Area School District and was known for her love of plants and birds. She also was involved with SCCA road rallies and was part of the Glen Region SCCA at its inception.

The rally brings together a diverse mix of hybrid and alternate fueled vehicles, AFVs, and their owners, businesses promoting renewable energy and related products, environmental groups, students and faculty members from elementary to university level and the general public.

“This fun and exciting educational event emphasizes energy independence and a cleaner environment,” said Green Grand Prix founder Robert Gillespie, an area artist and hybrid owner who is passionate about increasing awareness of the vehicles.

“The Green Grand Prix gives people an opportunity to learn first-hand about alternative personal transportation and renewable energy initiatives. It’s quite fulfilling to see how it grows in scope and size each year,” Gillespie said.

Corporate entries in the 2007 road rally included Toyota, Lexus, Honda, General Motors, Ford, the Indy Racing League, the Windshield Installation Network, Autoglass Insurance Co., Magi LLC and the Ethanol Promotion Information Council, EPIC. 

In addition to hybrid and flexible fuel vehicles, organizers expect many other interesting AFVs, including a hydrogen-powered car, a wood-powered SUV and a vegetable oil-powered car, as well cars fueled by bio-diesel, electricity, LP and compressed natural gas.

Cars begin the rally at the historic Glen Motor Inn on Route 14 north of Watkins Glen. The rally is conducted at legal highway speeds.

All afternoon activities are centered at the Racing Research Center on South Decatur Street, including at adjacent facilities of the Watkins Glen Central School District.

The Wayne Technical and Career Center in Williamson, N.Y., will be bringing its student-made portable energy lab, which includes solar panels and a wind generator. Also featured will be an Electrathon electric race car from Baker High School in Baldwinsville, N.Y. 

Organizers are expecting exhibited cars to include an electric vehicle built in 1914.

A panel discussion will address a host of sustainability issues, and Cornell University’s X-Prize Team, which has been working on a 100 mpg mass-producible car, is expected to do a presentation on its project.

Winners of the AFV design contest for young students, now in its third year, will receive their awards, as will participants in the morning road rally.

The Racing Research Center staff will be giving tours of the Center and discussing their work preserving the history of motorsports. The Center collects all types of materials on all series of racing and at all tracks, worldwide.

“Our partnership with the Green Grand Prix this year is a natural,” Center Director of Archives & Administration Mark Steigerwald said. “Our archives clearly show how racing – and therefore transportation – has evolved over the decades. The innovative people who took the risks 100 years ago are the forerunners of the people we see participating in the Green Grand Prix each year.”

For complete details about the Green Grand Prix, visit its Web site at www.greengrandprix.com. Registration information for the Doris Bovee Memorial Road Rally is available there.

Learn more about the International Motor Racing Research Center at its Web site, www.racingarchives.org. The Glen Region of the SCCA has its Web site at www.glen-scca.org.

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