About
The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
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Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
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*Race Driver: Howard Kroplick, a gentleman of many interests.
*Race Car: 1909 Alco - 6 “Black Beast”
*Artist: Robert Carter. Howard was delighted to find a painting of he and the black beast while perusing the internet. Robert’s painting was inspired by Howard’s role as Alexander Winton in the History Channel Series- The Men Who Built America. I believe Henry Ford challenged Mr. Winton in a race to see how well his Ford could perform. Robert left Henry in the dust.
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A wonderful painting of Howard Kroplick in the Alco Black Beast by Joe Pep
The White racer was the only “steam car”, not the only “non-gasoline car” as stated many times in these pages. The car burned gasoline in its vaporizing burner.
The Stanley factory built two cars intended to compete. Today there at least eleven good and better Stanley Vanderbilt Cup replicas which can be regularly driven. Jay Leno’s was built by Carl Amsley. At http://www.stanleyregister.net/VCR.html one can view a very fine listing.
From Mystery Foto #58 Solved: The White Steamer at Bulls Head Corner in Greenvale in 1905
This last paragraph in this article tends to answer yes. Taken from the “The Brooklyn Citizen” of Oct. 28, 1940.
From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series: #8 Alley Road Bridge (Winchester Boulevard) in Queens
The Alley Road Bridge (Winchester Blvd.) was demolished as a WPA project in 1940. Demolition took 2 1/2 months including “grading and beautifying the embankment, removal of the one and half story toll house”. Was there a toll house there?
From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series: #8 Alley Road Bridge (Winchester Boulevard) in Queens
Pretty sure when my boys were younger, one of their Hot Wheels Tracks was sort of like a Dip of Death design : ) The screenshots below show that this location is still curved and hilly.
From Kleiners Korner: The 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race "Dip of Death"
That looks like the famous author and “One-of” automobile collector driving his equally famous ALCO Black Beast racer. Could the artist be Robert Carter?
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A wonderful painting of Howard Kroplick in the Alco Black Beast by Joe Pep
Thanks Tim - the cartoon was in the Oct. 6 edition of The NY Evening World so accounts of the accident that day probably were probably not as accurate as they would be today without today’s technology. Or the paper just wanted to create a bit more sympathy (or readership)!
Also, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading through Peter’s documents and seeing the material provided to Howard. I’ve come to appreciate his talent, appreciation and dedication to detail, appreciation for the automotive industry and generally how he was so loved by his admirers. Quite an individual. Thanks.
From Kleiners Korner: The 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race "Dip of Death"
Great tour of a National Register destination! Consider Vanderbilt’s Spanish Baroque front door ‘in reverse’. Its interior heavy hardware finds a counterpart to rose head nails used as an ‘outside’ show of strength & wealth on 17th century British-American doors, like that reconstructed c. 1908-27 at “Home Sweet Home,” East Hampton. Willy K’s huge front door looks like it came from a European castle and was lightheartedly hung to ‘return’ the sea creatures—‘originally’ carved on its interior—to face the elements and incredible views of Northport Harbor.
From Greg O's Garage: The Vanderbilt Museum and mansion tour
These folks knew how to live ! The Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park is equally amazing-they have a 33 Cad V-16 and I think a Locomobile in the Carriage house that is now closed for many years due to low staffing (run by the fed parks dept of course)
From Greg O's Garage: The Vanderbilt Museum and mansion tour
Are we going to have any antique car meets there this year??????
From Greg O's Garage: The Vanderbilt Museum and mansion tour
The final cartoon shows Joe Tracy’s 1906 accident when he struck a 12 year old boy. It was widely reported that the child died, though your Kleiner’s Kolumn post of Dec. 11, 2019 clearly debunks this claim:
https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/kleiners_kolumn_al_poole_documents_from_the_helck_family_collection
From Kleiners Korner: The 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race "Dip of Death"
What a wonderful tribute to Howard at the wheel of his Alcohol Black Beast!
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A wonderful painting of Howard Kroplick in the Alco Black Beast by Joe Pep
it is Howard Kroplick,
in the tv series the men who built america
alco 8 racer
regards, Mark
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A wonderful painting of Howard Kroplick in the Alco Black Beast by Joe Pep
Mystery Foto # 24…The driver is Eddie Rickenbacker in the Maxwell at the 1916 Indy 500, ISN’T IT?????????????????....
OH WAIT, NOOOO! It’s Howard Kroplick in the Alco Black Beast (Bete Noire).
With fingers crossed, I want to say the artist is Jack Juratovic.
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A wonderful painting of Howard Kroplick in the Alco Black Beast by Joe Pep
Who is that handsome man at the wheel of the Black Beast? Looks like the keeper of this website! Sorry I don’t know artists, so I don’t know who painted it, but it’s a beautiful painting.
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A wonderful painting of Howard Kroplick in the Alco Black Beast by Joe Pep
Howard Kroplick driving the Alco Black Beast. But, who’s the artist?
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A wonderful painting of Howard Kroplick in the Alco Black Beast by Joe Pep
I am becoming addicted to the mystery photos but I leave the actual guessing up to my Hubby Steve. This is a wonderful rendition of Howard driving my favorite The Black Beast !
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A wonderful painting of Howard Kroplick in the Alco Black Beast by Joe Pep
That would be you in the Black Beast, but as a guess on the artist, I’ll go with Robert Carter since he has already done one with you in the Beast.
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A wonderful painting of Howard Kroplick in the Alco Black Beast by Joe Pep
Great pizza and restaurant today on the NW corner of that intersection. Umberto’s Restaurant known for their sicilian and grandma slices. Amazing open fields in the photo’s background in 1905!
From New Hyde Park Herald Courier: Vanderbilt Cup Races in New Hyde Park
Always room for more,,,enjoy!
From Updated: VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The one-of-a-kind 1962 Holman Moody Challenger III is headed to the Waterfront at Roslyn Garage
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