The Vanderbilt Cup Races

The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day. These exciting and dangerous races were the first international automobile road races held in the United States, drawing huge crowds from 25,000 to over 250,000 spectators. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways and are a testament to the early racing spirit and drama.

The Latest from the Blog:

Tuesday, March 9, 2010: The Alco “White Beast” at the 1910 Worcester Dead Horse Hill Climb

posted on Monday, March 08 2010 by Howard Kroplick

One of the earliest forms of automotive sports was competition against time over an uphill course. The "hill climbs" provided a natural venue for spectators and a challenge for the early automobiles.

The Alco-6 competed in two hill climbs in 1909 and 1910 in Worcester, Massachusetts- only 60 miles from the American Locomotive Company's factory in Providence, Rhode Island. The course was set up on the oddly named hill called the "Dead Horse Hill".

Driver Harry Grant and his trusty mechanician Frank Lee finished first in the 1909 Dead Horse Hill Climb (gasoline cars) and second in the 1910 race trailing only Caleb Bragg's "big Fiat" by 4 seconds. As seen in this photo, the Alco "Black Beast" was the #3 "White Beast" for this 1910 race.

More information on this photo is available on Mark Dill's excellent website Firstsuperspeedway.com.

Enjoy,

Howard Kroplick

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Future Howard Kroplick and Black Beast Events

-March 17, 2010 to August 1, 2010, Exhibition "Cars, Culture and the City", Museum of the City of New York

-Monday, March 22, 2010: Presentation "The Incredible Vanderbilt Cup Races" by Howard Kroplick. Restored Rusty Relics Car Club, Paramus, New Jersey. To benefit Child Abuse Prevention Services.

-Sunday, April 11, 2010, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Fifth Annual Spring Car Show Fundraiser, Smithtown. To benefit the St. Patrick School.

-Saturday, May 15, 2010: National Police Week Family Day, 1490 Franklin Avenue, Mineola. To celebrate the 85th anniversary of the Nassau County Police Department.

-Sunday, July 18, 2010, New York AutoFest 3, Hicksville. To benefit St. Paul the Apostle Knights of Columbus Council 6802.

-Sunday, September 12, 2010: The LI Moose Classic Car Club's 10th Anniversary Show, Mattituck. To benefit the Loyal Order of Moose, Lodge, #1742.