Happy 10th Anniversary VanderbiltCupRaces.com!
Today celebrates the 10th Anniversary of VanderbiltCupRaces.com. On March 4, 2008, the website was launched with this classic film of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
I hope that you have enjoyed the 15,078 posts placed on VanderbiltCupRaces.com. Time flies when you are having fun!
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Welcome to VanderbiltCupRaces.com!
In one of the earliest sports films ever made, the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race action was captured by cameramen G.W. Bitzer and A.E. Weed of the American Mutoscope & Biograph Company in Westbury and Plainedge.
The 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race was the first international road race held in the United States. Eighteen cars from France, Germany, Italy and the USA competed for William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s 30-pound Tiffany cup on 30 miles of public Long Island roads. George Heath representing France won the race averaging 52.2 mph in a 90-hp Panhard. In one of the earliest sports films ever made, the race action was captured by cameramen G.W. Bitzer and A.E. Weed of the American Mutoscope & Biograph Company in Westbury and Plainedge. Note the last segment where 21-year-old driver Albert Clement, Jr. was seen protesting the race to referee William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. The original film was preserved by the Library of Congress Paper Print Collection. This edited film includes subtitles to describe the action, cars and drivers. One correction: William Luttgen was driving the #18 Mercedes not a FIAT.
Comments
Congratulations on a wonderful 10 year run. I can’t believe it’s been that long. It seems like only a year or two since the group was sitting around the table at the Bonwit Inn. Keep up the great work that you do. I know everyone enjoys and appreciates it.
Enjoyed indeed! Thanks for all the historic education and fun right in our own backyard. Where did all the time go?
Frank
I read the blog now and then. Thanks so much. You’re awesome!
Happy birthday! Awesome site Howard. You do a great job with this. Love the LI historical content.