WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (Dec. 18, 2014) – Nancy Loughlin of Montour Falls, N.Y., was the winner of the Fiat 500 Abarth and trip to Italy offered by the International Motor Racing Research Center.
“This is the Center’s 15th year of raising much-needed financial support with a significant raffle. We’ve had winners from all over the United States, but Nancy is our first winner from our own Schuyler County. We’re thrilled,” Center President J.C. Argetsinger said. “We sincerely thank everyone who purchased tickets and made this year’s raffle of the Fiat and the trip a successful fundraiser,” Argetsinger said.
The winning ticket was drawn at the Center on Dec. 13 by Anthony J. Specchio Sr., grand marshal of the 2014 Italian American Festival in Watkins Glen.
WINNER OF THE FIAT and TRIP TO ITALY: NANCY LOUGHLIN of WATKINS GLEN
Loughlin, who lives just a few miles south of the Center, is a retired Watkins Glen High School guidance counselor. She has purchased tickets in previous Center car raffles.
“Paired with the opportunity to travel to Italy, this one was very attractive,” Loughlin said.
“I remember when Fiats were in the States before, and I’ve grown to admire them. They’re cute little bugs,” she said. “And this is a turbo! It purrs loudly.”
Loughlin bought her ticket in September at the downtown Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival. Three months later she learned about her new car and trip when she listened to a voice mail message from Argetsinger. She was getting ready to go to her part-time job as hostess at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel Blue Pointe Grille and could not immediately get to her
phone. Moments later she listened to the message and soon was at the Center.
She was two hours late for work.
“I could not believe it,” Loughlin said days later. “I’m kind of still in shock.” Loughlin visited Venice, Italy, in 1999 and said she’s looking forward to returning.
The Racing Research Center is an archival library dedicated to the preservation and sharing of the history of motorsports, of all series and all venues, through its collections of books, periodicals, films, photographs, fine art and other materials. For more information about the Center’s work and its programs, visit www.racingarchives.org or call (607) 535-9044.