Vanderbilt Cup Races

Dec 07 2009
The Bridges of the Vanderbilt Cup Races (1908-1910)

A unique feature of the last three Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island were the new Motor Parkway bridges. For the 1908 race, the course included 16 new bridges over a 9-mile parkway section from East Meadow to Bethpage. (8 comments)

Dec 05 2009
Film “The 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course”

The course for the first Vanderbilt Cup Race in 1904 covered 30.24 miles of public roads in the center of Long Island. This 10-minute film documents the course using some of my favorite photos and clips from the American Biograph & Mutoscope film of the race. (1 comments)

Dec 04 2009
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Rare View of a Vanderbilt Cup Race in Bethpage

As a follow-up to our recent discussion of the public roads of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race, I recently acquired a copy of this rare photo of a Vanderbilt Cup Race...which came with no captions or notes. I have seen thousands of photos of my favorite races, but never from this location. It was my task to identify the action for the copyright holder. Here goes: (3 comments)

Dec 04 2009
The Planned Fresh Meadows Motor Parkway Western Terminus in 1912

As noted in earlier posts, the final western terminus of the Long Island Motor Parkway was located at the Nassau Boulevard intersection in Fresh Meadows. However, a review of original Motor Parkway survey maps indicate that this was not the original plan. (5 comments)

Dec 02 2009
November 2009 Highlights on VanderbiltCupRaces.com

VanderbiltCupRaces.com recorded it third highest monthly in its two-year history with 2,851 unique viewers in November, an average of 95 daily viewers. For the first 11 months of 2009, a total of 28,644 viewers have visited VanderbiltCupRaces.com, a 83% increase over 2008. (0 comments)

Dec 01 2009
A New Website Favorite- Horseless Carriage Foundation

If you research automobiles or auto racing history from 1895 to 1922, you should consider becoming a member of the Horseless Carriage Foundation. (0 comments)

Nov 28 2009
Louis Chevrolet and the End of the Long Island Vanderbilt Cup Races

Chevrolet’s steely-eyed focus shown in 1905 and 1908 was noted by William Durant, chairman of General Motors, who wanted to promote Buicks through auto racing. By 1909 Durant hired both Louis and younger brother Arthur. Both worked on the cars, but Louis joined Lewis Strang and Bob Burman, men with all-out driving styles similar to Chevrolet, as teammates. (0 comments)

Nov 27 2009
Louis Chevrolet and the Vanderbilt Cup Races- Part II

After his tenth place finish in the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race, Chevrolet was mentored by two larger-than-life personalities: French champion Victor Hemery and front-wheel drive pioneer J. Walter Christie. (1 comments)

Nov 26 2009
Louis-Joseph Chevrolet and the Vanderbilt Cup Races- Part I

Only four drivers particpated in half of the six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island; Herb Lytle (1904, 1905, and 1908), William Luttgen (1904, 1906,and 1908), Joe Tracy (1904, 1905, and 1906) and a driver whose name would become one of the most famous brands in American car history- Louis Chevrolet. Known for his daring, fearless and, sometimes. reckless racing style, Chevrolet's driving would also be one of the reasons the races would leave Long Island. But, let's start at the beginning.… (0 comments)

Nov 26 2009
Recent Photos from the Indy 500 Hall of Fame Museum

Rich Edwards of Arnold, Missouri has submitted several photos of his recent trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum including the #32 Marmon, winner of the Inaugural Indy 500 race. (4 comments)