Vanderbilt Cup Races

Aug 31 2011
Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series: #6 Wheeler Farmway Bridge #1 in Queens 1/19/16

When the 48 miles of the Motor Parkway were completed in 1926, a total of 60 bridges had been built over and under the parkway. Most of the bridges were used to avoid intersections of major roads. However, many of the bridges were built to connect adjoining properties and farms. These "farmway" bridges were part of the negotiations when the Long Island Motor Parkway, Inc. purchased the right-of way. The first farmway bridge from the Western Terminus was built to connect the north and south… (1 comments)

Aug 27 2011
A Tribute to the Mechanicians of the Vanderbilt Cup Races

Every race car that participated in the Vanderbilt Cup Races of 1904 to 1910 carried two men, the driver and a riding mechanic called a mechanician. The mechanician assisted with repairs, helped navigate the course, and, when needed, worked a hand pump to maintain fuel pressure. The mechanician was the most dangerous position on the course. Of the four deaths associated with the Long Island Vanderbilt Cup Races, three were mechanicians (one in 1904 and two in 1910) and one was a spectator… (9 comments)

Aug 26 2011
Long Island Automotive Event Update: News, Cancellations & Recent Comments-Saturday, August 27, 2011

Latest Long Island automotive news, cancellations and recent comments on VanderbiltCupRaces.com: (0 comments)

Aug 25 2011
Updating Eric Taylor’s Census of Long Island Motor Parkway License Plates

For several years, Eric Taylor has been documenting existing Long Island Motor Parkway license plates on his website page Long Island Motor Parkway Porcelain Census . Here are four new plates to add to Eric's census and five missing and color-correct plate images: (0 comments)

Aug 24 2011
Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series: #5 Rocky Hill Road (Springfield Boulevard) Bridge

A total of 60 Motor Parkway bridges were built from 1908 to 1926 ...a pioneering concept to eliminate grade crossings for an automobile road. There are four types of Motor Parkway bridges; over crossroads (parkway bridges), under crossroads (highway bridges), over railroad tracks (railroad bridge) and, as part of right-of-way agreements, to connect farmlands (farmway bridges). This series will document these bridges beginning at the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows, Queens to the Eastern… (0 comments)

Aug 23 2011
Willie K’s Cars: #5 The 90-HP Mercedes that Broke the One-Mile Land Speed Record in 1904

William K. Vanderbilt Jr. was among the first generation of people who grew up with the automobile. With his family’s fortune predicated on transportation perhaps it was inevitable that he was drawn to the latest innovation in machinery to transport goods and people from one place to another. Regardless, his fascination with the new mechanical marvels led him to some of his greatest adventures in a very adventurous life. Today's focus: The 90-HP Mercedes that he raced at the Ormond-Daytona… (0 comments)

Aug 22 2011
Highlights from the 2011 Vanderbilt Cup Region AACA Vanderbilt Museum Car Show

A wonderful time was had by all at the 2011 Vanderbilt Cup Region Vanderbilt Museum Car Show on Sunday at Centerport. Some highlights: (0 comments)

Aug 20 2011
1912 Vanderbilt Cup Race Pennant Sets New Ebay Record

The stock market may be going down, but the market for Vanderbilia appears to be heading up. Last week a 1912 Vanderbilt Cup Race pennant from the Milwaukee race sold for $5,209. This was a record Ebay price for any Vanderbilt Cup Race memorabilia. (0 comments)

Aug 19 2011
Ray Harroun: Winner of the 1911 Indy 500 and the 1909 Wheatley Sweepstakes

This Vanderbilt Cup Race driver profile focuses on Ray Harroun. Ray was the winner of the first Indy 500 Race driving a Marmon to victory in 1911. He also won the 1909 Wheatley Sweepstakes Race that was held in conjuction with the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race and finished 21st in a larger Marmon at the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race. (0 comments)

Aug 18 2011
Connecticut Humanities Council Article: “The Hardware City Could’ve Been the Motor City ”

The Connecticut Humanities Council has posted an article on the history of the Corbin Motor Vehicle Corporation which was based in Bristol, Connecticut. The company entered their Corbin Cannonball racer in the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race. (0 comments)