The Death on Franklin Street
Near Watkins Glen, New York
The street racing era in Watkins Glen ended in tragedy on September twentieth, nineteen fifty two. During the second lap of the featured race, a car driven by Fred Wacker left the course on Franklin Street and struck a crowd of onlookers. Seven-year-old Frank Fazzari, standing on the sidewalk with his family, was struck and killed.
Twelve more people were injured. The accident ended street racing in Watkins Glen permanently. There was no more racing through the village after that day.
Organizers immediately began planning a new circuit on a wooded hilltop southwest of town, away from public roads and with spectators separated from the course. By nineteen fifty three a temporary road course had been laid out on that hilltop. By nineteen fifty six a permanent, purpose-built circuit was complete, designed with spectator safety in mind.
The death of Frank Fazzari helped push American motorsport away from improvised public-road courses toward dedicated facilities built to protect both drivers and the crowd. Watkins Glen did not abandon racing after nineteen fifty two. It built a safer place to hold it, and the new circuit would go on to host some of the greatest races in the country's history, including twenty consecutive running of the United States Grand Prix.
