Vanderbilt Cup Races

Michael is correct - driver of the Bugatti is The Hon Brian Lewis. Phillips’ Bugatti’s bodywork was modified around the scuttle and had no aeroscreen.

His identification of Earl Howe is right too.

From 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race: Photos from the Nassau County Division of Museum Services

Howard, Didn’t the bridges over Willis AV. and Roslyn Rd. have three openings also? Al

From Rare 1930s Photos of Two Motor Parkway Bridge Accidents

E. Dean:

Thanks for the feedback!!! Much appreciated.

Howard

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Rare 1908 PAL Race Painting Discovered

Absolutely fantastic stuff! I love this web site—one of the best I visit.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Rare 1908 PAL Race Painting Discovered

Hi Michael:

Thanks for the info!

Here is a link to Eddie Rickenbacker in the Peugeot at the 1914 Corona Race:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/profile_eddie_rickenbacker_americas_ace_of_aces_and_vanderbilt_cup_particip

Howard

From The Peugeot EX3- Winner of the 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race in San Francisco

The EX3 Peugeot in which Dario Resta won the 1915 Grand Prize and Vanderbilt had been brought to the US in 1914 for the Indy 500, and for Georges Boillot to drive. Ralph Mulford and Eddie Rickenbacher drove it before Resta.

From The Peugeot EX3- Winner of the 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race in San Francisco

It is possible to determine the lineage of the Bothwell car: it was driven in 1916 by Ralph Mulford, and owned by Lutcher Brown of Orange, Texas. Brown sold it via Ralph de Palma to Frank Book of Detroit, Michigan, who sold it to Bothwell.

It is not entirely clear who drove the car at the 1914 Grand Prix, though. Only two cars can be traced from the Grand Prix to specific American owners, namely Georges Boillot’s car which was driven by Johnny Aitken in 1916 and Jules Goux in 1919, and the spare car which was driven by Dario Resta in 1915/16 and Ray Howard in 1919. The Bothwell car may have been driven by Goux or by Victor Rigal in the Grand Prix.

From The Peugeot EX3- Winner of the 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race in San Francisco

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/vcrsys/Images/Alco/Top-745_edited-2.jpg

This is Floyd Davis in a Thorne/Miller. This car and its sister had been entered at Indy with Dodge engines, but did not qualify. They both ran in the Vanderbilt Cup and the following year’s Indy race with Miller engines.

From 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race: Photos from the Nassau County Division of Museum Services

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/vcrsys/Images/Alco/Top-747_edited-2.jpg

This is Babe Stapp in the Topping/Miller again, as stated by Tony de Seta.

From 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race: Photos from the Nassau County Division of Museum Services

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/vcrsys/Images/Alco/Top-746_edited-2.jpg

This not Babe Stapp, but Englishman Earl Howe in his ERA.

From 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race: Photos from the Nassau County Division of Museum Services

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/vcrsys/Images/Alco/Top-743_edited-2.jpg

This not Overton Phillips, but I’m not sure: I believe it may be Englishman Brian Lewis.

From 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race: Photos from the Nassau County Division of Museum Services

A few photo ids:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/vcrsys/Images/Alco/Top-739_edited-1.jpg

Car is correctly identified as the 1936 Shaw/Offenhauser, seated in it is Giuseppe Farina (1950 FIA World Champion), standing from left to right are Wilbur Shaw, Tazio Nuvolari, unknown, Rex Mays and Antonio Brivio.

From 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race: Photos from the Nassau County Division of Museum Services

Hi Randy:

Thanks for the information!

Howard

From Dario Resta and the Peugeot- Repeat Winner of the Vanderbilt Cup Race

Excellent, love to see these photos. As well I look very much forward to seeing The Bridge ones as well as others!

From A Treasure Box of Long Island Auto Racing Discovered by the Cradle of Aviation

Hi Howard,
    Thank you very much for walking the extra mile regarding my inquiry. Let’s see if there are any of our fellow enthusiasts that might have some information.
    Charlie had a “New York connection,” we uncovered photos of Charlie at Watkins Glen in the late 1940’s, when the SCCA was still in its gestation period; in one photo Dave Garroway (of the original NBC Today Show) thanking Charlie for helping to prepare his SS 100. Also Charlie had an extremely close friendship with Luigi Chinetti; and of course Chinetti rode out WWII working for Alfred Momo, in Manhattan.
Immediately after the War Chinetti approached Ferrari to build and import automobiles, after Enzo agreed, one of the first persons Chinetti turned to here in the States was to call Charlie and made Charlie his “go to man” in the midwest. Charlie made numerous trips to Manhattan to help Chinetti launch the Brand…..when you think about it…..what a risk…what a challenge! In 1948 who, in the U.S. knew what a Ferrari was? Did even Chinetti have the vision to know how far his endeavor would go, the scale, the mystique?
    Charlie would continue to make frequent trips to The Glen every year, usually to service Chinetti entries, or Chinetti customer cars.
It was also not uncommon for Charlie to pick up customer cars at the Manhattan showroom and drive them back to the midwest and deliver them directly to the new owners. He was active until the late ‘60’s.
    Again, thanks for your efforts.
    Best regards,
    Jim Scott

From In Search of Master Mechanic Charlie Kirschhoffer

Hi Richard:

I have photos of the 50th anniversary of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cu Race…but have nothing on the 1958 celebration.

Howard

From The Dagradas and the 1960 Cornelius Vanderbilt Cup Race at Roosevelt Raceway

Hi Guy:

Roosevelt Raceway was north of the Motor Parkway and Stewart Avenue. Gate #7 was a special entrance for Motor Parkway drivers.

I will be posting the Bridge photos sometime this month.

Howard

From A Treasure Box of Long Island Auto Racing Discovered by the Cradle of Aviation

This looks like the mother lode! Can you verify that the pit lane is on the south off LIMP and Stewart Ave running counter-clockwise?
I’m particularly interested in The Bridge photos for my own archives.

From A Treasure Box of Long Island Auto Racing Discovered by the Cradle of Aviation

Does anyone have film of the 1958 Vanderbilt Race held at Roosevelt Field celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1908 Vanderbilt? I was in college but my father drove my 1922 Marmon Mod 34 Speedster in it. Austin Clark and others,who went on to build the Bridgehampton race track, were the organizers.They called it a race but i’m sure it was just a parade of old vehicles.

From The Dagradas and the 1960 Cornelius Vanderbilt Cup Race at Roosevelt Raceway

Hi Jim:

Thanks for the Nuvolari story!

I will be searching for Charlie in this collection of photos from the Cradle of Aviation Museum. About 75 photos are from the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/thursday_may_6_2010_treasure_box_of_long_island_auto_racing_discovered_by_t

Howard

From April 2010 Highlights on VanderbiltCupRaces.com