Mystery Foto #60 Solved: #4 Chadwick on the LIRR Bridge on Ellison Road in Westbury during the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Did you identify this mystery racer?
Answers to the Mystery Foto:
- The race car:
- 60 HP #4 Chadwick "Big "\
- Driver and Mechanician:
- Willie Haupt (driver) and E.A. Lindquist (mechanician)
- What year and race(s)?
- 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
- What was the outcome for this car?
- Finished 10th. Magneto problem on lap 7. Running in lap 9 when race was called.
- Exact location
- Heading south of the LIRR Bridge on Ellison Road in Westbury
- Kudos: What was unique about this race car?
- The first supercharged racing car in the Vanderbilt Cup Races and American Grand Prize
Update 12/29/25: Comments (6)
Congrats to Steve Lucas, Art Kleiner, an Bob Baruskas for solving this week's Mystery Foto!!
Greg O. and Howard Kroplick
#4 Chadwick in the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
At the starting line in front of the grandstands.
On top of the Newbridge Road Motor Parkway Bridge.
At the bottom of the same bridge.
The Chadwick developed a magneto problem on lap 7.
The Chadwick battling the Locomobile Old 16 as depicted in another Peter Helck classic.
Comments
That’s the number 4 Chadwick being driven by Willie Haupt with E. A. Lindquist as the mechanician during the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race. Haupt was running in lap #9 when the race was called. He finished 10th. This photo shows Haupt heading south on Ellison Road about to go over the LIRR bridge in Westbury. The Chadwick was one of only two enties with 6 cylinders (the other was the #11 Acme) and the only one with a supercharger.
Chadwick “Big Six”
William Haupt, E.A. Lindquist
1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race, had Magneto problem, finished 10th
1908 American Grand Prix, left in 5th lap due to a bearing problem
Ellison Avenue Bridge, Westbury
First “Supercharged” car
See U.S. Census bureau records of Haupt’s occupation as working in an automobile garage in 1920 and in 1930 as an automobile engineer.
THE AUTOMOBILE IS THE “BIX SIX” CHADWICK, DRIVEN BY WILLIAM HAUPT. THE MECHANICIAN WAS E.A. LINDQUIST.
OCTOBER 10TH,1908 VANDERBILT CUP RACE AND THE AMERICAN GRAND PRIZE.
THE AUTO FINISHED 10TH, IT HAD A MAGNETO PROBLEM IN THE 7TH LAP, RUNNING IN LAP 9, THE RACE WAS CALLED..
THE CHADWICK WAS THE FIRST SUPERCHARGED BIG “SIX” TO BE DRIVEN IN THE
VANDERBILT CUP RACES.
Fantastic Peter Helck painting capturing the intense battle to lead, in early Autumn, on Oct 24. The detail is magnificent! The No.4 Chadwick was well captured during this race.
Why was the race called?
Shawn, the 1908 race was called since the crowds stormed the course soon after George Robertson won the race. https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/chaos_at_the_finish_of_the_1908_vanderbilt_cup_race