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
From Michael C:
“Fantastic, Howard! Must have been quite a thrill (I assume those are your hoots and hollers on the audio)!”
From Exclusive Video: Emerson Fittipaldi Driving the Alco Black Beast During the 2011 Indy 500 Parade Lap
Wonder what happened to it.
It would be nice to have more then one. Also has anyone ever tried to track the history’s of all of the cup cars after they were done with the races.
Not just the winning cars but the ones that didn’t win.
From Exclusive Video: Emerson Fittipaldi Driving the Alco Black Beast During the 2011 Indy 500 Parade Lap
From Walter C:
“What a fabulous ride! How proud and gratified you must be. What a thrill to ride along with you.”
From Exclusive Video: Emerson Fittipaldi Driving the Alco Black Beast During the 2011 Indy 500 Parade Lap
From Robert R:
“EXCELLENT!
What a great testimonial to you and your team, Howard. The car ran perfectly, and sounded terrific.
Interesting to note that Emerson pretty much followed the line one would take in a modern-day Indy car.
What an historic moment.”
From Exclusive Video: Emerson Fittipaldi Driving the Alco Black Beast During the 2011 Indy 500 Parade Lap
From John P:
“Awesome, simply awesome. I could hear you hollering all around the track. And at times I thought Fittipaldi was gripping the wheel so tight that he was going to tear it off!
Congrats on a great experience! Thanks for sharing it!!
From Exclusive Video: Emerson Fittipaldi Driving the Alco Black Beast During the 2011 Indy 500 Parade Lap
Hi Jeremy:
The only Alco to run in the Vanderbilt Cup Races was the Black Beast. However, as noted on the September 9, 2010 post, the Black Beast apparently had a back-up racer:
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/friday_9_10_10the_alco_practicing_for_the_1910_vanderbilt_cup_racethe_licen
From Exclusive Video: Emerson Fittipaldi Driving the Alco Black Beast During the 2011 Indy 500 Parade Lap
NICE JOB beating the marmon
maybe they will let you guys comeback for a 10 lap “exhibition race” ie rematch. since it looks like the marmon had the mechanical difficulty’s this time. and fans of the marmon will “contest” this “win”.
In any case good job and wasn’t there another alco racer in the Vanderbilt cup races in addition to this one… i seem to remember 2 cars. what happened to the other one? does it still exist?
From Exclusive Video: Emerson Fittipaldi Driving the Alco Black Beast During the 2011 Indy 500 Parade Lap
From Andy H:
“Fantastic run Howard! What an experience! Ride with Emerson, meet Mario, be at Indy - WOW!Congratulations!!”
From Exclusive Video: Emerson Fittipaldi Driving the Alco Black Beast During the 2011 Indy 500 Parade Lap
Howard,
Seeing the Beast coming down that main straight away at Indy this year was wonderful…
Art Lloyd
From The Marmon Wasp -Winner of the 1911 Indy 500 Race
Congratulations Howard! It was so great that you got a chance to run your car at the 100th Indy 500. Emmo seemed to be running the same groove that he would have with the cars of today. It must have been a big thrill for him too.
Thanks for the video and the chance to get a first hand look at the Black Beast on the Speedway!
From Exclusive Video: Emerson Fittipaldi Driving the Alco Black Beast During the 2011 Indy 500 Parade Lap
Congratulations Howard, the thrill of a lifetime, and you shared it with us all. Thank you so much.
From Exclusive Video: Emerson Fittipaldi Driving the Alco Black Beast During the 2011 Indy 500 Parade Lap
That must have been great Howard! Congratulations and thanks for preserving this piece of history!
From Exclusive Video: Emerson Fittipaldi Driving the Alco Black Beast During the 2011 Indy 500 Parade Lap
WOW! A lap of Indy in the Black Beast, driven by two time winner Emmo. How COOL was that? Are you still smiling? Thanks for the video, and for all of your efforts. See you at the next event. Congrats!!
From Exclusive Video: Emerson Fittipaldi Driving the Alco Black Beast During the 2011 Indy 500 Parade Lap
Fantastic!! The car sounds like it wanted to get back out there. Like all good things over way too soon. Just wait for 2111.
Congratulations and thanks again for your site and the video. Always a pleasant start to Sunday.
From Exclusive Video: Emerson Fittipaldi Driving the Alco Black Beast During the 2011 Indy 500 Parade Lap
CONGRATULATIONS on your ‘victory’ at Indy.
From Exclusive Video: Emerson Fittipaldi Driving the Alco Black Beast During the 2011 Indy 500 Parade Lap
While surfing on this hot Saturday I found the story of Uncle William. Some of the stories I knew. I have never touched base again with Bob Bratzler when he was gathering the family history.
The last few years I have been settling my husband’s estate and didn’t find time to do family history. I moved to independent living apt and am still going through many papers. Your dear mother Helen and I both had August birthday the same year year 1914.I am quite well. I remember you and your family and dad when I visited your home.
From A Family Remembers a Vanderbilt Cup Race Driver- William Luttgen
I would agree that lap was not easy. Remember the Christie could only go 5 to 10 miles before overheating. So Barney had maybe one lap to get a feel for how much grip he had in the corners. The Christie was bouncing over the slippery, oil soaked bricks with no shocks. Barney had to quickly judge how fast he could take the corners and then let it all hang out for that one 102mph lap. I would compare it to an all out modern qualifying attempt. Barney was not faking it that day. Sometimes he did put on phony exhibitions, but not that day.
I will email you the ads that we spoke of.
From Saturday Request: Information on the Christie Racers from Barney Oldfield's Great-Great -Nephew
Howard- Can’t believe I’m so late to the party on this! Shame on me for only checking in today after the great news about the newly approved LIMP trail today!
Congrats on the news about the new trail, and congrats on all the Indy celebrations!
PLEASE enroll me in the LIMP-PS-ASAP! What ever I can do to help would be a pleasure!
-Greg
...And… on an unrelated matter; The last time I spoke with you at the Cradle of Aviation exhibition last year, we were talking about Mackay’s Horse Tamer…hope that restoration is going well!
From First Meeting of the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society
Correction: 102.623 mph
From Saturday Request: Information on the Christie Racers from Barney Oldfield's Great-Great -Nephew
Howard, Lee, & Dean,
William F. Nolan biography of Barney Oldfield states that the 102,623 mph 1916 Indianapolis lap record was official. The story is that Carl Fisher was concerned with Barney Oldfield safety as the front wheel drive Christie was at least 7 years old and felt it was a death trap and a pile of junk on wheels. Barney Oldfield, still thought she was the fastest sprinter in the country and if he did not break 100 mph he would buy Carl Fisher five new White Stetson’s for the White Stetson Carl Fisher was wearing & Barney was admiring. Carl Fisher said you will probably break your neck but it is a deal. Local Papers described the record run as one of the most spectacular, death defying drives ever seen anywhere. Barney Oldfield risked his life for that Indianapolis lap record and thats American history at its best.
Best regards,
Wayne Carroll Petersen
From Saturday Request: Information on the Christie Racers from Barney Oldfield's Great-Great -Nephew
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