Vanderbilt Cup Races

Mar 22 2023

Greg O’s Garage; Willie K.‘s Racing Records

In 1908, W.K. Vanderbilt Jr. privately printed his automotive diary, "The Log of My Motor" noting his early racing records and achievements.

Greg O.

The Log of My Motor 1908

The 'Log of My Motor 1899-1908 started as Willie K's personal motoring diary documenting his early racing exploits and various European cities he visited.

In 1908, he decided to personally publish his accounts and had 200 copies beautifully printed and bound into books that are extremely rare and near impossible to come across today.

Forward by W.K.V. Jr.

A humble Foreward by Vanderbilt describing he's no author, but just wanted to put together an account of his European travels and racing records for his close friends who requested it.

Aquidneck Park Sept 6th 1900

Vanderbilt's 1900 23/28 HP Daimler Phoenix 'White Ghost' was not his first car, but his first racing car. Paying the then unheard-of amount of close to $10,000, the Daimler quenched his thirst for speed that his earlier steam, gas and electric automobiles could not.

The White Ghost transported Willie K from Newport to Boston in half the time of normal modes of transportation of the day. If not for a speeding arrest during the trip, Willie K. proclaimed, "Otherwise I would have been faster than the railways!"

Thus began his obsession with speed and the eventual horsepower increases of his future cars.

On September 6th, 1900, Willie K and his sporting, Newport socialite friends gathered at the half-mile, Aquidneck horse track near Newport, R.I. for some very early racing. Willie K. and the White Ghost swept 3 of the 5 mile-long events understandably becoming the star of his own event.

Willie K's very consistant times

Aquidneck Park Sept 14th 1901

Digitally colorized here to show his new 35hp Mercedes 'Red Devil', Willie K returned to Aquidneck the following year in 1901 racing with the likes of John Jacob Astor, James L. Breese, Reginald Vanderbilt, O.H.P. Belmont as well as many other well-known Newport racers and socialites.

The Red Devil also provided great results!

Kilometre Record May 2nd 1902

Willie K's next German machine was again a Mercedes, but a new 40hp Mercedes- Simplex this time. On his way to participate in the Circuit du Nord race, on May 2, 1902, Vanderbilt challenged Bishop and Baron Henri de Rothschild to a kilometer match race between Ablis and Chartres.

This car survives to this day at the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart, Germany.

Mercedes once again proving the worthiness of their vehicles whisking Vanderbilt through the Kilometer in just over 32 seconds beating his rivals and setting a record at the same time.

Circuit Du Nord May 1902

The same kilometer, record setting Mercedes-Simplex was entered in the Circuit Du Nord in May of 1902.

Not fairing well in this race, the Mercedes wheel sproket broke and Willie K was out of it at that point

Paris-to-Vienna June 26th 1902

Another new car for the Paris-to-Vienna race in 1902. A new 60hp Mors racer.

Mechanical issues plagued Vanderbilt in this race with him finishing 60th in the 140 car field.

Vanderbilt's full account of the race

Kilometre record...Again! 60 H.P. Mors

In his 60 H.P. Mors again he set the kilometer record.

A kilometer in 29.2 seconds at an average speed of 122.4 KPH (or 1 mile in 48.2 seconds)

Circuit Des Ardennes July 1903

Another heart-breaker for the speed demon at the Belgian Circuit des Ardennes race in 1903. A failed cylinder in the second round found Baron de Crawhez winning and not Willie K.