Chris has been a fan of B.S. Levy for many years. Mr. Levy is a semi-pro and vintage race car driver, and also an author. His first book The Last Open Road is the most well know. His books are fictional but based on actual people, places, and events of the bygone racing era. Chris and I had the pleasure of meeting Burt twice (I say meeting him twice because he didn't remember us the second time;), at Petit Le Mans,, he sets up a booth on vendor row and sells his books. The Seneca Lodge is one of the real places in his fictional books, built in 1948 just in time for the first Grand Prix race in Watkins Glen. The most famous racers have celebrated winnings, dined, and slept at the Seneca Lodge. There is no ignoring the history of this place. When we entered we were greeted with a great dinning hall with wood floors stretching, a grand fireplace, and Jack who was cleaning the wood floors. "Is there somethin I can do for ya," he said. His voice almost echoed, there wasn't another soul to be seen or sound to be heard. "We were just wondering if the bar was open," said Chris. Jack responded, "Well, I can't give you any food, but I can give you a beer, our home brews aren't ready, but we have a few on tap." He lead us through the rest of the dinning room and into the bar. There was not a speck of space that was not covered with a brief moment in history. The timbered walls above the bar held signed hats, and pictures, and winning dried wreathes of flowers hung, honoring the most historic drivers of all time. They had been there, they left behind an air of a better time, a simpler time of racing. And Jack. Jack was still there, he had been working at the Seneca Lodge since he was 16years old, he had seen it all. He had met them all, but he wasn't quick to tell or brag. He poored us our Gennesse, Genie for short, he called it, and told us we picked a good one. A beer that was of the surrounding region, and a beer that was $1...Chris and I glanced at each other smiling. Jack had a seat with us at the bar and began with friendly conversation. We asked him questions about the history of the bar, he told stories, and pulled dated pictures out of a huge wooden drawer, there were 3 drawers. Jack showed us a map of the old town circuit, and told us he sometimes gets in his mini and runs the old course for fun. 
“The world is a looking-glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it, and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly kind companion.”
― William Makepeace Thackeray
(This quote was carved above the door as you exit the Seneca Lodge through the same door you entered).
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