Grand Prix celebrates the Mini

WATKINS GLEN—Watkins Glen will hold its 20th annual Grand Prix Festival Friday, Sept. 6, along Franklin Street, which will feature the Mini as this year’s featured marque. The Grand Prix Festival honors the early racing days of Watkins Glen and features many cars, both historic and new.
The event opens with a portrayal of a race car technical inspection at Smalley’s garage at 9:30 a.m. on Franklin Street. At 10 a.m. the Chemung Canal Trust Concours d’Elegance begins at the Watkins Glen State Park lot. At 10:45 a.m., Montour Falls will close down Main Street for the “Montour Mile” at 11 p.m. to make room for 130 vintage and sports cars. The street will reopen at noon.
Franklin Street will be closed starting at 1 p.m. between Second and 10th Streets. Mini is the featured vehicle of the Tour de Marque this year and will drive an 85 mile tour of the scenic roads of the Finger Lakes. The Minis will be parked at Lafayette Park in Watkins Glen at 2 p.m. Lafayette park will also hold the Legends Speak event at 3 p.m.
Pre-event ceremonies at the original 6.6 mile circuit start/finish line begin at 5:35 p.m. The entire circuit will be closed to public traffic from 6  p.m. until 7:30 p.m. The Watkins Glen Grand Prix Tribute on the original circuit will take place at 6:30 p.m. The event will culminate with a fireworks display at the entrance to the Watkins Glen State Park gorge at 8 p.m. Franklin Street will reopen at 9 p.m.
For more, visit www.grandprixfestival.com.