watkins glen revisited

Ron's posts on this subject are spot-on! The Glen is a fabulous memory for all of us who had the good fortune to attend F1 races there. But, for the reasons enumerated by Ron, it will never, ever happen again. Period. No amount of money can bring such an isolated venue up to current F1 standards, including, but not limited to, the requirements of drivers, team owners and sponsors.

I'm surprised that nobody has yet to wax nostalgic about the tradition of burning cars at "the Bog"-- a rather novel way to stay warm during the evening preceding a F1 race. You simply can't find that level of sophistication at venues like Monaco. The mention of the Glen Motor Lodge by several posters does, however, bring back a fond memory. Back in 1980 I commenced a libel suit in Federal Court in NYC against a F1 team owner who had made some nasty remarks about my client in an interview published in a European magazine. However, to get jurisdiction over the offending scoundrel I had to serve him within the state of NY. No problem, I just waited for October and the Glen F1 race, and since everyone involved with Fi stayed at the same motel, I just alerted my process server and served the sucker when he opened his door to leave for the track on race morning. Bingo!

 

Funny story Larry. I was at the Glen the year they burned in The Bog the Greyhound bus full of Brazilian Fittipaldi fans. The fans weren't on the bus, but their luggage was. When I arrived Sunday morning, the bus was on its roof, and stood about 4 foot tall.

"The Bog" disappeared after this weekend.

 

Of course, I could never stay at the Glen Motor Inn during the GP period - I either stayed in Elmira or Ithaca and drove to the track each day - but I visited the GMI several times during later trips to the Glen for vintage racing weekends. That lobby was a real museum! I remember eating on the outdoor deck one time and listening the guys at the next table over, both owners of vintage F1 cars, talking shop. Great fun!

 

ROFL

 

I think he meant to say Bridgehampton...

 

Too bad there's a housing development there now...

Golf course over part of "the Bridge," IIRC.

OT, listened to Bob Rubin on the radio this morning about the wall st. woes and he did make good sense, even if he's the guy responsible for the Bridge...

 

Another wealth of information threads. Wish there were more of these, thanks to all contributing....

 

Oh, yes, no development there I do not believe, I think this place just slid into the ocean.

I love Bridgehampton. My first CanAm, I think I was all of 10, I have it somewhere on 8MM film. Guerney, Hall, McLaren, Hulme, Revson, Donahue.