Update: Mystery Friday Foto #48 Solved: The 1901 Riker Torpedo setting the one-mile land speed record for electrics in Coney Island
Did you identify this weekend's mystery foto from November 16, 1901?
Mystery Foto questions:
- The event location, the vehicle, and any possible official, or unofficial records set
The 1901 Riker Torpedo competed in the "One Mile World's Record Automobile Races" held by the Long Island Automobile Club on Coney Island Boulevard on Saturday, November 16, 1901. It was the only electric entered in the class and set a one mile land speed record for electrics at 57.14 miles per hour. The record for electrics stood for 10 years.
- Who was the inventor and driver of the mystery foto vehicle?
The driver and designer of the 1901 Riker Torpedo was Andrew L. Riker. He founded the Riker Electric Vehicle Company in 1888-1889. Riker became vice-president of the Locomobile Company in 1902, overseeing the firm's production of automobiles powered by two- and four-cylinder internal combustion engines. His design of the company's first gasoline-propelled car included many features which were largely unfamiliar to the American market, including a sliding gear transmission, steel frame, and gear-driven electric generator.
- Does this vehicle exist today? If so, Where?
The 1901 Riker Torpedo is currently on display at the Studebaker National Museum on loan from it owner The Henry Ford.
- Link the foto to the Vanderbilt Cup Races
Andrew L. Riker designed the Locomobile racers that competed in the 1905, 1906 and 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Races.
Comments (8)
Congrats and kudos to David Miller, Robert Laravie, Steve Lucas, Art Kleiner and Al Velocci for identifying the 1901 Riker Electric.
Super kudos to Art Kleiner for identifying the current exhibit location of the Studebaker National Museum.
Update: A profile of Andrew L. Riker was added.
Enjoy,
Greg O. & Howard Kroplick
Close-Ups
The driver steered the Riker Torpedo using the tiller up front, while the "co-pilot " controlled braking and speed from the back.
A profile of Andrew L. Riker.
1901 Program
The "One Mile World's Record Automobile Races were conducted by the Long Island Automobile Club on Coney Island Boulevard. Program courtesy of The Henry Ford.
The Riker was the only automobile entered in the Electric class.
The Long Island Railroad placed an ad to promote Long Island.
The Henry Ford
Currently on Display: Studebaker National Museum, South Bend, Indiana
The 1901 Riker Torpedo is currently on loan to the Studebaker National Museum as part of their exhibit "Charged: The Rise, Fall, and Resurgence of Electric Vehicles."
Comments
This is a Riker “Torpedo Racer.” An electric race car built, engineered and piloted by Andrew Riker. The event was the breaking of a world speed record by an electric car, which was done on Coney Island on a dirt track at 57 mph. In April of 1900 a version of this vehicle competed on the first vehicle race on Long Island. A 50 mile race from Queens to Babylon. It won, and was the only electric vehicle to have entered. This race was precursor to the Vanderbilt Cup races held a few years later.
Coney Island Blvd see attached files
Reiker
Yes ,the henry ford, a gift as I understand it
not sure what you mean by link, like “tag it” or a connection history wise?
That’s Andrew Lawrence Riker driving his own Riker Electric Torpedo Racer at Coney Island, NY where he set the world speed record for electric vehicles at 57.1 MPH, a record that stood for ten years. Today, this vehicle can be seen at the Henry Ford Museum. A.L. Riker went on to design the 1906 90 HP Locomobile that raced as #12 in the 1906 American Elimination Trial and #9 in the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup. After some modifications, it became the winning #16 racer in the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup, later being known as the legendary “Old 16”.
The location is Coney Island, NY at the Long Island Automobile Club’s Sponsored Race.
Vehicle is the Torpedo Racer which set the world’s speed record for electric cars on November 16, 1901 going one mile in 63 seconds (57 mph). Held record for 10 years.
Andrew Riker was the inventor and the driver.
The vehicle is owned by the Henry Ford Museum and is currently on loan to the Studebaker National Museum.
Riker eventually went to work for the Locomobile Company and designed the 90 HP car that was entered in the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
Additional documentation
These are very early bicycle mechanics (1901), working hard towards creating the future of the motorized automobile, while using standard bicycle components
Howard, The bare-bones vehicle is the Riker’s Torpedo Racer. The photo was taken during the race held on Nov. 16, 1901 at Coney Island. It was the only electric vehicle entered. The driver was Andrew Riker, to save weight the “machancian” didn’t have a seat, he sat on the frame work of the vehicle. Riker came in third, setting the official speed record for electric vehicles covering the one mile course in 63 seconds. The racer still exists today, it is at the Henry Ford Museum. Connection with the Vanderbilt Cup Races ? The were both held on Long Island ????
Had a notion this is Al Riker operating one of his Electric Cars. That might be the Locomobile Factory in the background. There’s a blog here on the website about Al Riker winning a 50 mile race here on Long Island. He was only that entered the race with an electric car. Realize I’m not trying to solve this mystery foto, just leaving some screenshots below.
Much history here that I never knew. Amazing accomplishment with the early-electric automobile in 1901. I see the twin-motors mounted on the rear axle. I wonder if they were powered by Nickel-cadmium batteries. Electric seems the direction today to power automobiles with advanced Lithium-ion batteries.
Great post here Brian. I somehow never connected Al Riker to the early races here on Long Island, even though I’ve seen these photos before. Great work on your part!
Thank you Ariegan Bos for clarifying this amazing event during early motor history
Just wanted make sure Ariejan Bos was noted for his information . He’s a legend with research.
A great exchange, I learned a lot, as usual I got my spelling wrong . In 1904 another electric racer , The Baker Torpedo Kid went about 58 mph at Ormond Beach, the same year Wille K. went over 90mph
Your Baker tribute conquering the Port Jeff hill climb!
The World Record for electric cars set by Camille Jenatzy on April 29, 1899 was 65.79 mph. That record was finally broken by steam powered car on April 13, 1903 driven by Leon Serpollet at 75.6 mph. The first American to set a world record was Henry Ford on January 13, 1904 at 91.37 mph.
The Riker Torpedo record was an American record, not a world record.