We hope that Corvette Z06 sweepstakes winner Bill Parker is enjoying the car now that the weather has improved for those of us in the northeast! Bill drove from his home in Cincinnati to Van Bortel Chevrolet in Rochester, NY to take delivery and then visit the IMRRC on his way home. Bill had not visited us before but promises to return. Notably Bill competed in rallies years ago in an MGB. Needless to say, Bill is thrilled with the Z06’s performance!
Next Up – The Porsche 911T Sweepstakes!
We are pleased to announce in partnership with the Porsche Club of America, Niagara Region, the addition of a driving school experience that will be provided to the winner! When you support the IMRRC and are selected as the winner of this beautiful new Porsche, the Niagara Region will provide you with a free two-day, High Performance Drivers Education (HPDE) experience at one of the most beautiful and revered road racing tracks in North America, Watkins Glen. Whether you are a novice or an experienced track addict, Niagara Region will offer you the support you need to experience your new 911T in the way Porsche engineered it to be enjoyed. Win a Porsche 911T
We thank all who participated in this year’s sweepstakes, our most successful to date!
Enter code MARNEWS50 for 50% more chances!
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (March 30, 2023) –The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC) will have the exciting new 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 3LZ Convertible for its 25th Anniversary sweepstakes fundraiser.
“The E-Ray embodies cutting-edge evolution, securing the future of America’s sports car,” says IMRRC Executive Director Mark Steigerwald. The Corvette’s first-ever hybrid powertrain consists of a 6.2-liter V-8 that powers the back wheels and a 160- horsepower electric motor that powers the front wheels, creating an all-wheel drive setup with a combined 655 horsepower. As a result, the E-Ray is the fastest Corvette ever made reaching 60 miles per hour in 2.5 seconds. The electric motor has allowed for the option to use the all-new Stealth Mode, during which owners can travel quietly up to 45 miles per hour for short distances. Developed to be the Corvette that owners can drive anywhere, no matter the season, a combination of carbon-ceramic brakes and 20- and 21-inch all-season tires give the E-Ray the unique distinction of being the first production car to come standard with these features.
The IMRRC’s annual sweepstakes is a main pillar of its yearly fundraising efforts. Proceeds are used to support the Center’s mission of collecting, preserving and sharing the history of motorsports worldwide. Entries for the sweepstakes are currently being accepted, and the drawing will take place on April 13, 2024. Full Sweepstakes details can be found at winac8vette.com
About the International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC): Celebrating 25 years!
Located in one of the premier racing towns in America, the IMRRC’s collection spans continents, eras and race series, embodying the speed, drama and camaraderie of amateur and professional motor racing throughout the world. The Center welcomes serious researchers and casual fans alike to share stories of race drivers, race series and race cars captured on its shelves and walls and brought to life through exhibitions and special events. The IMRRC is free and open to the public, no appointment necessary, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. More at racingarchives.org
Download the Full Press Release.
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (WETM) – The next big car giveaway is here for the International Motor Racing Research Center.
Right before Christmas, the IMRRC picked a winner for the 2021 Corvette Spider Convertible car. Over $450,000 dollars in ticket sales were racked up around the world for the vehicle. Now, it’s time to reveal the 2022 edition in their sweepstakes.
In conjunction with the Harbor Hotel and the Fire and Ice event, IMRRC President Mark Steigerwald and their team revealed this year’s special car. You can enter to win the 2022 Corvette IMSA Edition model by entering the contest, which officially went live on Thursday.
Proceeds will benefit the IMRRC and its goal of helping preserve racing and its lineage of success. IMRRC is a non-profit chartered 501(c)3 organization dedicated to preserving the rich history of motorsports. It’s primary facility is located in the heart of Watkins Glen, just miles away from the world’s most famous road course, Watkins Glen International.
To learn more about the contest, visit the IMRRC on the web at https://www.tapkat.org/international-motor-racing-research-center/NkX41k/
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – It was a day to remember for one Watkins Glen racing fan.
On Tuesday, one lucky fan received the phone call of a lifetime. The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC), based in Watkins Glen, held its annual car giveaway sweepstakes. The winning ticket was Robert Hughes from Long Beach, New York. With the victory, Hughes can either take the car or a cash prize.
The car is more than just a car. The 2021 Corvette Stingray Convertible Z51, valued for over $50,000. 18 Sports was there for the winning call with IMRRC Executive Director, Mark Steigerwald. Check out the full story and video from Tuesday.
Over 375,000 tickets were sold while generating $450,000 for the research center. The IMRRC is a non-profit chartered 501(c)3 organization dedicated to preserving the rich history of motorsports. It’s primary facility is located in the heart of Watkins Glen, just miles away from the world’s most famous road course, Watkins Glen International.
The International Motor Racing Research Center is offering a chance to win a 2021 Corvette Convertible with a minimum $25 donation to the motorsports-focused archival and research library.
The car in question is a 2021 Corvette Convertible in the 2LT trim level finished in the new-for-2021 Red Mist Metallic Tintcoat exterior color. This C8 Vette also has the available Carbon Flash Metallic Full Length Dual Racing Stripe Package, a Jet Black Napa leather interior and the must-have Z51 Performance Package.
The grand prize winner of this draw will also receive a complimentary stay at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel when they come to pick up their new 2021 Corvette Convertible.
As an added bonus, the IMRRC will enter the winner of this draw into two separate draws as well: one for a pair of 2022 memberships to the Jack Daniels Club at Watkins Glen International in New York (for NASCAR, IMSA and SVRA events) and another for a two-day performance driving school at the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School at Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club in Las Vegas, Nevada with a provided C8 Corvette Stingray.
A $25 donation will grant the entrant 12 tickets for the prize draw. A minimum of $200,000 worth of donations must be made in order for the prize to be awarded and as of this writing, just $22,750 worth of donations had been made in this contest.
The IMRRC, which is less than a 10-minute drive away from the Watkins Glen International circuit, says it has a collection of more than 4000 books and 250 different motorsports magazines, along with newspapers, club and sanctioning body records, race results, programs and posters. The organization’s research and archives staff also assist various scholars, journalists, authors, documentary filmmakers, drivers and race car owners with various inquiries they may have regarding racing history. Those who wish to visit the facility and delve into its vast archives can do so free of charge, although they must first make an appointment by phone due to COVID-19 guidelines.
Make donations by clicking this link.
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This is your chance to win a 2020 Corvette Stingray Z51 and help out one of the most prestigious motorsports preservation institutions on the planet.
Hey! … Hi! this is LACar editor-at-large Doug Stokes with a fun note about a chance to own the first-ever rear-engine ‘Vette (how long have we been waiting for that?) AND help out a true world-class institution that’s dedicated to keeping the history of racing not only preserved, but available to scholars, researchers, teachers, historians, and journalists on an open basis.
The International Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen, New York is the preeminent place for what I call “paper” my (very) broad term for items that are not hardware (like cars). Photos, journals, books, films and all manner of expression about cars and motorsports.
Their motto/mission statement is: “Preserving and sharing the history of motorsports” that seems pretty clear to me and I (personally) know it to be true.
Here’s how they see their work:
The International Motor Racing Research Center collects, shares and preserves the history of motorsports. Spanning continents, eras and race series, the Center’s collection embodies the speed, drama and camaraderie of amateur and professional motor racing throughout the world. The Center welcomes serious researchers and the casual fans alike to share stories of race drivers, race series, and race cars captured on our shelves and walls, and brought to life through a regular calendar of public lectures and special events.
The Center’s collection documents the history of racing in the more than 4000 books or 250 different motorsports magazines and newspapers titles; club and sanctioning body records; race results, programs and posters; papers of motorsports journalists and scholars; correspondence of race organizers; and still and moving images housed onsite and in our expanding offsite collections storage facilities. Its knowledgeable research and archives staff assists hundreds of scholars, journalists, authors, documentary film makers, drivers and race car owners from all over the globe with inquiries about motorsports history every year.
Funding for general operations comes through member support, corporate sponsorship, and grants from local foundations. The Center, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization, also benefits from endowment and outright gifts. Fund-raising activities include an annual car raffle and award dinner.
Our Mission:
To collect, preserve and share the global history of motorsports. Our extensive collection includes thousands of hours of film and video, hundreds of thousands of photographs, as well as thousands of cubic feet of periodicals, newsletters, rare books, race results, race programs, artwork, trophies and much, much more. We are dedicated to preserving and sharing these priceless artifacts that might otherwise be lost to future generations.
So… when you can support that sort of work and maybe win a 2020 Corvette Stingray with the (outrageous) Z51 Performance Package, I suggest that you take a shot at it … Get hold of a few raffle tickets and think about how cool it would be to visit Watkins Glen in the fall to pick up YOUR Corvette for an exciting and triumphant journey back home. And, I’ll make LACar readers a very special, one-time only, smokin’, super-great deal here. If they win and they can’t take the time to retrieve their ‘Vette from upstate New York, I will do so for them at no charge … I’m a careful driver and the holder of a slightly-out-of-date SCCA Novice racing license. -DS
The rest is easy, just punch this hot little button – Win a 2020 Corvette Stingray – to be directed directly to the IMRRC hot site for the drawing, buy some tickets, and hold a good thought. Win or not, know that you’ll be doing a good thing for motorsports… THANK YOU!
The Features of the 2020 Corvette Stingray include:
- Ceramic Matrix Gray Metallic exterior with Adrenaline Red, leather seating surfaces
- Z51 Performance Package
- 6.2L V8 DI engine, 495 hp
- 8-speed dual clutch transmission
Enjoy a complimentary stay at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel when you pick up your new C8!The grand prize winner will also be eligible for three additional exciting prizes:
- One hour of track time in your new IMRRC C8 with a professional driving instructor at Watkins Glen International during the 2021 season. Travel and coordination of track time will be the responsibility of the winner.
- Two 2021 memberships to the Jack Daniels Club at Watkins Glen International. This includes IMSA, NASCAR and SVRA Vintage Races, plus general access to SCCA.
- A two-day performance driving school at the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School at Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club in Las Vegas, Nevada, with world-class instructors and a provided C8. This prize includes a two-night stay, breakfast and lunch. Winner must attend the school before the end of 2021, and arrange and pay for their own travel.
International Motor Racing Research Center
610 South Decatur Street
Watkins Glen, NY 14891
607-535-9044
The winner of the 1986 Ferrari 328 GTS is
Andrew Giles from Yulee, Florida with ticket number 1596.
We raised over $113,000 for the IMRRC.
Watkins Glen Mayor Luke Leszyk reads the winning raffle ticket.
1986 Ferrari 328 GTS
Value: $71,500
- 60,500 miles
- 3.2 liter mid-engine V-8
- 270 hp at 7,000 rpm
- Electronic ignition
- Fuel injection
- Five-speed gearbox
- 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds
- Top speed: 160 mph
- One owner for over 20 years, restored in 2013
Multiple tickets must be purchased in a single transaction to receive the 3/$100 discount. Your ticket (number(s) will be sent to you upon confirmation of payment. Winner must pay necessary taxes prior to delivery and is responsible for transport of the car from Watkins Glen, NY . Need not be present to win. Must be at least 18 years old to enter. Void where prohibited.
Lee and Jeannette Apostale win a Porsche 911
Head archivist Jenny Ambrose, with winner Lee Apostale, holds the Porsche title and car keys. Photo by Anthony Bristol.
Lee and Jeannette Apostale of Hornell, N.Y., were the winners of the 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S raffled by the International Motor Racing Research Center.
“This is the Center’s 20th anniversary year. We’re very excited that we are able to celebrate our successes and award such a beautiful classic sports car,” said Kip Zeiter, IMRRC Coordinator of Visitor Services and Outreach.
“We sincerely thank everyone who purchased tickets and made this year’s raffle of the Porsche and other prizes a successful fundraiser,” Zeiter added. This year the Center sold 2,065 tickets and raised over $100,000.
The winning ticket was drawn at the Center on Oct. 6 as part of the IMRRC’s “RacetoberFest” anniversary celebration.
The Apostales purchased the winning ticket at this year’s Grand Prix Festival in Watkins Glen, where the IMRRC has a booth annually. Jeannette looked across the street to where the Porsche was parked, saw that the drawing was on Oct. 6, and said, “I’m going to win that; that’s on my birthday.” While the Apostales don’t have any immediate plans to bring the Porsche back to Watkins Glen, Lee participates in the Grand Prix Festival every year and “the car will be back to Watkins eventually,” he said.
Two other prizes were awarded at the event. Second prize, a set of four tickets to any 2019 SVRA event in the United States and a $500 Visa Gift Card, was won by Marcus Steck, of Newfane, N.Y., who plans to use the race tickets at his home track, Watkins Glen International. Andrew Wensel, of Rochester, N.Y., took home the third prize, a 50-inch Samsung Flatscreen Television.
Car raffles have supported the IMRRC’s programming and operations throughout its history. An exciting array of cars has been raffled off over the years. Past raffles have featured both new models provided by the manufacturers or vintage cars donated by friends of the Center, including a 2017 MINI Cooper John Cooper Works, a 1982 Ferrari 308 GTSi, a 2013 Boss Mustang 302 and a 1967 E-type Jag Series 1.
