The Vanderbilt Cup Races

Louis Wagner

The #10 Darracq driven by Louis Wagner (1906)

Courtesy of The Henry Ford

Louis Wagner (left) and riding mechanician Louis Vivet prepared to begin the race in the French 100-hp #10 Darracq. The Motor Way called the car “the peculiar wire wheeled, little Darracq.” Behind Wagner was the gray Italian #12 Itala driven by Alessandro Cagno. Foxhall Keene’s #11 Mercedes was absent as it had failed to start due to cracked cylinders discovered shortly before practice began.

First Use of Checkered Flag to Finish a Race (1906)

Courtesy of Brown Brothers

As Wagner was about to win the contest, starter Fred Wagner waved what is believed to be the first checkered flag used to signify the finish of an auto race. Standing on the railing above the flag, Willie K saluted the victor. The winning Darracq averaged 62.7 mph over the 297.1-mile race. Lancia’s F.I.AT. finished second, only three minutes and 18 seconds behind, followed 16 seconds later by Arthur Duray’s Lorraine-Dietrich.

Louis Wagner Wins Again for France (1906)

Courtesy of The Helck Family Collection

The victory of driver Louis Wagner (left) and his riding mechanician Louis Vivet was the third consecutive win for France. Wagner called the race “certainly the most nerve-wrenching contest in motoring history,” and later wrote a magazine article about the horror of racing through roads crowded with people.

Featured Drivers

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-->