Hemmings Classic Car: The Vanderbilt Cup- America’s first internationally recognized road-race
The August 2019 issue of Hemmings Classic Car features an excellent review of the Vanderbilt Cup Races by Jeff Koch with the assistance of photos from my collection.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Above: Harry Grant's Alco wins the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup.
The 1906 finish saw the first-ever use of a checkered flag to signal a motor-race victory.
This Lorraine-Dietrich's driver, Arthur Duray, prevented his riding mechanic from falling off the car in 1906.
George Robertson's 1908 Locomobile racer rounds the Westbury turn in the 1908 race. Note the perilous proximity of the crowd.
Alco driver (and 1909 winner) Harry Grant and ring mechanic Frank Lee wore face protection on dirt roads.
At the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup, George Robertson and Locomobile become the first American car-and-driver victors in international road racing.
Comments
Hemmings Classic Car magazine has been giving long island historic car related events some great coverage recently. This item as well as the story on the Roslyn Lincoln dealership seen recently that all went together because of you, me and Ian Z.
( ok, I didn’t mean for those last few words to rhyme but they do ) !
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Howard Kroplick
Keep up your great work at Hemmings!
Magnificent presentation of early automotive racing history. Thank you Mr. Kroplick for your continued pursuit of this now century old information. Marvelous and very scholarly work. Preservation of this early industrial history is doubly important in this age of revisionists. Your factual and non-editorial approach keeps proper perspective as we view hard core pragmatists , adventurers and yes , even dare devils , seeking to further personal and business interests—all the while enjoying the thrill and challenge of unbridled speed. Gentlemen start your engines!
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Howard Kroplick:
Thanks so much for you positive comment. Much appreciated!
Hello, I am the great grandson of Henri Matile, who drove on Renault, find attached some of the photos of my grandfather.
To read to you,
Regards,
Frederic Matile