Each year on the Friday after Labor Day, the Grand Prix Festival of Watkins Glen celebrates the community’s road racing history and the first post-World War II road race in the United States, held on October 2, 1948. That initial race was launched by a Chamber of Commerce committee in Watkins Glen. Cameron R. Argetsinger, general chairman for the 1948 race, is credited with bringing the idea of a sportscar race to the Chamber of Commerce, and he and his wife Jean continued to pursue the development of Watkins Glen as the home of American road racing. Jean Argetsinger helped with the races, founded the Glen Paddock Club, wrote the official race programs from 1958 to 1969, and became president of the Watkins Glen public library and president of the Board of Trustees of the International Motor Racing Research Center, which was built due to her efforts. Arthur H. Richards, Jr. was secretary for the Chamber of Commerce and press director for the 1948 racing event. Donald Brubaker, president of the Chamber at the time, was instrumental in motivating both the Chamber and the community to support Argetsinger’s idea. Leon Gros-Jean chaired the larger Committee of 100 that helped organize and manage the initial race and handled much of the necessary communications. Mayor Allen D. Erway worked to obtain the needed permits and became known as the man who stopped the trains after arranging for the New York Central Railroad to reschedule trains for the races. Lester Smalley, owner of Smalley’s Garage, hosted technical inspections for the initial races and served as pit chairman for the 1948 and subsequent races. Florence Smalley conducted the technical inspections and was known as the Chief Scruntinizer. William F. Milliken, Jr., technical chairman for the 1948 races and regional executive of the Sportscar Club of America, helped formulate regulations for the early races and engineer the road surface and safety features of the original 6.6 mile course. Dominick Fraboni owned the local Chevrolet dealership, D. Burr Stone was Watkins Glen fire chief in 1948, Linwood Miller was chief of police, Ernest Porter was Schuyler County highway superintendent, Jerry W. Black was Schuyler County state assemblyman, Jay Turner was supervisor for the Town of Dix, Harry Klube was supervisor for the Town of Reading, and Joseph Hoffman was chairman of the Schuyler County Board of Supervisors. Together, these individuals worked day by day to prepare for and conduct the first races on October 2, 1948.