Vanderbilt Cup Races

Captured was the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race on Long Island with driver Arthur Duray and mechanician Franville inside the 120hp, #18 Lorraine-Dietrich of France. This racer finished 3rd place averaging 60.7 mph. The 297 mile race was the longest of all the VCR races with 29.7 mile laps. The photo, I believe was taken in Williston Park on southbound Willis Ave (Mineola Ave) and Dartmouth St, at the precise 25mile course mark (a ‘calm’ stretch before the dangerous curve at Krugs). This location would be closest to Garden City where a hook curve appeared. Those spectators positioned as a human guardrail is definitely a problem! :O

From Mystery Foto #72 Solved: Arthur Duray Driving the #18 Lorraine-Dietrich During the 1906 Race

I believe this is the French Lorraine-Dietrich car driven by Arthur Duray in the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race. Since the course went mostly in a counter-clockwise direction, most of the turns were of the left-hand variety. There were a few possible right-hand turns for today’s mystery photo, however. First, the Westbury hairpin turn but that was too severe for today’s scene. Next, from I. U. Willets Road onto Willis Avenue, but that probably was not rural enough for today’s mystery. Therefore, I think today’s mystery location is at the western section of I.U. Willets Road soon after the drivers had left Lakeville Road and headed east where there was another right-hand turn.

From Mystery Foto #72 Solved: Arthur Duray Driving the #18 Lorraine-Dietrich During the 1906 Race

-Identify the car and driver.

#18 Lorraine-Dietrich driven by Arthur Duray

-Identify the Vanderbilt Cup Race.

1906 Cup Race

-Bonus: Provide your best guess of the photo’s unknown location.

Looking at the official 1906 course map, and judging by the electric/telephone wires and scenery, I’d place this at the last right-hand turn (near Red Ground Road today) at the telephone station just before the hairpin turn at Wheatley Rd/Old Westbury Rd in Old Westbury.

From Mystery Foto #72 Solved: Arthur Duray Driving the #18 Lorraine-Dietrich During the 1906 Race

love it lived on elda ln just east of ladenburg estates can’t wait cruise on it tell m to keep going to over carmen to newbridge rd.

From Pilot Section of the Motor Parkway Trail Is Under Construction in East Meadow(Updated:June 17, 2014)

I’m still confused even after looking at the 1906 course map. So then the cars would have exited 25a onto Wheatley Road ? I’m still confused as to where the cars came from before they got to Wheatley Road, as well as how long they remained on Old Westbury Road after the hairpin turn….where did they go from there ? Mike
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From Howard Kroplick

The course went down Glen Cove Road, made a left turn at Red Ground Road which in 1906 connected to Wheatley Road.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/the_course_for_the_1906_vanderbilt_cup_race

From Video: "The Hairpin Turn of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race"

Victor Hemery, Darracq, 1905.  1st Place.
As for where, I really have to study some other pictures.  This is most likely not the only picture this photographer took that day.

From Mystery Foto #72 Solved: Arthur Duray Driving the #18 Lorraine-Dietrich During the 1906 Race

Ha guys, what’s going on, got ya all stumped on mystery70. That’s why I’m sticking with Joe Stafford, because I’m thinking, he worked on the cars, so maybe he wanted to participate in a race, to see how the car performs. What do you all think about that?  What happen Greg, you’re not on top of this one?

From Mystery Foto #70 Still A Mystery: Is this Dario Resta?

Howard- One more look, some time next week, with the last update. Hopefully it will be finished by then. How’d you like that car photo from Westbury Gardens?

From Pilot Section of the Motor Parkway Trail Is Under Construction in East Meadow(Updated:June 17, 2014)

Howard,  my question is, did the cars travel on Wheatley Road toward Old Westbury Road (which is now the service road to the LIE), making a right on that very turn ? Or were the two roads altered somehow because to me,  it appears different today. I was up there on my motorcycle and it seems i could only access Wheatley Road from Westbury Pond. So where did the cars come from back then and which way did they go after the hairpin turn ?  Mike
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From Howard Kroplick

The race ran down Wheatley Road and made the “hairpin” right turn on to Old Westbury Road (now the northern LIE service road). The roads have been slightly altered since 1906, but the turn is fairly close to the original site as seen by the house at 1 Wheatley Road which was there in 1906 and is still standing.
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/sunday_june_28_2009_then_and_now_the_hairpin_turn_in_old_westbury

From Video: "The Hairpin Turn of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race"

It would be nice to see it continue west across the park to Merrick Avenue, and somehow follow the path over the curvy old Newbridge Avenue bridge spot.

From Pilot Section of the Motor Parkway Trail Is Under Construction in East Meadow(Updated:June 17, 2014)

Keep it coming. I’m going to get a little bit of car memories on Saturday at Demonstration Day at Simeone Automotive Museum, calling it Pantheons of Style, which includes 6 cars being driven around outside, what a day that will be.

From Memorable Moments From The 2014 Brickyard Invitational

From Donald Davidson (Historian, Indianapolis Motor Speedway):

Re your photo quiz:  I would say no way to that being Resta, and it isn’t Strang or Chandler either.  DD

From Mystery Foto #70 Still A Mystery: Is this Dario Resta?

I hav’nt been able to be out this way.  Has anyone been around the grandstand area recently? Has Josato Inc finished their house building?

From In Search of the Grandstand, Press Box/Officials Stand and Pits in Levittown

I’m still sticking with my answer

From Mystery Foto #70 Still A Mystery: Is this Dario Resta?

The picture cannot be Dario Resta because Resta has a widows peak hairline and the unknown gentleman in the picture has a straight hairline. This is genetically determined.

From Mystery Foto #70 Still A Mystery: Is this Dario Resta?

Howard,

Mazel Tov!!!!

Roger

From Hemmings Classic Car receives national award for the "Black Beast" article

Thanks for all the suggestions.

From Mystery Foto #70 Still A Mystery: Is this Dario Resta?

Louis chevrolet at the Indy museum

From Mystery Foto #71 Solved: A Bust of Louis Chevrolet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Eddie Rickenbacker

From Mystery Foto #71 Solved: A Bust of Louis Chevrolet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Looks like Louis Chevrolet. Don’t know where it might be.

From Mystery Foto #71 Solved: A Bust of Louis Chevrolet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway