IMRRC announces first talks of 2013
The Racing Research Center is an archival library dedicated to the preservation of the history of motorsports, of all series and all venues, through its collections of books, periodicals, films, photographs, fine art and other materials.
The popular Center Conversations program has long been a cornerstone of the Racing Research Center’s educational outreach. Noted authors, race historians, drivers, team owners and track officials have taken listeners behind the scenes of every race series over the years. Speakers have included Donald Davidson, historian and the Indianapolis Speedway; David Donohue, racer and son of famed driver Mark Donohue; Bobby Rahal, driver and team owner; George Follmer, racer; and the late John Fitch and Bill Milliken, both legendary figures in road racing.
All talks at the Racing Research Center, located at 610 S. Decatur St., Watkins Glen, are free and open to the public. They begin at 1 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
The 2013 slate of Center Conversations talks began on Jan. 12 with Center Historian Bill Green discussing the posters of motorsports events and thrill shows.
On March 2, Berggren, magazine editor and national motorsports television announcer, will lead a panel discussion about supermodified racing. The group will highlight competition at Oswego (N.Y.) Speedway, a facility Berggren describes as “the most storied of all super-modified tracks."
Ludvigsen’s April 13 talk, “A Lifetime on Wheels," will be an illustrated presentation based on his experiences in the world of cars and racing over the years. Ludvigsen has written more than two dozen books on cars as well as a notable series of books on drivers.
Center Historian Green and author Michael Argetsinger on May 18 launch their new book from Arcadia Publishing, “Watkins Glen International." It will be a pictorial history of the Watkins Glen race track, from its earliest years on public roads to today’s internationally acclaimed Watkins Glen International circuit.
On June 15, Corinne Economaki, former publisher of National Speed Sport News founded by her father, the great motorsports journalist Chris Economaki, and author Leo Levine team up to present a salute to the iconic Economaki, who died last year.
Additional talks will be scheduled, and more details about the talks already planned will be released later.
For more information about the Center’s work and its programs, visit www.racingarchives.org or call (607) 535-9044.