Cameron R. Argetsinger

Background

Cameron Reynolds Argetsinger was born on March 1, 1921, in Youngstown, Ohio, the only child of James Cameron Argetsinger and Louise May Williams Argetsinger. His father was an attorney and general counsel of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company. The Youngstown area was a major center of American steel production during Argetsinger's childhood, while his family's longstanding connection with Schuyler County, New York, gave him a second geographic setting.

He spent childhood summers with his grandparents in Schuyler County and later stayed at the family's summer home near Seneca Lake. The rural roads and lakeside setting around Watkins Glen became closely associated with his interest in sports cars and ultimately provided the setting for his work in American road racing.

Education

Argetsinger attended Youngstown University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1951. The institution, founded in Youngstown as a private college in 1908, developed alongside the city's industrial economy and later became Youngstown State University.

He studied law at Cornell University and received a Juris Doctor in 1954. Cornell Law School, founded in 1887, is part of Cornell University's research-oriented educational system in Ithaca, New York. During his law-student years, Argetsinger was already involved in planning sports-car racing at Watkins Glen, linking his legal education with the organization of postwar road racing.

Career

Argetsinger served in the United States Army as a second lieutenant from 1942 to 1945 during the Second World War. After returning to civilian life, he practiced law in the Watkins Glen and Schuyler County area while developing a parallel career in motorsports.

In 1948 he proposed, organized, and drove in the first Watkins Glen Grand Prix, an amateur road race held on public roads around the village. He mapped the 6.6-mile course and obtained Sports Car Club of America sanction. The event became a recurring race and established Watkins Glen as a major American road-racing venue. He continued racing until 1960 and helped organize international events at Watkins Glen from 1958.

Because street racing became increasingly difficult to conduct safely, Argetsinger led efforts to establish a permanent circuit outside the village. Watkins Glen International opened for racing in 1956–1957, and he later helped bring the United States Grand Prix to the facility in 1961. Formula One returned to Watkins Glen annually through 1980, making the circuit one of the most important American venues in the international Grand Prix calendar.

Argetsinger practiced law privately from 1955 to 1970 and was executive director of the Sports Car Club of America from 1971 to 1977. The SCCA, founded in 1944, helped organize amateur sports-car competition and later developed professional racing programs and sanctioning structures. He returned to private legal practice in 1977, became a partner at Lape & Argetsinger, and served as commissioner of the International Motor Sports Association from 1985 to 1992.

He retired from legal practice in 2002 and became president of the International Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen, serving until 2007. The center preserves and makes accessible historical materials concerning automobile and motorcycle racing. Argetsinger died on April 22, 2008, at his home in Watkins Glen, and was buried in the family plot at Hector Union Cemetery.

Achievements

• Argetsinger organized the 1948 Watkins Glen Grand Prix, one of the first major postwar road races in the United States, and drove in the inaugural event.

• He led the development of a permanent road-racing facility at Watkins Glen and helped establish the circuit as the home of the United States Grand Prix from 1961 through 1980.

• He directed professional racing and served as executive director of the Sports Car Club of America, helping the organization expand its role in American motorsports.

• He helped preserve the history of automobile racing through his presidency of the International Motor Racing Research Center from 2002 to 2007.

Religion

Argetsinger was a Presbyterian. Presbyterianism developed from the Reformed tradition of the Protestant Reformation and emphasized biblical authority, representative church government, disciplined communal life, and the sovereignty of God.

His documented religious affiliation belonged to the American Protestant setting in which Presbyterian congregations served as enduring institutions of worship, education, and community life. His funeral Mass was held at St. Mary's of the Lake Church in Watkins Glen, although the available biographical record does not explain a change in his religious affiliation.

Politics

Argetsinger was identified with the Republican Party. The party is one of the two major political parties in the United States and has historically encompassed traditions emphasizing constitutional government, individual responsibility, private enterprise, and national defense.

His public prominence came principally through law and motorsports administration rather than elected office or partisan political leadership. The available biographical record does not document specific campaigns, offices, platforms, or policy positions associated with his Republican affiliation.

Views

Argetsinger's documented outlook centered on the development and preservation of road racing in the United States. His work shows a sustained commitment to organizing competition, improving facilities, and preserving motorsports history through institutions such as the International Motor Racing Research Center.

His professional life also connected law, civic organization, and sporting administration. Rather than treating racing solely as a private pastime, he helped build the organizational and physical infrastructure that allowed international motorsports to operate in the United States.

Membership

Argetsinger belonged to the Sports Car Club of America from 1947 and later served as its director of professional racing and executive director. The SCCA was a principal American organization for sports-car competition, administering races and supporting the development of road racing.

He was also a member of the National Rifle Association, the New York State Bar Association, and the Schuyler County Bar Association. His bar-association participation accompanied his long legal practice in New York; he served as president of the Schuyler County Bar Association and participated in New York State Bar Association house delegations.

• Early member; later served as director of professional racing and executive director.

  Sports Car Club of America , United States

  1947

• National Rifle Association , United States

• Participated in house delegations in 1981–1982 and 1996–1997.

  New York State Bar Association , United States

• Served as president from 1980 to 1983.

  Schuyler County Bar Association , United States

Personality

Biographical accounts describe Argetsinger as visionary, energetic, personable, patient, humble, and strongly committed to his family and community. These descriptions are associated with his work organizing racing and with recollections published after his death.

Quotes from others about the person

• Sports Car Club of America leaders described Argetsinger as the moving force behind the creation of the club's first road races at Watkins Glen and as a major representative of road racing in the United States. The Road Racing Drivers Club characterized his contributions as including race driving, promotion, organization, and leadership in the development of professional road racing.

Interests

• Books, guns, hunting, and cars.

• Sport & Clubs

  Sports-car racing and automobile racing.

Connections

Argetsinger married Jean Rose Sause on July 26, 1941, and they remained married for 67 years. They had nine children: James Cameron, Louise, Michael, Marya, Margretta, Peter, Robert, Samuel, and Philip.

The Argetsinger family became closely associated with Watkins Glen motorsports. Several of his children participated in or worked around racing activities, and his son Michael later became a racing driver and author of books on motorsports history.

Father:

James Cameron Argetsinger

Attorney and general counsel of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company.

Mother:

Louise May Williams Argetsinger

Wife:

Jean Rose Sause

Married Argetsinger on July 26, 1941; they remained married until his death in 2008.

Son:

James Cameron Argetsinger II

Daughter:

Louise B. Argetsinger

Married Thomas J. Kanaley.

Son:

Michael R. Argetsinger

Became a racing driver and author of motorsports history.

Daughter:

Marya J. Argetsinger

Married Arthur B. Smith.

Daughter:

Margretta E. Argetsinger

Son:

Peter O. Argetsinger

Participated in automobile racing and became associated with the Watkins Glen racing community.

Son:

Robert C. Argetsinger

Son:

Samuel W. Argetsinger

Son:

Philip R. Argetsinger

References

• Cameron Argetsinger Obituary Documents Argetsinger's birth, family, military service, legal practice, organization of the Watkins Glen races, presidency of the International Motor Racing Research Center, death, and burial.
  2008
• Watkins Glen International: About Us and History Describes Argetsinger's organization of the 1948 Watkins Glen Grand Prix, development of the permanent circuit, and role in bringing the United States Grand Prix to Watkins Glen.
• Cameron Argetsinger Documents Argetsinger's early SCCA membership, organization of the Watkins Glen road races, and service as director of professional racing and executive director.
• SCCA Loses Inaugural Hall of Fame Member Argetsinger Records Argetsinger's SCCA leadership, creation of Watkins Glen International, role in bringing Formula One to the circuit, and induction into the SCCA Hall of Fame.
  2008
• SCCA Hall of Famer Argetsinger Honored with Akin Award Documents Argetsinger's receipt of the 2007 Bob Akin Motorsports Award and summarizes his contributions as a driver, promoter, organizer, and motorsports leader.
  2007
• Watkins Glen Founder Argetsinger Dies Describes Argetsinger's organization of the first Watkins Glen road race, his driving career, development of the permanent circuit, and role in establishing the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen.
  2008