Vanderbilt Cup Races

Erratum #8: “Having participated in the Grand Prix cross-country races in Europe that ran from Paris to Monte Carlo”
Vanderbilt Fact: Willie K never participated in a Paris to Monte Carlo race. He did drive in the the Paris to Madrid “Race to Death”. Fortunately, his crowd broke down on the first day.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/Vanderbilts/

From The New NYC Parks & Recreation Motor Parkway Historical Marker in Queens

Erratum #7: “In 1906, after a car crash in which a spectator was killed, Vanderbilt decided to remove the races from local roads and build a landscaped parkway to hold the races.”

Motor Parkway Fact: Willie K. attempted to remove the race from local roads but never succeeded. The last three Vanderbilt Cup Races (1908-1910) were held on public roads and the Motor Parkway.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/sunday_november_22_2009_film_the_1908_vanderbilt_cup_course

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/races/races/preparations_for_the_1909_race

From The New NYC Parks & Recreation Motor Parkway Historical Marker in Queens

Hi Richie:

Thanks for the suggestion. I will include all the Queens automobile events that I can find.

George Spruce is a great collector of Vanderbilia.

Howard

From February/March 2010 Long Island Automobile Event Update

Great list of car shows. please remember the car shows in Queens, like the annual car show at the queens farm sunday april 25th     queens farm .org   ps. my uncle used to build and race cars at freeport raceway in the 1930’s, have a few old photos at home. Also about 10 years ago I sold a vintage poster to a man in saville on the vanderbuilt cup races.  I think his name was George Spruce??

From February/March 2010 Long Island Automobile Event Update

The curve after the bridge impresses me as being the most difficult of the set, especially considering the relative lack of control that cars of the day had.
Today, the curves would not be considered worth more than a “Sharp Curve” warning sign.

From The Two Deadman's Curves in Bethpage (Central Park)

Dear Howard Kroplick, as you can see I’ve had the pleasure of looking over your fabulous web-site, sorry I can not furnish photo or film from the Vanderbilt Cup Races, but I do have the program from the 1936 event, I purchased the estate of Bunny Phillips of his racing career many years ago, Bunny race in the 1936 Race, I have a badge with all the flags & date of the race, Bunny was so broke at the time a good sportsman paid his enter fee of $125.00, Bunny did not finish the race, I have the receipt and all of Bunny’s racing drivers license from 1930 to 1946, he raced at Indy and finished 13th in 1941, even have the envelope saying $600.00 for 13th,several passes in the 30’s to 1954 Indy,season track pass to George Vanderbilt Cup 400 mile of 1936, and a practice day of 1936, a letter from from Roosevelt raceway, dated Jan22,1937, telling Overton Phillips what changes for the 1937 Race and a map of the changes signed by George Robertson-Vice President, many other race events around the U.S.the map shows the 1936 layout & the changes for 1937.  Overton Phillips AAA license says he drive’s a Bugatti Special.
At the present time I have someone very interested in all of Bunny Phillips items, but if you have an interest I’d be pleased to consider offers, as this Historical Treasure should be saved.  By the way Howard, I also have the New York Evening Journal Sept 1,1936 talking about the New Track, and a photo of layout.  I thank you for your enquire, it was a pleasure looking at these items that I have cherished for many years, sorry I do not have photos of the race, I do have a photo of the car he raced in 1941, and the I.D. plate for use on the car in 1946, never put on the dash. If ever in L.A. your welcome to stop come see my Archives.
Best Regards
Ronald J. Kellogg

From The Amazing and Continuing Saga of the 1906 Locomobile Twins- Part I

Hello Howard, To add to the mystery, I have a letter dated Oct 11,
1906 addressed to my grandfather and signed by S T Davis jr, Pres
  of Locomobile indicating that they had a firm offer to sell one of
  the race cars for $15,000 and had not made a decision to sell it
  at that time. Further, the ALAM catalogue of 1907 pictures a
  Cup Racer for sale by the Locomobile Co for $15,000. Why would
  they be willing to sell one of the cars for a $25,000 loss if in
  fact they cost $40,000 to build?  I hope the readership can come
  up with a plausible answer. Regards, Binney Beale

From The Amazing and Continuing Saga of the 1906 Locomobile Twins- Part I

Hi Cyril:

Thanks so much for the identification. I will forward to Gary Hammond, chief curator of the Nassau County Museum System.

Howard

From An Armband Discovery and a Lantern Mystery

Howard,

The lantern in question is a railroad lantern. Kerosene fired with reflector-focus.  These were spares to be used if the main headlight on a locomotive failed.  The base would have fit in a female receptacle near the main light.  Occasionally crews would use the spare to supplement the driver lights. It was also used, and carried in the caboose, for repairs, oiling and water. As such it was also designed to sit on the ground.

Some versions allowed lateral movement and some vertical movement and some both. Railroad drive lighting and emergency lighting was quite important and innovative. Many patents were issued in this field. Trains were for the 19th century and a portion of the 20th Century the fastest moving things that man relied on. Railroads have operated in night, and dark conditions including tunnels, almost from their inception.

Likely the Vanderbilt Cup Races and almost any other venue of the time would have used the readily available railroad equipment suppliers. Pennsylvania was noted as a supplier of quality kerosene and battery lighting, in part due to the number of railroads; The Pennsylvania (Pennsy), Erie, Lehigh, Reading & Philadelphia (later Reading Lines), Delaware and Hudson(D&H), Central of New Jersey (CNJ),  Central and New England (CNE), New York Central and many others that did business in the State or nearby.

Also the coal mining industry used lighting, albeit not of the kerosene variety (except in emergency) due to ventilation

From An Armband Discovery and a Lantern Mystery

Erratum #6: In 1912, the parkway was fully opened to the public as a private toll road for its entire 45-mile length.

Motor Parkway Fact: The final Western Terminus at Nassau Boulevard was not opened until 1928.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/wednesday_february_11_2009_in_search_of_the_fresh_meadows_toll_booth_part_i

From The New NYC Parks & Recreation Motor Parkway Historical Marker in Queens

Hi Art:
Very neat!

Howard

From More on the Long Island Automotive Museum

Hi,
Found this in a 1957/1958 NY Daily News Almanac and Guide to NYC in the “Scientific Museums Outstanding Exhibits” section:

Long Island Automotive Museum.
“Rt. 39, Southampton, SO 1-1880.  Open Daily, June-Sept., week ends late May, Oct., 9-5.  Adults 50 cents, children 25 cents.  Largest museum in world devoted exclusively to history of the automobile.  Henry Austin Clark, Jr. collection of 100 antique cars, trucks, fire engines, including steam, electric and gasoline models dating from 1896.

From More on the Long Island Automotive Museum

Erratum #5:  “the reconstruction of the overpasses at 73rd Avenue, Hollis Hills Terrace, Francis Lewis Boulevard and Springfield Boulevard”

Motor Parkway Fact: The original bridge over Francis Lewis Boulevard was built after the Motor Parkway closed in 1938.

From The New NYC Parks & Recreation Motor Parkway Historical Marker in Queens

Hi Bob:

Thanks for the information!

Many of Joseph Burt’s photos were taken in Mineola:

http://www.queenslibrary.org/ext/central/longisland/manuscripts/index.asp?f=burt+finding+aid.xml&tt=Joseph+Burt,+Sr.+Photographic+Collection+

The ACCA presentation was lots of fun:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/saturday_february_13_2010

Howard

From Starting Lineup: 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes

Erratum #4: ” “Willie K.” Vanderbilt, great-grandson of the noted railroad developer Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877)”

Motor Parkway Fact: Wiliam K. Vanderbilt, Jr. is often confused in writing with his father William K. Vanderbilt. The Jr. or II is frequently left off Willie K’s last name.

From The New NYC Parks & Recreation Motor Parkway Historical Marker in Queens

Jeremy:

Thanks for the info!

Howard

From New photos of the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race Discovered

Pretty neat. BTW, Hayden is still alive in 2010 and is living contently in CT with his wife Lois.

JCA

From New photos of the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race Discovered

For more information on steam cars check out The Steam Car Club of Great Britain web site at http://www.steamcar.net regards, Jeff.

From Jay Leno & the 1906 Stanley Steamer Vanderbilt Racers

Hi Ryan:

Here is a link to information on your cup:
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/sunday_january_17_2010_the_elusive_locomobile_vanderbilt_cup_paperweight

Howard

From The 20 Toll Collection Structures of the Long Island Motor Parkway-Updated 3/17/2018

Sandrine:

Good question. I will try to find out.

Howard

From Driver Profile: Harry Grant -Winner of the 1909 & 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races