Videos

Gail McGuire: Rallyist

In this video produced by the County Historian's Office, Gail McGuire of Avon, New York, talks about her 50-year career as a rally car driver and co-driver in North America.

During high school in Webster, NY, McGuire began participating in rally races as a co-driver for her father and brother. A co-driver uses a route book, maps, odometer, and computers to find the best route between checkpoints in a competitive race that can be several hundred to several thousand miles over variable roads.

For nearly 50 years, Gail McGuire drove and co-drove in races run by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and Canadian Association of RallySport (CARS). In the late 1960s, she was one of the few women drivers on the rally circuit and was the only woman to complete the four-day Shell 4000, which restricted rallyists to rough back roads between Alberta and Nova Scotia, Canada.

Throughout her racing career, Gail McGuire also taught high school chemistry and biology at the Harley School in Rochester.

McGuire was a longtime active member of the Finger Lakes Region SCCA, including serving as activities chair and rally division president. After retiring from racing in the early 2000s, Gail McGuire remained involved in the organization, officiating at rally events for several years.

State of Greater Western New York Broadcast

Watch this broadcast about the early history of western New York and Livingston County, featuring special guest Livingston County Historian Amie Alden who also discusses the Livingston County Bicentennial.

Local History Out Loud, Part Two: Civil War to Industrial Era

Explore Livingston County's response to the Civil War, the rise of industrialization, social reform, and the women's rights movement in the mid- to late 19th century.