The Annual Michael R. Argetsinger Symposium on International Motor Racing History
The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC), partnering with the Society of Automotive Historians (SAH), presents the annual Michael R. Argetsinger Symposium on International Motor Racing History. The Symposium established itself as a unique and respected scholarly forum and has gained a growing audience of students and enthusiasts. It provides an opportunity for scholars, researchers and writers to present their work related to the history of automotive competition and the cultural impact of motor racing. Papers are presented by faculty members, graduate students and independent researchers.
The history of international automotive competition falls within several realms, all of which are welcomed as topics for presentations, including, but not limited to: sports history, cultural studies, public history, political history, the history of technology, sports geography and gender studies, as well as archival studies.
Attending or Presenting at the Symposium: 8th Annual, November 1 & 2, 2024
The International Motor Racing Research Center and the Society of Automotive Historians present the Eighth Annual Michael R. Argetsinger Symposium on International Motor Racing History on Friday and Saturday, November 1 & 2, 2024, in the Media Center of the world-famous Watkins Glen International racing circuit in Watkins Glen, New York.
The Symposium is a unique gathering geared to independent scholars and historians, enthusiasts and the enthusiast media, motor sport participants and fans, and interested members of the general public. The two-day event is free and will be live streamed for remote viewing, courtesy of Gran Touring Motorsports. Both in-person and remote presentations will be made, which will be available post-event as YouTube recordings.
Agenda:
- Reel Wheel Film Festival – Prelude to Symposium
- Symposium Day 1
- Cocktail Party / Reception at the IMRRC
- Symposium Day 2
- Dinner Reception, at Seneca Lodge, invited Guests & Presenters Only.
Key Note Address: Professional Driver, Lyn St. James
Quickly moving up the ranks, she fought alongside names like Haywood, Stuck and Ribbs in Trans-Am and IMSA. She would take home titles in races like the 12 hours of Sebring, 24 hours of Rolex and 24 hours of the Nürburgring. With 31 speed records earned over a 20 year span, with many wins and titles in her log book. In 1992, the mold wasn’t just broken… it was shattered, and at the age of 45, proving that neither gender nor age matter in Motorsports – she entered the Indianapolis 500, earning the title rookie of the year. Lyn. St James reset more than just metrics in a record book, she rebooted the way we look and think about Motorsports. And because of her perseverance and accomplishments, she has inspired generations of talented women to also get behind the wheel of a race car.
Presentation Topics:
Presentations on topics relevant to international motor sport history of all eras are welcome, including, but not limited to, the history, evolution, and development of race cars and motor sport technology; motor sport geography, oral history, and historiography; cultural, gender, media, and political histories of motor sport; and archival and museum studies. There are a limited number of presentation time slots available; submittals will be reviewed and selections will be made based on subject matter and perceived suitability for the Symposium.
To Submit a Presentation Abstract for Symposium Consideration:
Independent motor sport scholars and historians, independent researchers, and undergraduate and graduate students are invited to submit abstracts, not exceeding 200 words, to the Symposium Administrators by August 2, 2024. Abstracts should summarize the content and thesis of the proposed presentation in a succinct and compelling manner and should include representative graphic images that the presenter intends to use as visual accompaniments to the presentation. The submitters must also indicate in their abstract whether it is their intention to make the presentation in person at Watkins Glen, or remotely by Zoom. Submission review, selection, and notification will be completed the week of August 19, 2024. Presenters selected should then expect to provide, within 30 days, an edited slide show (using PowerPoint software) of the graphics that will accompany their presentations for review and approval, and a final version of same by October 21st. Abstracts can be submitted in either Word or PDF documents. Presentations, including slides, video, film, or other visual techniques, must be limited to 35-40 minutes, including time for questions and answers. Presenters, in person at Watkins Glen or remotely via Zoom, will speak to the attendees at the racing circuit Media Center and simultaneously to the online live streaming viewers. YouTube videos of the presentations will be available post-event in the IMRRC online archives, while academic-focused presentations may be published in the SAH Automotive History Review and/or in the Journal of Motorsport Culture & History
For additional information, please visit the Symposium page of the IMRRC website, or contact Symposium Administrators Duke Argetsinger of the IMRRC, and Robert Barr and Chris Lezotte of the SAH.
Download the Call for Presentations.
The symposium is named in honor of Michael R. Argetsinger (1944-2015), an award-winning motorsports author and longtime member of the Center’s Governing Council. Michael’s work on motorsports includes:
- Walt Hansgen: His Life and the History of Post-war American Road Racing (2006)
- Mark Donohue: Technical Excellence at Speed (2009)
- Formula One at Watkins Glen: 20 Years of the United States Grand Prix, 1961-1980 (2011)
- An American Racer: Bobby Marshman and the Indianapolis 500 (2019)
Previous Symposium Presentations
2023
2022
All of the production, recording, live-stream, post-production, technology support, editing and podcasting work for the IMRRC Symposium starting in 2022 has been provided by the team at Gran Touring Motorsports. We’re proud members of the IMRRC & the SAH and contribute our volunteer time and resources to help grow the success of this conference. Please consider supporting our work via Patreon.
Thank YOU for your support!
We would like to thank our sponsors and volunteers for the continued support of the Annual Argetsinger Symposium. If you’d like to contribute to the success of this event, please don’t hesitate to reach out to research@racingarchives.org for more information.