The Race Aftermath
Race Receives Poor Reviews
During the 1910 race, two mechanicians were killed and several spectators were injured. In addition to Charles Miller, Chevrolet’s mechanician, Matthew Bacon, the mechanician for driver Harold Stone, was killed in a first lap accident when their Columbia car leaped over the Newbridge Avenue Bridge in East Meadow. Much of the press leveled criticism of reckless disregard for human safety at the race management. The New York World’s scathing editorial cartoon of the Grim Reaper presenting the Vanderbilt Cup to the winning ALCO was an example of some of the more sensationalist coverage that proliferated in the age of yellow journalism.
Officials Confer at Krug’s Hotel
While newspapers and trade journals criticized the race, it was the entrants who stood in solidarity to put an end to the Vanderbilt Cup Races on Long Island. On October 5th, 12 of the manufacturers met at Krug’s Hotel and appointed a committee to represent their position to the Motor Cups Holding Company officials. On the following day, the committee for the entrants met at the ACA offices in New York to discuss their position with race officials. Hours of debate ensued, but it eventually became clear to everyone that after six years of controversial races, the sport had outgrown the venue. The deaths and injuries of the 1910 race put an end to road racing on Long Island.
1910 Race Statistics -->
1910
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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