About
The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
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Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
Knew it in an instant. My first James Bond movie theater experience with my father at 6 years old, and still one of my favorite Bond stunts.
-In which film did this car stunt appear? Provide the film’s release year and its major stars.
James Bond! 1974; The Man With The Golden Gun Starring Roger Moore, Christopher Lee
-Where was this stunt filmed?
Thailand
-Identify the manufacturer of the car and its model.
1974 AMC Hornet X
-What was the name of the stunt driver?
Loren ‘Bumps’ Willert (correct spelling)
-Why is this car stunt credited with making cinematic history?
It’s the first stunt of any kind to be computer modeled.
-What was the major criticism of the car stunt as seen in the film?
I’ll assume you’re going for the poorly chosen slide whistle sound effect overdub.
-When and where was this car stunt first performed prior to appearing in the film?
Houston Astodome in 1972 by Jay Milligan in an AMC Javelin
-What was the official name of the stunt?
‘The Astro Spiral Jump’
Has this car stunt ever been successfully replicated?
In 2012 by Hollywood stuntman Brent Fletcher.
From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The Greatest Car Stunt in Film History in the "Man With the Golden Gun"
Knew it in an instant. My first James Bond movie theater experience with my father at 6 years old, and still one of my favorite Bond stunts.
-In which film did this car stunt appear? Provide the film’s release year and its major stars.
James Bond! 1974; The Man With The Golden Gun Starring Roger Moore, Christopher Lee
-Where was this stunt filmed?
Thailand
-Identify the manufacturer of the car and its model.
1974 AMC Hornet X
-What was the name of the stunt driver?
Loren ‘Bumps’ Willert (proper spelling)
-Why is this car stunt credited with making cinematic history?
It’s the first stunt of any kind to be computer modeled.
-What was the major criticism of the car stunt as seen in the film?
I’ll assume you’re going for the poorly chosen slide whistle sound effect overdub.
-When and where was this car stunt first performed prior to appearing in the film?
Houston Astodome in 1972 by Jay Milligan in an AMC Javelin
-What was the official name of the stunt?
‘The Astro Spiral Jump’
Has this car stunt ever been successfully replicated?
In 2012 by Hollywood stuntman Brent Fletcher.
From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The Greatest Car Stunt in Film History in the "Man With the Golden Gun"
Howard, Congratulations to you on this great acquisition to your collection of unusual, historic classic automobiles. I’m so pleased that it’s new home will be in your Roslyn, Long Island waterfront garage. I’m really looking forward to seeing it whenever you decide to show it. I applaud you for making your collection available to the public at car shows, both big and small. This Tucker has been hidden from the public for too long and I’m confident that you will rectify that. Even Tuckers need to feel the warm sunshine or gentle rain on their bodies from time to time. BTW, Although not original paint, I like the root beer brown color!
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale
Howard, Congrats on another amazing acquisition! Always know the ‘right ones’ to collect!
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale
All is well here. I know it’s going to take time to get it the way you want it,after that,I’m saying,down the road.I sure would to see it.I’ve seen Tucker’s,but I don’t think anything like this one and it’s yours,which makes it more special to me. I wish you the best with it and enjoy another piece of history.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale
Congrats on your newest addition . I look forward to your adventure with it and your sharing it with us ( Like all your others) You keep history alive and interesting .
Happy Motoring ,Chris Heisig
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale
From Ken:
Congrats. Somehow, after our conversation at the awards banquet, I suspected that a Tucker was in your sights.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale
From Sharon Mandel:
Can’t wait to see your Tucker!!
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale
From Robert R.:
Wonderful piece on the amazing Tucker.
Isn’t the engine a Lycoming aircraft engine?
And such great news!
All the best,
ROBERT
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Howard Kroplick:
Robert, the engine is a Franklin 0-335 which was initially built for early helicopters. I have added the engine history above.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale
Another great addition to your collection, Howard! And so happy its going to be on LI. Now, how about purchasing a 1997 Toyota Corolla - only five years for it to be antique. Sotheby’s hasn’t returned by call!
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale
From Robert R.:
Wonderful piece on the amazing Tucker.
Isn’t the engine a Lycoming aircraft engine?
And such great news!
All the best,
ROBERT
_______________________________________________
Howard Kroplick:
Robert, the engine is a Franklin 0-335 which was initially built for early helicopters. I have added the engine history above.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale
It may well be the “Greatest Car Stunt” (or the most fool-hardy) but, for me, absolutely NOTHING can ever top the indefatigable Bertha Benz’s 66 mile (106km) jaunt in August 1888 from Mannheim to her mother’s house in Pforzheim in company with her teen-age sons Eugen and Richard. It was without Karl Benz’s knowledge or any official sanction and took several days but racked up so many firsts as to be almost unbelievable. It’s worthy of a whole post of its own, especially after yesterday’s marches and our President’s denigration of women. Sam, III
From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The Greatest Car Stunt in Film History in the "Man With the Golden Gun"
Congrats to you. As I was reading this I was thinking that this is a car for you and then at the end,OMG,it’s yours,but when am I going to see it, Howard ? Pictures aren’t enough. I think I mentioned to you that they have a Cruise-In Show once a month here in The Villages,Spanish Springs,all are welcome from anywhere,all you have to do is register the car in advance to enter,when you get here. Howard you have to come here, you’ll love it,there’s nothing like it.You may even get an award for traveling the longest distance.If you need further details e-mail me and I’ll try to find out.
_______________________________________________________________
Howard Kroplick:
Ted, hope all is well. I have no plans yet except to bring it back to Waterfront at Roslyn garage.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale
From Jan H:
Just great. Can’t wait to see it!!!
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale
That was the Winton Housecar - a very cool thing to have survived.
http://jamesmeltonmusicalcareerantiquecars.blogspot.com/2009/11/1917-winton-housecar.html
There’s a brief article about it in the Antique Automobile, May-June 1956. About 1918, E. J. Fithian built it on a stretched 1917 Winton chassis, for use in his campaign for PA governor. Newspapers in the Midwest carried stories on his family’s western vacation in the car in 1921. He apparently stopped using it in 1926, and Melton bought it in 1954, completely restoring it.
Curiously, E. J. Fithian and Alexander Winton both received patents for engine governors on May 30, 1899.
From The Melton Museum of Norwalk, Connecticut (1948-1953)
Congratulations Howard! I love Tuckers and I agree with Gary. Restore it to the original green color. Can’t wait to see it here on Long Island. Enjoy!
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From Howard Kroplick:
Mike, that sure makes sense. The Tucker Automobile Club of America’s website provides a gallery of the Tuckers including their original and current colors.
http://tuckerclub.org/tucker-gallery/
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale
You certainly know how to put together a collection.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale
Congratulations Howard, one of my favorite cars. It’s brilliance really didn’t sink in until I saw my first one in person. As to the “continue driving” vs.“concours-quality” question; well let’s just say that I suspect that you will do both. My only question is: would you retain the Cord transmission in a concours-quality build?
Bob
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From Howard Kroplick:
Bob, I will take some time to research the next steps for the restoration including the transmission.
Wikipedia does a good job summarizing the features of Tucker automobiles :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucker_48
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale
1973, Thailand. With 8 cameras rolling and ambulance crews, divers and cranes standing by British stuntman Loren “Bumps” Willard drove an AMC Hornet at a wooden ramp at 40mph executing one of the most daring and memorable stunts in cinematic history. A 270 degree barrel roll across a narrow river. Willard was paid £30,000 for pulling off the stunt in a single take.
The US racing driver Jay Milligan conceived the stunt and even performed it in 1972 at the Houston Astrodome in an AMC Javelin, christening the stunt ‘The Astro Spiral Jump”. Milligan contacted the Bond producers with the stunt who promptly protected it preventing it appearing in any other preceding films. Milligan was the stunt driver in the AMC Hornet for the other scenes of the film but was called away from filming before performing the Corkscrew Jump. 15 AMC Hornets were used in filming with 2 set aside for the Corkscrew Jump.
The Stunt is credited with being the first to be computer simulated. The software had been developed by Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory for use in a road safety applications. More information can be found on this here.
The movie was The Man With The Golden Gun (James Bond) and the feat was labeled “The Corkscrew Jump”.
From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The Greatest Car Stunt in Film History in the "Man With the Golden Gun"
Wow! I’m betting nearly every car collector dreams of owning a Tucker. I noted that it was described at the auction as… “A recent “barn find,” unseen for 33 years” Wonderful that you are bringing it back to life for all of us to see and hear.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale
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