Lined up on the grid for the Seneca Cup race behind the Austin-Healey pace car are the Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 driven by Haig Kysayian (#61), the Jaguar XK120M of George Constantine (#49), the Jaguar XK120M of Jesse “Doc” Wyllie (#27) and all the others.
Photo: Alix Lafontant
The main thing about the 1953 race at Watkins Glen was the question of whether there would be a race at all. The previous year there had been a fatality on the 6.6-mile course that ran right through town on Franklin Street.
The Austin-Healey 100 pace car leads the pack for a single pace lap prior to the green flag to start the Seneca Cup contest. Following it up the hill are the 8C Alfa, Constantine Jag, Wyllie Jag, the #22 Jag of Cam Argetsinger, and three modified MGs including the #28 TD of Charles Limbacher. Photo: Alix Lafontant
Facing the organizers, as Henry Valent succinctly put it, was the fact that the insurance company would not underwrite the Franklin Street course, the State Police were against the race, the New York Department of Public Works was against it too, and the Sports Car Club of America refused to sanction it.
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