There are lots of reasons that Watkins Glen reminds me of Road America. They’re both located in summer resort areas, they’re both in communities that hosted races on public roads before they had tracks, they both have world-famous bars associated with their track (Road America has Siebken’s Resort and Watkins Glen has Seneca Lodge), and they are both very fast tracks that favor horsepower over handling, meaning my poor little Honda Civic Type R likely won’t do very well there.
I’ve only been to Watkins Glen once in real life, and sadly, that wasn’t to race. I was excited to be at the world-famous track, but I made a mistake while I was in town: I didn’t visit Seneca Lodge. I’d love to go back to the track, but this time, I’ll be staying at Seneca Lodge.
Watkins Glen has a rich history. They hosted the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix from 1961 to 1980. They’ve also hosted IMSA, NASCAR, Trans-Am, Can-Am, and IndyCar. The track is considered one of the best in North America, and is beloved by road racing drivers and fans alike.
There are few better places to spend the summer than upstate New York, and there are few better places to race than Watkins Glen. Combine the two and you have the ingredients for a great weekend. Next stop: Watkins Glen.
