Vanderbilt Cup Races

Arijan Bos-
In the first photo you posted with the AK crossing he line, there was 2 minor details that cast a little doubt in my mind when I came across it also in the Detroit archives.
First, was a lack of a riding mechanician, and second was a lack of the front fender supports which we’re both present in the top mystery photo.

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

Howard, The manufacturer is the Allen-Kingston Co., model C or H from 1908.      AK won the Meadow Brook Sweepstakes class of the 1908 VCR with Hugh Hughes at the wheel.                                                                            The mystery photo was taken at the Briarcliffe Trophy Race in the Spring of 1908 in Westchester, NY with Ralph DePalma at the wheel.                                    Believe the Simone Museum has an Allen-Kingston from that era.

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

I have to agree with you on that one Mark! Great work she did there!

And nice seeing you at the New Hyde Park drag races yesterday!

From Restoration Update: Video: HotRod Jen recreates the hand-painted #26 racing numbers and bullets for the Holman Moody Challenger III

Two more Detroit Library photos of DePalma’s FIAT leading the #5 Renault in the 1909 Readville races and a better view of DePalms’s FIAT crossing the finish line.

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

This group of photos has been a challenge.
The best that I have is the main mystery photo is a 1908 Allen-Kingston racer driven by Arthur L. Cambell. A photo on Pinterest captions the photo as 1908. However, after browsing Detroit library photos, I’m leaning towards this being the 1909 races held at the Readville Racetrack in Boston Mass.
The 3 other cars are the #5 Renault, FIAT and the 1907 100hp V-4 Christie racer.

The connection to the Vanderbilt Cup Races is Hugh Hughes driving the #35 1908 Allen-Kingston in the 1908 Meadowbrook Sweepstakes, a photo of which is below.
Also below is an image of the #5 Renault from the 1909 Readville races which is a match to the above photo in the way the number is affixed to the car. I believe the FIAT was driven by Ralph DePalma also at the 1909 Readville races. It certainly looks like his usual driving posture. Included is a photo of DePalma crossing the finish line

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

The fence photo and the race report in Motor Age.

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

There is no doubt for me that at least three of the pictures were taken during the Readville track races in June 1909. In the Detroit Public Library similar pictures can be found of the Allen-Kingston, with only A-K on the radiator, as well as of the Fiat, with only FIAT on the radiator, with Ralph DePalma at the wheel. And also the Renault with the nr.5 attached in a rather improvised way, driven by Charles Basle. All DPL photos were taken at the start/finish side of the track, but the mystery photos were taken on the other side. I have only one photo to prove that, taken during the Readville races the year before (published in The Automobile, June 25, 1908 on p.873): on this photo the light coloured fence can be seen in the far, and zooming in you can just see the poles sticking slightly out above the fence.
Two drivers raced Allen-Kingston cars during this race, Hugh Hughes and C.A. Glenworth, but comparing with other photos this driver seems to be Hughes.
One mystery remains however and that is the 1907 Christie on the last photo. In the reports of the 1909 races this car was never mentioned, but the car is clearly photographed at the same location as the other photographs. The only solution I can think of is that the photo was taken at the Readville races a year before, when Morton Seymour drove a Christie at this track.
Ralph DePalma was the winner of the 1912 and 1914 editions of the Vanderbilt Cup races. Charles Basle competed in the 1910 edition with a Marion. Hugh Hughes drove a Mercer in the 1911 and 1912 editions and a Fiat-Pope-Hartford named Ono in 1915. Joe Seymour drove a Thomas in the 1908 edition and an Isotta-Fraschini in 1909.

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

From what I’d seen from the photos I didn’t notice any brush marks, I’m amaze how smooth and gloss the area that Hotrod Jen did? Super Smooth Brush??

From Restoration Update: Video: HotRod Jen recreates the hand-painted #26 racing numbers and bullets for the Holman Moody Challenger III

The lead photo is probably a 1907 Allen Kingston.  I would say all the photos were taken at Readville, MA racetrack in 1907.  Because the fence in the background looks the same in all photos. The last photo is Walter Christie in his 1907 Christie Grand Prix car.  He practiced on September 1 for the race, which was to be held Labor Day.  The races were rained out and held Sept.14.  Christie did not return for that date, as he was racing in Pittsburg, where he crashed and broke his wrist.  “The Story of the Readville RaceTrack” was written by Walter E. Barrett Jr. in 1998, I think.  He sent me a copy in 2007.  I do not have the Boston Post results from the Sept. 14, 1907 race, perhaps the majority of these photos are from that event. An Allen Kingston appeared at the June, 1908 Readville race.  The Boston Post says Ralph DePalma was driving the Allen Kingston, but that photo doesn’t look like him. So I guess all these photos are from September, 1907.

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

Great work on the graphics Jen. It helps bring it all back to life as it was.

From Restoration Update: Video: HotRod Jen recreates the hand-painted #26 racing numbers and bullets for the Holman Moody Challenger III

Your video of the week, Howard - Port Jeff Hill Climb 2015, believe that’s your friend Sam Greco as your mechanician? Great clip!

___________________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Brian, yes it is. I miss Sam!

From Test drive the Mercedes EQ this Sunday

Southern Aero in Thomasville, NC is currently restoring a 1946 Stinson 108, NC87518, owned by Robert F. De Graff. This aircraft was stationed at the Long Island Aviation Country Club from the time of it’s delivery in September 1946, to the closing of the club in the fall of 1948. Robert F. De Graff was the founding publisher of Pocket Books

From Then & Now: The Long Island Aviation Country Club on the Motor Parkway

Frank, great eye,  I spoke to the previous owner Ted Thomas concerning the color of the numbers. When the Challenger III arrived in the Bahamas, the numbers were body colored. Prior to the race, the #26s were painted black and that’s how it was seen during the race and later when it promoted the 1963 Sebring 12-Hour Road Race. Another piece of Challenger III trivia revealed. Howard

From Restoration Update: Video: HotRod Jen recreates the hand-painted #26 racing numbers and bullets for the Holman Moody Challenger III

This Car is completely different compared to all the other Vanderbilt Renault cars.

From Video of the Week: Jay Leno's Garage: The 1907 Renault Vanderbilt Racer

I should correct that previous statement.
The car in Australia and it’s whereabouts are known by no more than one or two people.

From The 1907 Renault Vanderbilt Racers

Could Vanderbilts car be the one in Australia?
The car in Australia and it’s whereabouts are not known by more than one or two people.

From The 1907 Renault Vanderbilt Racers

There is one Vanderbilt Renault in Australia

From Searching for the Renault Vanderbilt Racers- the Ferrari Enzos of Their Day

There is a 1907 Vanderbilt Renault in Australia.
It had layed derelict and unnoticed by passers by on a Qld property for decades.
Right place, right time!

From President of Renault Owners of America: The Recent Sale of a Vanderbilt Renault at Amelia Island

For openers, these from my Grandmother’s Albums
1. “1931” tag on photo
2. Same “1931” group of pictures

There are more, if anyone still is interested ....

From Mystery Foto #29 Solved: A 1910 Maxwell Model E Touring and a 1916 Overland Model 83 Touring from Professor Robert Kraft's Family Album

Also the tailshaft length proves the Alan Travis car has a longer wheelbase than 112 inches.
Photo 1 shows Travis car during restoration
Photo 2 shows other Vanderbilt Renault cars tail shaft length.

From The Renault Vanderbilt Racer in Germany