The Annual Michael R. Argetsinger Symposium on International Motor Racing History
The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC), partnering with the Society of Automotive Historians (SAH), presents the annual Michael R. Argetsinger Symposium on International Motor Racing History. The Symposium established itself as a unique and respected scholarly forum and has gained a growing audience of students and enthusiasts. The symposium is named in honor of Michael R. Argetsinger (1944-2015; below), an award-winning motorsports author and longtime member of the Center’s Governing Council.
It provides an opportunity for scholars, researchers and writers to present their work related to the history of automotive competition and the cultural impact of motor racing. Papers are presented by faculty members, graduate students and independent researchers. The history of international automotive competition falls within several realms, all of which are welcomed as topics for presentations, including, but not limited to: sports history, cultural studies, public history, political history, the history of technology, sports geography and gender studies, as well as archival studies.
Key Note Address
Lyn St. James, Co-Founder/President of Women in Motorsports North America, is a legendary race car driver, author, mentor, and motivational speaker.
Named one of the “Top 100 Female Athletes of the 20th Century” by Sports Illustrated, Lyn St. James has set 21 national and international speed records and was a seven-time competitor in the world’s largest sporting event – the Indianapolis 500 – earning Rookie of the Year honors in 1992. She has competed all over the world, including twice at the 24 Hours of LeMans (1989, 91) with victories at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, Watkins Glen, Road America, and Nurburgring.
Most recently Lyn was announced as an inductee into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame, and has been inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame, the Sebring Hall of Fame, the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, was the 2022 Amelia Island Concours Honoree, is the recipient of the prestigious “Spirit of Ford” award, the “Guiding Woman in Sports Award”, the “Office Depot Visionary Sportswoman of the Year” and was named on Automotive News list of the Top 100 Women in the Automotive Industry. She is in demand as a speaker on women’s issues, gender equality, and diversity.
She serves on the board of ACCUS (Automobile Competition Committee of the United States) and on their Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. She has authored two books: “Lyn St. James, An Incredible Journey” and “Oh By the Way”, and is a former President of the Women’s Sports Foundation. Lyn is passionate about mentoring drivers in the sport of auto racing as well as women in the automotive and motorsports fields.
2024 Event Details
We welcome you to attend the eighth annual Michael R. Argetsinger Symposium on International Motor Racing History. The Symposium is a collaboration of the International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC) and the Society of Automotive Historians Motor Sports Chapter (SAHMS). The 2024 Symposium will be held in Watkins Glen, NY on Friday, November 1, and Saturday, November 2. As in previous years, a select group motorsports writers and researchers will make presentations on a wide variety of motorsports topics. The program schedule and a list of topics is provided at this link. The Symposium schedule is, of course, subject to last minute modifications as circumstances arise and we suggest you consult the IMRRC website to keep up to date on any such developments. (Click the cover below to download the Event Program)
The 2024 Symposium will also feature a keynote address by race driver and author Lyn St. James during the first day of sessions on Friday, November 1, at 11:45 am.
Film Festival October 31, 5 pm to 8pm: The 17th International Reel Wheel Film Festival hosted by Tom Schmeh, former curator and a founder of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, is being held in the Elementary School auditorium adjacent to the IMRRC on Thursday, October 31, the night before the first day of the
Symposium from 5 pm to 8 pm. We encourage you, if your travel schedule permits, to join us for the event. No pre-registration is required.
Registration and Lunch Information, November 1 and 2: On both Friday and Saturday, November 1 and 2, Symposium sessions will be held at Watkins Glen International (WGI) on the second-floor auditorium of the WGI Media Center located on the infield the famous Watkins Glen race track. Enter the track at the main gate (Gate2). Upon entering, you will need to sign in at the gate with WGI security personnel who will direct you to the Media Center. We ask that you sign in with Symposium staff at the door of the second-floor auditorium in order to obtain an identification lanyard and a printed program.
In an effort to keep the group intact and maximize the time available for proceedings, certain presentations are scheduled during the lunch break. We encourage you to bring a brown bag lunch to eat at your table in the auditorium and enjoy the presentations. There are no food concessions open at the race track so you may choose to drive into the nearby Village of Watkins Glen where restaurants and fast food outlets are available on the main street (Franklin Street), including Curley’s Diner, Holy Cow Deli, Dunkin Donuts and Burger King. More information on dining options in the village is available on the Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce website.
Reception at Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce November 1: At the close of the Friday sessions, an open reception with hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be hosted by the Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce at its main facility in Watkins Glen at 214 North Franklin Street (corner of Franklin and 3rd streets on the northeast side of Franklin). This event is open to the public and no registration is required. We look forward to seeing you in Watkins Glen in November.
Agenda
Click here to Download the following Schedule to your device.
Symposium Day 2 (11/2)
MORNING SESSIONS
9:00 am to 9:15 am | Welcome and Introductory Remarks |
9:15 am to 10:00 am | Mark Howell - Poll Position: NASCAR Nation and National Politics (Zoom) |
10:00 am to 10:45 am | Chris Lezotte - From Power Puff to W Series: The Evolution of Women-Only Racing |
10:45 am to 11:00 am | Break |
11:00 am to 11:45 am | Katharine Worth - Speed resting in the hands of Britannia? Empire and British Prestige in 1930s British Motor Racing (Zoom) |
11:45 am to 12:45 pm | McPherson College (Luke Chennell, Ken Yohn, and Kristie Sjoka): Perspectives on Motorsport Journalism, 1952-1972 |
12:45 pm to 2:15 pm | Lunch & Lunchtime Zoom Sessions |
Roundtable on the State of the Field of Motor Sport History Moderator: H. Donald Capps Panelists: Paul Baxa, Mark Howell, Brian Ingrassia, Dan Simone |
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
2:15 pm to 3:00 pm | Andrew Beckman - Studebaker at Indianapolis |
3:00 pm to 3:45 pm | Tom Adamich - Overview of E-Motorsports |
3:45 pm to 4:00 pm | Break |
4:00 pm to 4:45 pm | Alana Roberts - David Crowther, the Ultimate Weekend Warrior |
4:45 pm to 5:30 pm | Karl-Heinz Mertins - How to beat the Mercedes-Benz W196; Alternative History Accelerates the Mid-Engine Revolution |
5:30 pm to 5:45 pm | Closing Remarks |
Reel Wheel Film Festival (10/31)
Film Festival October 31, 5 pm to 8pm: The 17th International Reel Wheel Film Festival hosted by Tom Schmeh, former curator and a founder of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, is being held in the Elementary School auditorium adjacent to the IMRRC on Thursday, October 31, the night before the first day of the Symposium from 5 pm to 8 pm. We encourage you, if your travel schedule permits, to join us for the event. No pre-registration is required. Featured Documentaries include:
5:00 pm to 6:00 pm | “The Legend of Stan Bowman” - John Lucas
Stan Bowman was raised and grew up in Little York, Ind., in the southern part of the state. In 1962, as a rookie in his first official United States Auto Club (USAC) race, he won at Earl Baltes’ Eldora Speedway, defeating some of the best drivers of the era. Two months after, he was retained by one of the top teams at the Championship Car level to drive the famed Dean Van Lines Special. This would have taken him to the Indianapolis 500. Sadly, two weeks before his first Indy Car race, he lost his life in an accident at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track. The Legend of Stan Bowman describes USAC sprint car racing in the early 1960s and Kentucky auto racing legend Stan Bowman. It captures Bowman's win at the first USAC sprint car race at Eldora in Rossburg, Ohio, in 1962. Hear from Mario Andretti, Johnny Rutherford, Billy Teegarden and Eldora Speedway’s current owner, Tony Stewart. |
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | "Legends of Racing: A.J. Foyt” - Laura Andrew
The story of A.J. Foyt, Jr., takes us on a journey from his humble beginnings on the dusty fairgrounds tracks of his native Texas all the way to the greatest achievements in auto racing history around the globe at Indianapolis, Daytona and Le Mans. From reaching unprecedented heights in his racing career to the depths of despair in the hospital rooms just waiting to make his triumphant return, the life and times of SuperTex are chronicled. A FloSports Studios original, in association with the United States Auto Club (USAC), the second of many installments in the Legends of Racing series spotlights Foyt and his racing career, his relationship with his father and his seven decades of dedication to the sport of auto racing as a driver, team owner, and often, his own crew chief. |
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | “Shirley (Muldowney)” - Pam Miller & Cindy Sisson
Shirley is the true, unfiltered story of the inimitable Shirley Muldowney. Salty, sassy, and unflappable, Muldowney crushed stereotypes and became an integral part of the gritty, golden age of drag racing. Her aggressive approach fueled intense rivalries, passionate fan reaction, and occasional caustic headlines, but never derailed her quest to be a champion. She'd be the first woman to earn a license to drive a Top Fuel dragster, first woman to win a professional racing championship, and the first driver to win three Top Fuel championships. Her journey came with great personal costs, but her perseverance proved women could race equally with men. Controversial, inspirational, and fiercely honest — there is only one Shirley, and luckily, she was up to the challenge. |
Event Livestream
If you cannot attend the symposium in person, we are proud to offer a real-time livestream of the event via the MPN Twitch. No need to sign up, or register, just click the link. The livestream broadcast is brought to you in partnership with The Motoring Podcast Network.
Previous Symposium Presentations
Click on the YEAR tabs below, then select and click on any thumbnail to begin playing the individual video presentations from each speaker.
All of the production, recording, live-stream, post-production, technology support, editing and podcasting work for the IMRRC Symposium starting in 2022 has been provided by the team at The Motoring Podcast Network. Proud members of the IMRRC & the SAH and contribute volunteer time and resources to help grow the success of this conference. Please consider supporting their work via Patreon.
Thank YOU for your support!
We would like to thank our sponsors and volunteers for the continued support of the Annual Argetsinger Symposium. If you’d like to contribute to the success of this event, please don’t hesitate to reach out to research@racingarchives.org for more information.