Vanderbilt Cup Races

Howard, Would there be any chance of you giving a presentation to the Peconic Bay Region and the general public re the Chrysler restoration at the SC Historical Soc. some time this year? Your professional presentation last year on the Vanderbilt races was a hit.

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle VII: Getting Primed For The Finish

Yes, keep the updates coming.  I enjoy seeing the progress and looking forward to seeing the finished restoration.

Ken

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle VII: Getting Primed For The Finish

More! More! This is fascinating stuff, Howard, and we will not complain if you report on progress more often!

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle VII: Getting Primed For The Finish

If I ever have the money, it would be nice to have a firm like that do some work on my Packard 243!

Thanks for the updates and photos!

Ron

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle VII: Getting Primed For The Finish

The car is, I believe, a Mors, probably 1902 in a city to city race.

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: William K. Vanderbilt Jr in a Mors at the 1902 Circuit des Ardennes Race

From Ron R.

“Just wonderful, Howard.

What a wonderful story.

FYI,  Humer-Binder repainted my Frazer Nash at one time.  Also fabricated side curtains so that I could drive it to Sebring from NYC in March.  Quite exciting to take the car up in an elevator.

Best Wishes,

Robert

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle VII: Getting Primed For The Finish

Love looking closely at the photos, the enlarging feature is great!

From The Concession Stands of the Vanderbilt Cup Races

Hi Ariejan and Frank:

Definitely worth more fun research. I believe the original caption was from the National Automotive History Collection at the Detroit Public Library.

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved (Maybe?): Virginia Fair Vanderbilt in her 1910 Detroit Electric

Fascinating Howard. With Consuelo in mind, Ariejan may have a point about Virginia Fair. I too can’t envision Virginia ever actually smiling in Vanderbilt’s public domain, especially during a turbulent marriage. It’s also possible it could have been a rare moment at a rare point in time.

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved (Maybe?): Virginia Fair Vanderbilt in her 1910 Detroit Electric

I really must share my doubts about the solution of this quiz, regarding the lady as well as the dating of the car. As I understand now, this photo was published before in the book “Esquire’s American Autos and their makers” by David Wilkie (1963) with this info, and maybe elsewhere.
Regarding the Detroit electric: in 1909 the side lights had the curved support like on the mystery photo, in 1910 the side light supports were straight. The 1910 Detroit from the Bonham’s auction isn’t a very good example, because the side lights of this car are in my opinion not the original ones and seem to be added later (although they have the straight supports!).
Regarding the lady: of course I studied the facial features of both Virginia Fair and Consuelo Vanderbilt. My conclusion was that the lady cannot be Virginia Fair: she has a more elongated face with rather prononced cheek bones, whereas the lady on the mystery photo has a more rounded face. And than there is the attitude: I cannot believe that the always rather reserved looking Virginia Fair would be photographed in this pose at a racing track this short after her divorce. But I could easily believe this in the case of Consuelo Vanderbilt!

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved (Maybe?): Virginia Fair Vanderbilt in her 1910 Detroit Electric

i live near commack rd and vanderbilt pkwy but for the life of me i can not figure out
how the parkway and commack rd crossed paths without any overpass or underpass, and the locations of the toll houses do not give a clue as to how anyone entered the
parkway without interference from busy (for then) commack rd…....any clues anyone
thanks….kevin

From Vanderbilia Postcard Series #1: The Locomobile Postcards of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I’m back!!  Still no computer,need a new one,trying to keep up with what’s going on here. Didn’t miss too much,luckily. The mystery Fridays have been pretty good.

From Vanderbilia Postcard Series #1: The Locomobile Postcards of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Pretty unruly crowds….. Pretty annoying to say the least…

From Chaos at the Finish of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Excellent & enjoyable pictures….

From Vanderbilia Postcard Series #1: The Locomobile Postcards of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Have no idea who the woman is but believe the car is a Baker

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved (Maybe?): Virginia Fair Vanderbilt in her 1910 Detroit Electric

Could the little girl on the side of the lodge be Ann Grego who died at an old age about 1990? She was the daughter of a worker for Vanderbilt who bought the lodge in 1938. She had 2 daughters who I believe live on Long Island.
Jack Binder

From A New View of the Great Neck Lodge in Lakeville (Lake Success) Circa 1911

Howard - Thanks so much for the info!  You’ve made our visitor from New Orleans soooo happy.  He says he’s been dreaming about this house for 20 years!
Alice

From Then & Now: William K. Vanderbilt Jr's Deepdale Gate Lodge in Lake Success

From Rutger Booy, Rotterdam, Netherlands:

“An easy one this time! The beautiful lady is Mrs. W.K. Vanderbilt, wife of the Commodore William K. Vanderbilt. The automobile she’s driving is a 1910 Detroit Electric.

All the best”

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved (Maybe?): Virginia Fair Vanderbilt in her 1910 Detroit Electric

I’m not sure if you allow 2 guesses but I think the young lady might really be Elsie Janis, who starred in the 1906 Broadway production of “The Vanderbilt Cup”. I still believe the car is a 1909 Baker Electric.

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved (Maybe?): Virginia Fair Vanderbilt in her 1910 Detroit Electric

Could that be Consuelo Vanderbilt, Willie K. Jr.‘s sister, sitting in a 1909 Baker Electric?

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved (Maybe?): Virginia Fair Vanderbilt in her 1910 Detroit Electric