Kleiner’s Korner: Part 2 - Vanderbilt Cup Race Illustrations of “The NY World” - The Dangers of Curves and Speed
Illustrations in Part 2 of this series feature "The World's" view of the danger of the course due to its curves and speed to be traveled.
Art Kleiner
The dangers of curves and the need for speed!
The four most dangerous parts of the course.
Speed is king!
"The sharp turn at Jericho" and the danger of going 60 mph.
The Jericho location.
The Queens turn.
Joe Tracy maneuvering around the curve.
"The dangerous turn at Bethpage" and the need to slow down!
William Luttgen in his Mercedes rounding the curve.
The curves necessitated a team approach to get through without incident.
The slightest deviation at 60 mph would send the racer "crashing through the house".
The height of the wheel clearing the road when making a sharp turn road at 60 mph.
The illustration depicts Louis Ross in his tear-drop shaped Stanley Steamer, however Ross did not race in the 1904 VCR, but at Ormand Beach ("The Dawn of Speed" Beverly Kae Kimes, 1987)
Ross at the 1905 Ormand Beach races.
"Mr. E. R. Thomas and his chauffer driving under a-mile-a minute".
Mr. W. Gould Brokaw taking to the air!
And in his 1904 Renault.
The "World" also took a dim view the races at The Empire Track in Yonkers! Not an encouraging view of auto racing!
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