The IMRRC and the Society of Automotive Historians, joint sponsors of the Eighth Annual Michael R. Argetsinger Symposium on International Motor Racing History, are pleased to announce that Lyn St. James, renowned professional race car driver and a pioneer of women in motorsports, will be the Keynote Speaker at the 2024 Symposium. Her keynote address will be delivered at 11:45 AM on November 1, 2024, the first day of the two-day event, at the Watkins Glen International Media Center, located in the WGI race track infield.
Named one of the “Top 100 Female Athletes of the 20th Century” by Sports Illustrated, Lyn St. James has set 21 national and international speed records and was a seven-time competitor in the world’s largest sporting event – the Indianapolis 500 – earning Rookie of the Year honors in 1992. She has competed all over the world, including twice at the 24 Hours of LeMans (1989, 91) with victories at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, Watkins Glen, Road America, and Nurburgring.
Most recently Lyn was announced as an inductee into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame, and has been inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame, the Sebring Hall of Fame, the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, was the 2022 Amelia Island Concours Honoree, is the recipient of the prestigious “Spirit of Ford” award, the “Guiding Woman in Sports Award”, the “Office Depot Visionary Sportswoman of the Year” and was named on Automotive News list of the Top 100 Women in the Automotive Industry. She is in demand as a speaker on women’s issues, gender equality, and diversity.
She serves on the board of ACCUS (Automobile Competition Committee of the United States) and on their Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. She has authored two books: “Lyn St. James, An Incredible Journey” and “Oh By the Way”, and is a former President of the Women’s Sports Foundation. Lyn is passionate about mentoring drivers in the sport of auto racing as well as women in the automotive and motorsports fields.
St. James’ racing career began in 1973 in SCCA competition. Quickly moving up through the ranks, she raced the likes of Hurley Haywood, Hans-Joachim Stuck, and Willy T. Ribbs in Trans-Am and IMSA. By 2001, Lyn brought home titles in the 12 Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours of Daytona, and the Nürburgring 24 Hours, with 31 speed records and many wins in her logbook. She entered the 1992 Indianapolis 500 at the age of 45, earning the title of Rookie of the Year – proving that neither gender nor age matter in Motorsports. During her extraordinary racing career, Lyn St. James changed the way we look and think about Motorsports. Through her perseverance and accomplishments, she has inspired generations of talented women to get behind the wheel of a race car.