Vanderbilt Cup Races

From Hugo Becker- Independence, MO

Howard, Scott-Moncrieff mentions that the French Grand Prix at Dieppe in July1908 had dug out pits for servicing cars in front of the grand stands.

From The Pits of the 1908-1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races

I can’t imagine how terrifying it was for the ride along mechanic travelling in a 1,200kg metal behemoth at break neck speeds on tires that could at any given moment decide they no longer could be bothered with such abuse, all the while trying to find anything within eyesight to hold onto. Such was life for these unheralded men. At one particular Grand Prix race, Christian Lautenschlager changed ten sets of tires because of excessive wear. Now,i wonder whether his mechanic had anything to do with the decision. I would rather be in the pits, if only for a short time.

From The Pits of the 1908-1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races

The Klingberg Vintage Motorcar Festival was a blast! We so enjoyed showing the Seal Cove Auto Museum’s Corbin and seeing the “Black Beast”.

Here’s an idea… bring the “Black Beast” up to Mount Desert Island and we can race it and the Corbin along the Crooked Road to Bar Harbor.

Cheers

From Article "Black Beast Roars" & a Klingberg Vintage Motorcar Festival Highlight

From Mark A- Baldwin
“History too often languishes in static museum displays, imaginations left to wonder. But not the Black Beast! She lives and breathes her historical grandeur, rumbling and roaring a century on. Thank you Howard Kroplick for your generosity in showing, caring for, and giving rides in the ALCO. Viva la Bete Noire!”

From The "Black Beast" at Last Sunday's Roosevelt Field Celebration

Amazing… a few days after confirming that the Seal Cove Auto Museum’s 1904 Knox came out of the Henry Austin Clark Jr. Museum, who should walk through the door but Austie’s son and grandson! They were on Mount Desert Island attending a wedding and had no idea that the Knox was here. Austie’s son was rather taken by our Thomas Flyer and remembered when the remains of the original 1908 New York to Paris car was owned by his dad prior to Bill Harrah acquiring it.  Back then, the Flyer’s driver, George Schuster, denied that it was the original car… It took Harrah’s pointing out repairs to Schuster that he had made to convince the old man that this was indeed the actual race car that he had won the race in.

From Film "50 Years of Automotive Progress" Featuring Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

Apparently the scoreboard was intended to be mounted on the opposite side of the course. It would then be correct, and also visible from the grandstand without turning around to see it.
Nice touch, though.

From The Curious Map Scoreboard at the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I am fortunate to be the current custodian of Austin Clarks Jrs 1906 Studebaker Model G Touring car that was sold at Auction in 1968—-It was purchased by Bill Harrah for the sum of $6,750 . After Harrah passed away the car was again sold in 1982 and Bob Volpe brought it back to the east coast. For a number of years it was in various states or disassembly and then finally the restoration was almost complete in 2005. I acquired the car from Leo Parnagian and since then I have completed the restoration to my satisfaction and now it gets toured and shown regularly—-What a great car and a great history—When Austie found the car, he recorded the event for posterity and I am fortunate to have this in my 1906 Studebaker portfolio.  Eric and Linda Edwards Baxter Ontraio Canada.

From Postcards from the Long Island Automotive Museum (#1-6)

Wow, thats great to finally see a few photos of the interior. Thank you very much. Of course if there are more, would be great to see them as well.

From Inside the Long Island Automotive Museum

From Dave and Carroll:

The pictures of The Black Beast at various shows brought a smile to us.

We have several Meyers Manx dune buggies and have taught several grandchildren to how to drive. At car shows we encourage people of all ages to sit in them and take pictures.

Their delight is long remembered, especially by young people. They need encouragement to dream, and to do something with their hands.

From Archives: Alco Black Beast 2010 Slideshows

Thanks for your updates
Stephen
I’m on my way to the pebble beach concours

From Inside the Long Island Automotive Museum

Hi Nancy:

Thanks for the comment.

I don’t have the Moline-Knight postcard in my collection. I will keep looking for it.

Howard

From Postcards from the Long Island Automotive Museum (#7-11)

Austie took my kids for a ride on his fire engine.
Many years later at a “Chowder” meeting, I gave him the photograph that I took.  In the photo he was still young and handsome.

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

I was in my early teens when my father got us, with my younger brother into the pits. We were close to Bernd Rosemeyer, and saw the race at waist level.

From George Vanderbilt Cup Race Tickets and Passes

Hi Howard A. Ballard is correct none of the cars in the Wheatley Sweepstakes are Mercers.  All three are Abbott-Detroit automobiles!  Regards,  Walter McCarthy

From A Visit to the Amazing Simeone Foundation Museum

Howard:
  These are awesome!!! Hope all is well with you.
  Tom

From The 1911 Alco Dealership Photos

What Walter says about the Captain’s badges is true, and Austin kept a list of everyone he gave a badge to. I felt very honored to receive mine from Austin many decades ago.

From Austin Clark Jr's Sandy Hollow Fire Department Badges

you can park that in front of my house any time

From The Royal Tourist in the Vanderbilt Cup Races (1904-1910)

Joel Finn provided information on the car and its driver in his book “American Road Racing in the 1930s:

“(McClure) Hallye’s pride and joy was his Mercedes-Miller, which he had Zumbach’s create for him at the shocking cost of almost $20,000 Depression-era dollars..Somehow, Halley got the bright idea that installing a four-cyclinder, 220-ci, twin-camshaft Miller engine in an ex-Indianapolis Mercedes would result in a superior racing machine, despite the experts’ opinion that the Mercedes had performed dismally at Indianapolis because of poor handling….Hally registered it for ARCA competition in 1934 and 1935 and also entered for the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race, but the vehicle never made it to the starting line of any race.”

In the photo caption of the car, Finn identified the driver as Fred Winnai at Roosevelt Raceway in 1936.

From Update of Local Car Shows and Automotive Events & Mystery Photo Contest #4

Thanks, Andy:

From The37kid:

“That is Haley’s Comet, OFFY powered 1923 Mercedes chassis. Restored in Bob McConell’s collection in Ohio.”

Congrats, The37kid! Please send your address to me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and I will send you signed copies of “The Vanderbilt Cup Races of Long Island” and “The Long Island Motor Parkway”.

Howard

From Update of Local Car Shows and Automotive Events & Mystery Photo Contest #4

hi Howard, Bob aka 37kid on the HAMB quickly identified the car as ‘Halley’s Comet’, a Miller powered 1923 Indy Mercedes. Kurtis added the car proved unsuitable and Halley instead entered a type 51 Bugatti driven by Dave Evans.  It seems likely it would be Dave and some of his Indy pics look like the Comet driver. It’s a great pic, thanks -Andy

From Update of Local Car Shows and Automotive Events & Mystery Photo Contest #4