Jul 21 2018

Helck Family Collection: Peter Helck Recalls the Greatest Vintage Car Event in Long Island’s History


Among the treasures discovered in the Helck Family Collection is an unedited 128-page biographical document written by Peter Helck. In the first post from these memoirs, Peter Helck recalls the 50th anniversary celebration  of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race held on Long Island.

In my opinion, this event, held on October 9, 1954, was the greatest vintage automobile event ever held on Long Island.  It was organized by Long Island Old Car Club and the Mineola Fair and Industrial Exposition. Images are courtesy of the Helck Family and Walter McCarthy.

Many of the memoirs from the 128-page doucment were later published in 1996 in The Bulb Horn magazine that have been reposted on PeterHelck.com .

Enjoy,

Howard Kroplick

The Garden City Hotel in 1954

Hemp Oliver, curator of the Smithsonian, and the Vanderbilt Cup trophy

George Robertson (left) and Glenn Ethridge (right)


Peter Helck (right with black beret and goggles)

George Robertson (left) and Glenn Ethridge (right)- together for the last time.

From left to right: George Arents, Al Poole and Joe Tracy


Comments

Jul 22 2018 S. Berliner, III 12:34 AM

Oh, what a slice out of my past!  Charlie Stich.  Alec Ulmann.  Many others.  Howard had posted a Helck collection pic of Governor Thomas Dewey and his wife Frances at Lowell Thomas’ 1949 picnic for automotive collectors and other notables, sitting in Charlie’s or Alec’s huge Mercedes tourer with one of them alongside.  “Hemp Oliver” was Smith Hempstone Oliver, one-time ambassador to Kenya.  Sam, III

Jul 22 2018 Earl Gandel 1:21 AM

Howard,
As I’m sure you know, some of these cars (including the ALCO?) were rounded up by Henry Austin Clark for the running of the Bridgehampton races in 1949-53, and at least once one was driven by Joe Tracy. They repeated at the inaugural races at the “new” Bridgehampton Race Circuit in 1956. Also, turn 9 at that track was named Arents Corner, in honor of Mr. Arents’ destruction of a Ferrari at that spot before the course was open. (He survived.)
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Howard Kroplick

Earl, the Bridgehampton Arents (George Arents III) was the son of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race driver George Arents II.  http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/saturday_search_and_findings_a_map_of_the_bridgehampton_race_circuit

Jul 22 2018 Earl Gandel 1:42 AM

Question; was the Bill Pollock, with a Chadwick Raceabout, the same of that name who had a very successful racing career in California in the ‘50’s, driving among others, an Allard, (multiple winner at Pebble Beach), Corvette, Maserati and Alfa?  He died last year in his 80’s.

Jul 22 2018 John Benfield 8:23 AM

Howard, ... A terrific video, that really may have been the best car show on L.I. !  Thanks, John Benfield

Jul 22 2018 Howard Kroplick 10:59 AM

Greg H.

Thanks for sharing the article on the Tucker and the Helck family collection. There was some great footage of the #16 Locomobile, which I sent to my Locomobile friend.

Jul 22 2018 Howard Kroplick 11:02 AM

Penny H.

Let us all hope that all those wonderful cars that appeared in the 1954 Vanderbilt Celebration are still with us and being cared for by owners who appreciate their unique place in automotive history.

The video was great.

Thanks for posting the article.

Jul 22 2018 Scott J Alexander 6:45 PM

Howard that post and film were fantastic. To see all those vintage cars together must have been a sight to see. Truly the greatest car event on the island. I even just sent links to both our my son’s to see the a slice of the wonderful automotive history of their home.  Thank you for keeping it alive and going for generations now and to come.
All our Best,
Scott & Vicki Alexander

Jul 24 2018 Jeff Levin 7:06 PM

Howard, the film and story were awesome! Imagine if the film could have been clearer and in color. As for the story about Robertson, all you can say is he was the real deal. A tough hard driving Man’s Man even fifty years later.

Aug 02 2018 MILES MOODY 4:52 PM

I’M TRYING TO GET SOME INFORMATION ON A COUPLE OF BRONZE AWARD ITEMS THAT APPEAR TO BE IN THE 1904-08 RACING PERIOD. VANDERBILT, SAVANNAH?  THESE MAY BE PARTICIPANTS PLAQUES?  MAYBE ART NOUVEAU STYLE?  THE FIRST ONE IS 2 3/4” BY 2 1/4 HAS CHAIN DRIVEN RACER WITH SUNBURST UPPER LEFT CORNER WITH A REPOSED FIGURE HOLDING A TORCH. REVERSE SIDE HAS AN EAGLE ABOVE A RACE CAR WITH AN ENGRAVING BLOCK BENEATH. THE OTHER IS SIMILAR BUT WITH A TRAPEZOID. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANX
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Howard Kroplick

Please email me jpegs of the plaques at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .

 

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