One of the coolest things anyone can have is a unique keychain, something that succinctly reflects interests and passions. Check out the new IMRRC keychain here!
This year’s Membership Chairperson is IndyCar driver Alexander Rossi, who made motorsport history in 2016 as the first American to win the Indianapolis 500 as a rookie since 1928.
Alexander began racing go-karts by age 10 and it didn’t take him long to find success behind the wheel. By 14 years old, he had won multiple national and international karting championships. Moving on from karting, Alexander made the jump in 2008 to becoming Formula BMW World Champion, winning the most poles and victories in series history. At 17, Alexander moved to Europe in his pursuit of F1 and, at the time, was the youngest driver to hold an F1 Super License. Six years later, in 2015, he made five F1 Grand Prix starts for Manor Racing.
Alexander moved back to the United States in 2016 to race for Andretti Herta Autosport as a rookie in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. That’s where, in his fifth start, he won the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500, coasting to the finish line without fuel. Alexander made the move to Arrow McLaren from Andretti Autosport, and over his eight seasons in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES he has compiled eight wins, seven poles and 29 podium finishes. He was remarkably consistent in his first season in papaya, with six top-five and 11 top-10 finishes.
Alexander enters his second season in the No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, looking to build off his 2023 campaign with the team in which he finished ninth in the championship.
We were saddened to hear of the passing of long-time IMRRC friend and supporter Tim Meddaugh in February. Tim was an avid racing fan and a 55-year member of the SCCA. Tim served as a flagger and chief steward for most of those years. A celebration of life will be held at a favorite destination of Tim’s, the Seneca Lodge, on April 6th, more details to follow. All are welcome.
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (May 3, 2023) – The Governing Council of the International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC) in Watkins Glen, New York has appointed Phyllisa A. DeSarno as its most recent Governing Council member. The IMRRC’s Governing Council guides the organization and is composed of racing aficionados, library professionals and civic and community leaders from across the United States. “Phyllisa’s varied professional experience will benefit us considerably as we continue to celebrate our 25th anniversary, and beyond,” says IMRRC Executive Director Mark Steigerwald.
After graduating from Elmira College and attending Syracuse University’s School of International Studies, DeSarno taught English before moving into Community and Economic Development. She was employed by Corning Inc. and Corning Community College before retiring as the City of Ithaca’s Director of Economic Development. She has been a member of many community organizations throughout her long career and currently sits on the Schuyler Health Foundation Board. “I am looking forward to joining the IMRRC Governing Council,” DeSarno says of her appointment, “it will be an exciting three years with growth as the major focus. Andiamo… let’s go!” DeSarno lives in Watkins Glen with her husband, Peter, and their dog, Phoebe.
About the International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC): Celebrating 25 years!
Located in one of the premier racing towns in America, the IMRRC’s collection spans continents, eras and race series, embodying the speed, drama and camaraderie of amateur and professional motor racing throughout the world. The Center welcomes serious researchers and casual fans alike to share stories of race drivers, race series and race cars captured on its shelves and walls and brought to life through exhibitions and special events. The IMRRC is free and open to the public, no appointment necessary, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. More at racingarchives.org.
Download the Full Press Release.
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (December 22, 2022) – The International Motor Racing Research Center is pleased to announce the addition of Chris Dyson and Rob Roessel to the Governing Council. The IMRRC’s Governing Council guides the organization and is composed of racing aficionados, library professionals and civic and community leaders from across the United States.
“Chris and Rob both have deep ties to the racing world, are committed to the sport, and now to the mission of the Research Center. As we enter our 25th year of operations, we
welcome them both to the Governing Council,” said IMRRC Executive Director Mark Steigerwald.
Dyson has a long and storied career as a racing driver having competed in the American Le Mans Series for Dyson Racing from 2002 to 2013. He is currently competing in the Trans Am series in the TA class where he recently achieved his second consecutive championship (2021-2022). The son of team owner Rob Dyson, Chris is a two-time ALMS champion, having taken the LMP675 Drivers title in 2003 and earning the LMP1 Championship in 2011. He is the vice president and sporting director of Dyson Racing.
Roessel is the director of corporate sales in the North Region for NASCAR. After graduating from SUNY Cortland with a degree in Sport Management, he started his career at Watkins Glen International over a decade ago. In his spare time, Roessel competes in the ChampCar Endurance Series and is in the middle of building a 1983 Mustang from the ground up to compete in 2023.
About the International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC)
Located in one of the premier racing towns in America, the IMRRC’s collection spans continents, eras, and race series, embodying the speed, drama and camaraderie of amateur and professional motor racing throughout the world. The Center welcomes serious researchers and casual fans alike to share stories of race drivers, race series, and race cars captured on its shelves and walls and brought to life through exhibitions and special events. The IMRRC is free and open to the public, no appointment necessary, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. More at racingarchives.org
Download the Full Press Release.
The first purpose-built, closed-course, road circuit at Watkins Glen, opened on a glorious, chilly autumn weekend in mid-September 1956, welcoming 118 racers to compete in six race events during the 9th Annual International Sports Car Grand Prix. The circuit, which has since hosted nearly every major racing series over more than six decades, almost did not open at all.
The efforts by the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Corporation – up to the 11th hour – to ready the 2.3-mile track in time for the race weekend were extraordinary. A successful “wave the green fag” bond campaign in the local community raised initial start-up funds for the project in a single month. Contractors broke ground in late July and, after delays caused by heavy rains and unfavorable weather, completed the final touches on the asphalt paving only an hour before practice sessions began. Alterations to one of the curves, using earth-moving equipment under the glare of spotlights, were made during the night before the first race. And then officials from the Sports Car Club of America jeopardized the entre event by withdrawing their recommendation for members to participate at the last minute due to what they deemed the “serious and hazardous conditions of the course.”
Despite official concerns, not a single driver willingly withdrew from competition. A crowd exceeding 30,000 spectators enjoyed the “European carnival aspects” of the weekend and watched a “thrilling race” across the fast and tricky course as George Constantine of Sturbridge, Massachusetts in his D-Type Jaguar took the checkered fag for the Sports Car Grand Prix.
The IMRRC
With a mission to “To collect, preserve and share the global history of motorsports,” The International Motor Racing Research Center, located at Watkin’s Glen, New York, has, since 1996, been a place open to historians and to the general public and preserves an ever-growing collection that documents the history of racing in the more than 4000 books, 250 different motorsports magazines and newspaper titles, club and sanctioning body records, race results, programs and posters, papers of motorsports journalists and scholars, correspondence of race organizers and still and moving images. Its knowledgeable research and archives staff assists hundreds of scholars, journalists, authors, documentary film makers, drivers and race car owners from all over the globe with inquiries about motorsports history every year. It relies on gifs and donations from the motor sport community. See www.racingarchives.org.
Download the Original Article.
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (Feb. 17, 2022) – The International Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen welcomes Beren Argetsinger and Daryl Q. Wolfe to the organization’s Governing Council. The IMRRC’s Governing Council guides the organization and is composed of racing aficionados, library professionals and civic and community leaders from across the United States.
“We’re thrilled to have the talents of Beren and Daryl among the members of the Governing Council. Their combined experience will add significantly to the leadership capabilities of the Council,” said IMRRC Executive Director Mark Steigerwald. Argetsinger is a partner at Keyes & Fox, LLP. Previously, he was a research fellow at the Center for Energy and Sustainable Development in West Virginia where he focused on climate change and clean energy transition strategies. In addition to his law practice, Argetsinger is a Finger Lakes vineyard owner and wine grape grower and is active in his community. He is the new secretary of the Governing Council. Argetsinger’s grandfather Cameron Argetsinger was the leading force in bringing post-World War II road racing to the United States, and specifically Watkins Glen. His grandmother Jean Argetsinger was a founder of the IMRRC and served on its Governing Council until her death in 2017.
Wolfe has been with the NASCAR company for 27 years and has advanced through several leadership positions with increasing responsibility. As the Managing Director of Marketing Partnerships at ISC he was a member of the core team to negotiate and develop new properties at Kansas Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway. He is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer.
About the International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC)
Located in one of the premier racing towns in America, the IMRRC’s collection spans continents, eras, and race series, embodying the speed, drama and camaraderie of amateur and professional motor racing throughout the world. The Center welcomes serious researchers and casual fans alike to share stories of race drivers, race series, and race cars captured on its shelves and walls and brought to life through exhibitions and special events. The IMRRC is free and open to the public, no appointment necessary, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. More at racingarchives.org.
Download the Full Press Release.
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (Oct. 15, 2021) – The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC) announced today that it has appointed Mark Steigerwald to be the IMRRC’s next Executive Director, replacing Dan DeRusha, who stepped down in June 2021. John Saunders, Chair of the Governing Council, said, “We are very pleased to announce Mark’s hiring and return to the IMRRC to lead the Center as it continues its work collecting, preserving, and sharing the history of racing. Mark is uniquely positioned for this role having started his career at the IMRRC many years ago before moving on to advance his leadership experience and fundraising credentials.”
Steigerwald is the Executive Director of the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento, CA where he leads all aspects of the 72,000 sq. ft. facility and its mission presenting the history of the automobile with a collection of over 150 classic cars, race cars, muscle cars and early automobiles. He is also a self-described “gear head and racing fanatic,” having been involved in helping establish the IMRRC’s archives when he first worked at the IMRRC in 2000. He holds a Masters degree in Library Science from Syracuse University. Said Steigerwald, “It is a terrific honor to be selected to return to the IMRRC and lead this important organization into its next chapter. My lifelong interest in racing, passion for the sport and love of the IMRRC’s mission have all come together in this opportunity. I look forward to working with the Governing Council and staff to advance the IMRRC’s programs and impact.”
Steigerwald also brings significant fundraising experience to the IMRRC having worked in the development areas at Cornell University for 8 years prior to moving to the California Automobile Museum position. “Motorsports has an incredible fan base, an amazing international presence, and the IMRRC offers opportunities to preserve that rich racing history. We are fortunate to have Mark’s leadership, racing knowledge and passion coming to the IMRRC,” stated Saunders.
Steigerwald was selected following a national search guided by senior search consultant Daniel Keegan of Museum Search & Reference, a firm in Manchester, NH and Boston, MA, of which the principal is Marilyn Hoffman.
About the International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC)
Located in one of the premier racing towns in America, the IMRRC’s collection spans continents, eras, and race series, embodying the speed, drama and camaraderie of amateur and professional motor racing throughout the world. The Center welcomes serious researchers and casual fans alike to share stories of race drivers, race series, and race cars captured on its shelves and walls and brought to life through exhibitions and special events. The IMRRC is free and open to the public, no appointment necessary, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. More at racingarchives.org.
Download the Full Press Release.
We’ve heard the pitch – thanks to work behind the scenes through the SCCA Foundation, the SCCA Archives are hosted at the International Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen, New York.
But did you know that’s a real place? A place to visit, look, enjoy, learn, and reminisce about your favorite era of motorsports?
More than that, the IMRRC has displays to show off that history. As an SCCA member, we’re downright giddy that the newest display at the IMRRC is on the SCCA Hall of Fame, showcasing SCCA history through the years through the lens of SCCA’s biggest and brightest.
Of course, the IMRRC is the home of a number of other SCCA artifacts. Driver files, including applications for licenses, are housed here. Race results, SportsCar Magazine and regional publications, rally results, entry lists, log books and photos are all part of the collection.
It’s more than just the SCCA Hall of Fame on display, however. Currently, Arnie Carbaugh’s Formula Vees are located in the IMRRC.
More importantly, you can visit! Are you headed to the Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour at Watkins Glen this weekend? You can go! Are you going to be a part of the IMSA 6 hour weekend, or the following Thursday/Friday second weekend? You can go! Going to the Regional race weekend that follows? Yep, you can still go.
Even better – with COVID protocols loosening up in the state of New York, you no longer need to make an appointment. The IMRRC is open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, but they have graciously agreed to open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday of the Hoosier Super Tour for those who may be able to make it that day.
Our recommendation is to head over on Friday, if at all possible. Why? Because Rick Hughey and Joe Cali, who are the two main SCCA archivists at the IMRRC, will be in and able to answer questions about what is there and what you may be wondering about SCCA history.
Check out the IMRRC at RacingArchives.org or on their Facebook page at Facebook.com/RacingArchives for more or to plan your visit – in the next weeks or anytime!
International Motor Racing Research Center Executive Director Dan DeRusha announced he is stepping back from his full-time duties for personal reasons resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s a difficult decision to make and my passion for motorsports history and the IMRRC’s long-term success will remain unchanged,” said DeRusha. “I will continue in an interim capacity to support Center operations during the search and transition to my successor.”
The IMRRC will launch a search for a new executive director immediately. Governing Council Chairman John Saunders stated, “We’re looking for an executive director to build on Dan’s success and to further our mission of preserving and sharing the history of motorsports. On behalf of the staff and the Governing Council, I applaud Dan for his contributions to the Center and commitment to a seamless transition of leadership. We wish Dan and his family all the best.” You can find the full job description with instructions for applying here.