Michael Argetsinger

I wonder if there are pics out there of the other cars he raced, particularly early in his career and in Europe?

Having seen Michael's archives, and knowing that he never threw anything away, I am sure that the family has many, many pictures of him in action.

Tom

Posted on behalf of rosemeyer
This is so tragic.

I talked with Mike many times on the phone as I lived in Chicago too. He sent me my TNF Badge, when I asked him what I owed him he said 'nothing.'

I watched him race at Road America in a Bill Thomas Cheetah in 2004 and talked to him in the paddock. I thought he was having carb problems but it turned out to be Tranny problems. As I talked to him it was like I had known him a lifetime. He was so gracious he was like a brother.

I only got that feeling from one other, the great man Denny Hulme. He offered M & Ms to me and my son and offered to take my son on a lap of Road America. The stewards nixed it he was seriously disappointed.

There will never again be a Mike Argetsinger. The world is much poorer with his passing.

Edited by Ray Bell, 08 September 2015 - 16:11.

I wonder if there are pics out there of the other cars he raced, particularly early in his career and in Europe?

A link to one pic here:

http://www.racingspo...5-06-09-008.jpg

Vince H.

http://www.racingspo...5-06-09-008.jpg

 

Ray, thank you for the thoughtful comments above in regards to my Dad and Michael. He thought the world of Michael too and I made sure he saw your kind words.

Vince, thanks for the photo of the Lola T616 that Michael drove along with Peter Argetsinger, Tim Coconis, Herm Johnson and Peter Kuhn during its two years of competition. The car's best finish was a third in class at the 1985 Road America 500. (see Lola Heritage link).

One of my many stories regarding Michael was an early visit to his home where I was looking through the beautifully presented gallery of racing photos that leads to the lower level of he and Lee's home. I came across the photo of the Amoco Chemicals/Torlon Lola and Michael told me that he and Peter were among its drivers. When I lived in Milwaukee in the late 1980s and early '90s, I was a sales rep for engineering plastics and the Amoco literature on this car was something that I often used to overcome the objections of clients in choosing "cheap" plastic over more traditional materials; imagine my surprise nearly 20 years after that particular job in meeting one of the drivers in Michael. I'm still looking for one of the Amoco folders, I'm sure I kept one.  

http://www.lolaherit...ook/004/004.htm

I am shocked to read this terribly sad news, having not checked in for over a week. As many others have already alluded to, Mike was a superb and genial host. When my wife and I visited Watkins Glen for me to give a talk at the IMRRC, he acted as our guide, taking us to visit several different places such as the Glen museum, a great little local diner and the holiday cottage by the lake. He also drove us round the old Glen road course and generally made us feel incredibly welcome. The whole family was just so friendly, including his brothers J.C and Peter. We enjoyed a fascinating evening having dinner with all the brothers plus his parents Cameron and Jean and the stories that were told were fantastic - I just wish I'd had my tape recorder to hand...

Mike will be sorely missed, not just by his wife and family, but by the wider motor sports community, a very sad loss.

I'm far too tardy in posting here. I exchanged some e-mails with Michael, but sadly, was never able to take him up on his kind offer to visit him. I wish I had been able to. Condolences to his family.

                                                 Our friend and supporter, award-winning motorsports author Michael Argetsinger (1915-2015) passed away in July.

                                                                                 A memorial, open to everyone, will be held on September 24, 2015 at 6PM
 

Memorial Location:
Cooper Technica,
401 N. May St,
Chicago, IL 60642

For any who may be available, it would be good to have you join us as Michael is remembered by his many Chicago area friends. You may want to touch bases with the fine people at David Cooper's Coopertechnica restoration shop. It is a neat setting with a lot of great cars and immaculate in presentation. Thanks for remembering Michael; he is missed everyday.

https://www.coopertechnica.com/

Brian, unfortunate scheduling prevents my attendance. I will be in Daytona at that time covering the SCCA Runoffs. I regret being unable to attend, as I would truly like to participate in a remembrance of Michael, truly the kindest man I have ever known.

Tom

Edited by RA Historian, 04 September 2015 - 14:30.

Everyone will understand Tom, you'll be missed, but there in spirit. Your words about Michael's kindness are so true.

I've been away a while, so my deepest apologies for this late reply.

I didn't know Michael very well, but in our few conversations his gracious and kind personality shone through like a beacon through a Great Lakes fog bank. We last spoke briefly about a year ago, and in his voice I sensed a fire whose flame was waning. I was in California and he in Chicago, but it was clear something wasn't right.

Regardless, the news of his passing comes as a shock. My wife and I went backpacking in Colorado right after hearing, and almost felt guilty for still being alive so we could. It is painful, but surely more so for many fine people I consider friends — and knowing that these warmest of people are so clearly hurting saddens me.

I first "met" Mike when an enthusiastic group of us supported a thread here about one of his fabulous books, Formula One at Watkins Glen. We all generated a rare and special rapport of days gone by, perhaps our best days, and it was the most wondrous time I've had here — and in racing, there at The Glen. The rapport wasn't so much about our sport as it was about common ground, of our passions for Then, and the wide-eyed memories we now see in our thoughts and in our sleep — and that ground was created and blessed by Michael.

Then one poster pointed out one understandable error in a book constructed entirely of donated work. I replied in support of the work, and next thing I knew Michael was contacting me to say Thanks. I was utterly blown away, it seemed as if his dad Cameron was speaking through Mike's voice. My first Formula One race as a 16 year-old came at those hallowed blue hallways created by his father, the entire place had an irreplaceable magic than I've waited 39 years for replication, but it will never come.

If the measure of a man is whom he surrounds himself with, in his case I find that measure to be grand indeed. In at least a half-dozen cases, many of the new friends I've made here all had one thing in common — Michael. It seemed everyone I gravitated towards already had him in their lives, lives that now have a gap as wide as Lake Michigan. But all of them, and all of us in racing, were lucky to have him just the same. The only good here is that his words and his work are immortal for all time, still there for us at the simple flip of a cover, for renewing our best days any time we wish. For that we owe Michael a debt we can never pay in full — but he wouldn't want us to anyway.

Thank You Gokart Mozart for providing said cover for the passing of another year, perhaps the best gift in my life. And as always to B Squared for baring your heart for others to learn from. Somewhere, Michael is smiling.

RIP, Hero.

Presented by CLASS and the Concours d’Elegance of Chicago.
 

Our friend and supporter, award-winning motorsports author Michael Argetsinger (1945-2015) passed away in July.
 

NEW LOCATION:
Pazzo’s at Three-Eleven

311 S. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

Parking available in lots south and east of the 311 S. Wacker Drive building. 

View on Google Maps.
 

Hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served. Please pass this invitation along to whoever might not be on our mailing list.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

To any in the Midwestern U.S. that may have planned on attending the remembrance for Michael , the location has been changed, but the time is still at 6:00PM, central time. Thanks, B²

St. Mary's of the Lake in Watkins Glen, the site of Michael's services

I wish that the remembrance gathering in Chicago was a week later. I was planning on attending, until I learned the date. Unfortunately, I am will be in Florida at that time covering the SCCA Runoffs for Sports Car magazine. But I fully believe Michael would have approved of my being at the race track.

Tom

I fully believe Michael would have approved of my being at the race track.

Without doubt Tom. Have a great time at the Runoffs.

Thursday September 24 was a beautiful day in Chicago when around 35 to 40 of Michael's Chicago family and friends gathered at Pazzo's restaurant in the basement level of the rose-colored building in the center of the first shot. I was going to take some photos of the evening, but once started, it didn't seem appropriate. This is the location that the CLASS (Chicago Loop Auto Sport Society) lunch is usually held once per month. Michael, along with John Welch and David Cooper, started this group over 10 years ago. John and David hosted the get-together, so a big thanks to them. Michael had shared many of his own stories within these walls and to continue them in his memory in this location seemed most appropriate.

Among those in attendance were Michael's widow, Dr. Lee Green and her sister Danielle, Don Capps, Rick, Alison and Jacques Dresang, Steve Zautke, Paul Powell and wife, Paul Medici, Ron Nelson, one of Michael's neighbors Jeff, who met Michael and Lee through the neighborhood historical association and ended up enjoying the motorsports through Mike, members of Michael's Chicago running club and numerous others who are CLASS regulars. Any who wanted to share their personal reflections on our great friend were encouraged to do so and Michael Argetsinger will live on through these memories of a life well-lived and earning such great respect, love and devotion of those he touched throughout his life. He is, and will continued to be missed by many as long as we live.

edit: there were nearly 200 images of Michael on a slide show that mainly encompassed his racing. I'm supposed to be getting a copy of the disc and once I do, I'll make sure to post some of the shots.





Michael and Don Capps had been talking of, and working towards hosting a symposium at the IMRRC for approximately 10 years and in October the first will be held. Michael's efforts in this will not be forgotten and continued support of the International Motor Racing Research Center and this event will be a fine way to always remember our dear friend and pillar of the racing community.

17 October 2015 Jean S. Argetsinger Symposium at Watkins Glen

On Saturday, 17 October 2015, the International Motor Racing Research Center and the International Motor Sports History Section of the Society of Automotive Historians will host theJean S. Argetsinger Symposium on International Motor Racing History in Watkins Glen, New York.

This is the first of what will be an annual event hosted by the IMRRC and the SAH each October.

The symposium is named for Jean Argetsinger, the wife of the late Cameron Argetsinger, the organizer of the first U.S. postwar road races in 1948.

Jean Argetsinger was a full partner with Cameron during his years organizing the events at Watkins Glen, to include the U.S. Grand Prix, playing an important behind-the-scenes role during those years.

Mrs. Argetsinger was the driving force behind the creation of the IMRRC, personally recruiting such notables as John Bishop, Jackie Stewart, and others to help create the facility.

The symposium will offer the presentation of several papers and a keynote speaker to the audience.

The intent of the Jean Argetsinger Symposium is to offer an opportunity for automotive competition historians to present their work and to encourage the serious, scholarly study of motor racing history, opening the door to both all those interested in participating as well as any topic which falls within the field, which will be broadly interpreted.

We are encouraging those who can, to please make an effort to attend this year.

We are also encouraging those interested to please consider participating and presenting a paper in the future.

Thanks!

Don Capps
Chair, SAH International Motor Sports History Section

Further notes from Don regarding the event:

There should be an announcement very soon from the IMRRC regarding the symposium.

We have a panel for the three academic papers that will be presented, an keynote speaker, plus a moderator for the panel and another speaker who will make a short presentation.

We are looking at a very modest beginning and hope that in future years that it will develop and provide an opportunity for historians to present papers related to automotive competition.

In the future, we are hoping to expand to two (or more) panels, with one devoted to a broad theme or topic for that year's symposium.

We truly regret that Mike Argetsinger will not be with us for the symposium, this being an idea that Mike, I, and several others have kicked around for years -- far too long, to be honest.

This is to be the annual event for the SAH International Motor Sports History Section, although I am looking at other opportunities for those in (or interested in joining) the SAH IMSHS to meet, preferably in other regions such as the West Coast, the South, and Midwest. Current plan is also have a get-together of some sort at each biennial meeting of the SAH, the next of which will be in Cleveland in 2016.

The symposium will be held on Saturday, 17 October, beginning at 1pm in the auditorium of the Watkins Glen Elementary School adjacent to the Center.

Everyone is welcome to attend. We will also be having a reception for the symposium on Friday evening, 16 October, at the Center.

Edited by B Squared, 28 September 2015 - 08:34.

Many thanks for this update, Brian. What a great shame that Michael didn't live to see the start of the Argetsinger Symposiums.

This is from the International Motor Racing Research Center newsletter in where the President, Michael's loving older brother J.C., remembers Michael:

I enjoyed a nice conversation with Michael's eldest brother, J.C. the other day and it was nice to share some laughs, somber moments and stories regarding his dearly missed brother. J.C. was impressed by the number of Michael's friends that made it into Chicago for his remembrance and wished he could have been there too; he also passed on his thanks. He mentioned how he had always been impressed by Michael having so many loyal and caring friends who were always there for him; he was truly a very special individual. I'm still awaiting the photo disc from the event with numerous racing photos from Michael's days in the cars, and I'll share them at that time.

J.C. said the Symposium was well-received and urged myself and other friends to not be strangers to Watkins Glen and the IMRRC now that Michael is gone. While it is going to be quite different going without Michael being physically present, there's not chance I'll stay away from one of my favorite places. Michael's spirit and presence will carry on within the Research Center and the village. All involved are still working towards having Michael's final book on Bobby Marshman published, although there is no particular timeframe at the moment.

photos: courtesy of the Argetsinger family

Michael with racing visionary and dad, Cameron

J.C. and Michael at the lake

Well said and heart felt, Brian. It says what so many of us have in our hearts.

Thanks for the nice words gentlemen.

The following photo of John Surtees in 1966 was posted by JAPMagna in post munber 982 of Arese's "Nurburgring - A few B/W photos from my friends archive" thread. With close examination you can see Michael with his arm outstretched (in the red Firestone jacket) leaning against a column next to Pat Surtees standing on the pit wall below #15. He was then a member of the Cooper team during the 1966 season.

A favorite Argetsinger family photo that captures Michael's warmth, happiness and spirit.

That really does.

Thanks.

I was pleasantly surprised by receiving the photo disc from Michael's Chicago remembrance yesterday, courtesy of friend David Cooper. Thank you, sir.

http://www.coopertechnica.com/

I'll have quite a few to share, but I will need assistance on many identifications of people and places. Having not met Michael until fall of 2008, we never ran out of things to talk about, many not associated to racing. He always used to say upon parting, whether in person or phone call and no matter how long we talked, that our friendship was just getting started and we'd have a long time to eventually share all of the stories. How I wish that were true mate.

I'm selfishly posting a picture of Michael and I at a private collection in Chicago next to a 1939 Packard, I think in 2009 or 2010. Since a 1931 Packard Convertible Coupe is first in the queue this morning, it somewhat feels appropriate knowing how his dad and he loved Packards, as does brother J.C.

photo: Pete Luongo

From the photo markings, Michael at the Salzburgring in May 1973:

photo courtesy of the Argetsinger family:

Edited by B Squared, 07 January 2016 - 14:23.

Edited by Michael Ferner, 07 January 2016 - 17:48.

Edited by B Squared, 16 January 2016 - 17:16.

Very nice Brian. Beyond the Titan Mk6, I didn't know Michael had run such a variety of Fords.

The top and bottom shots seem to be a Crossle 32F, the other's a Lola T540. Great era in FF for sure!

I see a couple of Van Diemens and a PRS too.

Could the circuit be Hameenlina ( Ahvenisto ) ?

Here are the circuits I have actually raced at. My list is in the order by the number of races I have done at each circuit (indicated by the number at the end of the line) . The number in parentheses indicates where I have driven more than one configuration of a given circuit. Below this list I have added the circuits on which I have tested but not raced. And then below that the circuits I have attended but neither raced nor tested (although in most cases I drove around them).


Blackhawk Farms - South Beloit, Illinois 33
Road America - Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (2) 24
Watkins Glen International-Watkins Glen, NY(2) 17
Hockenheim Ring - Hockenheim, Germany(2) 13
Mid-Ohio - Lexington, Ohio 13
Bridgehampton - Bridgehampton, NY 10
Dundee Speedway - Dundee, New York 9
Memphis Motorsport Park - Memphis,TN 9
Gateway International - Madison, Illinois (2) 9
Indianapolis Raceway Park- Clermont, IN 8
Road Atlanta - Flowery Branch, Georgia 8
Zolder - Zolder, Belgium 8
Mainz-Finthen Flugplatz - Mainz, Germany 8
Zandvoort Circuit - The Netherlands 6
Mid America Raceway - Wentzville, Missouri 6
Grattan Raceway - Grattan, Michigan 6
Lime Rock Park - Lime Rock, Connecticut 6
Pocono Raceway - Pocono, Pennsylvania 5
Nelson Ledges - Nelson Ledges, Ohio 5
Nurburgring - Nurburg, Germany (3) 4
Salzburg Ring - Salzburg, Austria 4
Texas World Speedway - College Station, Texas 4
Sembach Flugplatz - Sembach, Germany 3
Summit Point Raceway - Summit Point, Virginia 3 Bryar Motorsport Park - Bryar, New Hampshire 2
Heartland Park Raceway - Topeka, Kansas 2
Niederstetten - Niederstetten, Germany 2
Phoenix International Raceway - Phoenix, AZ 2
Ulm-Mengen Flugplatz - Ulm, Germany 2
Morosso Motor Sport Park- West Palm Beach, FL 2
Route 66 Raceway – Joliet, Illinois 2
Brainerd Raceway - Brainerd, Minnesota 1
Charlotte Motor Speedway - Charlotte, NC 1
Diepholz Flugplatz - Diepholz, Germany 1
Djyllandsring - Aalborg, Denmark 1
Dryden Speedway - Dryden, New York 1
Fassberg Flugplatz - Fassberg, Germany 1
Geilenkirchen - Geilenkirchen, Germany 1
Ile de Notre Dame Circuit - Montreal, Canada 1
Nivelles Circuit - Nivelles, Belgium 1
Osnabruck - Osnabruck, Germany 1
Osterreich Ring - Zeltweg, Austria 1
Saarlouis Circuit - Saarlouis, Germany 1
Silverstone - Silverstone, England 1
TAMU Circuit - Texas A&M Campus, Texas 1
Trier Circuit - Trier, Germany 1
Virginia International Raceway-Danville,VA 1

(47 total race venues – 53 circuits) (251 total races)

Grand Prix Circuits – 9 (Watkins Glen; Nurburgring; Hockenheim; Silverstone; Zolder; Nivelles;Zandvoort; Osterreich Ring; Ile de Notre Dame(now called Circuit Gilles Villenueve)

Circuits I have tested at (but not raced on).

Brands Hatch
Castle Combe
Gingerman (MI)
North Hollywood (FL)
Roebling Road (Savannah)
Snetterton

Circuits I have been to but not raced on.

Chemung Speedway
Cleveland - Burke Field
Daytona International Speedway
Cumberland (MD)
Dunkirk (NY)
Miami (street circuit)
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Lanier (GA)
Laguna Seca
Marlboro (MD)
Monte Carlo
Mosport
Monza
Oswego (NY)
Owego Shangra La
Rockingham (NC)
Oulton Park
Riverside
Reims
Rouen
Spa-Francorchamps
Sebring
Sears Point
Thompson (CT)
Toronto
Weedsport (NY)
original Watkins Glen (6.6)
second Watkins Glen (4.6)
original Bridgehampton
original Elkhart Lake

I know there are a few others, but I can't think of them at the moment.

Quite a list, but just one "raced at" in the UK - Silverstone.  Whilst I accept that this thread is dedicated to Mike Argetsinger, I am somewhat surprised that there is no reference to his brother Peter who raced in the UK and Europe in the late seventies and (I think) the early eighties before returning to the US. Were they not close?

Peter and Michael were very close; from my experiences with the family, they are all very tight-knit with great love and respect for each other. The efforts they are making along with many of Michael's friends to complete his last book on Bobby Marshman further illustrates this. I've met Peter a half-dozen times or so and saw their closeness during these times.

Tim - thanks for finding that great list.

Thanks B Squared.  I was merely curious and meant no disrespect, as I am sure you realised - simply a question.  Peter was well thought of in the UK (at least) and was a very quick and competent racer.

But that list is terrific.  I need to look into some of those venues...! 

Thanks

Mark