Vanderbilt Cup Races

The most obvious clue was the Jackson County marker for “Sni-A-Bar Road.”  The street name was easy to locate, and it clearly associated the car with the Kansas City, Missouri metro area. 

Comparison with stock photo images identified the model year as 1941.  Some further searching on the internet revealed that Harry Truman was the original owner of the car.  After re-election to the Senate in 1940, he bought it for his own use.  It is a Royal Club Coupe. 

The car was eventually acquired by the Truman Library in Independence.  To prepare the car for display, a full restoration was performed with Chrysler factory support.  Information is available at Trumanlibrary.org

From Mystery Foto #23 Solved: Senator Harry Truman's 1941 Chrysler Royal Club Coupe

Bit of a late update; I have the trophy won by John Fitch in the 1951 Hayground Cup Race for FIII cars at Bridgehampton driving Chuck Kotchan’s Effyh 500. I will try to upload some images. Fitch’s race record shows that he competed at Bridgehampton in 1951 but not in 1952. I believe the film clip could be from 1951.

From Mystery Fotos #50 Solved: Old 16 and The Beast in Bridgehampton (1951-1952)

Harry Truman’s 1941 Chrysler Royal located at his library in Missouri. I was clued in by the desk and the reflection in the glass.

From Mystery Foto #23 Solved: Senator Harry Truman's 1941 Chrysler Royal Club Coupe

This is great stuff. Uncovering first hand experience of old Long Island with the Motor Parkway as a viaduct. Please keep this going.

From My Motor Parkway Story #4: Bob Andreocci and "Stand By Me" on the Parkway

hi my father Henry Seitz was a mechanic he had always told me that he helped blueprint the engine in the car that won the Indy 500 driven by Wilbur Shaw, I would like to no is there any truth in that. I would appreciate it if anyone could help me. Thank you for your time…..........Pat Seitz

From In the Indy Formula One Garage: The 1939 Maserati Racer that Won the 1939 and 1940 Indy 500 Races

Howard, does the Beast still have the converted 1910 telescopic shock absorbers installed? This was apparently a key modification for increased performance. Thanks Ariejan for pointing this out. 
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From Howard Kroplick

Nope, the Black Beast was restored to its 1909 configuration.

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Harry Grant Preparing the Alco for the 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race

Outstanding quality photos of 100+ years. In the last photo the banner reads, “...1910 Elgin Nat’l Championship.” Was the banner for a prior Lozier? Elgin victory or advertising the current race? Lozier finished 5th in the Vanderbilt Cup race in 1910.
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From Howard Kroplick

Frank, I believe the banner which promoted the Lozier which won the 1910 Elgin race

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Harry Grant Preparing the Alco for the 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race

Almost 300 years after her home was built (originally for the Titus family) Mrs Hitchcock would be unhappy to learn that the Catholic Church, which now owns the property, plans to tear down the home and replace it with…..a cemetery.

From From the Library of Congress: Spectators at the Vanderbilt Cup Races

Was clueless but after a face match from this site, this could be driver Harry Grant/mechanician Frank Lee behind the wheel of Bette Noir. There’s a faded #8 on the grill (1908), so these daredevils could be preparing for the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race (#18)

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Harry Grant Preparing the Alco for the 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race

Great pictures!!!

From From the Library of Congress: Spectators at the Vanderbilt Cup Races

Just a guess;
The ALCO Black Beast prepping for the 1909 Cup race. Harry Grant driving with his mechanician Frank Lee.
ALCO also started producing trucks that year so it would make sense that the team would use a new ALCO truck.

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Harry Grant Preparing the Alco for the 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race

Howard,
I can’t believe that you need help identifying your own car! (Ha Ha!)  This is the 1909 Alco-6 racer “Bête Noir”, the “Black Beast”.  Driver is Harry Grant, and the mechanician is George Babcock.  The event is preparation for the Elgin National Trophy Race in 1911.  The truck in the background is (of course) an Alco (maybe 3.5 ton?)

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Harry Grant Preparing the Alco for the 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race

Is that the same ALCO truck that was once owned by Henry Austin Clark and now fully restored living on Long Island? Bob

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Harry Grant Preparing the Alco for the 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race

The racing car is of course an Alco, probably shortly before the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup race. In 1909 the Alco used friction-type shock absorbers, whereas in 1910 Alco had mounted telescopic shock absorbers, like on the photo. At the wheel Harry Grant, but about the mechanician I have doubts. It isn’t Frank Lee, but I see some resemblance with Ralph De Palma. I can’t think of any reason though why he would sit next to Grant. De Palma was racing mostly Fiat at the time and didn’t compete for the Vanderbilt Cup of that year. The truck is obviously an Alco too. Alco had started truck building in 1909 with a 3 ton truck. Interesting is also the light-coloured car on the left in the background, which seems to be Mulford’s Lozier in touring trim.
I have no idea where the photo was taken. The structure in the background seems to be some kind of hangar, but I couldn’t find it on any other photo in my archive.

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Harry Grant Preparing the Alco for the 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race

That sure looks like Harry Grant in the driver’s seat so the racer must be the ALCO Black Beast. But that doesn’t look like Frank Lee next to Grant so it could be George Babcock, the only other mechanician to ride with Grant. If that’s true, then they must be preparing for the Elgin National Trophy Race that took place on October 26, 1911. The truck in the background appears to be an ALCO Power Wagon or 3 1/2 ton truck.

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Harry Grant Preparing the Alco for the 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race

Amazing results and great pics of historic OCR bridge; she still stands tall! This Motor Parkway section could be part of an excellent 1.5 mi. stretch of rural greenway from NHP Rd to Herricks High School at I.U. Willets Rd. This right-of-way appears mostly undisturbed and intact. With tall brush fencing off the backyards, the scenery would be reminiscent of the ol’ days. Now that would be inviting and practical for all. Hats off for another LIMP win at OCR!

From The Amazing Clean-Up of the Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge

this is the kind of connection between “old car guys/collectors” and the general community that there needs to be so much more of. It makes the kids and their teachers feel they are really part of why we have an interest in the preservation of historic automobiles and transportation. All who participated will carry this memory of the experience the rest of their lives. Once again Howard you are a peer in the promotion of our passionate interest in early cars.

From Smiles and Thumbs-Ups from the Great Neck South High School's Rebel Car Club Show

Just Wonderful! The way you so willingly share your cars is an inspiration….!

From Smiles and Thumbs-Ups from the Great Neck South High School's Rebel Car Club Show

Uncle fester was played by the child star Jackie Coogan while Carolyn Jones played Morticia Gomez was played by John Astin and Ted Cassidy was lurch(You Rang?) who was also the voice of Franenstein Jr

From Mystery Foto #49 Solved: Charles Addams and his wife Barbara Jean in Southampton Updated:10/30/16

I remember Leo Krasek, who was pictured in one of your photos here. I am 70 this year and I was about 15 when I used to go over to Leos garage which was at his home in Bensenville, Ill. He was always in the corner of his shop doing metal turning on his lathe. 1957 he bought a new Ford 2 dr. sedan model which he put fuel injection on and several drivers were over there consulting with him . many good stories about Leo.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive-The Helck Family Memoirs #1: Old 16 at the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race