About
The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
All Content © 2026 VanderbiltCupRaces.com
Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
Hi J.M THANKS a BUNCH Jim
From Drivers Who Raced in the 1911 Indy 500 and the Vanderbilt Cup Races (1904-1910)
Hi Jim:
An Amplex was driven by Walter Jones in the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race. I will do more research on Amplex racing for you during the next week.
From Drivers Who Raced in the 1911 Indy 500 and the Vanderbilt Cup Races (1904-1910)
Hi Sandro:
Thanks for the feedback. You can follow VanderbiltCupRaces.com on both Twitter and Facebook. Look for the t and f on the header on top of every page,
From An Armband Discovery and a Lantern Mystery
I am from Mishawaka Indiana, the home of the Simplex Amplex Cars #12 & # 44 in the 1st Indy 500. What I am looking for any information that you or your readers might have.or know if any of these cars ever were in any other race events in the GOOD OLD U.S.A. thanks for your anticipated response.JM
From Drivers Who Raced in the 1911 Indy 500 and the Vanderbilt Cup Races (1904-1910)
Thank you amazing blog, do you have twitter, facebook or something similar where i can follow your blog
Sandro Heckler
From An Armband Discovery and a Lantern Mystery
From Richard Flood:
I stumbled upon your blogsite while doing a random car-guy history review. I am now 63; my family (Dad and Uncle, and spouses and kids) became involved with sports cars in ~1957. We met Charlie in about 1959, although I can only conjecture on how that happened. We knew him and visited the garages (w/ Austin Healeys, A.C. Bristol, Lotus Elite and Elva Courier, etc.) periodically until 1962+, and I was totally enthralled with his abilities and what cars were there and the stories and events that occurred. I’ll get back to you with more recollections and maybe old photos. The various Ferraris of Jim Place and Maj. Bill Cooper were frequently there, as well as others. I went to Road America June Sprints in 1958, and became totally hooked on sports cars and racing. Haven’t stopped (Australian GP is still a month away . . . damn !).
When I was in junior high, we were assigned a class project to “write a biography on someone you know.” My theme was entitled, “My Friend Charlie.” Not a very original title, but I remember the kid-perspective interview pretty well. I remember him (and what I wrote) talking about him growing up in Alsace-Lorraine, marriage to Elise (I have no recollection of discussion of children, but it was probably mentioned . . . but I probably wasn’t interested in anything not painted red !), coming to U.S. to do design work for Nash Automobile Co., his good friend Luigi Chinetti (I’ll write more recollections), AND having worked with GP Alfa-Romeo prior to its’ being taken over as Ferrari. I cannot provide anything definitive or documentable, but I’m sure of the discussion. Being “part of the team” was probably not too formal then—whoever was available that weekend got to go. You’ll probably have to research something as mundane as hotel records to confirm. I’d be glad to help !
Anyway, we followed or met up with Charlie at Elkhart Lake, Meadowdale, Wilmot, and other Midwest track, and beyond. While he was “mechanic-ing” he took me along on two laps at Road America on a completely unsupervised Friday prelim session in a 300 TR (Jim Place’s ?). I distinctly remember his unkempt, beautifully wind-blown flowing white hair, chin-up position, and classic overalls; him with a flimsy 2-point seatbelt and me with none, (me) sitting in a very small fiberglass bucket seat barely able to hold on through the constant harsh suspension hits, vision vibration, wind assault, and extreme engine and exhaust noise. My first time over 100 mph, and him as casual as could be—perfect cornering and braking (even if not at top speed). I was sure he could have been a GP champ. Perhaps the most perfect ~ten minutes of my life ! (My Lexus IS350 can now lap faster and more smoothly . . . but not as much fun).
Anyway, I can convey stories about Charlie’s influences on the Rodriguez brothers, Place and Cooper, Doug Thiem, Chinetti, NART, and some other shared experiences. Nostalgia ain’t so bad . . . and if I ever have a chance to return to the Chicago area, I would be very pleased to visit his grandson and to take a look at the memorabilia.
Best regards (and thanks for starting the topic !)
From In Search of Master Mechanic Charlie Kirschhoffer
Ralph, I do not have a record of your grandfather. Best of luck in your search.
From Spectacular Aerials of Roosevelt Field and Roosevelt Raceway (1924-1938)
Another link to information and photos of the LIRR Central Branch Extension.
From Article "The Long Island Motor Parkway" By Howard Kroplick & Al Velocci
Remnants of the Motor Parkway can still be found off Westbury Avenue.
The overpass near Meadowbrook Parkway was part of the LIRR Central Branch. Here is a link to to a discussion of the overpass.
From Article "The Long Island Motor Parkway" By Howard Kroplick & Al Velocci
you mention above that the parkway was extended westward in 1909 from Merrick Ave. to Jericho Tpke. in Mineola. I am pretty sure I lived beside part of this extension. It is 1 block west of Glencove Rd. off of Westbury Ave. northbound beside the hightension poles right of way. There is a roadway noticible on the top of a small hill that runs paralell with the high tension poles heading towards Jericho Tpke ?
Also, I have noticed what seems to be an old overpass. It fits the description and construction of the overpasses built for the parkway. It’s located in the woods on the northbound side of the Meadowbrook Pky. just south of Merrick Ave. and Stewart Ave. Intersection. Can This be related??
From Article "The Long Island Motor Parkway" By Howard Kroplick & Al Velocci
From Jerry Helck:
“Nice sleuthing, Jim! With a few more examples, it should be possible to estimate a painting’s date just by the form of signature. I remember my father telling me that when he was a kid, a popular comic strip was Clarence the Cop, and no boy wanted to be called Clarence. The problem was that my grandmother was Clara….and my father was particularly careful not to offend, so over the years his signing went from Clarence Helck, to Clarence Peter Helck, to C. Peter Helck, and eventually to just HELCK. Stay well, you all!
From Verifying an Original Peter Helck Painting
Hello, my name is Patrick I’ve been living in garden city my whole life. I am currently twenty years old. I didn’t realize as a little kid I have also taking the left over road behind Stewart school. My friends and I have taken that road many times to the mall. Not until I was nineteen, I discovered this was a highway. This is the coolest thing. I wish I could find more about the old country road underpass
From Then & Now: The Motor Parkway Around Roosevelt Field
Good job!
From Video: Howard Kroplick Interview "Vanderbilt Cup Races of Long Island" on Davidson & Company
From Bruce A.
““Wow ! Great picture, and Sooooooooo Helck in the story portrayed !”
From Verifying an Original Peter Helck Painting
Beautiful painting!
From Verifying an Original Peter Helck Painting
Wonderful thread here! Who is this mysterious Cooper?
From Verifying an Original Peter Helck Painting
II have about twenty of these postcards. Please let me know what they are worth.
From Postcards from the Long Island Automotive Museum: Ford Town Cars
From Anne R:
“Hi Howard, I can’t tell you how excited I am with this news and how very much I appreciate all of your efforts to find and pass on the information about my painting. Please pass on my sincere thanks to the other experts as well.”
Best Regards,
Anne
From Verifying an Original Peter Helck Painting
From Jim P:
“This is very interesting indeed. The small loco is a saddle-tank job. Doubtless the story the painting was done for had something to do with a faithful little steam engine that the big guys made fun of, as you see in the painting. “Railroad Man’s Magazine” known later as “Railroad Magazine” enjoyed a wide circulation in the 30’s but it seems more likely that a commissioned painting would have been done for a magazine with larger circulation, such as SatEvePost or ?????? Many thanks. “
From Verifying an Original Peter Helck Painting
Sure, send the jpegs to me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
From A Tribute to the Mechanicians of the Vanderbilt Cup Races
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