Vanderbilt Cup Races

You most be thrilled about this Howard. Are you thinking what I am, that maybe you’ll be able to get a Saturday or Sunday drive on it with The Beast, like we did in Queens?  See you at the Great Neck Library tonight

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

Very interesting early auto design concepts going on here. With the horseless carriage in play, I can see advanced auto engineering already in process and moving forward, and it’s only 1914. Thanks Howard for clarifying with all the information!

From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype

Ha Greg, you really outdid yourself on this one, along with Simon with the website. Thanks again for trying to help me, I must have done something wrong on my search.

From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype

I’m not having any luck with this one, even with the hint that Greg gave me. The only thing I can say is that I notice the car has the same type tires and wooden rims as the Vanderbilt Cup cars do and that it a very uniquely designed car

From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype

This is the “Ricotti Alfa” It started as a 1913 40/60 HP Alfa Romeo. In 1914, it was turned into an Aerodinamica by Carrozzeria Castagna at the request of count Marco Ricotti. It was capable of 86 MPH due to its aerodynamic shape. An Alfa Romeo driven by Tazio Nuvolari won the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alfa_40-60_HP_Aerodinamica.jpg

From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype

Don’t have a clue but based on those wooden wheels, it must’ve landed on the planet early 1900’s. Possibly an early attempt of a mobile observation bus for viewing the races? There was the Thermos truck but this shape nearly matches the pods from ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’. You got me.

From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype

Hi Howard,
Mystery Photo 66 is of a car built by Alfa Romeo.  The model is known as the Alfa Romeo Aerodinamica and was built in 1914.  The design features are the aerodynamic shape, the use of lightweight aluminum body panels, and the use of curved glass, especially for the windshields.  It is also interesting that it is a multi seat car, but it only had one door.  As far as the relationship with the manufacturer and the Vanderbilt Cup races, I would note that Tazio Nuvolari won the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup race in an Alfa Romeo 12C-36.

Regards,
Steve McKelvie

From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype

Cycle & Automobile Trade Journal, Oct.1, 1906, says that Lee Frayer’s mechanic in the Elimination Race was Dick Offenberg, no mention of Eddie Rickenbacker.
In Rickenbacker’s biography he claims the engine overheated, started knocking and Frayer stopped as a piston was about to seize.
The actual report in the Cycle & Auto Journal story is that a bronze casting strut (a frame support) broke, letting the propeller shaft move out of place which broke the clutch.
The Cycle & Auto Journal story seems quite detailed and is accurate regarding all the other mechanician names.

From Another Vanderbilt Cup Race Mystery: Was Eddie Rickenbacker the Mechanician in this 1906 Photo?

Thanks for the pix.  I’m sorry I couldn’t make it that day due to a conflict.
I’ve been to Marty’s place numerous times and he’s always a terrific host.

Rog

From Images From the Himes Museum of Motor Racing Nostalgia in Bay Shore

The chassis for this car was built by A.L.F.A. in Italy. It was the 40-60 hp model of 6 liters capacity built from 1913 to 1922. The engine produced 70 hp @ 2,200 rpm. An open roadster bodied car achieved 75 mph. This body was designed and built by Castagna in Italy in 1914 for Count Marco Ricotti of Milan. The car was called the Siluro Ricotti. It was one of the first aerodynamically designed automobile bodies for a road car and achieved a speed of 86 mph. It was altered in 1915 to an open body retaining the windshield, lower body, fenders and tail section. An Alfa Romeo 12C-36 won the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup driven by Tazio Nuvolari. A replica of the Siluro Ricotti was built in the 70’s and is now in the Alfa Romeo museum.

From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype

Hope the following link works. Try copy/paste if this doesn’t come through as a link. If all else fails go to the Lime Rock Facebook page and look for March 28 entry. It’s to the list for the starting grid of the 1989 Formula Libre Recreation Event at Lime Rock, listing Marty Himes driving #25. It was a fun event to watch. My father-in-law attended the original 1959 event and said it was one of the greatest races ever. Howard, thanks for starting every Sunday with something interesting.
https://www.facebook.com/limerockpark#!/photo.php?fbid=10152166587959003&set=a.84709764002.81001.44115954002&type=1&theater;

From Images From the Himes Museum of Motor Racing Nostalgia in Bay Shore

Frank- Yes, you’re right about the Queens bikeway

From Newsday "LIRR bridge replacement proposed in Westbury"

Another fun one to research and learn.

-Identify the manufacturer of the automobile

A.L.F.A.
(Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili, English: Lombard Automobile Factory, Public Company) In 1920, the name of the company was changed to Alfa Romeo

-Identify the car and its year

1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 Hp Aerodinamica Prototype

-What is significant about the car’s design?

It’s aerodynamic shape helped gave it faster top speed. It’s ‘body’ amounted to the equivalent of a metal ‘ballon’ over a standard ALFA 40/60.
There’s some great exterior/interior pictures of the replica on a very interesting website here;
http://www.coachbuild.com/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=50&g2_itemId=1728

-How was the manufacturer linked to the Vanderbilt Cup Races?

The 1936 the Vanderbilt Cup Race was won by Tazio Nuvolari in the #8 Alfa Romeo

From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype

1914 Alpha 40/60 “Aerodinamica” designed by Merosi go Aphasia Romeo, who designed
later vehicles which competed in Vanderbilt Cup races.

From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype

Though it was possible to early photoshop the airborne racers, it was also quite possible to send any vehicle airborne on all fours travelling 40mph+ over Vanderbilt’s steep inclines. The motor parkway introduced advanced roadways for safer travel but those ideas were in their infancy that still had rough edges to be sorted out, especially at the bridges. The original rough grade transitions can still be seen today throughout the Queens bikeway in Alley Park.

From Newsday "LIRR bridge replacement proposed in Westbury"

I checked out Lane Motor Museum, thought maybe I would get lucky, no such luck

From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype

That strange looking car is a 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Castagna Siluro Ricotti. I believe it was the first car with an all aluminum, fully enclosed body. Another unique feature was that it had 3 doors, 2 on the left and one on right side. This was the early years of the Alfa-Romeo company that was formed by a group of Italian investors who had picked up the pieces of a susidiary of Darracq, a manufacturer which, only a few years earlier, was the winner of both the 1905 and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races.

From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype

Greg- Thanks for that reply, never expected you, a welcomed surpriise

From Newsday "LIRR bridge replacement proposed in Westbury"

Ted- I have to agree with you and have always thought the same thing. The suspension on most brass-era cars always looks extremely delicate, not to mention the fact that most cars had wooden wheels. When you see some of the old films of model T’s going through horrible conditions, deeply rutted mud roads, or even non-existant roads, it’s a wonder the cars don’t just fall apart. In fact, it’s the opposite, they are extremely robust.

From Newsday "LIRR bridge replacement proposed in Westbury"

It’s amazing how pretty well built these cars were, getting all 4 wheels off the ground and landing safely with no accidents and the car holding up so well

From Newsday "LIRR bridge replacement proposed in Westbury"