Vanderbilt Cup Races

Lee, Dean & Howard,
Thank you for your expertise on the Christie as there as been questions in regards to the Christie 100 MPH Indianapolis lap record and being compared as a rocket powered vehicle to the vehicles running in the 1916 Indianapolis 300 race that were more advanced than the at least 7 year old Christie. Thanks again as this information helps greatly.
Best regards,
Wayne Carroll Petersen
Barney Oldfield great great nephew

http://www.firstsuperspeedway.com
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From Saturday Request: Information on the Christie Racers from Barney Oldfield's Great-Great -Nephew

Howard,                              Congratulations, What a wonderful experience! You are the envy of every car racing enthusiest, a lap around the Indy race track in a real race car. Who knew what would transpire when you picked up the Alco on that Newark dock just a short while ago. Hope you will share more of your Indy saga. Al

From Patch.com: "Black Beast to Run Centennial Lap in Indy 500"

another Black Beast “mile stone”!!! I would imagine that Howard is already planning a return in 2111?? can we top 68 MPH?? Bravo
          Noel G

From Patch.com: "Black Beast to Run Centennial Lap in Indy 500"

Howard,
Mazel tov!!!  What an incredible thrill for you and the Alco to be at Indy and to drive around that fabled track.
I hope there’s a video of the “race” with the Marmon.  Again congrats.
Roger Price

From Patch.com: "Black Beast to Run Centennial Lap in Indy 500"

Howard,
What a thrill for you and to awaken the Black Beast. Congratulations!!!!
Best Regards,
Wayne Carroll Petersen
Barney Oldfield, Master Driver of the World, great great nephew

http://www.firstsuperspeedway.com
http://www.rumbledrome.com
http://www.brownfoxbooks.com
http://www.gambleart.com

From Roslyn News "The Alco Black Beast Racer Returns to Indianapolis"

The Black Beast had a fantastic day. We did the parade lap in the fastest time of the five 1911 racers… finally beating the Marmon Wasp after 100 years. Emerson Fittipaldi had the Beast up to 68 mph with me as his waving mechanician!

Details on Tuesday.

Howard

From Patch.com: "Black Beast to Run Centennial Lap in Indy 500"

Howard, I just watched the video clip for the Patch.
I am so happy for you that you got to have The Black Beast:  it gives you such joy !
Cathy Ball

From Archives: Indy 500 Races

Hey Howard,  I saw you blow by that stop sign on the film included!  W

From Patch.com: "Black Beast to Run Centennial Lap in Indy 500"

No Christie automobiles are known to have survived. There are a few fire engines around, I think in Hoboken, LA and Phoenix. Also there was a tank in Aberdeen.

From Driver Profile: John Walter Christie: Front-Wheel Drive Pioneer

Fantastic picture of the ALCO next to the Marmon Wasp. They probably have not been that close since 1911!

Fantastic piece of racing history, congratulations.

From Patch.com: "Black Beast to Run Centennial Lap in Indy 500"

Howard:
Very, very cool!  We’ll be tuning in.
Congrats!!
Tom

From Patch.com: "Black Beast to Run Centennial Lap in Indy 500"

We have an amazing assortment of mint, fresh in the box, postcards of automobiles photographed by Henry Austin Clark Jr., in the 1970s. Postcards range from a 1901 Lane Model O Steam Runabout to a 57 Ford T Bird and represent cars in the Long Island Automotive Museum, other famous museum from that period, and private collections. Cards are $1.50 each and discounted in quantities. If interested in seeing our complete list, send me an email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Cheers,
Roberto

From Postcards from the Long Island Automotive Museum: Alcos

Dean is correct, the Christie engine had torque at low rpm unlike anything we are used to driving today.  Also, you have to give Barney Oldfield credit for that 100mph lap in what was then a 7 year old race car.  Imagine the old Christie on the bricks at Indy, with skinny little clincher tires pumped up to 80psi and no shock absorbers !  Barney rarely gets the respect he deserves for his talent and for just surviving all his years of racing!

From Saturday Request: Information on the Christie Racers from Barney Oldfield's Great-Great -Nephew

My DVR is set to record!

From Roslyn News "The Alco Black Beast Racer Returns to Indianapolis"

It is a great and historic day for the Black Beast Alco, as well as for our good friend Howard . The moment of a lifetime. All of us are so fortunate to be able to share in the thrill of the day because of this wonderful web site. Congratulations.

From Patch.com: "Black Beast to Run Centennial Lap in Indy 500"

Good Luck and I can’t wait to see a video of this.

From Patch.com: "Black Beast to Run Centennial Lap in Indy 500"

Wonderful accomplishment.  Good luck at the Indy 500.

From Patch.com: "Black Beast to Run Centennial Lap in Indy 500"

Lee Stohr is, perhaps,THE authority on Christie automobiles. I do not know as much as Lee, but I do know a good bit about these cars and agree with the estimate of approximately 140 bhp. But—I would point out that, when it comes to track performance of a large displacement, slow turning engine, horsepower is nearly meaningless compared to torque. It is torque that governs acceleration, and it is acceleration that pulled the Christie so quickly through and, especially, out of turns.

From Saturday Request: Information on the Christie Racers from Barney Oldfield's Great-Great -Nephew

Hello Wayne,
I have done a lot of research on Walter Christie’s automobiles. I think 140hp is about right. One way to estimate the torque and power of these old engines is by using a formula found in ‘The Gasoline Automobile:Vol.II by Heldt(1913)’.  Christie’s big 7.5” diameter pistons and 7” stroke give about 650ft.lbs of torque.  You get big torque when you have a 1237 cubic inch engine !

The engine didn’t turn more than 1200rpm, and Horsepower is calculated by multiplying torque x rpm/5252. So 130-140hp might be right. Christie’s crankshaft was sort of attached directly to the front wheels in top gear. Christie changed his final drive ratio by changing front tires sizes.  Usually he carried a range from 30” to 34”. 

I think the ‘Oldfield’ Christie was one of the fastest cars in the world after Barney had Harry Miller do some work on it. Unfortunately by 1916 there was no place to race a car with that large an engine.  So Barney used it for exhibition runs, track opening ceremonies and record breaking.  The Christie was only set up to run a few miles at a time, it had no radiator. The cooling water circulated through a big tank behind the drivers seat.  After a few laps, it would probably be on the verge of overheating.
However, it was Walter Christie’s last and fastest racing car.  It had a single overhead cam with overhead valves.  Sadly, the car was scrapped in Chicago in 1919.
Lee Stohr

From Saturday Request: Information on the Christie Racers from Barney Oldfield's Great-Great -Nephew

Dear Howard I would like some one to purchase my 14 beautiful Framed matted prints colored 1900 auto’s By famous “Henry Austin Clark Jr.I bought the in 1960’s. The are in excellent condition.I would Sell the Complete Collection for $100.oo each.I know someone would really appreciate them.The Mahogny frames & matted cost me more than I am asking for print.Thank You Very kindly, JG. I loved meeting your father in 1950’s He was a very exciting man, when we talked about antique cars.I had a national winner at Hersey show in the 1970’s. I had a 1929 Studebaker President Cabriolet Convertable I took 7 years to complete.I have some great colored photos of car at Hersey show.Well so long for now,looking forward to hearing from you soon. Respecfuuly Jerry.

From Memories of Henry Austin Clark, Jr.