The concept of the International Motor Racing Research Center at Watkins Glen emerged when a few folks were looking for a stellar way to mark the 50^th anniversary of road racing in Watkins Glen.

These visionaries included Jean Argetsinger, partner with her husband, Cameron, in bringing racing to this rural Upstate New York village in 1948 and putting Watkins Glen high on the list of race tracks of international renown. Working with Jean was John Saunders, then-president of Watkins Glen International and today vice president of the International Speedway Corp., owner of WGI.

Jean and John enlisted supporters nationwide, not the least of whom were John and Peg Bishop, Bob and Marolyn Rogers and Peter McLaughlin of SVRA. The devotion of these leaders in the racing community can be credited with the successful campaign that culminated with the opening of the International Motor Racing Research Center on June 4, 1999. The Center opened and operates successfully today because of the generosity of race fans, historians and car lovers. The support the Center has received in its infancy is as wide as the scope of the Center's collections. [more information about our founders...]