Vanderbilt Cup Races

Jun 03 2009
The Motor Parkway Bridge over Broad Hollow Road in Melville

Edith, when Al Velocci and I wrote The Long Island Motor Parkway, we wanted to include many photos which have never been published before. Just one month prior to our deadline, we discovered this rare 1935 photo of the Broad Hollow Bridge looking north in the archives of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum. (3 comments)

Jun 01 2009
May 2009 Viewership Sets Monthly High

For the third consecutive month, VanderbiltCupRaces.com reached a record 2009 viewership, averaging 97 unique daily visitors in May, up 49% from the 2008 monthly average and an increase of 21% from April. VanderbiltCupRaces.com is currently rated #1 by Google among 173,000 websites for a search on "Vanderbilt Cup Races". (0 comments)

May 30 2009
Experience the Alco-6 Black Beast Racer’s Road Test

On Friday, May 29, 2009, the Alco-6 Black Beast Racer was road tested for the first time since its return to the United States from Belgium on New Year's Day. Experience the excitement of riding in the 1909 Alco-6 Black Beast in this two-minute film. (0 comments)

May 30 2009
The Premier Vanderbilt Cup Racer that Never Raced

The Premier Motor Company of Indianapolis, Indiana in 1905 built a special race car to compete in the 1905 American Elimination Trial and Vanderbilt Cup Race. The four-cylinder car had a huge 923.4 cubic inch engine; the largest air-cooled motor in existence and some speculated that it could produce 100 horsepower. As shown in this photo submitted by Mark Dill, this Premier Vanderbilt Cup Racer is currently exhibited at the Hall of Fame Museum at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (6 comments)

May 28 2009
Vanderbilt Cup Race Art from West Wales

From the spectacular paintings of Peter Helck to the tin can art of David Wasserman, the action and passion of the Vanderbilt Cup Races have inspired artists for over 100 years. Today, David Holland, an artist specializing in motorsports from West Wales, continues to portray the drama and excitement of these races. (0 comments)

May 28 2009
Video:“The Mets Take the Field” (2009)

As described in my website profile, in addition to my passion for Long Island and auto racing history, I have been a die-hard Met fan since 1963 and can often be seen waving a large Met flag on the Excelsior level behind home plate at CitiField. My friends and I have also been included in the official video shown at every 2009 home game, just before the Mets take the field. Check out the flag-waver at the 46-second mark of this brief film. (1 comments)

May 27 2009
The Vanderbilts on their 1907 Palm Beach Vacation

In the winter of 1907, 29-year old William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. and his 32-year old wife Virginia "Birdie" went on vacation at the most luxurious hotel in Florida, The Breakers in Palm Beach. (0 comments)

May 25 2009
Joe Tracy and Old 16’s Last Great Victory

Joe Tracy drove in three Vanderbilt Cup Races (1904, 1905, and 1906). But, after driving the Locomobile to a 10th place finish in the 1906 Race, he decided to retire from racing . However, Joe never lost his love for speed and the "Old 16" Locomobile. In June 1946, Tracy was given another opportunity for glory. Peter Helck choose 73-year old Joe Tracy to drive "Old 16" at the Automotive Golden Jublilee sponsored by the Veteran Motor Club of America at the Mineola Fairgrounds. (4 comments)

May 24 2009
NY Times “How the Indianapolis Brickyard Fell Into Place”

Today's New York Times includes an article "How the Indianapolis Brickyard Fell Into Place". The article in the Automobile Section by Don Sherman provides a history of this pioneering racetrack and gives significant credit to the Long Island Motor Parkway: (0 comments)

May 22 2009
Ray Harroun in the Vanderbilt Cup Races

Tom, yes, Ray Harroun, winner of the first Indy 500 Race, drove a Marmon in the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race and the 1909 Wheatley Sweepstakes which ran concurrently with the Vanderbilt Cup Race. (0 comments)