Vanderbilt Cup Races

Hi Howard.

A point on driver’s championship standings in the early days: they were fabricated after the fact. There is a long story behind this, but AAA PR directors (Val Harsnape in the ‘20’s and Russ Catlin in the ‘50’s) both practiced revisionist history for whatever promotional advantage they thought they could derive from doing so. This is a big controversy among auto racing historians, but the truth is that the first official national championship determined by points (previously, some Motor Age had selected, subjectively their choice of champion) came in 1916 with Dario Resta. With WWI the next championship did not come until 1920. Even then, Catlin tried to change the result at some point during the 1950’s to move Tommy Milton into the champion’s slot. The whole thing is unfortunate because much of this confusion persists today.

From Eddie Rickenbacker: America's Ace of Aces and Vanderbilt Cup Participant

Hi Howard.

Congratulations! Bette Noir looks beautiful!

From Alco-6 Racer Captures a "Most Outstanding" Award at the Greenwich Concours D'Elegance

I went to the museum when i was around 10 or so,. abt 1965 (we lived in Freeport)
and yes I remember the firetruck and the thomas.
  Several years later.. my wife and i were in Newsday (we werent married yet) regarding the LI Motor Parkway (it was one the earliest Newsday “A View From) and afterwards we drove out to the Museum,.. and met Austin who recognized us from the article. We talked about 2 hours.. and he invited us to a bar in town (we declined)
About a year later we went to a Vanderbilt Cup car show in Bethpage .. and had to park wayyy away from the main part.. after tursging around and looking at all the cars we were starting back when austin spotted us and stopped to talk.. then offered us a ride back to our car… in his.. a hugs old simplex.. what a thrill driving by all the onlookers with Austin in this huge antique and gorgeous car.

he is very missed

0

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

Howard, I can’t wait to see that film!

From Joe Tracy and Old 16's Last Great Victory

Russell:

Wallace McNair informed me that they are looking for $1 million for the 1906 Darracq.

Howard

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Vanderbilt Cup Race Winner for Sale

Very cool!

From Video:"The Mets Take the Field" (2009)

I would also be very interested in any new information or photographs of the Lozier and maybe I can shed some additional information myself?  I am a direct relative of Harry Lozier, and I have been looking to buy one of these fine machines for many years.  That’s how I found this link during one of my many web searches, and what’s this about a 1911 Indy 500 Movie?  That would be incredible!

Todd Lozier

From The Magnificent 1910 Lozier

How much would a car like this fetch?  I assume the pedigree of the car will demand a pretty high asking price more so than the age and collectibility of the car.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Vanderbilt Cup Race Winner for Sale

Howard,
Looking forward to your presentation(s) on 5/31. 10 cars have signed up for the visitation to two Riverhead nursing facilities that will precede your program at the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall. These cars will be parked behind the music hall. Please contact me (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) or Bob if there are any questions. Unless you hear otherwise, the music hall will be opened by 3PM to give you time to set up.
Regards,
George Bartunek

From Video: "Alco-6 Black Beast Restoration Update"

Hi Norris:

Thanks so much for information on Harry Grant and your family.

Enjoy,

Howard

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

Hi Thomas:

Thanks for the email. Please send your photos to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and I will try to identify the driver.

Enjoy,

Howard

From Newsreel "1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race"

Hi John:

I assume that you are related to Edward Parker who raced the #14 Fiat in the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race.

Howard

From Calling All Vanderbilt Cup Race Families

Hi Peter:

I am not sure if it was a condition, but the Helcks drove “Old 16” often and they never restored it.

Howard

From Old 16 Locomobile: The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Winner

Hi Roy:
Thanks so much for the memories!

Enjoy,

Howard

From In Search of the Nassau Boulevard Toll Booth: Part III

From Forty5Ford:
Thanks for sharing the video. I was raised in Indiana where it was long tradition for family gatherings and cooking out while listening to the race every Memorial weekend. For years, I have turned on the television shortly after waking up on race morning to watch the historical and storied event. I last attended a race in the early 1980s so I’m particularly excited about plans to attend the 2010 and 2011 races - especially the nostalgia. Thanks for the memories.

From Film "The Inaugural Indy 500 Race"

Great site, I am now digging out the family tree.

From Calling All Vanderbilt Cup Race Families

Roger:

Thanks for the feedback! We raised over $200 for Child Abuse Prevention Services and had a lot of fun!

Enjoy,

Howard

From Film "Vanderbilt Cup Race Courses: Then &Now"

Linda:

You can send me emails at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Howard

From The Magnificent 1910 Lozier

Hi Brian:

Thanks for the comment. The finish of the first Indy 500 Race was certainly a mess and Mulford’s Lozier team was not happy. Here is Russell Jaslow’s take on it:

http://www.na-motorsports.com/Journal/1997/1/RussellJ.html

Howard

From Film "The Inaugural Indy 500 Race"

Great flick…until we get to the end. 

Mulford never challenged Harroun’s win.  The protest involved second and third place; look it up.  Bruce-Brown claimed he had finished second, ahead of Mulford.  The timing records, including voice recordings, were reviewed overnight by the race committee.  There were no heated arguments behind closed doors, or any of that, if one accepts the contemporary accounts.

Or, let’s put it this way:  Since Bruce-Brown claimed in his protest to have finished ahead of Mulford, and if Mulford simultaneously claimed he had won the race, why didn’t Bruce-Brown also then claim to be the 1911 winner? 

BTW: Throughout his life Mulford never claimed to have won, either.  When asked he was forever coy - never denying the suggestion, and never claiming victory.

From Film "The Inaugural Indy 500 Race"