"THE GLEN"

Watkins Glen International nicknamed The Glen is an auto race track located near Watkins Glen, New York, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. It is now owned by International Speedway Corporation. It was long known around the world as the home of the United States Grand Prix, which it hosted for 20 consecutive years, 1961-1981.

Watkins Glen Grand Prix

The first Watkins Glen Grand Prix took place in 1948 on a 6.6 mile course over public roads and passing through the heart of the town. After a car left the road in the 1952 race, killing one spectator and injuring several others, the race was moved out of town.

The new 4.6 mile course for 1953 also used existing roads. The Watkins Glen Grand Prix Corporation was formed to manage spectators, parking and concessions.

In 1956 a 2.35 mile permanent race course was constructed overlapping part of the previous course. The track hosted the annual SCCA race in 1957 and became international when the Formula Libre race attracted some of the best road racers in the world, including Jack Brabham, Stirling Moss, Phil Hill and Dan Gurney from 1958 through 1960.

United States Grand Prix

1961 Race

This was the first United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. I did not realize that I had been at it until doing this blog and finding this program. I will have to do some research. In October 1961, I was at the University of Waterloo, in my 3 rd year of Civil Engineering.Also that fall I was playing football on the varsity team. At this point, I have no idea who I was with .. I'm sure we camped .. hopefully I will find some pictures or 8 mm movies.

As per my research, eight American drivers participated, and the race was won by British driver Innes Ireland with American Dan Gurney second. American champion Phil Hill did not race since the team was still mourning the death of Count Wolfgang von Trips at Monza the previous race.

From 1961 Program

The United States Grand Prix at The Glen quickly became an autumn tradition as huge crowds of racing fans flocked to upstate New York each year. The race received the Grand Prix Drivers' Association award for the best organized and best staged GP of the season 1965, 1970 nd 1972.

Home Video recorded at Watkins Glen Grand Prix 1969

Jochen Rindt survived an early duel with newly-crowned Champion and close friend Jackie Stewart and claimed his first Grand Prix victory. Piers Courage finished second, driving a Frank Williams prepared Brabham. John Surteestook third at Ther Glen for ther second straight year.

Mario Andretti making just his third appearance of the season was driving the controversial soon-to-be-abanded four-wheel-drive Lotus. Rindt was in a standard Lotus.

Once again, the race offered a record purse, and the total of $ 206,000 including $ 50,000 for the winner. Quite an increase over the 1961 purse of $ 11,000.

Tex Hopkins was the starter for the races (he is pictured in the 1961 program cover). Wearing a lavender suit, clenching a big cigar in his mouth and giving the job all he had. Hopkins was the most recognizable starter in Grand Prix racing.

Before the 1971 race, the course underwent its most significant changes of the Grand Prix era. It was extended to 3.377 miles by the addition of four corners in a new section called the "Boot". In addition, the circuit was widened and resurfaced.

1971 Race

It seemed nearly every spare works F1 car and quite a few independents as well, were present to try for a share of the $ 267,000 in prize money, easily the richest purse in F1.

Cevert started from fifth spot and took the lead from Stewart on lap 14. About mid race Cevert began to struggle with understeer.Jackie Ickx on lap 43 set the fastest lap of the race and was now only 2.2 seconds back. Then on lap 49 , the alternator on Ickx's Ferrari fell off and punched a hole in the gear box. Cevert came by and slid off and hit the barrier, but kept going, now 29 seconds in the lead! Cevert coasted home to win his first Grand Prix.

After taking the checkered flag, Cervert gave a nod to his teammate. "I feel pretty good with a $ 50,000 win, Jackie Stewart is a very good teacher".

Despite the improvements, the circuit became unable to safely handle the increasing faster and stiffer ground effect cars of the late 70s. There were two drivers  killed, in 1973 Francois Cevert who drove for Tyrrell with Jackie Stewart and in 1974 Helmut Koinigg driving for Surtees.

Camping at The Glen

I was at the 1969 and the 1971 United States Grand Prix:

  * we travelled in a Winnebago

  * our first stop was at a winery in Hammondsport, New York .. here in the "tasting room" each of us  selected a different wine (excluding the driver)
  * next to a beer store
  * by now there was a lot of rowdy spectators .. just at The Glen to party .. not much interest in the racing .. a lot of marijuana ( enough in the air to get a free trip)

  * in the middle of the camping area there was a large wet hole that became known as "The Bog" .. I saw a Hertz cube van with some fellows on a sofa on top slide off into the bog .. by the end of the weekend the bog looked like a demolion derby
  * security in 1961, was such that a friend and I were able to get right to the F1 car garages ; when Jackie Stewart drove up and went into the garage, we hopped  into his car and had a little chat with his wife , Helen.

From 1971 Program

                                       Mario Andretti

                                                  

                                                                    

IRL at The Glen

2005 Race

In 2005, after a 25 year layoff, major-league open wheel racing returned to the track as one of three road courses on the Indy Racing League schedule. In preparation, the circuit was upgraded again . Grandstands from Pennsyvania's Nazareth Speedway were installed. The gravel in The 90 was removed and replaced with a paved runoff area. Also the curbing was cut down.

The exits of turn 2, the chicane, turn 6, turn 9 and turn 11 all had additional runoff areas. Already in place along the front strech, addional high safety fences were installed on the overpasses crossing the service roads at the top of the esses and after the exit of turn 9.

2006 Race

In 2006, a new control tower was installed, which included booths for for the officals, timing and scoring, television and radio.

Track safety is always changing and constant training is needed. Race Services Inc. provides the track with volunteers to work Fire-Rescue, Medical, Grid personnel and corner workers to help keep both the drivers and specctators safe.

Qualifying was cancelled due to fog and the field was set based on Fruday practice speeds. Helio Castroneves sat on the pole. The race was shortened to 55 laps due to the 2 hour time limit. This race was the first IRL race to be run in wet conditions.

2007 Race

For 2007, Watkins Glen International again made improvements, specifically the track surface. The turns 1, 5 and 6 were repaved. A temporary "Glen Club" replaced the permanent structure that had been destroyed by fire. There were plans in the works to replace it with a permanent building.

Castroneves led the first 19 laps until on lap 20, he crashed in turn 11. Dixon took the lead, on lap 25 A.J.Foyt IV had a spin at turn 8. When Dixon pitted Andretti took the lead until lap 44, when he had his final pitstop, which would give Dixon once again the lead until the finish. Hornish ended up 2 nd.

The Andretti Green trio of Franchitti, Kanaan and Andretti rounded out the top five.

Camping World is now the sponsor of the INDY weekend having signed a multi-year deal. Hence we will have a "Camping World Grand Prix" INDY weekend at the Glen through 2010.



A new media centre was constructed to replace the former building, which had also been the control tower. It was an aging structure with few amenities that other tracks had.







2008 Race

Polesetter Ryan Briscoe led from the start, but Scott Dixon, who qualified fourth, quickly passed Justin Wilson and Ryan Hunter-Reay to move into second for the first half of the race.

Dan Wheldon was out with contact with Darren Manning on the first lap. Helio Castroneves with a gear box problem was soon out also.

After a brief interlude when Victor Meira led during a pit stop cycle, Briscoe and Dixon returned to the top two positions and thoroughly dominated the race, leading third-place Hunter-Reay by 20 seconds.

On a restart, Dixon was swerving to warm his tires but unexpectedly spun out and collected Briscoe. Hunter-Reay, who avoided the wreck, suddenly found himself second to Manning.

On lap 51, Hunter-Reay who had a stronger car, easily, dispatched of Manning. Hunter-Reay won easily, claiming his first win in IndyCar for the Rahal Letterman Racing team




2009 Race

Justin Wilson dominated most of the event, en route to victory, the first-ever IndyCar win for Dale Coyne Racing. Late in the race, Wilson had on the optional red tires.

A late race caution bunched the field for a sprint to the finish. Wilson got the jump on the restart, and pulled out a 4-second lead to preserve the win.

It was the first race all season, and the first since the 2008 Detroit event which saw neither Ganassi nor Penske as the victor.