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50th anniversary of the USGP at Watkins Glen (merged)


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#1001 B Squared

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Posted 15 December 2015 - 11:00

Marshall Pruett at Racer and Bobby Rahal remember his first Grand Prix at Watkins Glen in 1978:

http://www.racer.com...t-watkins-glen#!1978_F1_WatkinsGlen_MarshallPruettArchives_088a

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#1002 E1pix

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Posted 16 December 2015 - 03:13

Very cool, Brian.

I was quite proud to witness Bobby in both his GPs, as I also saw his very-first driver's school, his only Runoffs win, and many other races. He looked right at home immediately, and I was sure hoping he'd continue in F1...

Thanks for the post.

#1003 JacnGille

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Posted 16 December 2015 - 13:58

Very cool, Brian.

I was quite proud to witness Bobby in both his GPs, as I also saw his very-first driver's school, his only Runoffs win, and many other races. He looked right at home immediately, and I was sure hoping he'd continue in F1...

Thanks for the post.

I too was at Road Atlanta when Bobby won the F Atlantic crown. Somewhere I have a pic of him on his victory lap with the checkers.



#1004 63Corvette

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Posted 17 December 2015 - 16:12

This is a picture of the driver's meeting immediately after Cevert's accident in 1973. I attended every Watkins Glen F1 race from 1973 thru 1977, and have driven the track there in my 1963 Z06 Corvette Vintage Racer. I have lots of pictures and Super 8 film of many of these races, including the start of the 1974 F1 race from the Ferrari Pit roof grandstand. At that time, you could go aanywhere, and meet anybody...........and we did :clap:

1t54av.jpg



#1005 B Squared

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Posted 17 December 2015 - 16:41

That's quite the photo; thanks for posting. Starter Tex Hopkins is seen amongst the drivers. I'm confident those who have contributed to this thread would be happy to see your other Watkins Glen photos as your time allows. I think your last sentence applied to all of us that were fortunate to see Formula 1 at this circuit.



#1006 E1pix

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Posted 17 December 2015 - 17:38

Poor Jackie looks to be in pure shock there. Impressive he even attended, but only partly because he must have already decided to no longer be a driver. I suspect his interests in safety and comraderie were stronger than his grief.

I can't quite figure out who that is behind Clay... anybody know?

#1007 63Corvette

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Posted 17 December 2015 - 18:10

OK Another pic of the same driver's meeting

2res8cz.jpg

Niki, Mariella and Montezemolo (Niki and Luca autographed this pic for my wife the following year)

xswaa.jpg

Fittipaldi and wife (at the time)

nvwjrs.jpg

Fittipaldi and car

xmpcuf.jpg

Donohue's Penske

f2vb4j.jpg

James Hunt's Hesketh-run March 731 at the 1973 race

16jen2s.jpg


Edited by 63Corvette, 17 December 2015 - 18:22.


#1008 Tim Murray

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Posted 17 December 2015 - 18:19

The last photo shows James Hunt's Hesketh-run March 731 at the 1973 race. It finished second behind Ronnie Peterson's Lotus 72.

#1009 63Corvette

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Posted 17 December 2015 - 18:23

The last photo shows James Hunt's Hesketh-run March 731 at the 1973 race. It finished second behind Ronnie Peterson's Lotus 72.

Thanks, I have some pics of Hunt I will find and post.



#1010 MCS

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Posted 17 December 2015 - 19:54

Poor Jackie looks to be in pure shock there. Impressive he even attended, but only partly because he must have already decided to no longer be a driver. I suspect his interests in safety and comraderie were stronger than his grief.

I can't quite figure out who that is behind Clay... anybody know?

 

Possibly Merzario?  There have been other pictures on here in the past but I can't find them.

 

Sad pictures.

 

Let's focus on the happier times!



#1011 Tim Murray

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Posted 17 December 2015 - 20:18

Here's the discussion that took place after that photo was first posted:

Where and When II

The chap sitting between Clay and von Opel was thought to be little Art, but I assumed E1's question referred to the man sitting against the wall at the side of the room?

#1012 63Corvette

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Posted 17 December 2015 - 20:56

Arturo Merzario (with cigarette) between Rega and von Opel



#1013 E1pix

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Posted 17 December 2015 - 21:26

Here's the discussion that took place after that photo was first posted:Where and When IIThe chap sitting between Clay and von Opel was thought to be little Art, but I assumed E1's question referred to the man sitting against the wall at the side of the room?

Thanks Tim, Artie is who I was unsure about. Didn't think his hair looked like that, or maybe I never saw him without the cowboy hat!

The guy against the wall looks like he's checking his cell phone. ;-). Simpler times...

#1014 2F-001

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Posted 18 December 2015 - 00:28

When I saw the first version of the pic I was sure that was Howden G (where we can only see the hair) between Pace and Hailwood .

In the second version (where Arturo seems to have vacated his seat), it looks more like Brian Redman. What do you think?



#1015 63Corvette

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Posted 18 December 2015 - 01:05

When I saw the first version of the pic I was sure that was Howden G (where we can only see the hair) between Pace and Hailwood .

In the second version (where Arturo seems to have vacated his seat), it looks more like Brian Redman. What do you think?

I believe it was Howden Ganley. Brian Redman was disqualified, but I don't believe that he was at this meeting. There was only one Ferrari entered, for Arturo.


Edited by 63Corvette, 18 December 2015 - 01:11.


#1016 PeterElleray

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Posted 18 December 2015 - 10:10

Brian drove the third shadow at this meeting, but the driver in the picture is howden.



#1017 63Corvette

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Posted 18 December 2015 - 15:32

I would llike to make a small personal observation in association with this specific event (1973 USGP), and perhaps offer some contrast with modern GP racing.

In 1973 Lotus were especially successful, winning several GPs and in fact winning two in a row on several occasions. There seemed to be the use of "stickers or decals" on some of the cars, in this era before commercialization, so, The James Hunt Hesketh sported a decal or sticker with the words "Niki Lauda is a steaming turd", and the Lotus cars sported decals proclaiming the various GPs they had won, and an additional decal with the words "Won Two One Two".

As I walked through the garage area after the Cevert accident, it was very quiet, and at the Tyrrell garage, they were boxing up the Cevert car. There along side was the Jackie Stewart car, and I noticed on the rear wing was an unmistakable LOTUS decal with the words "1973 World Champion - Nice one Jackie". What a wonderful gesture! and what would "modern" teams think of that? What would Ron Dennis say? I wonder if Nico Rosberg had a similar decal made for Lewis Hamilton's car?


Edited by 63Corvette, 18 December 2015 - 15:35.


#1018 E1pix

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Posted 18 December 2015 - 15:36

I love it.

#1019 Big Jim

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Posted 14 January 2016 - 03:08

Something to smile about. c. 1978

 

USGP_1978_024_zpsirk1kwgb.jpg

 

USGP_1978_031_zpsvxyhgocl.jpg



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#1020 E1pix

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Posted 14 January 2016 - 03:32

Works for me! :-)

Thanks for showing us, Big Jim, please post more when you're able.

#1021 JacnGille

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Posted 14 January 2016 - 15:44

Thanks for showing us, Big Jim, please post more when you're able.

+1



#1022 B Squared

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Posted 18 November 2016 - 21:29

From the January 1964 Road & Track article on the running of the 1963 USGP at Watkins Glen by Dean Batchelor - page51:

 

"Jack Brabham brought two of his Brabhams for himself and Dan Gurney and suffered the indignity of having to hitchhike the last 20 miles to Watkins Glen. Jack flew into the Elmira, NY airport and was unable to secure either a rental car or a taxi and complete with baggage and racing kit, thumbed a ride to the Glen."

 

Michael Argetsinger mentioned picking up drivers and dropping them off numerous times during our conversations over the years - I wonder what the circumstances were that led to this unusual situation and Brabham being on his own. Can you imagine picking up a World Champion (or any other top-flight driver) while they were hitchhiking?



#1023 E1pix

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Posted 18 November 2016 - 22:05

Thanks for the resurrection, Brian.  :clap:

 

 

It surely would provide a great memory for the ride-giver, at least!

 

I suspect that as much as Black Jack getting picked up would be graciously met, if by a race fan — sure enough — it could well be a white-knuckle affair!

 

Such as "How'd I do on that last turn, Jack," or "Hang on, Mr. Brabham!!!" et al.  :eek:



#1024 D28

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Posted 19 November 2016 - 01:27

That makes 2 stories in a day of Jack having difficulty getting to the circuit! Maybe this was only in n America.



#1025 B Squared

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Posted 20 November 2016 - 09:24

Donohue's Penske
f2vb4j.jpg


A friend/work colleague (Bill Windham) was at Team Penske at this time. I showed him this photo and asked him if it was him at the left-rear in the blue Team shirt; it is and he is talking to Steve Hulbert (Mr. Penske's brother-in-law) and the Citibank rep. Small world.

Edited by B Squared, 20 November 2016 - 10:08.


#1026 E1pix

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Posted 20 November 2016 - 14:09

Wow Brian, what a nice discovery for you and Bill.

Just another example of what makes racing so wonderful. :-)

#1027 B Squared

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Posted 20 November 2016 - 16:07

It is pretty amazing to find someone I've only known for about nine months that I now see daily at work in a photograph that is 42 years old. Especially in Watkins Glen and him being at Team Penske.

#1028 ozpata

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Posted 23 January 2017 - 12:07

Watkins%20Glen%2048_52Fsm_zpskyhr2gbt.pn



#1029 JacnGille

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Posted 23 January 2017 - 13:33

:up:



#1030 E1pix

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Posted 23 January 2017 - 15:26

Great map, I was most certainly born too late.

#1031 Ray Bell

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Posted 23 January 2017 - 16:48

Fortunately I got to drive around there a few times...

Michael took me for the initial lap, of course. And he related how Stirling Moss, on being shown this old circuit during his first visit to the new circuit, said he would much rather be racing on the old one.

Mike told me this as we were going through the downhill section to the bridge, the Westernmost extremity of the circuit as shown, it was just the right time to relate that story!

#1032 B Squared

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Posted 23 January 2017 - 17:02

Michael took me on my first laps around the old circuit too Ray, in fact I have photos from when Michael drove the three of us on one of your visits. Whenever I'm up there, I start my day around 5-6AM with a minimum of two laps and a coffee.

#1033 red stick

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Posted 23 January 2017 - 17:44

On my sole trip to the Glen in 2005 I made a point of driving the old course.  The area's beauty is astounding, and the essentially unspoiled nature of the course (no traffic, stop signs, or housing developments to wreck the fun) made me nearly forget I was driving a rental Chevy Cobalt!



#1034 JacnGille

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Posted 24 January 2017 - 02:01

...I was most certainly born too late.

Take it up with your parents.    :cool:



#1035 SJ Lambert

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Posted 24 January 2017 - 06:59

Those dirty rotten shaggers!!



#1036 Rob G

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Posted 25 January 2017 - 03:23

I drove the old course in 2015 after visiting Watkins Glen State Park. Rather than parking in the park's lot, I grabbed a spot on the street, and I was surprised to discover that I unwittingly parked about half a block from the start/finish line!



#1037 Kvadrat

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Posted 25 January 2017 - 11:24

My laps in 2010.

 







#1038 B Squared

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Posted 10 July 2020 - 09:00

Michael Argetsinger's widow, Lee, sent me this Hemmings link to a Brock Yates 1972 documentary on Watkins Glen:

 

https://www.hemmings...aign=2020-06-21



#1039 Ray Bell

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Posted 10 July 2020 - 10:50

Good of you to keep us posted on these things, Brian...

 

Meantime, because Photobucket have mauled Oscar's fine work above, here it is unmolested:

 

0720fr-OPWatkins-Glen4852.png



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#1040 B Squared

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Posted 05 October 2023 - 21:46

My brother and I were talking a few days ago that 49 years ago on this Thursday PM, we started on our first journey to see Formula One in person, Emerson, Clay, and Jody still had a chance at the Championship for 1974 during the October 6 event. We saw our first cars as they entered "the toe of the boot" but could hear them winding out down the straight on their way to our position. We were already hooked, seeing them appear sealed the deal. This experience and the memories from those great days still give me chills. Then to think, meeting Michael Argetsinger 34 years later, becoming friends with him, and then to experience the village and its history in a way I'd never dreamed of, I still pinch myself that those years actually occurred. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Watkins are two of my favorite places to be, thanks to all along the way for making both venues so special to me.



#1041 FLB

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Posted 05 October 2023 - 23:22

Tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of François Cevert's passing (and Koinigg's 49th)  :cry: