The Vanderbilt Cup Races

Alco #8 (1909)

Alco Passes Under Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge (1909)

Courtesy of The National Automotive History Collection at the Detroit Public Library

Harry Grant’s #8 ALCO moved into second place as he passed under a Long Island Motor Parkway bridge during lap 15. The bridge was located in the Hempstead Plains in an area now filled with Levittown homes.

The Alco Takes the Turn (1909)

Courtesy of Brown Brothers

Driver Harry Grant in his #8 ALCO sped through the Hicksville Turn which was at the intersection of Broadway and Old Country Road. Located in one of the more heavily populated areas of Nassau County, this turn attracted a great deal of interest because of its potential to produce accidents and its proximity to the Hicksville railroad station. As with the Massapequa Turn, the Hicksville Turn was banked slightly for safety.

Close-Up of Alco’s Team (1909)

Widely regarded as one of the more dangerous turns, the Westbury Turn attracted a large throng of people, many unwisely lining the course and clearly in harm’s way. The turn was banked on its west side in an effort to assist cars from skidding off the course. Full-face hoods were worn by both ALCO driver Grant and his mechanician Frank Lee to protect them from dust and stones.

Grant Wins in the Alco (1909)

Courtesy of The National Automotive History Collection at the Detroit Public Library

Harry Grant and the ALCO won the fifth competition for the William K. Vanderbilt Jr. Cup. Only two of 15 starters completed the race, Grant and the F.I.A.T. driven by Edward Parker, who finished five minutes and 16 seconds behind the winner. The ALCO, the only six cylinder car in the race, had survived a torturous test. In the convention of the day, all other cars had four cylinder engines.

Crowds Go Wild at Finish Line (1909)

Courtesy of The Helck Family Collection

Pit crews and race officials cheered as Harry Grant’s ALCO passed the finish line and won the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup. Grant achieved an average speed of 62.8 mph for the 278.08 miles. This speed was faster than all of the previous Vanderbilt Cup Races with the exception of Robertson’s 1908 victory at 64.38 mph.

Featured Cars

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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