On the Grid

Featured Photo:

Michael Argetsinger's Elden Mk10B

On Display Now

The Elden brand came to be in 1967. The cars were designed by Peter Hampsheir and put to form by his brother, Brian. The duo’s series of Formula Fords, Formula 4, Formula 3, Formula 2, Sports 2000 and other designs totaled over 34 unique models. The Mk10 series was the design most implemented, with 121 chassis built from 1972-1974 at their home base at the Brands Hatch circuit in England. The volume of sales were largely based on Johnny Gerber’s dominant win in the 1972 Formula Ford Festival at Snetterton with a Falconer-bodied Elden Mk8. The engine in the Mk10B is a 1598cc Ford Kent, coupled to a Hewland Mk8 transaxle making 115 hp and a top speed of 135 mph.

Michael Argetsinger championed this Elden in 1973 on some of the most legendary circuits in Europe – as well as some airport circuits on USAF bases. The series he managed, marketed and raced in, the American Express Formula Ford Cup, was predominantly filled with Americans stationed in Europe for their various military roles, though a few graded drivers mixed in that were friends of the Americans.

In the winter of 1973 Michael exported and sold the Elden to fellow New York native Randall Dounce, who raced the car with “Falconer” full-bodied fiberglass throughout the 1974 SCCA Regional season, only to trade the car for a Lotus Europa. From there, we know the car was raced by Bill Mack into the late 1980s before it was purchased by Jason and Christian Morski for SCCA Solo and Regional Club Racing in New York up until 2005, then onto Elden collector David Colpak. Frank Del Veccio purchased Michael’s Elden and an MK10A Elden in early summer of 2019. In July 2019, Kettle Moraine Preservation & Restoration purchased the Elden and it underwent a 23-month restoration. Many pieces of a Mk10A model (s/n AM73-49) were used to rebuild this chassis, known as “140/1,” and thus, the finished restored car carries the serial numbers of both cars to carry on the respective lineages.

A thorough history and lots of photos of Michael’s Elden are available on the Kettle Moraine Preservation & Restoration website.

Past Display Cars

When the founders of the International Motor Racing Research Center were working on the details for the new archival and research facility they knew they wanted the look and feel of a library. Some exhibit space was important, and, foremost, they envisioned space for a race car. Wide double doors have accommodated the rolling in and out of dozens of different cars since the IMRRC opened in June 1999. The cars are displayed for a few months, often complementing a Center Conversations talk or another event.

If you have an interesting race car you’d be willing to display at the IMRRC in Watkins Glen, NY, please email Kip Zeiter, the Coordinator of Visitor Services and Outreach.

Among the cars the IMRRC has hosted: