Vanderbilt Cup Races

The West Wants the Race

Colorado and Nevada had visions of hosting.  (The Automobile Aug. 22, 1907)

Colorado

Auto enthusiasts in Colorado received support from Denver Mayor, R. W. Speer and Colorado Governor Henry Buchtel.  The Twenty-second infantry division would be used to control the crowd. (The Automobile Aug. 22, 1907)

As the name of this website indicates, Mayor Speer, shown here, was thought to have practiced dishonest politics during his three terms as mayor.  (thegraftersclub.com)

An 80-mile course was envisioned between Denver and Colorado Springs. (Los Angeles Herald Oct. 9, 1907)

Denver auto enthusiasts would contribute $50,000 and Colorado Springs $25,000.

And would be used to promote tourism in the state.

Nevada

Nevada also entered the fray with businessmen "Tex" Rickard and "Capitalist" Coburn looking for a $50,000 investment to promote a 28 mile course in mining town Goldfield. (The Automobile August 22, 1907)

"Tex" Rickard (Leslie's Weekly, Mar. 21, 1907)

R.L. Colburn (Leslie's Weekly, Mar. 21, 1907)

It would certainly be good to find the photographs sent to A. R. Pardington if they were actually sent!  The population of Goldfield was said to have more automobiles than Chicago at the time. 

Rickard went on to become what some people consider to be the greatest boxing promotor ever and attended many sporting events and trade shows - here he is surrounded by Henry and Edsel Ford at the 1928 Ford Industrial Exposition at Madison Square Garden.  (Getty Images)

Another connection to the auto industry, maybe a bit stretched however, was during Robert Moses' term as New York State Boxing Commissioner and who proposed that boxing tickets should not be given to business associates.  Promotor Rickard did not believe it would succeed.  Robert Moses as we know was not a friend of the Motor Parkway.  (The Power Broker, Robert A. Caro, 1974)

Goldfield, the proposed location of the Nevada 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race was home to  Rickard's Northern Saloon and Casino along with 48 other saloons, 27 restaurants, 84 attorneys, 40 doctors and 10 undertakers.  (Goldfield Historical Society and Mapquest)

1905 Goldfield (kcet.org)

1907 Goldfield - Rickard's Northern Saloon (and the whole town) have people hanging from the rafters during a July 4 celebration! (kcet.org)

Leslie's Weekly, Mar. 21, 1907

Leslie's Weekly, Mar. 21, 1907

150 automobiles in town!  (Leslie's Weekly, Mar. 21, 1907)

Goldfield today is home to the International Car Forest of the Last Church.  I would doubt any Cup racers would be there but anyone want to venture what the model and year of this car is?  (onlyinyourstate.com)

Or these? (atlasobsura.com)

As noted in prior parts of this series, towns often took the name Vanderbilt.  In Nevada, one such town existed in the county of Eureka between Aug. 1871 and Aug. 1873.  Having only 150 residents and a couple of saloons a fire destroyed the mill and put an end to its existence. 

And a Midwest Entrant - Missouri

One more state was somewhat eager to get the 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race - Missouri.  (The New York Times July 21, 1907)

However, as much not more is known as to its efforts, probably the interest was not wide spread. 

The final part of this series will detail a proposal to have racing and stock cars race on the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race course (on LI) over two days in mid-October, 1907.