Kleiner’s Korner: Part 5 - A Proposed 2 Day 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race on LI
As late as September, 1907 proposals were being made to hold that year's Vanderbilt Cup Race on Long Island. The Metropolitan Automobile Association offered one such proposal.
Art Kleiner
The Proposal and its Acceptance
A day two event was planned. (The New York Times Sept. 11, 1907)
Proposed by the Metropolitan Automobile Association as a stock touring race, "no expense would be spared to police the course . . .".
Touring cars would go slower than the racers previously used on the course . . .
and would travel 500 or more miles. It was hoped that The American Automobile Association would give its support.
F. Edward Spooner is noted as going before the Nassau County supervisors representing the Metropolitan Automobile Association - might this be the same Spooner noted in this blog as an automobile photographer? Also note that double the number of deputies would be used.(The Evening Star and Newark Advertiser, Sept. 10, 1907)
The 1905 course of the Vanderbilt Cup Race would be used which would eliminate the dangerous turn and Krug's Corner at which a spectator was killed in 1906. vanderbiltcupraces.com
However, this other article mentions the course would use the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race. (The Automobile, Sept. 12, 1912)
Two proponents of this two-day effort had previously staged the Fort George Hill Climb in the Inwood section of Manhattan and believed they could successfully hold the Cup on Long Island. The association and Nassau County Sheriff Gildersleeve promised "the policing will be done properly and not in the slipshod, inefficient manner that characterized last year's guarding of the course". (Automobile Topics, Sept. 14, 1907)
The Hill Climb proved successful. (The New York Times, July 2, 1907)
The Automobile Aug. 8, 1907
To enter the 2 day race, an entrance fee of $500 per car was to be charged. A trophy was to be "offered by an unnamed "prominent sportsman". While the promoters accepted the financial and safety conditions set forth by the Nassau County supervisors some didn't believe they could follow through.
The Doubters
And some questioned the real purpose of the Metropolitan Automobile Association and even the sheriff. (The Horseless Age, Sept. 18, 1907)
Appearing not to have already realized the objections of New York's governor.
Was this truly a plan with merit or was it an attempt for publicity and to make a few bucks as The Motor World speculates? (The Motor World, Sept. 12, 1907)
A Nassau County Flip-Flop
Regardless of the proposal's true purpose, Nassau County officials reversed their original support and the 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race, in whatever form, never took place on Long Island or anywhere else.
The change of heart was surprising in that the promoters had agreed to all conditions set and the Supervisors were given the opportunity to select the course.
Was their support influenced by Willie K. and A. R. Pardington? Possibly, but it was not admitted to.
In only a week's time the proposal had been presented, approved and then unapproved. Interesting that in that short time frame "Extensive preparations had been completed in several quarters for the event . . ."
Comments
Even though the cost of entering a car would’ve been paid by the manufacturer, $500 was a high price back then!
I got a kick out of the 1907 description of “the old Vanderbilt Cup course”! Old? TWO whole years - wow! Yes, I realize they were differentiating between the 1905 and 1906 courses but still it seems funny, now, 113 years later. Sam, III
From “Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal”, October 1, 1907. Wonder who the “hostile influences” were that caused the demise of the stock car proposal.