Vanderbilt Cup Races

I believe Roebling Road Raceway in (Faulkville) Savannah, GA is named for him.  They are busy almost every day with races and track testing of products for racers.  It is now owned by the SCCA.  I was there last weekend for the AHRMA vintage motorcycle races.  I also hear Mr. Roebling owned local Modena Island, now called Skidaway Island.  On LaRoach Ave. there is a GA Historical marker showing the location of “The Mercer Auto Camp” used during the Vanderbuilt races held long ago.  See “The Great Savannah Races” by Quattlebaum.

From Correcting the Vanderbilt Cup Race Record of Washington Augustus Roebling II

Henry Austin Clark Jr is the passenger

From Mystery Friday Foto #9 Solved: Gary Cooper and Henry Austin Clark, Jr. going for a ride in the Hamptons (Circa 1960)

Interesting article Art. When I was researching for the detachable rim post a while back I never came across a mention of a weight detriment from them. It seemed the main concern was the possibly unfair tire change speed during the race, but it appears they were heavy enough to make a considerable difference.

From Mystery Friday Foto #8 Solved: Weighing a race car prior to the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race in Garden City

Yes, it is the Brichet bodied Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS. Fantastic pictures!

From Exclusive: Photos from the Wallis C. Bird and Marjorie Winifred Kendall Bird Family Album

Hi. I would need some help.

I think believe that the Alfa Romeo mentioned is this image is the 6C 1750 GS Brichet Cabriolet.

I’m doing a research about this car. Do you have this picture in a higher resolution? Or other more pictures or documents about it?

Thank you so much,
Lucas

From Exclusive: Photos from the Wallis C. Bird and Marjorie Winifred Kendall Bird Family Album

WOW! Amazing articles Art. They answer many questions on preparations before the race date. An early Sept 21 seems more reasonable to allow time for crews to reduce their weight.

From Mystery Friday Foto #8 Solved: Weighing a race car prior to the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race in Garden City

More details

From Mystery Friday Foto #8 Solved: Weighing a race car prior to the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race in Garden City

Nice going, Steve.  Here’s some background info. on the weighing in procedure and several ways the cars were slimmed down.  From “Automobile Topics”, “The New York Sun” and “The Evening World” of October, 1906.

From Mystery Friday Foto #8 Solved: Weighing a race car prior to the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race in Garden City

The ramp we located was concrete under asphalt also.  We also found a concrete post.

From CSI Report: Anatomy of a Rare Motor Parkway Dix Hills Photo

I like the Monogram Oils photo, the dust is flying!

From Vintage Motorsport: Candid Cameras- The story behind Nathan Lazarnick and F. Ed Spooner

If memory serves, photo was taken in Mineola by the RR tracks? School patrons inspecting a racer? 1906? I’m stumped, ya got me this time!

From Mystery Friday Foto #8 Solved: Weighing a race car prior to the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race in Garden City

in 1924 my grandfather, Fred Harder drove car no. 27 at the Indy 500. I am curious as to where this car is today. With the 2024 race coming in two years, it would be a treat to see this car at the race after 100 years. Any info would be greatly appreciated

From From the Barney Oldfield Collection: Four Classic Photos and One Mystery

Thanks Ariejan.  Actually this was the first article I had seen about the Wrightsville Beach race, no others appear to have been written in the trade publications except in the local NC papers.  But for some reason I never saved the accompanying picture.  So glad you shared it here.

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 5 - The Rise of the Automobile in my New Home State (North Carolina): A 1907 Race on the Beach

It is always interesting to read about lesser known events like this one. I was lucky to find a photo of Herbst in the winning Maxwell, for some reason not taken on the beach itself (The Automobile December 5, 1907 p.866).

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 5 - The Rise of the Automobile in my New Home State (North Carolina): A 1907 Race on the Beach

Although the only part that’s visible is the steering wheel, a Vanderbilt Cup Racer is being officially weighed prior to the running of the race. For the 1906 race, cars could not weigh more than 2,204 pounds. The photo was taken on the scale at the Garden City Coal & Wood yard. The date is probably October 5, 1906 - the day before race day. After passing the weigh-in, a car had its wheel stamped by an official. (see attached photo)

From Mystery Friday Foto #8 Solved: Weighing a race car prior to the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race in Garden City

This blog is almost 10 yrs old lol! Glad it’s been given life again, forgot what a great image it is of the parkway back then. Don’t like when it comes to being right or wrong, but I’m glad you cleared this up Al : )

From CSI Report: Anatomy of a Rare Motor Parkway Dix Hills Photo

Two more from just after the 1st midget/horse track was built on top of the 36/37 courses.

From 1938 Aerials of Roosevelt Raceway from the Cradle of Aviation

Brian,  Frank, I checked my notes.  You guys are right !  Starting in 1910, 4 inches or so of concrete was put as a base and covered with about 2 inches of bituminous (asphalt like) material. Parkway said it was done this way because it gave a better ride and easier on the vehicle especially the tires.

From CSI Report: Anatomy of a Rare Motor Parkway Dix Hills Photo

Brian is correct, concrete under asphalt. We swept it to reveal the under layer of concrete. Sacrilege if we chopped that concrete. We had the tools to do so. Al, please fill us in

From CSI Report: Anatomy of a Rare Motor Parkway Dix Hills Photo

Where Frank and I uncovered is definitely on the former LIMP. Then I don’t know what the whitish pavement is that’s definitely beneath the much darker asphalt. Whitish pavement is a harder material than the asphalt. Wasn’t rock etc which is beneath my asphalt driveway. We can tell that the whitish pavement used to be uniform/together, but separating now.

From CSI Report: Anatomy of a Rare Motor Parkway Dix Hills Photo