Cameron Argetsinger
Encyclopedia
Cameron Argetsinger was a sports car enthusiast, lawyer and auto racing
executive best known for creating the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course
in Watkins Glen, New York
and making it the home of the Formula One
United States Grand Prix
from 1961
through 1980
. In 2005, Watkins Glen International honored Argetsinger's legacy by titling the winner's trophy the "Cameron R. Argetsinger Trophy," a prestigious sterling-silver cup. Each year the Indy Racing League race champion at The Glen will be added to the nameplate at the base of the trophy. A sterling-silver replica will be awarded to each race winner.
visiting his grandparents and, later, his family's summer home. He inherited a love of fast cars from his father and in 1947 bought a sports car so he could become a member of the nascent Sports Car Club of America
.
in 1998. From 1948 through 1952, the Watkins Glen Sports Car Grand Prix was held on a circuit that followed public roads through the village and around the nearby gorge. While the event was hugely popular, safety issues, namely the deaths of both drivers and spectators in crashes, forced it to move off the public roads after eight years.
, Jo Bonnier
, Phil Hill
and Dan Gurney
, for the Formula Libre
races, which ran from 1958 through 1960. These events set the stage for Argetsinger's bid to host the ultimate American road racing event, the Formula One United States Grand Prix. His timing was perfect and after disappointing results in its first two years at Sebring, Florida
and Riverside, California
, the United States Grand Prix found a home in upstate New York in 1961
, and Watkins Glen became the focal point of American road racing for the next two decades.
In 1969, Argetsinger attempted to purchase the raceway in order to improve its financial operations. When the Grand Prix Corporation refused to sell, Argetsinger resigned as Executive Director and moved to Midland, Texas
, where he went to work for Chaparral Cars.
in 2005.
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
executive best known for creating the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen International is an auto race track located near Watkins Glen, New York, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. The facility is owned by International Speedway Corporation...
in Watkins Glen, New York
Watkins Glen, New York
Watkins Glen is a village in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 2,149 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Schuyler County.The Village of Watkins Glen lies on the border of the towns of Dix and Montour....
and making it the home of the Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
United States Grand Prix
United States Grand Prix
The United States Grand Prix is a motor race which has been run on and off since 1908, when it was known as the American Grand Prize. The race later became part of the Formula One World Championship. Over 41 editions, the race has been held at nine locations, most recently in 2007 at the...
from 1961
1961 United States Grand Prix
The 1961 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on October 8, 1961 at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course in Watkins Glen, New York....
through 1980
1980 United States Grand Prix
The 1980 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on October 5, 1980 at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course in Watkins Glen, New York...
. In 2005, Watkins Glen International honored Argetsinger's legacy by titling the winner's trophy the "Cameron R. Argetsinger Trophy," a prestigious sterling-silver cup. Each year the Indy Racing League race champion at The Glen will be added to the nameplate at the base of the trophy. A sterling-silver replica will be awarded to each race winner.
Early life
Argetsinger grew up in Youngstown, where his father, James Cameron Argetsinger, was general counsel and secretary of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company. He spent the summers of his boyhood in Schuyler County, New YorkSchuyler County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,224 people, 7,374 households, and 5,191 families residing in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile . There were 9,181 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
visiting his grandparents and, later, his family's summer home. He inherited a love of fast cars from his father and in 1947 bought a sports car so he could become a member of the nascent Sports Car Club of America
Sports Car Club of America
The Sports Car Club of America is a club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying, and autocross in the United States. Formed in 1944, it runs many programs for both amateur and professional racers.-History:...
.
Watkins Glen Sports Car Grand Prix
Before long, Argetsinger began to dream of organizing a sports car race in and around the town of Watkins Glen. "It's been said, and it's not entirely wrong, that I did it because I had an MG-TC and didn't have a place to race it," he told The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
in 1998. From 1948 through 1952, the Watkins Glen Sports Car Grand Prix was held on a circuit that followed public roads through the village and around the nearby gorge. While the event was hugely popular, safety issues, namely the deaths of both drivers and spectators in crashes, forced it to move off the public roads after eight years.
Home of the United States Grand Prix
In 1953, Argetsinger was named Executive Director of the newly formed Watkins Glen Grand Prix Corporation. Three years later, the group purchased 550 acres (2.2 km²) of land and built a 2.3-mile permanent racing facility, designed to imitate the winding country roads on which the race had originated. Soon the circuit was attracting some of the world's best road racers, including Stirling MossStirling Moss
Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss, OBE FIE is a former racing driver from England...
, Jo Bonnier
Joakim Bonnier
Joakim "Jo" Bonnier was a Swedish sportscar racing and Formula One driver who raced for various teams.-Early life:...
, Phil Hill
Phil Hill
Philip Toll Hill, Jr., was a United States automobile racer and the only American-born driver to win the Formula One World Drivers' Championship. Hill was described as a "thoughtful, gentle man" and once said, "I'm in the wrong business. I don't want to beat anybody, I don't want to be the big hero...
and Dan Gurney
Dan Gurney
Daniel Sexton Gurney is an American racing driver, race car constructor, and team owner.The son of a Metropolitan Opera star, he was born in Port Jefferson, New York, but moved to California as a teenager...
, for the Formula Libre
Formula Libre
Formula Libre is a form of automobile racing allowing a wide variety of types, ages and makes of purpose-built racing cars to compete "head to head". This can make for some interesting matchups, and provides the opportunity for some compelling driving performances against superior machinery...
races, which ran from 1958 through 1960. These events set the stage for Argetsinger's bid to host the ultimate American road racing event, the Formula One United States Grand Prix. His timing was perfect and after disappointing results in its first two years at Sebring, Florida
1959 United States Grand Prix
The 1959 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on December 12, 1959 at Sebring International Raceway.__FORCETOC__-Summary:Russian-born Alec Ulmann's dream of an American Grand Prix was realized in December, 1959 when 19 entries, including six American drivers, arrived in Florida for...
and Riverside, California
1960 United States Grand Prix
The 1960 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on November 20, 1960 at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California.__FORCETOC__-Summary:...
, the United States Grand Prix found a home in upstate New York in 1961
1961 United States Grand Prix
The 1961 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on October 8, 1961 at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course in Watkins Glen, New York....
, and Watkins Glen became the focal point of American road racing for the next two decades.
In 1969, Argetsinger attempted to purchase the raceway in order to improve its financial operations. When the Grand Prix Corporation refused to sell, Argetsinger resigned as Executive Director and moved to Midland, Texas
Midland, Texas
Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
, where he went to work for Chaparral Cars.
Auto racing executive
Argetsinger moved to Denver in 1972 to become the Director of Professional Racing and then Executive Director of the Sports Car Club of America. In 1977, he returned to his law practice in Schuyler County, New York. He became president of the International Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen in 2002.Career Award
Argetsinger was a member of the inaugural induction class of the Sports Car Club of America Hall of FameSCCA Hall of Fame
The SCCA Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame dedicated to enshrining those who have contributed the most to the Sports Car Club of America auto racing.The Hall of Fame was announced in 2004, and the first 10 people were inducted in 2005.-2005:...
in 2005.
See also
- Formula LibreFormula LibreFormula Libre is a form of automobile racing allowing a wide variety of types, ages and makes of purpose-built racing cars to compete "head to head". This can make for some interesting matchups, and provides the opportunity for some compelling driving performances against superior machinery...
- Formula OneFormula OneFormula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
- Sports Car Club of AmericaSports Car Club of AmericaThe Sports Car Club of America is a club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying, and autocross in the United States. Formed in 1944, it runs many programs for both amateur and professional racers.-History:...
- United States Grand PrixUnited States Grand PrixThe United States Grand Prix is a motor race which has been run on and off since 1908, when it was known as the American Grand Prize. The race later became part of the Formula One World Championship. Over 41 editions, the race has been held at nine locations, most recently in 2007 at the...
- Watkins Glen Grand Prix
- Watkins Glen InternationalWatkins Glen InternationalWatkins Glen International is an auto race track located near Watkins Glen, New York, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. The facility is owned by International Speedway Corporation...
- Watkins Glen, New YorkWatkins Glen, New YorkWatkins Glen is a village in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 2,149 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Schuyler County.The Village of Watkins Glen lies on the border of the towns of Dix and Montour....