The Vanderbilt Cup Races

Vince, I have about 21,000 photos and images of the Vanderbilt Cup Races..so I guess I am one of the better sources. Here's what I consider my favorite images of Hubert Le Blon. Please feel free to comment and expand on the information that I have on your grandfather's uncle.

Hubert le Blon was born in France in 1872. He raced a Serpollet for five years and set several world records for steam cars. In the 1902 Paris Grand Prix he finished 13th and 17th in the 1903 Grand Prix. Le Blon was hired to race French Hotchkiss and Panhard cars in 1905. In several of his races, Le Blon's wife acted as his mechanician... whom he considered "an excellent one".

For the 1906 American Elimination Trial, the Thomas Motor Company hired two Frenchmen to drive their entries; Gustave Caillois and Hubert Le Blon who drove the #6 Thomas. Since Madame Le Blon remained in France, Le Blon's mechanician was Marius Amiel.

Le Blon finished a strong second and qualified for the American Team.

The Automobile trade journal encourage the American team of Walter Chrisite, Hugh Harding, Frank Lawwell, Joe Tracy and Hubert Le Blon with this cartoon of "Five Souls with a Single Thought".

Le Blon was the first car to start the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup race and can be seen at the beginning of this 1906 race film.

Le Blon encountered this unusual obstacle at the hairpin turn in Old Westbury. The dog made it across the course without being hit! Le Blon's Thomas was still running when the 1906 race was called and finished in 8th place.

Hubert Le Blon gave up auto racing and became an aeronaut, a racing aviator. Unfortunately, on April 2, 1910 the engine of his plane failed during an exhibition flight in San Sebastian, Spain as reported in this New York Times article.

Vince, if you would like high-resolution copies of any of these photos, please send me an email.