Bill Barker: 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977
My first USGP was in 1965, then '67, '69, '71, '72, '73, '74, '75, '76 and, finally, '77. All but one of these I attended with my father (since deceased) and some other friends. Certainly, one of my most memorable was the '65 GP when Graham Hill won. We were able to walk right through the pits before the race, and we sat in the bleachers on the corner before the old pits (keep in mind that this was the old 2.3 mile track, and the cars came through the corners adjacent to where the pits are today, and then took the right-hand hairpin prior to entering the pit straight). I had been weaned on local dirt track stock cars, so we unknowingly confined ourselves to a set of bleachers until our 3rd GP in 1969, when we learned to roam around.
As to the memories of this race, I remember few details, but I have probably the strongest impression of any race I have ever been to. For a kid that daydreamed only of cars, racing and becoming a racing driver, that first GP was a sudden realization that I had found my most favorite sport. For me (and only a real motorhead could understand this), it was life-changing. Indeed, I felt transported to a land I heretofore had only dreamed of. It was a land of Englishmen, Italian racing cars, Lotuses (Loti?), BRMs, Jimmy Clark, screaming engines, little snarling, stunning-handling race cars that were as exotic to me as something from Oz. I had read of them in Road & Track, but now I was seeing them first-hand, and I just ogled. I've never turned back!
I count myself privileged, not because of any money or connections (we had neither of those), but rather I had a great racing friend in my Dad, who I miss dearly and I can thank for taking me to all of those memories.
The course was so simple with simple fencing and a view that was much less obstructed than today, and the pits were so crude with none of the exotic tools, etc. you see today. It was incredibly accessible, and the cars were (as I'm sure you know) very simple, no wings and no sponsorship, with cars in their national colors with the classic cigar shape (like a B-26 on the ground). Wonderful cars and a wonderful time that will always be MY golden era.
The teams that made the greatest impression on me were, in no particular order, Ferrari, Lotus, BRM (for some reason, BRM really stands out in my memory). The drivers were, in a particular order, Graham Hill (probably because he won) and the man, Jim Clark. There will always be racing, but there will never be anything to top our beloved Formula 1. VIVA FORMULA UNO!!!
Richard Martin: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976
I attended the USGP at Watkins Glen from '71 to '76, but '71 stands out because it was my first F1 experience. This was the first race on the remodeled course. The added "boot" made it a spectator's dream. You could stand at the bottom of Turn 6 and the cars would come straight at you and scream off to Turn 7, all within about 50 feet! The Tyrrell team looked awesome and I am glad I was there to see François Cevert's only Grand Prix win. I would also be present to see his last run in '73. I will never forget that because I was sitting in the pit roof grandstands and watched him jump in the car and drive off to eternity. Watkins Glen is a magical place — to drive up the hill and see the track and remember when the world came here for the USGP was indeed a very special time. I still come to this place for sports and vintage races but my mind still remembers those great old days. Long live Watkins Glen!
In 1973, when I was 15, my older brother lived about 25 miles from Watkins Glen, and he invited me to go to the USGP with him. I remember that as we approached the course through the fall colors we could hear the sound of the cars echoing in the woods. The first part of the course we encountered on foot was the farthest corner of the anvil, and we immediately caught a glimpse of the plaid stripe around the helmet of just-crowned World Champion Jackie Stewart flashing past in one of the Tyrrells. Sadly, Stewart's teammate and heir-to-be François Cevert was killed that morning in practice, so those few laps early on Saturday morning were the last time on track for both of them. I remember standing below the guardrail by the esses looking up at the aftermath of Cevert's fatal crash. We learned later that Stewart had already been planning to announce his retirement after the race, which at that time, traditionally marked the end of the GP season.
On Saturday evening, we were able to walk through the garage area that housed all the teams. I don't know much about the mechanical aspects of a race car but it was still a rush to be just a few feet from the most exotic machinery on the planet, in many cases lying in pieces -- individual gears, springs, brakes -- on the other side of the barriers.
We watched the race on Sunday from the inside of the anvil and saw a fabulous duel between Ronnie Peterson in the classic Lotus 72 and a young James Hunt, driving an almost homemade looking Hesketh-March. Peterson held off the Englishman to win by less than a second. After the race I remember brushing shoulders with Paul Newman in the crowd behind the pits, and then seeing the nosecone of an ISO-Marlboro March left behind by the team and wishing we could take it with us.
We returned the next year in 1974 to see the gleaming white Brabhams of Carlos Reutemann and Carlos Pace romp to a one-two finish, as Emerson Fittipaldi clinched his second World Championship, the first for Team McLaren. My brother says his clearest memory of that race is Fittipaldi's bright orange racing gloves waving frantically at the marshals to get Jody Scheckter's Tyrrell to quit blocking him as he tried to pass.
Despite all my nostalgia for Formula One in the seventies and for the spectacle that was the USGP at Watkins Glen, however, I cannot forget the danger that was a constant aspect of the racing in those days. In the two years that I was at Watkins Glen, two young drivers were killed (Cevert in '73 and Helmuth Koinigg in '74) and a promising American driver, Peter Revson, who finished fifth in the '73 race, did not survive to return the next year.
Jim Pernikoff: 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980
My first USGP was at The Glen in 1975. As a longtime Ferrari fan, it was a good year to go, since Niki Lauda was already World Champion and had a good chance to win Ferrari's first USGP, which he did. I didn't realize a paddock pass allowed so much access until I found myself walking along with Regazzoni's Ferrari and its mechanics as they pushed the car from the garage to the pits before Saturday morning practice!
My favorite moment during the race came when Regazzoni was black-flagged after obviously holding up Fittipaldi's McLaren for 5 laps, thus allowing Lauda to build up a lead. Course Steward Burdie Martin, who's a big man, brought the Ferrari to a halt at the entrance to the pits, directly opposite where I was sitting. There, rushing up from the pits, was thin, wiry Luca di Montezemolo, then team manager (and now company president!), speaking wildly with his hands, as Italians have been known to do. He was obviously very upset, but Burdie just stood there calmly and took all the abuse. After a while, everyone calmed down and Regga was sent on his way, though the team then withdrew the car in protest. Unfortunately, I had a rather poor 110-format camera, so I was unable to record this humorous moment on film. My main memory from 1976 was the deluge on Satuday. I kept shuttling back-and-forth from my car to the garage, which was crowded all day long. In my car, I would turn on the heater full blast to try and dry out my soaked feet. When dry, I would slog back to the garage again. To my memory, no one went out in the morning. After lunch, only Ronnie Peterson took to the track and promptly spun off, so that was that. Fortunately, Sunday was at least dry, and a good duel between Hunt's McLaren and Scheckter's 6-wheeled Tyrrell took place until Hunt pulled away late in the race. 1977 was noteworthy for Stuck's Brabham-Alfa leading early in the wet and for Lauda clinching yet another championship. I also got a neat photo of Mario Andretti and Gunnar Nillson walking down to the pits accompanied by a young kid named—Michael Andretti! 1978 I remember mainly for the cheers Mario got every time he ventured out, and for the appearance of Bobby Rahal in an F1 Wolf. Due to circumstances, I went to Long Beach instead in 1979 and to both USGPs, Long Beach and Watkins Glen, in 1980. I enjoyed The Glen in 1980 mainly because, on my fifth visit, I felt I finally knew all the good spots to take photos from. Too bad it was all about to end. I also remember the dismal performance of the Ferraris, and Scheckter's quiet, nonstop run to eleventh place in the last F1 race of his career.
Andrew Kaner: 1976
My first US Grand Prix was the 1973 race at Watkins Glen. We left from New York City (Queens) early Saturday morning and drove for approximately 5 hours directly to the track. My parents dropped my brother and I off pretty close to the track and went to park the car. We heard the scream of F1 engines for the first time and could not believe how loud they were. We were incredibly excited.
We walked up to the track and got our first peek at the cars. We happened to end up at the middle of the esses. Within 5 minutes, we heard a loud skid and a crash. We could see a comotion about 100 yards away from us. A few cars continued to go by, but at a very slow speed. It turns out that within 5 minutes of our arrival at our very first Grand Prix, Francois Cevert died. Because of this sad occurence, we never got to see Jackie Stewart race again.
This was the first of several USGP's that my family attended. Our very first race experiences were at Bridgehampton on Eastern Long Island watching the AWESOME Can-Am cars. Watkins Glen was a spectacular track set in the middle of a beautiful State Park, unfortunately a "little" wet a times. We had plenty of laughs watching people make fools of themselves in the famed "Bog". We even saw a few cars BBQ'd at the Bog.
Thanks for maintaining the memory of the USGP!
David Cubbedge: 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980
I went to the races at The Glen from 1977 to 1980 and they were a fantastic experience. This, to me, was the true home of GP racing in the United States. By the mid 70s, the place was practically legendary for all sorts of things, for instance, it was a fast and dangerous circuit, as the injuries and fatalities there have proved; the place had seen some exciting races, as in 1967 when Clark won with his suspension falling to pieces and the hat-trick of wins by the late Graham Hill as well as other episodes in Can-Am and Sportscar racing.
So when I went there for the first time in 1977, aged 22, I had no idea what I was in store for. It was raining, we were short on money and I was hungry. There were cars parked everywhere and I recognized by the Goodyear boarding that we were parked right next to the circuit by the start of the long straight. I knew all of this because I have been a GP fanatic since 1965 or so and had read many books (and continue to do so) on the subject. Race day morning dawned damp and we made our way out to the circuit, eventually finding our way to the end of Wedgewood Road where it dead ends into the straight. I recall that even in the overcast gloom, the place was beautiful with the autumn leaves at their prime. I remember seeing the F1 cars for the first time. The cars came out for their morning warm up; Stuck's Brabham-Alfa, Scheckter's Wolf, Andretti's Lotus, Lauda's Ferrari, Hunt's McLaren, Watson, and the rest. I remember being amazed by the true dayglo color of red on the McLarens and several helmets. The Ferraris also seemed brighter than any photo I could remember. There wasn't much to the view we had, but I was in racing heaven! It was truly exhilarating the sound, smell and color was a delight to the senses.
We sat there and waited for the race to start. The noise was incredible as we could hear the pack get closer and closer and then a car...it's Stuck, the modern day Regenmeister, in the lead! The race was somewhat dulled by the damp conditions, but the championship was on the line for Lauda and he did all he needed to do to win the title. I would have never guessed that I had seen his last race driving for Ferrari, but that's history. James Hunt took care of his tires and headed off a charging Andretti to win. We headed back, tired, wet, sore and hungry, but there was a glow and a strong desire to attend every race at that track.
1978 was the triumphant return of the new World Champion, Mario Andretti, to his 'home' race. Unfortunately, it was under the cloud of Ronnie Peterson's death that the return was made. We arrived early on Friday and saw every session all weekend long from several areas, and I think I eventually saw the entire track.
Later that night, around midnight, I went to the garages and discovered for the first time the incredible world of top notch racing. Here, in the Kendall garage, I stared in awe and amazement at the mechanics working through the night rebuilding race cars. I remember standing outside the Ligier garage, the mechanics had just installed a new Matra V12 and were warming it up, and it was a wonderful symphony of sound-this engine and these French-speaking mechanics smiling at their efforts.
The garage at the Glen was a magical place, probably my favorite place to be throughout the weekend. Being that close to the cars and scene was just my favorite place to be. And then, one of the drivers pops up and it becomes even more interesting. You haven't lived until someone says "Excuse me" and you turn around and it is the towering, wispy-haired Hans Stuck on his way to the garage. Or seeing Mario with Colin Chapman and Jean-Pierre Jarier outside the Lotus motorhome. The diminutive Patrick Depailler in Gallic conversation with Laffite. And then I discovered the teams selling stuff, T-shirts, hats and the like. I was in racing heaven! I bought a nice lined Ligier jacket and wore it proudly for the next several years and I still have it. Bought it right from one of the team personnel! I also remember seeing the back-markers, which that year often failed to make the grid. I remember the flat-black and lime-green pinstriped Merzario A1 (a re-engineered '74 March) driven by its Italian Cowboy namesake Arturo. Plain dark blue Ensigns with no markings except for numbers for Daly and Lunger, orange Surtees for Brambilla, yellow ATS for Bleekemolen, etc., etc. And of course, the turbocharged Renault that scored the turbo's first ever points in the race (4th). The race itself was a bit anticlimatic, Mario never really being in the lead picture and eventually retiring while Reutemann (Ferrari) cruised to victory. I was in the main grandstand for the race and there was a group of Fittipaldi fans that chanted at him every time he came around. It was truly a fun weekend with good weather although a bit brisk. The following year's weather would be bad enough to make up for this one.
In 1979, I arrived on Friday morning and immediately went to the best vantage point where the old track meets the new. Friday's weather was great, the colors were magnificent, the garage was marvellous, but Saturday turned messy and cold. I recall it being very much like winter to the point that I was freezing in my Ligier jacket! In the wet, Gilles Villeneuve was some eleven seconds quicker than the next guy! Incredible! Late Saturday night in the garage, the activity was frantic. Teams that had not made the race were selling everything, as this was the last race of the year. I could have bought a side of the Merzario for $20!
Race day dawned cold and I remember it being wet and actually snowing right before the start. Jones had put his Williams FW07 on pole with Piquet alongside in the Brabham BT49-DFV (remember in '79 the Brabhams had run the Alfa powered BT48 until those last two events). Second row had Villeneuve (Ferrari 312T4) and Laffite (Ligier JS11-DFV). At the start (and I have the slides to show it) Villeneuve absolutely rocketed away from his second row spot to lead into the '90'. The rest followed in the spray. It was incredible and I knew I was witnessing something special. Villeneuve went on to win as he pleased while the rest of the field was decimated by attrition. In the end, only seven cars were left, which allowed points to be scored (for the first time that year) by Stuck (ATS) and de Angelis (Shadow).
1980 was the swansong. We kind of knew that the Glen would not be holding any more GPs after this one. There were too many ugly rumors about mismanagement of funds and the like. Other than that, the weekend was spectacular; the autumn colors splendid and the sun shining throughout. Giacomelli put the Alfa on pole to the delight of everyone and proceeded to lead the first half of the race. Then something electrical went haywire and the dream was over. I really wanted to see both Alfa and Bruno succeed, but it was not to be. That left the race to Jones and the Williams, a fitting climax to a championship season. After the race, I jumped the fence (like tifosi) and ran to the pits, just in time to see Jody Scheckter climb from his unloved Ferrari 312T5 and head toward his motorhome. I had the chance to thank him for giving us fans something to cheer about for eight seasons. It was his last F1 race.
I still feel that GP racing's home in the US belongs in the rolling hills of the Finger Lakes region with the trees changing color and the wonderful morning smell of thousands of campfires cooking bacon and eggs.
Peter Dick: 1978
This was Mario Andretti's "homecoming" race, following immediately after he clinched the World Driving Championship at the previous race at Monza. Sadly, he lost his team-mate, Ronnie Peterson at that race, so things were a bit subdued at the Lotus team, and Jean-Pierre Jarier was called in to replace Peterson for the last 2 races at the Glen, and the final race in Montreal.
Weather was crisp, cool, and sunny that weekend, and the Lotus and Ferrari teams dominated proceedings. Andretti dropped out early with mechanical problems, and Carlos Reutemann dominated the race in his Ferrari to win his 4th race of the year and make a clean sweep of the United States, having won the earlier race at Long Beach.
I remember that a young Bobby Rahal was driving in this grand prix for the Wolf team, partnering for this race their regular driver Jody Scheckter. I also recall seeing a large sign on one of the campers that weekend saying, "Mario, win this one for Ronnie". I walked the circuit on Saturday, and someone had spraypainted in huge letters across the track, "GO MAIRO", and having realized their spelling mistake (no doubt alcohol was involved) they put a big awkward double-headed arrow showing that the "I" and the "R" should be reversed. I also remember that Jarier was most impressive as a substitute at Lotus, setting fastest lap, I believe. A week later in Montreal he would dominate the race from the pole, until his car failed him in the closing stages, allowing Gilles Villeneuve to win his first ever GP, and in front of a home crowd in Montreal.
Terry Armstrong: 1980
The weather was terrible as usual...about 45 degrees F and damp on race day. The surprise of the weekend was Bruno Giaccomelli setting pole position in the Alfa Romeo. Unfortunately, I can't remember many other details from the race, but the Grand Prix weekend for me was always the highlight of my racing year. Never dreamed it would be the last U.S. Grand Prix that I would see live up to now.