Virtual Symposium

A Virtual Celebration of Racing History

The International Motor Racing Research Center and the Society of Automotive Historians are pleased to announce a Virtual Symposium on International Motor Racing History, providing an on-line platform for presentations on all aspects of motor racing history.

The growing interest in the Michael R. Argetsinger Symposium on International Motor Racing History has created a need for two separate events. The established in-person symposium, which has moved to a new venue, the Harbor Hotel on Seneca Lake, has a limited number of presentation slots that are filled every year. To expand participation opportunities, we invite authors, motorsport scholars, enthusiast historians and students to share their areas of historical interest with the motorsport community by means of the new Virtual Symposium on International Motor Racing History.

Pre-recording provides maximum flexibility for presenters:

• Any motorsport topic, from general interest to the narrowest of niches, is invited.
• Presentations can be made for up to 60 minutes.
• Students to seasoned researchers are encouraged to submit presentation proposals.

Throughout the year, The Motoring Podcast Network (part of Gran Touring Motorsports) will post YouTube videos of the pre-recorded presentations on this webpage, for year-round public viewing.

Potential presenters are invited to submit proposal abstracts, not exceeding 200 words, by completing and submitting the ABSTRACT SUBMITTAL FORM below, any time after
June 1, 2025.

• Abstracts should summarize the content and argument of the proposed presentation in a succinct and compelling manner and should include representative graphic images that will be used as visual accompaniments to the presentation. An estimate of elapsed time for the presentation should be included.
• Abstracts are to be submitted using the fill-in form (below).
• Submission of an abstract does not guarantee selection for the Virtual Symposium.
• If selected, the presenter then provides a PowerPoint slideshow, including a draft of the accompanying text, for final approval. PowerPoint compilation assistance for the final slideshow may be available on request.
• Upon acceptance, you will record your presentation via Zoom with an SAH or IMRRC symposium administrator.
• Presenters are responsible for providing proper credit and/or permission for images used in a presentation.
• Each completed presentation recording will be converted to a YouTube video and posted to this page of the IMRRC website, for public viewing

DISCLAIMER: Please note that by registering for this event, you consent to have your presentation and its content distributed in the public domain, ie: YouTube, Podcasts, etc. Additionally, pre-recorded presentations may be eligible for print publication in the SAH Automotive History Review or the SAH Journal, and/or in the Journal of Motorsport Culture & History.

Previous Presentations

Click on the YEAR tabs below, then select and click on any thumbnail to begin playing the individual video presentations from each speaker.

2024 & Previous

Ricordando Giacomelli e l'Alfa Romeo che hanno quasi vinto l'ultimo GP degli SU a Watkins Glen

Remembering Giacomelli and Alfa Romeo Almost Winning the Last United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen

October 5, 1980, was a very important day at Watkins Glen International circuit. Historical ...research, including about motor racing, cannot be done with hypotheses or with “what ifs” but only with facts. However, it can indeed be conceived that the facts of that day affected many future things. This was going to be the last F1 GP at Watkins Glen. The starting grid had an unexpected pole sitter: the Alfa Romeo of Giacomelli. Those were the years of Ferrari, winner of 1979 championship, of Lotus, winning in 1978, while the age of Williams was just beginning. Alfa Romeo, although possessing ancient racing victories, was back in racing for less than 2 years. Giacomelli, an Italian driving a fully Italian car, started on the pole maintaining firmly his lead position. He kept the lead and seemed close to an extraordinary win. Suddenly, a minor electrical problem stopped him on the track and the Williams of Jones won the race. One wonders what would have been if Giacmelli had won. Perhaps Alfa Romeo’s racing efforts would not have been discontinued as happened and a second major Italian team would have stayed in Formula 1. Possibly a prestigious F1 win in the US, the major car market in the world, and eventual further successes could have improved the prospects of Alfa Romeo to remain an Italian state property and continue to progress as an independent firm.

The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC), partnering with the Society of Automotive Historians (SAH), presents the Seventh 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.Show More

Now Playing

Remembering Giacomelli and Alfa Romeo Almost Winning the Last United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen

October 5, 1980, was a very important day at Watkins Glen International circuit. Historical ...research, including about motor racing, cannot be done with hypotheses or with “what ifs” but only with facts. However, it can indeed be conceived that the facts of that day affected many future things. This was going to be the last F1 GP at Watkins Glen. The starting grid had an unexpected pole sitter: the Alfa Romeo of Giacomelli. Those were the years of Ferrari, winner of 1979 championship, of Lotus, winning in 1978, while the age of Williams was just beginning. Alfa Romeo, although possessing ancient racing victories, was back in racing for less than 2 years. Giacomelli, an Italian driving a fully Italian car, started on the pole maintaining firmly his lead position. He kept the lead and seemed close to an extraordinary win. Suddenly, a minor electrical problem stopped him on the track and the Williams of Jones won the race. One wonders what would have been if Giacmelli had won. Perhaps Alfa Romeo’s racing efforts would not have been discontinued as happened and a second major Italian team would have stayed in Formula 1. Possibly a prestigious F1 win in the US, the major car market in the world, and eventual further successes could have improved the prospects of Alfa Romeo to remain an Italian state property and continue to progress as an independent firm.

The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC), partnering with the Society of Automotive Historians (SAH), presents the Seventh 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.Show More

Now Playing

John Yasenko’s purchase of the remains of the 1935 Harris FWD Speedster decades ago led him into conducting 36 years of research into the car and its creator, Benjamin F. ...Harris. John’s objective has been to document how Harris was a key figure in postwar racetrack design and development, and in transforming the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) into a national organization.

Yasenko is a lifelong car enthusiast, business owner, restorer and historian, automotive show host, and all-around jack of all trades.Show More

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The Gordon Bennett Cup, held for cars between 1900 and 1905 was the first international racing series. Stemming from an idea by American newspaper magnate, James Gordon Bennett Jr., the ...Gordon Bennett Cup was set to champion the international auto industry – by allowing national automobile clubs representing France, Germany, Great Britain, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, the United States and Italy to nominate three entries each. Naturally with the growth of the industry, it became more and more difficult to find the most suitable candidates. By 1905 the industry became so diverse that it was impossible to hold onto the rules of the Cup, so from 1906 the era of the Grand Prix started.

This presentation will provide a short overview of each race, a look at the most important racers and their cars.

The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC), partnering with the Society of Automotive Historians (SAH), presents the Seventh 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.Show More

Now Playing

Remembering Giacomelli and Alfa Romeo Almost Winning the Last United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen

October 5, 1980, was a very important day at Watkins Glen International circuit. Historical ...research, including about motor racing, cannot be done with hypotheses or with “what ifs” but only with facts. However, it can indeed be conceived that the facts of that day affected many future things. This was going to be the last F1 GP at Watkins Glen. The starting grid had an unexpected pole sitter: the Alfa Romeo of Giacomelli. Those were the years of Ferrari, winner of 1979 championship, of Lotus, winning in 1978, while the age of Williams was just beginning. Alfa Romeo, although possessing ancient racing victories, was back in racing for less than 2 years. Giacomelli, an Italian driving a fully Italian car, started on the pole maintaining firmly his lead position. He kept the lead and seemed close to an extraordinary win. Suddenly, a minor electrical problem stopped him on the track and the Williams of Jones won the race. One wonders what would have been if Giacmelli had won. Perhaps Alfa Romeo’s racing efforts would not have been discontinued as happened and a second major Italian team would have stayed in Formula 1. Possibly a prestigious F1 win in the US, the major car market in the world, and eventual further successes could have improved the prospects of Alfa Romeo to remain an Italian state property and continue to progress as an independent firm.

The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC), partnering with the Society of Automotive Historians (SAH), presents the Seventh 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.Show More

Now Playing

The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC), partnering with the Society of Automotive Historians (SAH), presents the Seventh 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.Show More

Now Playing

In the late 60’s New Zealand Motor Racing found itself in a bind. A few years earlier the Tasman Formula had been written to keep the local fleet of older ...2.5 litre ex F1 cars in play. But now the more modern Formula 2, and even a few of the National Formula 1600 cc cars, were embarrassing the older ones. Visiting cars from Europe were either bigger engined ex 1.5 litre F1 cars, or new designs for the upcoming 3 litre F1 with capacity reduced engines, leaving Motor Sport New Zealand with a dilemma. Whichever way you looked at it, it was going to be expensive.

The SCCA appears have come to the same conclusion, with a 1967 amendment to their Formula A allowing Stock Block engines. The gate was open for others to do the same. At the last SCCA race of 1968 SCCA teams were approached, by a New Zealand delegation, to demonstrate their cars in New Zealand. Four teams took up the challenge, and the Kiwi’s liked the look of it. Within the year Formula A was a main stream category with Championships for it unfolding in Europe, South Africa, and the Tasman Countries.

This Presentation looks at the nitty gritty of that first Kiwi Formula A race, as seen through the eyes of this presenter in 1968.

The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC), partnering with the Society of Automotive Historians (SAH), presents the Seventh 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.Show More

Now Playing

This presentation considers the short competition life of two cars intended to run at Indianapolis in 1950 that ended up in New Zealand six years later.

In 1956 two brothers travelled ...to Italy intending to purchase a car to race back home. They returned with three: two Indy cars and a 1930s 6CM. The first part of this paper covers the modest race history of these cars in New Zealand. The second explores an identity policy that popped up while exploring the role of the engines in setting the Tipos and the individual identities of these cars. The policy did not set chassis numbers, nor even engine numbers. Rather it set out to describe the features of the engine as used on a particular car, for instance as applied to the 1938 8CTFs.

The 8C part of the description tells us that these are 8 cylinder engines and the TF bit that these particular engines had fixed Cylinder Heads (Testa Fissa). Taken together we get an 8CTF car. But 8CTF is an engine description, not a car one, a conundrum to be explored in this presentation.

Special thanks to Narrator: Revel Arroway (You're Listening to Radio Revel Podcast) on behalf of The Motoring Podcast Network. Edits and Slide Deck by Bob Barr, Society of Automotive HistorianShow More

Now Playing

This presentation offers an overview of Rally Classics: what they are, the events they organize, and with special connotation and explanation of the 2024 72nd Rally Costa Brava held last ...March (in Catalonia Region - Spain) including photographs of past editions. For more than 20 years, Rally Classics has been an organizer of great classic motoring events of international prestige. The Rally Classics Club, founded by former Junior World Rally Champion Alex Romani, is one of the world's leading motorsport organizations.

The Rally Costa Brava is one of the most prestigious historic car rallies in the world, and the oldest rally in Spain, with 72 years of history. Since 2010, it has been an event for historic cars. 240 teams from all over the world participate every year in this event, scoring to the FIA European Championship.Show More

Now Playing

For the past half-century, the FIA has been the principal driver behind efforts to make racing safer. It wasn’t always so. Although the SCCA required seat belts in 1957, the ...FIA didn’t follow suit until 1972. From the dawn of road racing, conventional wisdom held that drivers should jump out of the cockpit when a crash was imminent – a technique perfected by Masten Gregory. This myth was conclusively exploded by a largely forgotten British physician by the name of Michael Henderson, who conducted crash investigations for the RAF. In 1968, Henderson – who moonlighted as a club racer and freelance journalist – wrote Motor Racing in Safety, the foundation text on the subject. At the same time, he fitted his own race cars with four-point harnesses augmented with an anti-submarine strap inspired by parachute design. This put him in touch with the redoubtable Terence “Dumbo” Willans, a record-setting parachutist who tested ejection seats for the RAF. Willans later went into business with another club racer, John Fenning. By 1969, six-point Willans harnesses were found in almost every car on the F1 grid. The battle for seat belts had been won almost before it started.Show More

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 The Motoring Podcast Network (a division of GTM). Proud members of the IMRRC & the SAH and contribute volunteer time and resources to help grow the success of this conference. Please consider supporting their 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.