The historic streets of Watkins Glen will once again echo with the sounds of vintage race cars as the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival and the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) join forces to celebrate road racing history on Friday, September 6, 2024.
This year’s festival, held on the Friday after Labor Day, will showcase a range of events highlighting the legacy of post-World War II road racing, which began in Watkins Glen from 1948 to 1952. A special event will also be held on Thursday, September 5, to kick off the festivities.
The 2024 Featured Marque is MG, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the iconic brand. Hundreds of MG cars will fill the streets, with owners showcasing their vehicles at a special car show at Lakewood Vineyards in Lafayette Park on Thursday. On Friday, these classic cars will participate in the Stone Bridge Driver laps, taking on the original 6.6-mile course that was once used by Grand Prix racers.
Among the notable participants is the historic Fergus MGTD, which competed in the Queen Catherine Cup in Watkins Glen in 1952. The car, driven by Glen Moore, will be featured in several festival events, including the SVRA Smalley’s Tech Inspection Reenactment and the SVRA Tribute Laps.
Additionally, the festival will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Porsche Speedster, which was first introduced in Watkins Glen in 1954. A group of Porsche Speedsters will be on display, adding to the excitement of the event.
The SVRA, the largest vintage racing association in the United States, will bring an impressive collection of vintage race cars to town. These cars will be available for public viewing on Franklin Street starting at noon on Friday, with the highlight of the day being the SVRA Tribute Laps around the Old Course, beginning at 5:30 PM.
Stacy Husted, president of Watkins Glen Promotions and chair of the Festival’s management committee, expressed her enthusiasm for this year’s collaboration with SVRA. “We are really grateful to SVRA for bringing their members, cars, and drivers back to Watkins Glen to participate in our Festival,” Husted said.
The Grand Marshal for this year’s festival is Robert Gillespie, a local artist renowned for his racing-themed paintings and murals. Gillespie’s artwork will be featured on the festival’s official program, and he will be available to sign copies of his work and his new book, “One Track Mind,” on the Schuyler County Courthouse Lawn.
The Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival is sponsored by Chemung Canal Trust Company and produced by Watkins Glen Promotions, a nonprofit organization dedicated to presenting community festivals in Schuyler County, NY. For a detailed schedule and more information about the festival, visit www.grandprixfestival.com.
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