Jan 21 2025

Mystery Friday Foto #3 Solved: The 1904 Panhard #15 At the Starting Line


Did you identify the 1904 Panhard #15 at the starting line?

Identify;

  • The Car

#15 90hp Panhard (France)

  • Driver and Mechanician

Driven by George Teste with Mechanician E. Artent

  • Race and date with the outcome for this racer

​​​​​​​October 8, 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race- Finished 12th. Led race after first 3 laps. Ignition problems on Bethpage Road during lap 4.

  • Identify any notable people around the car

Willie K. Vanderbilt Jr. with fur collar, hat and back to camera is the only definite identifiable official. However, ​​​​​​​Jefferson DeMont Thompson may be near the rear wheel (although he wasn't officially involved until 1906) and possibly Peter Prunty in bowler hat in lower right (he was not the starter that year)

Comments (5)

Congrats to Bob Barauskas, Frank Femenias, Steve Lucas, and Art Kleiner for identifying the Panhard.

Greg O. 

Comments

Jan 17 2025 BOB BARAUSKAS 5:04 PM

#15 Panhard (France) driven by George Teste. 90 HP. Finished 12th. Led race after first 3 laps. Ignition problems on Bethpage Road during lap 4.
The driver was George Teste
The Mechanician was E. Artent
The race was the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race held October 8, 1904
Finished 12th in the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Jan 17 2025 frank femenias 10:56 PM

The French Panhard #15 at the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race, Oct 8, 1904. This 90hp racer driven by George Teste with mechanician E. Artent led the first three laps but then encountered ignition problems on Lap 4 in Bethpage (Central Park), ultimately finishing in 12th place. Willie K is standing at the bottom center with a cap and fur collar with his back to the camera. I believe that’s Mr Dermott by the mechanician’s rear wheel with the white band on his left arm. If the photo is at the starting line on Jericho Tpke in Westbury between Post Rd and Hitchcock Ln, the photo is looking SSW. But the photo may have also captured one of the two Controls on the 1904 course. I would assume Willie K and race officials were likely tending near the Start/Finish line in Westbury.

Jan 18 2025 Steve Lucas 4:20 PM

That’s the number 15 (90 HP) Panhard & Levassor driven by Georges Teste with mechanician E. Artent at his side. The photo was taken on October 8, 1904 during the first Vanderbilt Cup Race. The Panhard finished in the number 12 position. I’m fairly certain that’s Willie K. in the fur coat (foreground) with his back to the camera. Standing near the left rear wheel could be the starter C. H. Gillette although at first I thought it was Jefferson DeMont Thompson. Standing next to the driver (Teste) could be A. R. Pardington. In the lower right corner with the distinctive bowler hat could be Peter Prunty although he wasn’t the starter that year.

Jan 19 2025 Art Kleiner 4:38 PM

90 hp Panhard
Driver George Teste, Mechanician E. Artent
1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race, October 8, 1904
Finished 12, had to pull out in 4th round due to ignition problem.

Jan 19 2025 Art Kleiner 4:39 PM

One more . . . results

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