Vanderbilt Cup Races
Then & Now: Krug’s Corner in Mineola
Krug’s Hotel, on the north-west corner of Jericho Turnpike and Willis Avenue in Mineola, was a favorite viewing site for the 1904, 1905 and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races. This Then & Now look found a rarity- A building on the Vanderbilt Cup Race course that is still standing!
George Robertson’s Last Drive
After skipping the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race, the 1908 winner George Robertson was preparing for a triumphant return in the 1910 Race driving a Benz. His hopes for a repeat win and his future racing career were dashed with one of the strangest accidents in Vanderbilt Cup Race history.
The 1909 Wheatley Hills Sweepstakes Won by Ray Harroun in a Marmon
During the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race, two other sweepstakes races (the Massapequa Sweepstakes and the Wheatley Hills Sweepstakes ) were run simultaneously for commercially available stock cars. The Wheatley Sweepstakes had only four entrants for the “sub-class 3” stock cars with engines 231 to 300 cubic inches. The winner received a prize of $1,000.
From the Malcolm Collum Collection: More Classic Images of “Old 16”
When he was conservator at the Henry Ford Museum, Malcolm Collum was responsible for the care and maintenance of “Old 16”. Now chief conservator at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, Malcolm is sharing six classic “Old 16” images on VanderbiltCupRaces.com: :
Classic Photos of “Old 16” Locomobile
The most photographed car in all the Vanderbilt Cup Races was the 1908 winner “Old 16” Locomobile. Among my collection of over 250 “Old 16” images, these are ten of my favorites taken during the race:
Race Profile: The Vanderbilt Cup Race Heads to Savannah in 1911
Racing returned to Savannah in November, 1911. The Vanderbilt Cup and the Grand Prize were to be held within three days of each other. Savannah welcomed the racers, holding lavish parties and improving the circuit that AAA’s Fred Wagner called, “the finest road course in the world.”
Driver Profile: Camille Jenatzy- “The Red Devil” and His Tragic Death
A Belgian race car diver, Janatzy broke the land speed record three times and was the first man to break the 100 km/hr barrier. He was nicknamed Le Diabo Rouge (“The Red Devil”) for his color of his beard.
Article “The 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race” by Peter Helck
For the 1948 Veteran Motor Club of America Antique Auto Show, prominent artist Peter Helck, then owner of “Old 16”, wrote an article on the Vanderbilt Cup Races for the official program. Supplemented by photos from the book “Vanderbilt Cup Races of Long Island”, this is Helck’s colorful description of the 1910 race:
Another Vanderbilt Cup Race Mystery: Was Eddie Rickenbacker the Mechanician in this 1906 Photo?
John Bayer wrote: “Not sure the guy in mechanician’s seat in Frayer-Miller is Rickenbacker, even at 16. Rick’s nose was much broader, and several of the Auburn pics you have posted show that…mystery”.
Archives: Vanderbilt Cup Races
With much of the Internet down on Long Island due to Hurricane Irene, here are the archives to posts related to the Vanderbilt Cup Races on VanderbiltCupRaces.com (Updated August 29,2011):
Article “The 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race” by Peter Helck
For the 1948 Veteran Motor Club of America Antique Auto Show, prominent artist Peter Helck, then owner of “Old 16”, wrote an article on the Vanderbilt Cup Races for the official program. Supplemented by photos from the book “Vanderbilt Cup Races of Long Island”, this is Helck’s colorful description of the 1909 race:
Winter Holiday Scenes of the Long Island Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race Courses
Enjoy these photos taken on December 24, 2009 of the Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race courses.
Details on the “Thermos The Bottle” Truck at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race
The Bowery Boys website, dedicated to New York City History, has provided additional detail on the most unusual vehicle at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race, the “Thermos The Bottle” Truck.
At the Starting Line on Jericho Turnpike in Mineola: The 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Nineteen cars competed in the second Vanderbilt Cup Race held on October 14, 1905. Only one car (#9 Mercedes) was not photographed at the starting line located on Jericho Turnpike in Mineola:
Article “The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race” by Peter Helck
For the 1948 Veteran Motor Club of America Antique Auto Show, prominent artist Peter Helck, then owner of “Old 16”, wrote an article on the Vanderbilt Cup Races for the official program. Supplemented by photos from the book “Vanderbilt Cup Races of Long Island”, this is Helck’s colorful description of the 1908 race:
Profile: #10 Darracq- Winner of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race
It’s safe to say the motoring press gave little credence to Louis Wagner’s Darracq racer as a prospect for winning the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup despite a victory by the same marques in the same race just one year prior. The Motor Way described Wagner’s racer as “the peculiar wire wheeled, little blue Darracq,” and The Automobile wrote, “the little car, with its wire wheels and peculiar-shaped radiator, looked anything but a match for the huge juggernauts that had gone before it.”
A Family Inquiry: Jefferson De Mont Thompson- Chairman of the Vanderbilt Cup Commission
John S: “I’ve been doing some research on my family. Colonel Jefferson Dement (Demont) Thompson, my great-grandfather’s nephew, is buried here at Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville, Alabama. I’m sure he’s the same Dement (Demont) that keeps “popping up” in my internet searches. Do you have any information on him?”
At the Starting Line on Jericho Turnpike in Westbury: The 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Eighteen racers participated in the first Vanderbilt Cup Race held on October 8, 1904. Photos of 17 of the 18 entrants at the Westbury starting line on Jericho Turnpike are shown here for the first time. The #10 Fiat arrived late at the starting line and began with a running start.
Archives: The Walter McCarthy Collection
Links to posts related to the Walter McCarthy Collection (Updated January 2, 2012):
Sportscardigest.com Race Profile: “The Vanderbilt Cup, America’s First International Series”
Art Evans has written a race profile in Sportscardigest.com on the Vanderbilt Cup Races. Here are highlights:
Film “The Greatest Vintage Automobile Event Ever Held on Long Island”
In my opinion, the greatest vintage automobile event ever held on Long Island occurred on October 9, 1954 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Vanderbilt Cup Race. The event was organized by Long Island Old Car Club and the Mineola Fair and Industrial Exposition.
A Vanderbilt Cup Race Physician and the Jericho Friends Meeting House
It was a pleasure to be part of the outstanding team that presented to the Town of Oyster Bay Board to support the landmark designation of the historic Maine Maid Inn. The Jericho building was located on the courses for the 1905, 1906 and 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Races.
The 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race on October 9, 1954
The Vanderbilt Cup Races have been celebrated by vintage car clubs and historical organizations for over 75 years. The grandest and most memorable celebration was held on Long Island on October 9, 1954, marking the 50th anniversary of the first Vanderbilt Cup Race.
Preserving the Maine Maid Inn and the Vanderbilt Cup Races
Yesterday I was pleased to speak at the Town of Oyster Bay Town Board Meeting supporting the landmark designation for the historic Maine Maid Inn in Jericho. Highlights of the meeting were published in FarmingdalePatch and Newsday:
From the Frank P. Krug Family Collection: Unique Views of Krug’s Hotel
Kathie C, the great grand-niece of Frank P. Krug, has provided these images of Krug’s Hotel, one of the most famous hotels on the Vanderbilt Cup Race courses (1904, 1905 and 1906):
Hemmings Blog: “Miller Club to celebrate Milwaukee Vanderbilt Cup centennial”
Hemmings Blog reported today that the Harry A. Miller Club will recognize the 1912 Vanderbilt Cup Race held in Milwaukee at their 2012 annual meet:
Categories
- Alco-6 Racer
- Car Clubs
- Cars
- Courses
- Cruises
- Drivers
- Events
- Favorite Websites
- Films and Videos
- Indy 500 Races
- LI Automotive Museum
- Long Island Motor Parkway
- Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society
- Maps
- Monthly Highlights
- Motor Parkway Preservation
- Old 16
- Starting Lineups
- Then & Now
- Vanderbilia
- Vanderbilt Cup Races
- Vanderbilt Cup Trophy
- VanderbiltCupRaces.com
- William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.
Recent Entries
- Three Vanderbilt Cup Race Winners Together in 1936
- Newsday April 5, 1998 Article “History Takes the High Road”
- Highlights and Archives for VanderbiltCupRaces.com- January 2012
- Then & Now: Krug’s Corner in Mineola
- Willy T. Ribbs and Wendell Scott- Pioneer African American Drivers
- George Robertson’s Last Drive
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.
continue reading-->