Vanderbilt Cup Races

Presentation: The Incredible Vanderbilt Cup Races on Long Island The Role of Hicksville

Chain your dogs and lock up your fowls!” heralded posters throughout Long Island in announcing the first international road race ever to be held in America. From 1904 to 1910, six Vanderbilt Cup Races were held on Long Island roads. Developed from the imagination of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., great grandson of millionaire Cornelius Vanderbilt, these races were the most prestigious and thrilling auto races of their day, drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators to Long Island. “The Incredible Vanderbilt Cup Races of Long Island,” will relive auto racing’s earliest triumphs including the development of the Long Island Motor Parkway- the first road built exclusively for the automobile. This special presentation will also highlight the role of Hicksville in the Vanderbilt Cup Races held in 1904, 1909 and 1910.

The presentation will be given by Howard Kroplick, Town Historian for North Hempstead, who has extensively researched the races and written three books; The Vanderbilt Cup Races of Long Island, The Long Island Motor Parkway (co-authored with Al Velocci) and North Hempstead.

His presentation will feature photos from the private archives of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., rare race films and an assortment of “Vanderbilia”. A book-signing will follow the presentation with all proceeds going to Nassau County charities.

The program is sponsored by the Hicksville Historical Society. It will be held in the Community Room of the Hicksville Public Library located at 169 Jerusalem Avenue, Hicksville, NY on the Tuesday, November 22, 2016. The presentation begins at 7:30 PM and is open to the public.

Location: Hicksville Public Library

Address: 169 Jerusalem Avenue, Hicksville, NY

More information