Watkins Glen International - US Vintage Grand Prix
- Chris Green
- Sep 17
- 4 min read
Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14
Watkins Glen International 2790 County Route 16 Watkins Glen, NY 14891
Year Opened: 1956
Capacity: 38,900
A Slimmed Down Vintage Festival
While Watkins Glen International may be best known for the annual IMSA 6 Hours or the NASCAR Cup Series race, the yearly celebration of vintage racing that is the Hilliard US Vintage Grand Prix is perhaps the most unique event at the track.
Since they first began racing here in 1948, the speedway has attracted some of the greatest racers in all of motorsports, across a wide variety of manufacturers. Now this history is celebrated yearly when SVRA, Trans-Am, and IGT take to the track. While 2024’s event saw increased ticket prices, 2025 saw a return to the event’s traditional September date, along with the annual downtown festival and historic reenactment.
Food & Beverage 3
Watkins Glen International doesn’t have a lot of food vendors, with the main paddock cafe located in the main paddock near the front stretch – fans looking to visit the outer parts of the track may have slimmer pickings than those watching from the finish line.
That said, the choices in the fan zone are simple, ranging from burgers ($13) and hot dogs ($5-$9) to chicken tenders ($15) and smaller snacks ($4-$8), while drinks run $4 for coffee or hot cocoa, $5 for water, Powerade, and sodas, $11 for Seltzer, $9-$11 for beer, and $7 for lemonade. Food trucks also line up inside the paddock area, offering various additional options as well.
Atmosphere 3
Watkins Glen International is located in New York’s Finger Lakes region, making the facility a beautifully located racing venue – the area is full of beautiful trees, meaning fans can find some shade in the hot sun. In addition, the track is laid out to be one of the fastest road courses in North America. Large grandstands also line the front straight, Turn 1, the esses, and the final corner complex, offering many different viewpoints for fans to watch from.
For a raceway filled with history (the track regularly hosts NASCAR, IMSA, and others, and has also hosted the likes of IndyCar and Formula 1 in the past), you cannot help but feel like you’re witnessing history come alive at this SVRA weekend.
2025 saw the return of the annual vintage festival in downtown Watkins Glen, including the historic car reenactment on the old course. Unfortunately this came at the cost of the Trans Am series, leading a massively decreased car count from the vintage races, with just SVRA and IGT on the docket.
Neighborhood 4
The track itself is about 5 minutes south of the town of Watkins Glen, nestled on the southern shores of Seneca Lake. The town is beautiful and quaint, featuring numerous local shops and restaurants, while north of town is New York wine country, with countless wineries all along the lake.
For those willing to drive, the town of Ithaca is just a half hour east, where you can find hotels, restaurants, and shopping in the same town that is home to Cornell University. To the south, Elmira and Corning are 30 minutes away – if you visit the latter you can see the Corning Museum of Glass or the National Soaring Museum.
In addition, sightseers routinely flock to Watkins Glen State Park for stunning hiking through a canyon of waterfalls, as well as Lakeside Park to watch the stars rise over the waters of Seneca Lake.
Fans 3
The fans at Watkins Glen International are once again a cross-section of sportscar racing diehards. New York racing fans are among the best in the country, and know how to throw a great party – the camping grounds are full all weekend long, and the fans know who to cheer for when the race is on the line. In addition, Friday’s vintage reenactment will see fans line the street while the cars dive past for hours, propping up folding chairs to get a view of the fun, much like one would see at a Fourth of July parade in a small town. With the separation of the Trans Am and SVRA weekends, the last few years have seen a massively decreased fan attendance compared to years past, when they were combined.
Access 3
The biggest downside in getting to Watkins Glen International is its relatively isolated location – the nearest major highway is I-86 to the south and west, at least a 30-minute drive away. Traffic thankfully doesn’t back up nearby, though, and the roadways are relatively clear all weekend.
Once at the track parking is plentiful all around, but navigating the track’s tunnels, bridges, and walkways can be daunting, as the facility is rather large. Track maps are placed throughout the venue, however, making getting from place to place a little easier.
Return on Investment 3
Tickets to SVRA weekend rose sharply in 2024, and that trend continued for the 2025 edition, starting at $69 for a one day weekend ticket to $91 for a weekend pass, which is considerably higher than SpeedTour weekend ticket prices at other racing venues. Parking is free however, so you can get away without having to pay too much more, and the cost of Vintage Grand Prix weekend is still much lower than for the NASCAR and IMSA weekends at Watkins Glen.
Extras 3
The track also has several fan zones to get you up close and personal with show cars, as well as to pick up some free giveaways. Fans can also wander the paddock area for free, giving you a great look at the teams working away at their machines. Victory Lane is also open to all fans, unlike at larger race series, offering fans the ability to take part in the podium celebration.
Final Thoughts
Watkins Glen vintage weekend is a showcase of the sport’s history and future, putting on a stellar weekend of racing that stretches across five days in early September. Without a doubt this event is a great one to put on your racing calendar, offering great weather, unparalleled access for fans, and top-notch on-track activity.
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