Race Shop

September 23, 1960. Good condition, discoloration on edges of some pages. Includes entry list.

June 23-25, 1967. Good condition, minor discoloration on spine.

Exotic, hand-built Ferraris of the 1950s and Chevrolet’s family sedan produced by the thousands would seem to have little in common. But it’s a twist of automotive history that quite a few Ferraris might no longer exist were it not for the Chevy V8 engine. Randy Cook’s Bowtie Ferraris documents how a surprisingly large number of multi-million dollar Ferraris owe their survival to an engine from one of the least expensive sedans produced in America. His book is an important addition to the body of Ferrari history, as he explores a topic never before examined in any detail. – David Seibert, Ferrari Club Historian andmanager of the Ferrari Historic Challenge race series in North America. Published by RAC Motorsports Publishing in 2015. 192 pages. 276 images, featuring photography by Hugues Vanhoolandt.

The award-winning “Formula One at Watkins Glen” by the late Michael Argetsinger presents a vivid and often intimate account of the 20-year period that the United States Grand Prix was held at the classic upstate New York track. Argetsinger was a young man when his parents, Cameron and Jean, first brought Formula One to Watkins Glen, and he grew up working with racing as the family business. The story goes beyond the race winners and star entries to include the lesser-known drivers and teams that didn’t enjoy great success but added tremendously to the character of the event. The racing action and portraits of drivers, team principals, and fans evoke a strong sense of nostalgia for this era at Watkins Glen that will never be repeated. Spectacular photographs combine with Argetsinger’s detailed commentary to capture the distinctive character of each year’s event. The story begins with rare images of the Formula Libre races from 1958 through 1960 that featured a sprinkling of top European drivers, Formula One cars, and sports cars, and set the stage for Watkins Glen’s first World Championship Grand Prix. Stirling Moss, Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, Jack Brabham, Joakim Bonnier, Roy Salvadori, and Olivier Gendebien were the drivers who made early impressions and ultimately helped champion Watkins Glen as the site of the United States Grand Prix. Published in partnership with David Bull Publishing in 2011, all proceeds from the book – 100 percent of the purchase price – go to the International Motor Racing Research Center.160 pages. 91 black-and-white and 150 color photographs.

Perhaps the most photographed personality in automotive and motorsports history, Linda Vaughn has entertained fans and has been a premier marketer of automotive goods for more than 55 years. From her first days as Miss Atlanta Raceway, coming of age while representing Hurst, through her annual appearances at America’s top automotive and racing events, Linda continues to engage fans, drawing long lines whenever she makes an appearance. At her peak, Linda attended more than 100 events annually, year after year, and she still attends more than 25 events each year. The only entity that’s probably seen as many events as Linda is Goodyear! For the first time ever, Linda Vaughn allows her fans a behind-the-scenes look at her career in motorsports and promotion through her personal photographic archive and other photos. Through captions, Linda tells the story of individual images recounting countless stories from her amazing memory, with no detail left unshared. She recounts events with racing personalities and automotive icons from George Hurst to Richard Petty to Mario Andretti to Don Garlits. Nobody is left out as Linda tells stories about the photos chronicling her career in Motorsports. Published in 2016 by Car Tech Books. Hard cover. 223 pages.

Traces the story of the first use of this internationally known symbol in competition. Published by the International Motor Racing Research Center in 2006. 36 pages, soft-bound with illustrations.

In 1948, in a home alongside a two-lane country road that turned out to be part of the first road race in the United States after World War II, an adventure started. Interestingly, speed and art were crudely mixed into a wild blend, which led an Upstate New York sign painter on a series of incredible journeys. From lettering Formula 1 cars in the early 1970s to applying the art of sign painting at NASCAR race tracks, from Watkins Glen to Daytona, the “Tales” tell of behind-the-scene adventures that the average person has never seen or could imagine. The “Tales” take place at Watkins Glen, Talladega Superspeedway, Daytona Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway and others. In these surroundings, the art of sign painting is performed at a new level. Working in an intense atmosphere of fast-approaching “Race Day” required skill, ingenuity, dedication and luck! Intertwined in the sign painting adventures is a 15-year stint in auto racing, from dirt track ovals to NASCAR Modifieds, which leads to even more interesting tales. Speed, art, comedy, frustration, joy and danger combine to make “Tales” interesting reading as seen and lived through the eyes of Tony Vickio. Published in 2014 by Preston Woods Publishing Company. 372 pages.

This book is a three-decade time capsule that photographically records highlights of the races attended; candid portraits of the “stars” and prominent personalities in the sport; and 1950’s and 1960’s sports racing cars returning decades later in vintage races. As the book’s content is primarily photos with minimal text, it will transport the reader on a photographic journey through this very exciting era of motorsport. While it is primarily focused (no pun intended) on Canadian activities, it also includes photos taken from the late 1950’s to the mid-1980’s at many events in the U.S. and Europe as well. Race series covered include Formula One, Indy, Can-Am, drag racing, Formula Atlantic, Formula 5000, Trans-Am, NASCAR and endurance racing. Published in 2014 by Lionel Birnbom. 240 pages and more than 2,000 black and white and color photographs. NEW book. 

The history of the British race team that was created by Lord Alexander Hesketh during the 1970s and considered one of the strangest cult sponsorships in motorsports history. The team competed in Formula 1, F2 and F3. Includes information on the Hesketh race team, Le Patron (Alexander Hesketh) and racing drivers, including the man who became the 1976 F1 World Drivers’ Champion, James Hunt. Edited by Anna O’Brien. Published in 1974 by GBM Editorial Associates. 46 pages.

Speed has always been the Milwaukee Mile’s hallmark, and the one-mile oval track has given race fans and drivers thrills, chills, and memories for 130 years. “The Mile,” once a proving ground for the latest in mechanical engineering, has seen it all: from harness racing to endurance races, NASCAR, midgets, sprints, and Indy open wheel. The checkered flag has waved at the Mile for greats such as Barney Oldfield, Rex Mays, Al Unser, and Mario Andretti, as well as a new generation of drivers, including Dale Jarrett, Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick, and Will Power. The infield saw its share of action, too, including circus acts under the big top and Green Bay Packers games. Published by Arcadia Publishing in 2015. 128 pages. 180 black and white photographs.

The war was won, the Depression was over, and Americans were back on the road. From all across the nation, sports car drivers converged on Watkins Glen to race through the gorges, hills, and village streets of western New York. Over the years, the course has evolved from its humble beginnings on streets lined with hay bales to the modern closed track that plays host to NASCAR today. Through vintage photographs, primarily from the International Motor Racing Research Center, Watkins Glen Racing chronicles the history of the track with early drivers such as Cameron Argetsinger, Phil Walters and Dave Garroway, vintage cars, hairpin turns and death-defying races. Published by Arcadia Publishing in 2008. 128 pages. 200 black and white photographs.

Jimmy Murphy and Ernie Olson in their Duesenberg in the 1921 French Grand Prix, which they won, in this limited-edition print by Robert Gillespie

A beautiful print from artist Bill Neale. It portrays Dan Gurney winning at Palm Springs in April of 1958, driving Frank Arciero’s Ferrari 375. Unsigned.

“Twilight Flight” by Roger Warrick depicts Dan Gurney’s Toyota Eagle Mk IIIs in the 1993 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona

By popular demand, we have released a follow-up to our long sold-out 1948 Watkins Glen poster, which depicted a reproduction of the race program cover art for the first Watkins Glen Grand Prix.

Reproduced here is the 1949 race program cover with artwork again by Peter Helck. Limited quantities. The poster measures 24″ x 18″ and is printed on heavy stock.

Mercedes-Benz Racing Car prints by famed motorsports artist Walter Gotschke. Boxed set of 29 individual prints on heavy stock. Includes a cover sheet signed by Gotschke, an essay on Mercedes-Benz by Karl Ludvigsen and an essay about Walter Gotschke and his work by John Dugdale. Only 2,000 sets were produced in 1980. Print size is 11 X 8 inches, with description below.

The prints:

This print by Linda McIntyre shows a scene from the 1948 Watkins Glen Grand Prix: Cameron Argetsinger, the founder of the races in Watkins Glen, in his MGTC 2A at Big Bend overlooking Seneca Lake. The piece is part of a nine-print series. The print is sized to fit a standard 8-by-10-inch frame.

This print by Linda McIntyre shows a scene from the 1948 Watkins Glen Grand Prix: 1948 Winner Frank Griswold in his Alfa Romeo. The piece is part of a nine-print series. The print is sized to fit a standard 8-by-10-inch frame.

This print by Linda McIntyre shows a scene from the 1948 Watkins Glen Grand Prix: George Weaver in his famous Maserati R1, “Poison Lil.” The piece is part of a nine-print series. The print is sized to fit a standard 8-by-10-inch frame.

This print by Linda McIntyre shows a scene from the 1949 Watkins Glen Grand Prix: the No. 39 Ardent Alligator driven by Miles Collier, the No. 53 Cisitalia driven by Joseph Ferguson and the No. 16 SS 100 Jaguar driven by Dave Garroway. The piece is part of a nine-print series. The print is sized to fit a standard 8-by-10-inch frame.

This print by Linda McIntyre shows a scene from the 1951 Watkins Glen Grand Prix: technical inspection headquarters at Smalley’s Gulf Station and Garage. The piece is part of a nine-print series. The print is sized to fit a standard 8-by-10-inch frame.

This print by Linda McIntyre shows a scene from the 1952 Queen Catharine Cup: Denver Cornett Jr. in his No. 7 MGTC  on Route 329, just west of the railroad underpass. The print is sized to fit a standard 8-by-10-inch frame.

2009, Dec. 5. Jim and Bret Seafuse, owner and driver with JBS Motorsports, discussing the Koni Challenge

2010, April 24 and 25. “The Spring Corvette Event,” presented by the IMRRC, Watkins Glen International and the Registry of Corvette Race Cars. Featuring cars and speakers Tony DeLorenzo, Gib Huffstader and Chris Thompson. Moderated by Ralph Kramer

2010, Dec. 4. “Fits and Starts: The First Post War American Grand Prix” and “Preservation and/or Restoration” by Dr. Frederick A. Simeone of the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia.

2010, June 10. Presentation of the Road Racing Drivers Club archives, with Bobby Rahal, RRDC president

2010, March 27. Michael Printup, president of Watkins Glen International, speaks about the famed track.

2011, April 11. “Photos of Formula 1, the Making of Grand Prix, Ayrton Senna and French Photo Journalist Bernard Cahier” by Michael Keyser, author filmmaker, photographer, team owner and driver.

2011, Dec. 3. “Formula One: 1962 through 1980” by IMRRC Historian Bill Green and Kevin Hughey

2011, Jan. 18. News conference announcing a year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of Formula 1 at Watkins Glen

2011, Nov. 19. “The Art of Formula One” with a panel of artists moderated by Ginnie Lupi of the Arts Council. Participating artists: Craig Booth, Greg Davis, Bob Gillespie, Steve Oosterling, James Schwabel, Robert Tarlach and Doug Wilkins.

2011, Oct. 8. Three talks about Formula 1. Bill Sadler, owner, designer builder and driver, speaks about Formula Libre. Author Michael T. Lynch speaks about World Champion 1961 Phil Hill. Author Gordon Kirby speaks about 1978 World Champion Mario Andretti. Two DVDs.

2012, April 20. “Elva: The Cars, the People, the History” with Janos Wimpffen and Burdette Martin. Two DVDs.

2012, Aug. 25. “The Indianapolis Motor Speedway” by Indianapolis historian Donald Davidson. Also “The Roadster Era of the Indianapolis 500” by motorsports publisher and car collector Joseph Freeman

2012, June 23. “1950s West Coast Sports Car Racing and the Riverside International Raceway” by author William Edgar

2012, Oct. 13. “Road America” by authur Tom Schultz. Also “Formula 5000 in Australia” by author Ray Bell. And “Remembering Chris Economaki” by motorsports journalist Rick Hughey

2012, Sept. 7. Grand Prix Festival reception at the Racing Research Center, with Elliot Forbes Robinson, Lyn St. James, Burt Levy and others.

2013, April 13. “My Motoring Lifetime” by acclaimed author Karl Ludvigsen

2013, Dec. 7. “The Story Behind the Story” by Burt Levy, author of the “Last Open Road” series. Also, “Walter Hansgen Special” by car owner Robert Milstein. Two DVDs.

2013, Jan. 12. “Posters & Programs” by IMRRC Historian Bill Green.

2013, May 18. “Watkins Glen International” by IMRRC Historian Bill Green and author Michael Argetsinger. “Watkins Glen, The Street Years 1948-1952” by author Philippe Defechereux and Clark Lance. Two DVDs.

2013, Nov. 2. “Tazio Nuvolari” by Joe Tierno. Includes a question and answer session with Otto Linton. Two DVDs.

2013, Oct. 5. “Racing Years and the Klemantaski Collection” by Peter Sachs

2014, April 12. “Model Cars & Collectibles,” a panel discussion, with a look at the Racing Research Center’s annual model car show.

2014, Feb. 8. “Historic Holland: Storied Past, Dynamic Future” by Tim Bennett, Larry Ott and George Skora

2014, Jan. 18. “The Vanderbilt Cup, 1938-1937” by IMRRC Historian Bill Green

2014, Oct. 18. “The Milwaukee Mile” by Steve Zautke

2015, Jan. 24. “Racing Things: Collecting Patches, Programs, Credentials and Other Things” by IMRRC Historian Bill Green

2015, Nov. 14. “The Syracuse Mile, A Look Back” with a panel of Syracuse greats: Johnny Birosh, Glenn Donnelly, Dr. Gary George, Jeff Hachmann, Alan Johnson, Dan Kapuscinski, Mal Lane, Joe Marotta, Gary Montgomery, Wes Moody and Gary Tomkins

Race track announcers from across Central New York and Connecticut speak about their work. On the panel: Joe Marotta, who announced all 44 years at Super DIRT Week at the Syracuse Mile; Roy Sova, in 2016 in his 52nd year at Oswego Speedway; Gary Montgomery, who announced at Weedsport, Canandaigua and Syracuse; Mike Paz, who has worked at nine NASCAR tracks, including WGI; Frank Del Vecchio, a racer and announcer who has worked at tracks across the nation; and Greg Rickes, the voice of Lime Rock Park in Connecticut. The talk was at the IMRRC on April 16, 2016.

Writer Preston Lerner, author of the award-winning book “Ford GT40, How Ford Silenced the Critics, Humbled Ferrari & Conquered Le Mans,” discusses the history of the iconic car. The Center Conversations talk was on Dec. 10, 2016, at the IMRRC.

2016, Feb. 27. “Watkins Glen International Looking Forward” by WGI President Michael Printup

Andrew Layton, author of “Ray Crawford – Speed Merchant: A California Grocer’s Love Affair with Risk, From P-38 Lightnings to the Indianapolis 500” speaks about the 1950s-era Indianapolis 500 racer, who also was a combat fighter ace and test pilot and a millionaire business mogul. The talk was on May 14, 2016 at the IMRRC.

Presented by Bill Green, Rick Hughey, and Jim Scaptura.

IMRRC Historian Bill Green leads a discussion about the 15 racers in the Watkins Glen Drivers Walk of Fame. Joining Green are fellow members of the Watkins Glen Historic Racing Committee Jim Scaptura and Rick Hughey. The talk was at the IMRRC on Feb. 18, 2017.

Presented by George Webster, Lionel Birnbom, Timothy Meddaugh.

Presented by Michael Eaton, Gordy Ruston, Dan Fadden, and Ted Rounds.

Original film from Auto World Racing Team’s 1969, 1970 and 1971 seasons in Can-Am racing, narrated by Oscar Koveleski and Jack Deren. Footage from Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta, Mid-Ohio, Riverside, Mosport and St. Jovite is included. The DVD also offers “The Heavies,” a 10-minute, commercially produced piece on the 1970 race at Road Atlanta. DVD produced by autoworldmobilia.com.

Experience a modern-day adventure in the American West as 87-year-old racing legend John C. Fitch takes to the Bonneville Salt Flats with his signature Mercedes Gullwing in this highly textured and visually absorbing essay of a man who quietly refuses to give in to the notion of retirement, as well as time itself. Produced and directed by Chris Szwedo.

Produced in 1999 by PBS station WSKG in Binghamton, N.Y. This acclaimed, one-hour film includes interviews with Cameron Argetsinger, who had the original concept for races in Watkins Glen, and with some of the drivers who competed in those early events. Historians put the races into the perspective of the times, and local residents affected by the races recall the exciting moments.

Motorsports artist Robert Gillespie presents a 15th Anniversary 2020 desk calendar featuring his work.

Celebrating the IMRRC’s 20th Anniversary and the 70th Anniversary of the first post-WWII American road race held in Watkins Glen on Oct. 2, 1948. This double-sided souvenir dash plaque commemorates both anniversaries.

The IMRRC’s anniversary is represented by the Center’s new logo, designed by Consulting Marketing Director Fred Wickham, featuring an array of race signal flags.

The design for the anniversary of road racing is based on the original dash plaque for race officials for the 1954 International Sports Car Grand Prix. Drawn by Dean H. Reynolds of Rochester, New York, the dash plaque and the cover illustration for the race program of the same year depict a Ferrari taking the checkered flag.

The dash plaques are custom manufactured for the IMRRC by Mike Follmer Specialties.

The IMRRC logo that can be adhered anywhere.

IMRRC brand license plate frame. Black only. Sturdy plastic.

IMRRC branded ceramic mug. White only. IMRRC logo on one side; Roger Penske quote on the other side: “Effort Equals Results.”

The IMRRC logo as an embroidered patch.

IMRRC branded glass stein.