The Winner George Robertson
Profile of the Winner
After his 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race victory, George Robertson was considered by many to be America’s premier race driver. Only weeks earlier he scored impressive stock car victories driving a Simplex in the 24-hour race at the Brighton Beach track and then in a Locomobile 40 at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia. His driving career was cut short while practicing for the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race when a newspaperman riding with him to develop a story panicked and clutched the driver as he entered a sharp turn. Robertson suffered injuries to his right arm that made it impossible for him to drive the heavy cars of the day in competition.
Robertson’s Plaque
Collectibles and memorabilia from the Vanderbilt Cup Races have turned up in auctions, flea markets and the Internet throughout the years. The rarest items are the 22 oval bronze plaques produced by Tiffany & Company from 1904 to 1916. The race sponsors produced two plaques for each race that were presented to the winning driver and manufacturer. Until 1910 when $2,000 was awarded to the winner, the plaque was the only official award and compensation given to the driver for winning the Vanderbilt Cup Race by the sponsors.
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Motor Pkwy
Feature
The 128-page book by Howard Kroplick, a researcher and lecturer on the races, contains rare images of the races from the archives of major museums, libraries and private collectors. The book Vanderbilt Cup Races of Long Island will be available from Arcadia Publishing in March 2008.
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