Vanderbilt Cup Races

Does anybody know which Locomobile actually did what and when? We know of the one car existing, but which one is it and what happened to the other one? Multiple cars in a team have always presented this problem for historical fact. The Bothwell Peugeot L45 is an excellent example. History isn’t always clear on this point which is understandable.

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: Working on a 1906 Locomobile in Lake Success

Great post Art!
It’s a bit far from the LIMP, but I especially like the tidbit about Huntington Station. I live here and didn’t know about the name change, nor how the building of Pulaski Rd after 1912 changed the street layout around the station.

From Kleiner's Korner: And Now For Something Completely Different: Part 5 (Motor Parkway - 1907 - 1929)

It looks like a differential gear laying down in front of the racer. I was unaware differential’s existed this early in automobiles.

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: Working on a 1906 Locomobile in Lake Success

This photo, taken at Briarcliff manor, NY on April 24th, 1908, was what became of the first Allen-Kingston racer during a pre-race accident. Driver, and Chief engineer for A-K, Albert Campbell, was racing with Ralph DePalma as mechanician when the car hit the end of a log that flew up into the radiator and caused the car to pole vault into the water below. Both survived, although Campbell could not drive in that race due to injuries. A-K sent a second racer and DePalma drove in the event.

Photo from Joel Finn’s 2012 book, The 1912 Milwaukee races.

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: The Allen-Kingston Racer during the 1909 Readville Races

It’s notable to add to this post that the committee that was convened to look into Oldfield’s broken Winton was not done so for arbitrary reasons. Oldfield, in his typical showmanship fashion, used this exact strategy in his many early races and exhibitions to stir up more excitement in the event with his ‘rigged’ exploits.
Was the Winton truly broken at Ormond that day? Being one of Barney’s buddies stole the report, we may never know!

From Greg O.'s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection: Barney Oldfield on Ormond Beach in his own words

Hi Howard:
Check out this cool photo Joe Tracey/Al Poole in the 9.27.1906 The Automobile.

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: Working on a 1906 Locomobile in Lake Success

A backup Locomobile also #12, interesting.

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: Working on a 1906 Locomobile in Lake Success

Impressive details revealed from this still photo taken over a century ago. Great job by all!

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: Working on a 1906 Locomobile in Lake Success

https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/then_now_maple_cottage-_the_locomobile_headquarters_for_the_1905_and_1906_v

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: Working on a 1906 Locomobile in Lake Success

Undergoing heavy tranny work.

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: Working on a 1906 Locomobile in Lake Success

It’s a Locomobile!

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: Working on a 1906 Locomobile in Lake Success

Mystery Foto #38…The racer shown is a 1906 Locomobile and the winner of the 1906 American Elimination Trials. The hint of the manufacturer’s name is the jack stand at the middle left with the word “Loco.” printed on it.
Car being prepped for the 1906 American Elimination Trial and assigned to driver Joe Tracy. Date of photo is September 21, 22, 1906. The other racer at the same location was a twin of the number 12 Locomobile which would be a back-up car in the event of problems with the first number 12.

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: Working on a 1906 Locomobile in Lake Success

Hello,
I’m a Peugeot fan
here are two articles on the winner of Dieppe

https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k98059257/f9.item

http://cnum.cnam.fr/CGI/gpage.cgi?p1=553&p3=P575.10%2F100%2F896%2F0%2F0

Thank you for your article

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

Missed opportunity, I agree Greg.

Thanks for solving my mystery foto, Dick Gorman! I lived in Manorville at the time, the Center Moriches/New York National Speedway was very nearby. Just e/o Chapman Blvd, the area is now Greenwood Village.

From Highlights from The Bridge V: The Alco Black Beast

In reply to Brian’s letter above… There was never any drag racing at Bridgehampton and I doubt if there was any at Riverhead.
Your dragster photo could have been at Westhampton Dragway or Center Moriches National Speedway

From Highlights from The Bridge V: The Alco Black Beast

Brian- While I haven’t seen it myself, Google Earth shows the entrance to the club is the original straightaway with the crossover bridge still intact. Sadly, the light bulb, nor any other part of the track is recognizable. A missed opportunity would’ve had the original developers keep the exact original track layout as golf cart access path.

From Highlights from The Bridge V: The Alco Black Beast

Wonder if any part of the raceway is still evident? Have to look at aerials to see. Below is a polaroid of me, no older than 5, sitting in a dragster. Around 1972, not sure if it was at Riverhead or Bridgehampton Raceway.

From Highlights from The Bridge V: The Alco Black Beast

That’s the 1906 Locomobile Racer being prepared for driver Joe Tracy to participate in the American Elimination Trial to determine who would qualify for the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The right front wheel support has “Loco” painted on it. Since the date of the race was September 22, 1906, I suspect the date of the photo would be within a day or two of that. The service location would have been Maple Cottage on Lakeville Road in Lake Success which was Locomobile headquarters at that time. The other racer was number 12’s identical twin Locomobile which served as a back-up.

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: Working on a 1906 Locomobile in Lake Success

I too, like Greg O, did many laps at the old Bridgehampton circuit. In the late 50’s racing with LISCA and then in the late 70’s racing with EMRA. The track may no longer be there but I can still drive every inch of it in my head having done hundreds of laps there. I was doing racing in the LISCA days and…. Racing and Time Trials in the EMRA days.
My ride in LISCA racing was my ‘55 Porsche Speedster shown here. My ride in the EMRA days was a Formula V King for racing… and Volvo 122S and Ford Capri forTime Trials. I do miss that track and those special days.

From Highlights from The Bridge V: The Alco Black Beast

Looked like a fun day with some great cars!

I haven’t been to The Bridge since it was a race track. In the late 80’s/early 90’s I had an older Porsche 944 that I used in EMRA (Eastern Motorsports Racing Association) events called the Vanderbilt Time Trials. In the 70’s, EMRA needed a name to call their events and the only race name that was not trademarked was The Vanderbilt Cup, so that was the name they chose for their events for many years.
My last dash plaque from the last event I drove in back in 1994:

From Highlights from The Bridge V: The Alco Black Beast