VeloceToday.com

This week we begin an exclusive seven part mini-series of memoirs written by Eric Davison, who, in 1949 at the age of 15 began to accompany his father Charlie to the races at Watkins Glen. Eric’s story is not only about the cars and racing that he witnessed at the Glen, but his relationship with his father, the growth of the sport in the U.S., and the effect it had on families. It is a story many of us can relate to and share, but as we will see, Eric’s experiences are above and beyond the norm.

On many occasions the Davison’s traveled from their home in Detroit to the Glen with their friend Harold Lance, who photographed the Glen street races in rare color film. Philippe Defechereux’s forthcoming “Waktins Glen, The Street Years”, uses this collection to great effect. Lance’s photos, along with Davison’s, are sprinkled throughout these memoirs. In addition, never before published images from the Frank Shaffer collection complement the Davison memoirs. Shaffer was then a twenty year old car enthusiast from Youngstown Ohio who used a BSA to get the Glen and a Leica camera to record what he saw, both on and off the track.

Also, catch Goodwood as seen by Hugues Vanhoolandt, the Circuits des Remparts event in France, Giro d’Italia is back, and the WRC is still wide open as the Mini gets a podium.

VeloceToday’s Michael T. Lynch to speak at Watkins Glen

Two award-winning motorsports authors will be the featured speakers at the International Motor Racing Research Center’s October 8 celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first Formula One race at Watkins Glen. The talks begin at 1 p.m. Authors Michael T. Lynch and Gordon Kirby will discuss America’s World Champions, Phil Hill and Mario Andretti. Lynch, co-author of “American Sports Car Racing in the 1950s,” will focus on Hill, World Champion in 1961. Kirby will speak about 1978 champion Andretti, subject of his “Mario Andretti: A Driving Passion.”

Several regional artists have been gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Formula One race in Watkins Glen at the International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC). On October 8th an art exhibit titled ‘The Art of Formula One’, will commemorate this occasion featuring the beauty and power of Formula One racing. The exhibit will spotlight images created by artists who have a unique personal history of attending the racing events at the Glen, bringing to life to the stories and the data that were part of this era of world class racing in Watkins Glen. The ‘Art of Formula One’ will open with an artist’s reception on October 8th from 4:00PM to 6:00PM and will remain on display until November 19th. For further information please contact Cynthia Hill or Jon McKnight, Director of Marketing at the International Motor Racing Research Center at (607) 535-9044 or by email, oldracerjon@gmail.com