Watkins Glen, New York; Friday, September 5^th, 2025

Victory Lane Magazine, October 2025: Volume 40, No.10

Story by Terry Johnsen, Photos by Molly Batrowny

This is a racing fan’s memoir of sorts. It’s certainly not a complete account of an event, but a reflection on an experience that satisfies the soul. That thing that compels you to come back for more, time and again. For me it’s the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival. It’s the first event marked on my calendar every year, whether it be as a spectator or for the purpose of also covering the SVRA event up at Watkins Glen International. September 5, 2025, was the place to be.

The Finger Lakes region of upstate New York comes alive as the autumn season approaches. The air is crisp and refreshing, signaling the change of seasons. Every year on the first Friday following Labor Day, the friendly Village of Watkins Glen opens its doors to racing fans for the yearly celebration of post-war road racing in the US, and the continued legacy of racing at Watkins Glen International (WGI). It all began with Cameron Argetsinger, the founder with foresight, who in 1948 began the tradition of the Watkins Glen Sports Car Grand Prix. They raced through the streets and the Schuler County countryside through 1952. An interim location was used from 1953-1955 until the current Watkins Glen International site opened in 1956.

My first visit to Watkins Glen was for the Canadian-American Challenge Cup/Can-Am and World Championship of Makes 6-Hour races, July 21-22, 1973. Mark Donohue drove the legendary Sunoco Porsche 917-30 to victory in the Can-Am, while Gerard Larrousse and Henri Pescarolo piloted their beautiful blue and white Matra Simca MS670B to victory in the 6-hour race. It was an incredible experience and provided lasting memories for a 16-year-old. I was hooked on The Glen ever since.

I’ve been coming to the festival for many years with my son and dear friends from Rochester (NY). We rent an Airbnb in Montour Falls and spend the weekend immersing ourselves in the festival atmosphere along with the racing up at WGI. Last year when the schedules were split due to the NBC/NASCAR/Olympics broadcast conflict, necessitating SVRA to move their date, we had a choice to make. Was it going to be the rescheduled vintage event at WGI in August or the traditional weekend set aside for the Grand Prix Festival? Without hesitation we chose the festival.

This year (2025) marked the 32nd Annual Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival, and I truly believe this was the best one we’ve attended yet. The collective effort of the festival organizers, local businesses and sponsors, local and state governments, and the International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC) produced a ‘happening’ for car enthusiasts and racing fans that is second to none. Also, thankfully the rainy weather predicted for the weekend held off until Saturday, which resulted in sunny skies and mild temperatures for everyone to enjoy. It’s an extremely well-run event, fun, and family oriented.

The schedule of events for the festival officially begins at 9:30am with the Tech Inspection Reenactment at the historic Smalley’s Garage. Later, Franklin Street will be closed to traffic from noon until 8:00pm. Many people will have already started setting-up lawn chairs along Franklin Street in anticipation for the car parades throughout in the day. We started our festival experience as always at the research center (IMRRC). They feature a showing of historical films from the early years of racing through the streets. This also gives visitors the perfect opportunity to speak with the knowledgeable research staff about ‘all things racing’ at The Glen. 

Next, it’s a short walk into town, bringing us to the Schuyler County Courthouse, where many presentations will be made, most notably are the yearly Drivers Walk of Fame Induction Ceremonies. This year’s inductees were Jody Scheckter (winner of the 1973 SCCA F-5000 race at Watkins Glen, and 1979 Formula 1 World Driving Champion). Long time racers Jim and Bret Seafuse (father and son), and Mark Brandow were honored as well. Also on the Courthouse property is the marker for the start/finish line of the original races held 1948-1952. Directly across the street is the main stage for pre-race festival activities that begin later in the day. Behind the main stage on Franklin Street is the Concours d’Elegance, presented by Lotus of Western New York, held in the Watkins Glen State Park lot. This collection of finely presented cars will undergo the scrutiny of the judges vote for the coveted First Prize. 

From there heading northward, Franklin Street is lined with happy festival goers, endless vendors selling food, beer, and collectible merchandise. There is also an abundance of cars staged in various corrals, to include Porsche, Lotus, MG, Corvette, and all-things Detroit steel muscle cars. It’s an all-day car show with owners eager to showcase and talk about their four-wheeled beauties. There’s so much to see, and so much going on throughout the day, it’s a shame you can’t be in multiple places at once. 

By this time, we were famished for some lunch. Watkins Glen is filled with many wonderful eating establishments, so it was hard to choose. But we settled on one of our favorites, Nickel’s Pit BBQ, and filled up. The place was a buzz with festival fever. From there we headed over to Lafayette Park for the annual Legends Speak presentation, sponsored by IMRRC at 3:00pm. Here a noted racing legend or automotive dignitary is interviewed to discuss their career, including their experiences racing at The Glen. Past speakers included Al Unser Jr., Hurley Haywood, and Brian Redman, to name a few. 

This year’s speaker was the 2025 Grand Marshal, Steven Harris, a noted architect and prolific Porsche collector. The moderators for the talk were IMRRC racing experts, Rick Hughey and Dave Ward. With Porsche being the featured marque this year, Mr. Harris provided his unique perspective on Porsche ownership and his long association with the brand, beginning with his obsession with the marque from an early age. He spoke about many fascinating adventures and events he participated in such as the Bejing-to-Paris Rally. His successful career as an architect also included teaching positions at Yale, Harvard, and Princeton. He was asked about any connection between the technical nature of architecture and his love of Porsches, and he said there was. He explained that there’s very little on their cars that is extraneous, that they’re very precise, adding Porsche has a distinction of functioning perfectly along with their beautiful styling and aesthetics. His talk prompted many questions from Porsche owners in the crowd.

At the same time there had been multiple rally groups that have taken the grid on Franklin Street and then set off on a ceremonial lap of the original circuit. At 4:30pm, a selection of race cars participating in the SVRA event at WGI leave the track and head down to the village in preparation for the Watkins Glen International Grand Prix Tribute Laps. Once they are in place Franklin Street is flooded with festival goers all getting a close look at these glorious racing machines.

Once the IMRRC/Legends Speak has completed, we head over to Maria’s Tavern and assume our spot for the upcoming ‘main event’ activities. Maria’s is a great location for an enhanced festival atmosphere, because they feature live music from their rooftop by local band, The Variables, providing an array of rock and roll cover hits from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and even some more contemporary music. 

At 5:30pm the pre-race ceremonies begin at the start/finish main stage. The National Anthem is then played bringing the huge crowd to a hush, followed by thunderous applause. At 6:00pm Franklin Street comes to life with the roar of engines, and the cars begin their tribute laps winding their way along the 6.6-mile original road course. Just a short walk north of Maria’s, fans can view the famous combination of corners the racers will negotiate as they complete the long sweeping ‘Big Bend’, leading to the sharp left turn at Milliken’s Corner before the sharp right turn onto Franklin Street. It’s such an iconic image seeing the cars flowing through the corners as they then head towards the start/finish to start another lap.

Once the tribute laps are completed the band starts up again for their final set playing to a large gathering until 8:00pm when Franklin Street is opened to normal traffic. The crowd disperses, happy and filled with wonderful memories of a fantastic festival. We capped off the day with a satisfying dinner at Jerlando’s Italian Restaurant. After filling ourselves with their excellent cuisine our day was done.

And just like that another Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival is in the memory books, and immediately my thoughts turned to 2026. I can’t wait. So, make your plans now! Next year the festival will be held on Friday, September 11, and the Featured Marque will be Camaro/Firebird! For more information on the festival, please visit the Watkins Glen Promotions website at www.watkinsglen.com and the festival website at www.grandprixfestival.com. The photographer who supplied the lovely photographs for this article is Molly Batrowny, https://www.instagram.com/molly.b_photographs/# (on Instagram). See you all next year!

Terry Johnsen …..2025