On The Grid

On Display Now

#26 LaTell midget

This car was built for the 1937 race season by George LaTell of Binghamton, NY. The current engine is a V-8 60 Ford from 1940. The car’s competition history ran from 1937-1951 and it was raced at tracks in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Canada. The racing organizations it competed with included the Central States Racing Association, Niagara Frontier Racing Association, American Racing Association, and the International Racing Association. An unrestored “barn find,” the car was purchased from the Gary LaTell estate in 2007 by current owner, Alan Tatich, 37 years after he saw the car for the first time at age 15.

#55 LaTell sprint car

Another “barn find,” the sprint car was also built by George LaTell from Binghamton for the 1936 racing season. The car is powered by a Ford Model B 4-cylinder. It competed at tracks in New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, and New Jersey. Sanctioning organizations the car competed in included the AAA, Central Pennsylvania Racing Organization, Central States Racing organization, Southern Tier Racing Club, National Auto Racing Association, Eastern States Racing Association, and the Sports Car Club of America. The car was raced at the Reading Fairgrounds and the legendary one mile Syracuse Fairgrounds. Interestingly enough, the car was also in Watkins Glen for the first race in 1948, but was ruled unable to compete because it did not have a starter. This car was also purchased from the LaTell estate by Alan Tatich, 36 years after he saw the car for the first time

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 other event.

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

Among the cars the IMRRC has hosted: