Trackside Stories: Kathie J. Meredith Motorsports Photograph Collection

International Motor Racing Research Center

Jackie Stewart in his race-winning Elf team Tyrrell-Cosworth - Image Source

Collection Facts

Extent:

Dates of Original:

1968 – 1972

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Historical Context

Kathie J. Meredith reported on the residents of and visitors to the Finger Lakes during her 40-year career as a regional editor, writer and photographer at the Daily Messenger newspaper in Canandaigua, New York. She attended Franklin College in Indiana as an undergraduate and received her Master’s degree in journalism from West Virginia University. From her debut at the paper in 1968, Meredith focused her interest on people, covering significant issues facing everyday citizens. A perfect fit at a locally-owned newspaper devoted to bringing community news to community people, Meredith served her community for four decades by hearing and sharing their stories.

Scope of Collection

“Trackside Stories” features a selection of 30 motorsports photographs by photojournalist Kathie J. Meredith. Meredith covered races at her local track, Watkins Glen International, during the most exciting era in the circuit’s history, when it hosted major national racing events as well as top-level international races in the prestigious Formula One series. Her photographs tell a myriad of stories found trackside - of fans, track workers, and internationally-famous racecar drivers. Meredith’s portraits capture the world’s top racers in the cockpit, pit row and victory lane. The photographs also depict fans enjoying the races; the work of mechanics, timers and safety workers; and the beauty and design of racecars. The images celebrate an era when this remote, rural community in the Finger Lakes hosted the most competitive series, the fastest racecars, the most talented international drivers, and fans from all over the globe. The digital collection also includes portraits of the photographer.