Vanderbilt Cup Races

-Identify the racer
1909 Alco-6 ‘BLACK BEAST’

-Identify the driver and mechanician
Harry Grant & Frank Lee

-Identify the track. What features helped you to identify the track?
Indianapolis Motor Speedway- Gotta be the bricks! Of course the grandstands help with an ID too.

-What month and year was this photograph taken?
Purely a guess, but maybe in September, 1910

From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: The Alco Racer Practicing at the Indy 500 Track

Unless I’m way off base, it sure looks like Harry Grant along with mechanician Frank Lee driving the Alco Black Beast during a test run prior to the first Indy 500 in May, 1911. The brick roadway helped with the track ID.

From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: The Alco Racer Practicing at the Indy 500 Track

Great sporatic and detailed images covering the races!  The many photos are spectacular and interesting to see the changes of time. Thanks for sharing the fun

From Happy 105th Anniversary- The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Really enjoying this series on the bridges Howard. I remember seeing some remains of the bridge at the intersection with Salisbury Park Drive back in the 1960’s. There was also a small section of LIMP roadbed still there at that time. My guess is that the bridge was demolished in the early 1950’s. Thanks for the great photos!

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #38: Westbury Road Bridge in East Meadow

You certainly know how to pick them Howard. I wouldn’t know what to pick for my favorite,because everything about it is my favorite,it’s a challange for the cars and drivers.everything about it is amaziing,how things happen during the race,you never know what’s going to happen next

From Happy 105th Anniversary- The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

As always you keep us all informed about anything to do with the Vanderbilt Cup Races. Thanks for these photos and short race clip

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race Officials, Committee & Drivers in San Francisco

I didn’t get a chance to try to answer this one. I knew I’ve seen the person with his hand in his pocket,but didn’t know his name

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race Officials, Committee & Drivers in San Francisco

From Harley N.

“Thank you as always for your research and passion for the LIMP.

But special thanks for shining a spotlight on Marty Himes; I have been through his museum and we discussed what will happen with this incredible collection down the road.  I hope a proper museum will accept his historic treasures.”

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle V: Summer's Progress

Nice write up Walt! Very informative and great pictures. Keep the updates coming, I can’t wait too see what’s next.
-Frank

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle V: Summer's Progress

Ron
To answer your questions - the car is receiving a total restoration. everything, all chassis components, engine etc will be gone through and restored as necessary. the main thing to prevent trapped moisture in the future is to keep the car in a space where there is little, and it is dry . For 50+ years the car was housed in damp concrete garages near a large body of water (Long Island Sound), there was never enough air circulating to dry out the moisture. It was cold and damp or warm and humid. The car is low mileage, so excessive wear in the engine isn’t anticipated, and it was running before it went into the shop for the work you see. being done.

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle V: Summer's Progress

I have one thing to say,which I don’t like to say and I think some of you know what I’m talking about. Thiings weren’t organized about the rout we were taking,the police escort,I think didn’t do such a good job,they didn’t wait for all the cars to go past before going to the next point,so some cars had to stop for red lights,whick included me and about three others plus John in the truck,so we all rushed thru the traffic to try to catch up,which couldn’t be done,they were to far ahead and made a turn and I didn’t know where to go,lucky I had directions,I found my way,passing right by you at the firehouse and hooked up with them again.There were cars trying to get in front of us,make turns,cross the intersections and we had our flashers and headlights on,they saw a gap between cars and went for it,not in front of me their not,gave them the horn and kept going.Hope I didn’t bore you but I thought you should know about it for the next time.There just wasn’t enough police for this Motor Parkway Drive

From Relive the Long Island Motor Parkway Sweepstakes This Sunday Throughout Nassau County

A very nice day! The MacKay horses are just incredible. It’s so nice to have a not-so-little piece of one of the greatest mansions ever constricted to be so accessible to LI Gold Coast mansion enthusiasts like myself. Also, it was great seeing some other LIMPPS members there like Joe, Steve, and Ted!

From Update: A Historic Event: A Motor Parkway Director's Horse Returns to Roslyn

Brilliant reportage very much appreciated. Your documentation is contributing to the value of your Chrysler too. Thanks, Tom

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle V: Summer's Progress

It was great to see all of you this morning!  You had a beautiful day to pay tribute to the Long Island Motor Parkway Sweepstakes!

From Relive the Long Island Motor Parkway Sweepstakes This Sunday Throughout Nassau County

I very much enjoy these periodic report and am delighted that you share them.  I think Mr. Gosden is a master of the understatement, for example, when he writes:
“To get this all in perfect alignment to make it all function was a major task”  I can’t help but think it probably took two or more men a week of hard effort to figure it it out.

  Keep it up!

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle V: Summer's Progress

I know it’s not cheap to restore cars these days but never was there a more worthy candidate…...Thanks for sharing the update…..

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle V: Summer's Progress

-Where was the Vanderbilt Cup trophy (city and state)?

-What year was the photo taken?

-Can you identify anyone in the photo?

Tough one again, but got it…I think!
The Vanderbilt Cup, and race, were at the Panama Pacific International Exposition (possibly the Pennsylvania Building?) in San Francisco, March 1915. As per their mark on the bottom right corner, Cardinell-Vincent were the official photographers of the PPIE. The stern-looking gentleman behind the cup could be William Bailey Lamar, one of the commisioners of the PPIE. The 1912/14 V.C.R. winner, Ralph DePalma right, front (although I keep wanting to change his profession and call him Brian DePalma).

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race Officials, Committee & Drivers in San Francisco

Well,like I said before it did bring back some memories. I knew he has a big collection,but didn’t realize how much,I guess I didn’t look hard enough when I went to his museum,I’ll have to go back and take a better look and find out more.

From An Evening With Marty Himes- Stock Car Driver, Museum Owner and Auto Racing Historian

I didn’t understand the figure 8 until I read about the demolition derbies - then it made perfect sense!

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: Islip Speedway in the 1960s

Forgot another question; fuel system.  What shape is it in?  I’m curious because on my Packard 243 I’m having to have the whole fuel system essentially scoured to remove decades of varnish, etc.

Ron

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle V: Summer's Progress