The International Motor Racing Research Center is guided by a Governing Council composed of racing aficionados, library professionals and civic and community leaders from across the United States.
Chairman – John R. Saunders: is the former president of the International Speedway Corp. and Watkins Glen International. He was one of the originators of the concept of the International Motor Racing Research Center.
Vice Chairman – Laurence Kessler: is the owner of a restaurant and real estate development firm and former owner of numerous Burger King Restaurants in central and western New York. A former IMSA team competitor and sponsor, he is active in SVRA and other vintage racing events and is a member of the Road Racing Drivers Club. See Kessler making a pass at the 2014 SVRA Brickyard Invitational.
Vice Chairman – Tony Parella: is president and CEO of the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association. A 24-year veteran of the telecommunications industry, Parella has served in a number of executive management positions throughout his career. Most recently, he served as chairman of Shared Technologies Inc., a company he led since 2004. See Parella’s 2015 interview with the RACER Channel.
Secretary – Mitch Bishop: is a high-integrity marketing executive with a long track record building successful software companies in the San Francisco Bay area. He has deep roots in the motorsports world as he is the son of IMSA founder, IMRRC co-founder and Motorsports Hall of Fame member John Bishop, giving him a unique perspective on the history of the sport. He continues to be active in motor racing as both a driver and fan.
Treasurer – Scott Welliver: is the owner of the construction management company Welliver. He is a vintage racer and former NASCAR team co-owner and is heavily involved in his community, including as a co-owner of three wineries.
Bill Branson: is a retired director of AG Edwards and former officer of Royal Bank of Canada (US) Wealth Management. He has been president of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad since 2008, and is a returning member of the Governing Council. He has a collection of European road and race cars and has been involved with SCCA and SVRA for many years, driving several of his cars at many east coast tracks.
Dawn Burlew: has worked at Corning Incorporated for more than 35 years. She is the Director of Government Affairs & Business Development, leading New York State, local and regional government affairs and business development initiatives. Burlew also serves as supervisor for the Town of Erin. She is a member of several not-for-profit boards including Chemung County Industrial Development Agency, Southern Tier Economic Growth (STEG), Incubator Works, Project Seneca Steering Committee, I-86 Steering Committee, Chemung County Property Development Corp., Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council Loan Fund, Corning’s Gaffer District, Chemung County Chamber of Commerce and Bethany Village. She also serves as vice-chair and member of the Executive & Finance Committee of the Guthrie Corning Hospital Board, board chair for the Regional Economic Development and Energy Corporation (REDEC), and board member of Five Star Bank.
Nicholas Craw: was the president of the Senate before becoming the deputy president of the FIA. He was formerly the ACCUS president, SCCA president and CEO, and director of the Peace Corps. He is also an RRDC member and in the SCCA Hall of Fame. Craw started racing in 1967 with a Formula B Brabham BT-21 and won the 1969 Washington D.C. Region’s Norair Trophy. He is a two-time IMSA Goodrich Radial Challenge champion, and American Road Race of Champions winner, and a two-time winner of Nelson Ledges 24-Hour race.
Evan Earle: is the Cornell University archivist, a lifelong motorsports enthusiast and devoted “car guy.” Earle assisted the Racing Research Center for several years as its consulting archivist. Read about Earle’s work at Cornell.
Gregory G. Galdi: is the founder and owner of Custom Computer Specialists, a 35-year-old technology services firm. He is an avid collector of vintage sports racers, sedans and Formula 1 cars and is an iRacing devotee. He is a member of SVRA, SCCA, FIA and Master’s HGP. See and hear Galdi’s Ferrari 312PB in action.
John C. Gorsline: is the president and founder of Gorsline Company. He has insured top drivers from Formula One, IndyCar, NASCAR, Trans-Am and World Challenge. Gorsline has provided the Gorsline Company Scholarship since 1994 to young, talented drivers including Bryan Herta, Danica Patrick and Rick Stenhouse. He is a member of SCCA, RRDC, International Council of Motorsport Scientists, Landmark Society of Western New York and many more.
Phil Henderson: is a retired electrical engineer who lives in Western New York. He has been a starter at Watkins Glen for over 50 years at professional and amateur events, including Formula One. Phil represented Area 10 on the SCCA National Board of Directors and raced in SCCA Showroom Stock and Sport Renault, winning NYSRRC overall in 1978 and 1979. Familiar faces at the IMRRC, Phil and his wife Marion have been strong supporters of the IMRRC since its inception.
Robert M. Newman Jr.: is a retired adviser from the investment firm Tigris Financial Group Ltd. He is a long-time collector of interesting and unique automobiles and got his competition license at age 60. He was named The Legends of Motorsports Rookie of the Year in 2010 and is active in several civic and philanthropic organizations.
Michael Printup: is president of Watkins Glen International and has managerial oversight of Michigan International Speedway and Americrown, ISC’s motorsports catering, concessions and merchandise sales arm. He also serves on the board of directors for the Motorsports Hall of Fame and is actively involved in numerous civic and community organizations in the Watkins Glen area. See Printup’s interview with a ZF Race reporter as he discusses Watkins Glen International’s history and renovations.
Archie Urciuoli: retired in 1999 as chairman of Merrill Lynch International and is now chairman of ArcherGroup, a private investment and consulting firm. He has served on the boards of a number of corporations and charities and is the author of many business publications. He has won numerous racing awards and is a member of the board of the Road Racing Drivers Club. Under the pen name “Grumpy,” he is the author of the “Muttmulligans” children’s books. He served as secretary of the Governing Council for many years. View a Legends of Motorsports profile of Urciuoli.
Dinah Gueldenpfennig Weisberg: is CEO and president of REDCOM Laboratories Inc. She served in multiple roles in the company over 40 years before becoming president in 2017 and held senior management positions in the engineering department. She was promoted to Vice President of Planning and Government Program Administration in 2004 where she led the group responsible for government and military engagement; and Executive Vice President in 2012. Weisberg is also an accomplished professional racecar driver and instructor.
Chip Wile: is president of Daytona International. He also served as President of Darlington Raceway from 2013-2016; director of business development at Motor Racing Network; team public relations and marketing for various NASCAR race teams, most notably Penske Racing, Bill David Racing, and Turner Scott Motorsports. Wile’s recent awards include 2017 Sports Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 (2017) and University of Georgia Alumni Association’s 40 Under 40 (2018).