Vanderbilt Cup Races

I remember my summers out in the Hamptons during the 50’s with much fondness. Sometimes on rainy days my mother would go shopping in Southampton. On the way she would drop my friends and myself off at the museum. We were allowed to play among the cars without supervision. However, even at young age we were respectful of what was there. Sooner or later Austie would wander in, gather us up and take us for ride on the dirt roads behind the museum in his antique fire engine. Once in a while I got to sit in the front seat with him and ring the bell.

From Hamptons Road Trip: A 1928 Renault Barn Find & Site of the Long Island Automotive Museum Up for Sale

We see George Robertson and mechanician Warren in a 90 HP Apperson, built for the Elimination Trials for the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup. The car never made it to the starting line, because it had a serious accident by hitting a telegraph pole during practice. The car was completely bent around the pole, but miraculously both driver and mechanician were not seriously hurt.
For 1907 from this racer a high speed runabout was developed, the ‘Jack Rabbit’. This car was according to the description in the ‘Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal’ a racing car of medium power and light weight, constructed in many aspects along the lines of the 1906 racer. The car had a 50 hp motor and was geared to 75 miles an hour at 1200 rpm. It must have been a thrill to drive it at that speed on the American country roads ...

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The Apperson Jack Rabbit Racer Built for the 1906 American Elimination Trial

The Southhampton Auto Museum opened about the same time, right? now finally up for sale. Did James Melton know Henry Austin Clark at the time?

From The Melton Museum of Norwalk, Connecticut (1948-1953)

An Apperson car which was trying to be entered for the 1906 Cup race, but crashed
during qualifying on Old Westbury Road, Roslyn. The driver was George Robertson and the
mechanician was Arthur Warren. The crash destroyed the vehicle, which had a nickname, “The Jackrabbit”.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The Apperson Jack Rabbit Racer Built for the 1906 American Elimination Trial

From David Grappolo:

- Identify the racer including year, manufacturer, and nickname
    1906 90 HP Apperson racer
    Nickname: “Big Dick”

- Identify the driver and mechanician in the Mystery Foto
    Driver: George Robertson (which also took part in the 1905 Vanderbilt Elimination Trials on 60 HP Christie)
    Mechanic: Warren

- In which Vanderbilt Cup Race was this racer built for?
    1906 Vanderbilt Cup

- What happened to the racer?
    Accident during practice

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The Apperson Jack Rabbit Racer Built for the 1906 American Elimination Trial

From Robert R.:

Back when I was a teenager, my parents lived in Greenwich.

There used to be a Mobil station/parking garage on Arch Street, across from the RR station.  The space now is occupied by Carriage House.

Jimmy Melton used to keep a few cars there, the most notable (to me) being what had to be the first motor home.  Velveteen seats, a small galley, and even an enclosed toilet.  I’d say it could seat about 12 people.

I used to just love to go look at it, and on occasion, sneak inside.

Would love to find out where it is today.

From The Melton Museum of Norwalk, Connecticut (1948-1953)

Yeeks!  Simeone is only 2 miles from my stepson’s house!  With an S Mercedes and a SS-100 Jag there, it’s off to Philly ASAP for me!  Sam, III

From A 1907 Renault 35-45 HP "Vanderbilt Racer" has a New Home in Philadelphia

WOW!  Two references to Kirk Gibson in one day’s post AND to George Waterman in this one, too.  My interest in them is primarily because they owned, and drove, the 1866 Dudgeon Steam Wagon now in the Smithsonian, <http://sbiii.com/dudgeon.html>, et seq.  Sam, III
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From Howard Kroplick I

FYI, Kirk Gibson Sr.‘s son Kirk Gibson, Jr. was the person who donated the Renault Vanderbilt Racer to the Simeone Museum. I encourage you to visit this wonderful museum!

From A 1907 Renault 35-45 HP "Vanderbilt Racer" has a New Home in Philadelphia

Uh, oh!  You’re scaring me!  I have an absolutely-clear memory of one of my very first long-distance drives (ca. 1951) being from LI north, stopping at the Melton Museum somewhere “way up” along the NY-CT/MA/VT border, NOT down in Norwalk.  I used to visit a friend in northwest Westport (almost in Weston) and it was nowhere near there.  I was a very early member of the CCCA and KNEW my car museums.  It was just before it closed/moved and I was most likely on one my many trips up to Plattsburg(h).  It was probably on Route 22, or possibly 7, but definitely on the east side of a major N-S main drag (right hand side N/B).  Margo (or someone) - HELP, please!  Sam, III
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From Howard Kroplick I

From James Melton’s Book: “Bright Wheels Rolling”

..we had arranged to house my collection in Norwalk- some 20.000 square feet in two buildings…When we opened on July 24, 1948, we had 54 cars on display.”

From The Melton Museum of Norwalk, Connecticut (1948-1953)

I was so surprised and delighted to see mention of my father’s car collection here—and thank you, Howard, for such kind words about the biography I wrote about him.

From The Melton Museum of Norwalk, Connecticut (1948-1953)

Hi Howard are u still holding meetings for the limp society in Bethpage I been in active for awhile in person and would like to restart attending meetings and I do not see postings on any of the websites? thanks LBG
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From Howard Kroplick:

Lynn, we most recently had on-site meeting at the Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge and the Creedmoor Pedestrian Underpass. We will have a Bethpage Library meeting in the Spring. Keep watching VanderbiltCupRaces.com for details.

From Newsday and Patch: Kroplick Appointed Town Historian

I wonder what the inventory was in that museum? It appears that he was fond of speedsters. And where did all of those cars go?

Where have all of these small museums gone would make the subject of a good article.
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From Howard Kroplick

Ronald, after Melton died in 1961, many of his automobiles were purchased by Winthrop Rockefeller.

http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=4096

Some of Melton’s automobiles may still be in the Museum of Automobiles in Morrillton, Arkansas:

http://www.museumofautos.com/exhibits.php

From The Melton Museum of Norwalk, Connecticut (1948-1953)

Correction - I believe the Jackrabbit was also used in 1907 as shown in an ad sent to Howard.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The Apperson Jack Rabbit Racer Built for the 1906 American Elimination Trial

Identify the racer including year, manufacturer, and nickname
1906 90hp Apperson (Apperson Motor Car Company owned by Edgar and Elmer Apperson).  Not sure of the nickname for this, but a 1909 Apperson was called the Jackrabbit.
 
Identify the driver and mechanician in the Mystery Foto.
George Robertson and Arthur Warren.

In which Vanderbilt Cup Race was this racer built for? What happened to the racer? Update: Hint-This racer never made it to the starting line.
1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race, however was first entered in the American Trial.
Racer crashed on a practice run prior to the trial.  Robertson and Warren both hospitalized. 

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The Apperson Jack Rabbit Racer Built for the 1906 American Elimination Trial

Apperson car, crashed in practice for the 1906 American Elimination trials. George Robertson and mechanic Arthur Warren. Other cars that did not start that year were Maxwell and BLM.  Entries withdrawn for that year were Stanley and Wayne.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The Apperson Jack Rabbit Racer Built for the 1906 American Elimination Trial

Marvelous. My father and I used to drive past this everyday on our way to and from our jobs. And to think I never went in even tho I had a 49 MGTC at the time. Would have changed my whole life.

From The Melton Museum of Norwalk, Connecticut (1948-1953)

Mom & Dad used to visit the Melton Collection and that Renault racer was found here in Ridgefield in 1943. William K. Vanderbilt’s daughter lived here in town until her passing in 2011 at the age of 107. Bob

From The Melton Museum of Norwalk, Connecticut (1948-1953)

I remember going to his museum in Florida in the early 190s. It was in an old casino building which made a great setting for displaying his collection.

From The Melton Museum of Norwalk, Connecticut (1948-1953)

Mystery Foto #2….The racer in the photo is a 1906 Apperson Jack Rabbit.
George Robertson was the driver and Arthur Warren the mechanician.
It was built for the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup
but was destroyed in a crash while racing in the American Elimination Trial.
P.S. Most of the answers I use for the Mystery Foto Questions are found with Internet research BUT… I actually remembered the nickname (Jack Rabbit) of the Apperson probably giving a strong indication of my age.
P.S.S. And for only $5000 you could buy replica of the racer for yourself!!!

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The Apperson Jack Rabbit Racer Built for the 1906 American Elimination Trial

To me it looks like the Alco Black Beast,
Howard Kroplick owns now

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The Apperson Jack Rabbit Racer Built for the 1906 American Elimination Trial