"Volunteers are not paid, not because they are worthless but because they are priceless." - Anonymous

This page is dedicated to those who have given of themselves over the past years to the Northeast Division, Sports Car Club of America.

Cameron R. Argetsinger | Dave Drissel | David A. H. Roethel | Richard G. "Scotty" Wright | Adam Zimmerman

Cameron R. Argetsinger

Cameron Reynolds Argetsinger, founder and organizer of the first races in Watkins Glen and president of the International Motor Racing Research Center from September 2002 until mid-2007, died April 22 at his home in Burdett, NY. He was 87.

In addition to his international involvement in motorsports, Argetsinger was an attorney, graduating from Cornell Law School and practicing law in Schuyler County, NY, for 48 years.

Argetsinger’s contributions to motorsports in America are virtually unparalleled.

Inspired by his love of fast automobiles and the area’s natural beauty, in 1948 he conceived, organized and drove in the races through the streets in what would become the world-famous Watkins Glen Grand Prix.

In that first race, he drove his MG-TC to a ninth-place finish. He remained active as a driver through 1960.

Argetsinger brought full international races to Watkins Glen in 1958 and in 1961 inaugurated the U.S. Grand Prix for Formula 1, which had a successful 20-year run on the Watkins Glen circuit. 

From the start, Argetsinger was a strong voice for international and professional road racing during a period in the 1950s and early 1960s when the political tides were directed elsewhere. He received the Grand Prix Drivers Association award for the best-organized Grand Prix in the world in an era when promoters negotiated with each team and handled all details of transportation and logistical movement of cars, equipment and personnel. He had the complete trust and confidence of all the European teams and drivers and settled everything on a handshake.

Ultimately, he restructured the entire payment system to accommodate the needs of promoting a major event in America and advanced many professional innovations essential to establishing the success that Grand Prix racing enjoyed in America during that period.

After leaving Watkins Glen in 1970, he was executive vice president of Chaparral Cars and was subsequently director of professional racing and executive director of the Sports Car Club of America, SCCA, from 1971-77. He also served as commissioner of the International Motor Sport Association, IMSA, from 1986-92.

“Nothing that Cameron did was ordinary,” said Bill Milliken of Williamsville, NY, a close friend and who served as head of competition for SCCA at the early Watkins Glen races and in the Formula 1 years would serve as steward of the meeting.

“Cameron’s interests were totally different than the average person. It’s amazing. He had the capability of dreaming pretty big dreams, and then he had the fortitude and strength of character to realize them,” Milliken said.

Argetsinger was appointed president of the International Motor Racing Research Center in 2002. At that time, John Bishop, IMSA founder and first chairman of the Center’s council, cited the experience Argetsinger was bringing to the post of president.

“No one that I know in racing could possibly bring the same expertise and sense of organization and ethics as Cam Argetsinger,” Bishop said. “Cam has done everything there is to do in racing, from being the pioneer road racing organizer, to top official, to president of a sanctioning body to commissioner of a sanctioning body. Nobody brings the breadth of experience that Cam has.”

Argetsinger was a member of the inaugural induction class of the Hall of Fame of the Sports Car Club of America in January 2005. He also is in the Schuyler County (NY) Hall of Fame.

Argetsinger was a visionary who made things happen. Despite his many professional successes, honors and recognitions, he always considered his family his greatest accomplishment.  He remained close to his children, was proud of the achievements of his grandchildren, and took great delight in his great-grandchildren.

He leaves his beloved wife of 67 years, Jean, their nine children, 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

In addition to the grand- and great-grandchildren, he is survived by Jean and his children J.C. and Joan of Montour Falls, NY; Louise and Tom Kanaley of Rochester, NY; Michael and Lee of Chicago, IL; Marya Smith of Elizabeth, IL; Margretta (Getchie) of New York City; Peter and Sjoukje of Sebring, FL, and Watkins Glen, NY: Rob and Elizabeth of Sunset Beach, CA; Sam and Joan of Burdett, NY; Philip (Duke) of Phoenix, AZ; and Susann Gary Argetsinger of Burdett, NY.

Argetsinger lived in the farmhouse near Burdett where his father was born in 1883, overlooking the family vineyard and Seneca Lake.  The only child of Attorney J. Cameron and Louise Williams Argetsinger, he was born March 1, 1921, in Youngstown, Ohio, and spent his childhood summers with his grandparents in Schuyler County.  During World War II, he served as a lieutenant in the Army.

A funeral Mass will be conducted on Sunday, April 27, at 2 p.m. at St. Mary’s of the Lake Church, Decatur Street, Watkins Glen. The family will meet with friends thereafter at the Racing Research Center, 610 S. Decatur St. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Racing Research Center. Arrangements by Vedder and Scott Funeral Home, Montour Falls, NY.

Article courtesy of International Motor Racing Research Center.

Dave Drissel

I’m George Bloeser from the Philadelphia Region of the Sports Car Club of America. I have known Dave Drissel for more than 30 years. In my almost 40 years of involvement in auto racing, both amateur and professional, I can honestly say that Dave was not only one of the nicest people I ever knew, but also one of the most talented drivers, as well as a skilled mechanic.

In the 1970s Dave won races over Paul Newman driving a Datsun sedan that he had converted to a race car in his garage in Coopersburg, while Newman was in a professionally prepared car.

Dave switched to open-wheeled formula cars in the 1980s and was soon winning races in the very difficult to drive F440s. In 1988 he won the Sports Car Club of America National Championship for F440 with a perfectly executed last lap pass at Road Atlanta. As a result of his accomplishments in 1988, Dave was named "Driver of the Year" by both the Philadelphia Region and the NorthEast Division of the SCCA.

Dave not only quickly learned to win races in an open-wheeled race car, but was able to teach his son Keith and daughter Kathy how to handle these cars, and they both became successful F440 drivers. Dave also helped other drivers and served as driving instructor at SCCA Drivers Schools. In 1985, he was recognized by the Philadelphia Region for his "combination of skill and outstanding sportsmanship on the track while helping other drivers compete successfully," when they presented him with the Shade Trophy, an award that is not given every year. After Dave retired as an active race car driver, he served as the Philadelphia Region Driver Licensing Chairman for many years and participated in Road Rallys with his wife Loretta, who had been his "Crew Chief" during the years of on-track competition.

In retrospect, Dave was a role model for most of us as an SCCA member. He was a successful driver who stayed fully involved with his family and was still able to help fellow competitors. He was a true champion and a winner in the race of life. We will miss him!

Richard G. "Scotty" Wright

Scotty Wright, the oldest actively participating member of the Northern New Jersey Region of the Sports Car Club of America, died on Friday, November 18th at Leisure Park Assisted Living in Lakewood, New Jersey.

Scotty joined NNJR in March of 1965. He was an automotive mechanic for Motion Systems Corp., Eatontown, for many years before retiring. He was also the former owner and operator of Scotty & Curtis Car Service Garage, Short Hills, years ago. He was a member of Christiadelphian Church, Westfield. He lived in Maplewood before moving to Brick more than 10 years ago.

Born in Leven, Scotland, on January 17, 1921, Scotty served in His Majesty’s Royal Navy during World War II. He was predeceased by his wife, Vivian Decker Wright, in 1996. He leaves his constant daily companion, June Zeitler of Brick, NJ, and a nephew in Scotland.

Scotty was most recently the holder of a Senior Steward’s license with the SCCA. He could always be counted on to participate as a Steward of the Meeting at race events at Lime Rock and Pocono. He was a shrewd judge of right and wrong when sitting in a First Court at the races and had a keen sense of fairness in meting out penalty. For the 2005 season he participated at only one event. A work related injury kept him from participating for most of the season. In September he was admitted to Ocean Medical Center in Brick, NJ.

Scotty would have been recognized for his forty years of service to the SCCA at Northern New Jersey Region’s Annual Dinner scheduled for December 3rd. Instead, his service pin was placed on his lapel at the funeral home. Burial was at the Cold Spring Presbyterian Cemetery in Cold Spring, Cape May County, New Jersey.

David A. H. Roethel

David A. H. Roethel, the first 50 Year member of the Washington, D.C. Region, died on September 9, 2005 at the age of 79. He joined the club in 1954, the same year as the Region’s first President’s Cup National Race at Andrews Air Force Base.

A chemist, Roethel received a Masters Degree from Marquette University. He was an Army cartographer in China and also completed the Oak Ridge School of Reactor Technology in Tennessee. He was a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Institute of Chemists, and was once honored by President Lyndon B. Johnson while serving as the first executive director of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry. He was very involved in Alpha Chi Sigma, a chemical fraternity, and was President of the local chapter. In his later years Dave participated as a vocalist in stage productions and traveled frequently. It was his hope to one day revisit China.

Dave’s first of many years of service as a race steward was at the first race at Marlboro Motor Raceway. He served as a steward until his death and also competed for many years in both NEDiv and Regional Racing, in which he won twelve championships. He also competed in one of the early SCCA National Championships at Daytona.

He was elected Regional Executive for four years and was a member of the national SCCA Board of Governors for six. He was the originator of the Refrigerator Bowl, the Turkey Bowl, and both the Marlboro 6-Hour and 12-Hour Races. He was the first Chairman of the Northeast Division Council. Roethel also created and sponsored the Region’s unique Member of the Year award which recognizes service by a member who is not an officer or chair of any specialty or committee.

At the time of his passing, he still served as the Region Historian.

Dave was formerly married to Sue Roethel who is well known to the SCCA Community. His daughters Betsy and Susan once participated as Chiefs of Timing and Scoring and Registration, respectively.

A memorial service was held at Grace Episcopal Church in Silver Spring, MD on October 13.

-Submitted by Tom Hoffman

(Thanks to the Straightpipe and the Roethel Family for contributing to this article)

Adam Zimmerman

Adam Zimmerman, a valued member of the Philadelphia Region SCCA, died this past Saturday (September 24) at Lime Rock Park, competing in an EMRA endurance race. According to newspaper coverage, his DSR Radical “collided with the back of a car that had crashed into a guardrail and spun into his path.”

Adam, 36, was a graduate of Rutgers University and the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He had a family medical practice in Phillipsburg, NJ as well as being a school physician. His wife stated that his motorsports activities started when he was training to be a doctor.

In the late 1990’s Adam was a regular at Philadelphia Region Solo events, competing actively in his B Stock 1993 Mazda Miata. Adam then moved to road racing, as an SRF regional racer for three years. In 2002, he sold his SRF and purchased a DSR Radical to get into the National Racing competition. In his Rookie year he won the Northeast Division DSR Championship and was named Philadelphia Region Driver of the Year at the March 2003 banquet.

When we talked today with Adam’s wife Deb, she had a request. She said she and Adam talked about his racing many times, but she has nothing tangible from his memories. She would really appreciate it if people would write little anecdotes of experiences they had with Adam on and off the track and Solo course so that she can pass on his legacy to their children ­ Joshua, 6, and Giselle, 3. We’re sure any pictures would also be appreciated.

If you would email or send your remembrances (no matter how short) and pictures to us, we will put them together and give them to Deb. You may give all of your contact information or be anonymous.

George Bloeser (Philly Region Club Racing Chair) & Judy Bloeser (Philly Region Secretary)
PO Box 346
Coopersburg, PA 18036
610-965-0585 (phone)
610-966-1061 (fax)
email for George: indy33@aol.com email for Judy: macmassie@aol.com

Last updated 5/7/08.