Updated: 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Race Photos From the NYC Municipal Archives
A search of the New York City Municipal Archives revealed these six photos of the 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
#4 Auto Union driven by Bernd Rosemeyer
Finished 1st
#5 Alfa Romeo 12C-37 driven by Tazio Nuvolari
Finished 25th.
#14 Alfa-Romeo 8C-35 driven by Rex Mays
#14 finished 3rd.
#15 Mercedes Benz driven by Richard Seaman
#15 finished 2nd
Spectators' Automobiles
Walt Gosden: Interesting cars parked at the side lines that brought their owners to see the race. A bit difficult to see clearly due to the NYC GOV archives logos but the second car from the left in that first photo at the bottom is a new Packard 5 pass coupe that appears to have the chauffeur standing on the right side running board. Image to small to determine if it is a Eight, Super Eight or Twelve cylinder. GREAT STUFF. Thanks!!!
Comments
That barbed wire fence was undoubtedly to keep crowds from running onto the track as had happened in the past, resulting in a fatality leading to NY State’s ban on racing on public roads.
The first photo ; interesting cars parked at the side lines that brought their owners to see the race. A bit difficult to see clearly due to the NYC GOV archives logos but the second car from the left in that first photo at the bottom is a new Packard 5 pass coupe that appears to have the chauffeur standing on the right side running board. Image to small to determine if it is a Eight, Super Eight or Twelve cylinder. GREAT STUFF. Thanks!!!
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Howard Kroplick
Walt, great observation! I have added close-ups of the spectators’ automobiles.
Wonderful pictures. Thanks! One correction, Tazio’s number 5 is an Alfa Romeo 12C-36.
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Howard Kroplick
Tobey, good catch. Thanks!
Two small mistakes in the captions:
Car no. 5 is an Alfa Romeo 12C-37 entered by Scuderia Ferrari. Tazio Nuvolari was out at lap 17 of 90.
Car no, 14 is an Alfa Romeo 8C-35 sold to Jim White by Scuderia Ferrari after the 1936 Vanderbilt and modified in the US to be faster and more reliable than the Scuderia’s 1937 Alfa Romeos.
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Howard Kroplick
Aldo, good catches! Thanks.
Update: The description of the #5 and #14 racers were corrected.
Update: Close-ups of the spectators’ automobiles were added.
Correct me if wrong, but the ban on public road racing in NY State was after spectator injuries at Watkins Glen and a driver fatality at Bridgehampton. That led to the building of those two closed courses, so it wasn’t all bad.