Vanderbilt Cup Races

Lee A. Frayer driving a Frayer-Miller in the September 22, 1906, American Vanderbilt Cup Elimination race.  Lee Frayer and William Miller entered three Frayer-Miller’s in the race.  The cars were manufactured by the Oscar Lear Automobile Co. of Columbus, Ohio.  Eddie (Edward Vernon) Rickenbacher (changed to Rickenbacker in 1917) is the mechanician.  There are articles in September 5, and 6, 1906 newspapers reporting “Lee Frayer’s mechanician was C. M. Foss who would ride with him in the race and daily going over the course”.  Eddie Rickenbacker would race in the Indianapolis 500, Was Americas Ace of Aces in World War 1, own Rickenbacker Motor Co., own the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 1927-1945 and own Eastern Air Lines.  Joe Tracey driving a Locomobile would win the American Elimination race.  Lee Frayer would drop out of the race on the first lap with a broken radius rod at Roslyn.  Some of the others around the car, A. L. Riker, A. R. Pardington, Fred Wagner, Jefferson de Mont Thompson, and William K. Vanderbilt.

From Mystery Friday Foto #30 Solved: Lee Frayer in the 1906 Frayer-Miller

Howard,
Congrats on your award.  You and your Duesy deserve it.
All the best,
Rog

From The 1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Sedan Convertible Berline Wins Best of Show at the Misselwood Concours d"Elegance

I was running a 74’ black Pantera. There was a guy running a twin turbo Ferrari factory race car. I believe a gt mustang won that day. Any footage or pics would be nice.

From Video/Film of the Week: Classic Bridgehampton Racing

I look at this picture, and it’s like it could have been taken yesterday.  So crazy.  That whole world from 1904 is long gone.

From Mystery Friday Foto #28 Solved: Willie K. Jr. at the 1904 Races

I’m working on an article about these wonderful cars.
I’d be very pleased to have any additional information.

Many thanks!

From Mystery Friday Foto #29 Solved: A Rare Buick Racer and Louis Chevrolet

Congratulations to you Howard, the renouned expert on the topic, and that they have selected this feature as important as it is to we Americans, as a keynote at their Conference.

From Update 8/9/26:Howard Kroplick to be a featured speaker at the Fifth FIVA Pan-European Conference for Automotive History in Lillehammer, Norway

Louis Chevrolet raced at Vanderbilt in 1909/1910.
One of two Buick race cars built in 1910.
This one called the “Buick Bug” for a nickname.
Timed at 105.87 mph at Indianapolis Raceway.
This car still exists in a museum today/
I love my 1998 super charged Buick GS Regal.

From Mystery Friday Foto #29 Solved: A Rare Buick Racer and Louis Chevrolet

Howard, Roz and your crew thank you again for sharing your marvelous collection with us. You are truly the best ambassador of classic car culture on Long Island. Gerry Duff thank you for including the Studebaker club and for breakfast. Thank you to the Buick club for a great lunch. Yours Rita and Jerry PS on our way home we tried to locate the Maiden again, but we think she was cut down and think it was in front of or near 150 Motor Parkway where the Motor Parkway museum display is today.

From Update: InstaGRAM report: AACA Vanderbilt Cup Region, Studebaker Club and Long Island Buick Club Visit the Kroplick Collection

Thank you so much for hosting members of the Studebaker Club. What a great day to see and hear about all the details and background on the collection. My first time there, and it was truly amazing.

From Update: InstaGRAM report: AACA Vanderbilt Cup Region, Studebaker Club and Long Island Buick Club Visit the Kroplick Collection

Louis Chevrolet is shown in this July 1910 Indianapolis Speedway photo in a Marquette-Buick.  Louis drove in three Vanderbilt Cup Races; 1908, 1909, 1910.  The car in the photo was built by Marquette Motor Company which was a General Motors Co. company as was Buick.  Buick (David Buick built his first car in 1899) was one of the first car companies that the new General Motors Co. purchased.  Buick is the oldest automobile in production today.  The Marquette-Buick was built in 1910 and raced at the July 1910 races as the newly brick paved Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  On day one of the three day race meet Louis Chevrolet set fast time in the time trials and won a race.  Bob Burman won three races that day.  On day two of the July meet Louis Chevrolet won three races and Burman set fast time in the time trials and won the 100 Mile Remy Grand Brassard Trophy race.  The final day of the three day July meet Louis Chevrolet won one race.  A few weeks later the A.A.A. disqualified the Marquette-Buick race cars, “were not stock cars, not offered for sale in a bona fide manner”.  Louis Chevrolet was employed by Buick and with William Durant formed the Chevrolet Motor Co. in 1911 under the General Motors Co. banner.  I have seen a Marquette-Buick shown above outside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum during 500 race week.  It is the only Marquette-Buick remaining and is said to be the Bob Burman racer.

From Mystery Friday Foto #29 Solved: A Rare Buick Racer and Louis Chevrolet

1910 Buick 60 Special - also known as the “Buick Bug.”  Designed by Louis Chevrolet and Buick engineers- said to have been built for the Buick Racing Team. Two cars built, only one still survives today. Driver appears to be Louis Chevrolet.

From Mystery Friday Foto #29 Solved: A Rare Buick Racer and Louis Chevrolet

Exciting news! Have a safe trip. Can’t wait to read all about it right here.

From Update 8/9/26:Howard Kroplick to be a featured speaker at the Fifth FIVA Pan-European Conference for Automotive History in Lillehammer, Norway

Howard-
It was a great visit and everyone enjoyed your hospitality immensely.
Thank you again for sharing your collection and your knowledge with the VCR members.
You are the best ambassador to the car hobby I’ve ever seen.
Thank you-
Gerry Duff   AACA-VCR

From Update: InstaGRAM report: AACA Vanderbilt Cup Region, Studebaker Club and Long Island Buick Club Visit the Kroplick Collection

That’s Louis Chevrolet, who drove in the 1905, 1908, 1909, and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races. He is sitting in a Buick “60 Special” or Buick Bug as it was called. It was built for him in 1910 along with an identical racer for Bob Burman. The car that Chevrolet is in no longer exists, but Burman’s identical twin can be seen at the Flint, MI Cultural Center in the Buick Gallery.

From Mystery Friday Foto #29 Solved: A Rare Buick Racer and Louis Chevrolet

One more interesting article about Peter Prunty announcing something other than a sporting event: dinner plans?

From Mystery Friday Foto #28 Solved: Willie K. Jr. at the 1904 Races

It was a great day and this article really sums it up. That photo of the tree is amazing. I wonder who that guy in the pink shirt on the left side of the first Tucker photo is?

From Update: InstaGRAM report: AACA Vanderbilt Cup Region, Studebaker Club and Long Island Buick Club Visit the Kroplick Collection

Terrific archive. I taught at Henry Viscardi in 1970’s & took my class to then Michael Dubbs Home on Roslyn Road where his driveway led up to old Toll House. My students all in wheelchairs were fascinated with the History & we even tried to contact Robert Moses on why he didn’t use Vanderbilt Parkway for his right of way for GCP/ Northern State.

From Kleiner's Korner: Memories of Researching the Motor Parkway

I wonder how many members have recollections about the LIMP.  Mine began at age 8, in my Aunt’s house in Albertson.  Thanks Art for the walk down memory lane

From Kleiner's Korner: Memories of Researching the Motor Parkway

This photo could’ve been taken in Westbury, Long Island on Jericho Tpke during the first Vanderbilt Cup Race in 1904. Photo is looking north. Willie K in the foreground is on the course looking west towards oncoming racers at the Start/Finish line between Post Rd and Hitchcock Ln. The photographer, also on the course, has captured the Press Box. The Grandstand is behind the photographer. The field in the distance once served as an oval horse track. Today it’s property of the Westbury High School

From Mystery Friday Foto #28 Solved: Willie K. Jr. at the 1904 Races

Thanks Joe, glad you like my posts.

From Kleiner's Korner: Memories of Researching the Motor Parkway