Vanderbilt Cup Races

Congratulations Roz and Howard for taking 2nd in the Duesenberg Class. The car looks fabulous. Thank you for posting the video of the tour. I feel like I was there and able to share in part of the excitement! Hope you had a great time. Can’t wait to hear all about it.

From Experience the Pebble Beach Tour D'Elegance with the 1930 Duesenberg J Murphy Sedan Convertible Berline

Referee William Kissam Vanderbilt II is helping push Lewis Putnam Strang’s 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Renault off the starting line after the Renault stalled.  Attached is a photo of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup officials taken from the October 31, 1908, issue of Automobile Topics.  After 30 minutes of work mechanician Anderson repaired a faulty magneto and Strang entered the race.  By that time many cars had already finished the first lap of the race.  Strang was only able to complete three laps before dropping out with clutch problems.  Motor Age magazine printed that Lewis Strang was “probably well entitled to be called the American Road Champion” because of his recent wins at Savannah, Briarcliff and Lowell.  Strang won those races driving an Isotta but switched to the Renault for the Vanderbilt Cup race.  Interesting to note that Strang, from Amsterdam, NY, when he moved from the Isotta to the Renault that Herbert Lytle, from Malone, NY, became the driver of the Isotta.  Another interesting note is that of the 17 cars in the race 13 were chain driven and 4 were shaft driven.  The Renault was shaft driven.  As you can see by the photo there was rain in the air.  Prior to the start there was heavy rain and rain continued well into the second lap of the race.

From Mystery Friday Foto #43 Solved: Louis Strang's #17 Renault needs a push

Howard,

What a fantistic car and your dedication to perfection,,,,  Congrats on the new car,,, It is just beautiful.

Regards, Mark

From Experience the Pebble Beach Tour D'Elegance with the 1930 Duesenberg J Murphy Sedan Convertible Berline

Thanks for taking us along for the ride! What fun!

From Experience the Pebble Beach Tour D'Elegance with the 1930 Duesenberg J Murphy Sedan Convertible Berline

Outstanding!

From Experience the Pebble Beach Tour D'Elegance with the 1930 Duesenberg J Murphy Sedan Convertible Berline

Howard, Your Duesy looks FANTASTIC ! Thanks for the sharing the experience of the ride down the highway. Best of luck in the competition.

From Experience the Pebble Beach Tour D'Elegance with the 1930 Duesenberg J Murphy Sedan Convertible Berline

So much fun.
My fave part: The Bixby Bridge” but love:
“I’ll be honesty with you… I’m ready for lunch!”

From Experience the Pebble Beach Tour D'Elegance with the 1930 Duesenberg J Murphy Sedan Convertible Berline

What a great video from Pebble Beach.
Thank you so much for posting it on your website
I was searching the internet Sunday morning for pictures and stories about Pebble Beach.
I found a few but none with your Duesenberg in it.
Best of luck

From Experience the Pebble Beach Tour D'Elegance with the 1930 Duesenberg J Murphy Sedan Convertible Berline

Renault, driver Lewis Strang,  and mechanician Anderson
1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
The car would not start at the beginning of the race so it was pushed to the side of the course where Strang and his helpers worked on the engine.  It finally started but Strang had lost 28 minutes.  The car in lap 4 burned out a clutch and could not go on.  Sometimes, things are not to be!
Willie K. giving the car a push!

From Mystery Friday Foto #43 Solved: Louis Strang's #17 Renault needs a push

Wow ! Wish I was there! Best of luck!

From Experience the Pebble Beach Tour D'Elegance with the 1930 Duesenberg J Murphy Sedan Convertible Berline

Many of the 1940 and 1941 Grahams were Supercharged. Joe Frazer owned the former Graham real estate in Detroit. Henry Kaiser wanted post war. That is why the higher priced Fraiser was built. They cost about as much as the Cadillacs then.

From Mystery Friday Foto #42 Solved: The Next Installment of ‘Name That Car!’

The Hupmobile Skylark used the same Cord sedan dies from Union Stamping. This division of Cord Corp built WW2 Jeep bodies and Packard Darren bodies after Dutch sold the rights to Packard. A few Skylark and Hollywood convertibles were built. Then some think these dies were sent to Japan as scrap before December 7, 1941. Joe Frazer owned Graham after the Graham Brothers died. Devaux brokered the deal to make the Hollywood and Skylarks. The idea was clever, but the 7 piece roof cost to much for price of middle priced American cars prewar.

From Mystery Friday Foto #42 Solved: The Next Installment of ‘Name That Car!’

That’s the #17 Renault driven by Lewis Strang with Lee Anderson as the mechanician at the start of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup race. Apparently the car stalled and Willie K. himself (left of the car, in boots) was helping with a push to get it started.

From Mystery Friday Foto #43 Solved: Louis Strang's #17 Renault needs a push

Correction to the comment regarding the young lady with Dick Hovey:  Her name was Patricia Jean Cornwell, Miss Dunedin of 1962.  She was a very good friend of mine.  I also knew Kathleen Carson who was a neighbor up the street.

From Mystery Friday Foto #7 Solved: A 1912 Alco Convertible Touring Car driven by Dick Hovey

The car was a Renault #17, driven by Louis Strang, the Mechanician was Andersen.
The race was the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
In addition to donating the trophy for the Vanderbilt Cup Races, William K, Vanderbilt, Jr. was a very active referee for all six races held on Long Island. As shown in this photo of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race, he was always willing to assist when needed.
When the #17 Renault driven by Lewis Strang stalled at the start, Willie K (on the far left wearing a cap and goggles) jumped in and helpd push the car. The Renault eventually did start- thanks in part to Willie K.

From Mystery Friday Foto #43 Solved: Louis Strang's #17 Renault needs a push

A. C. Webb’s correct name is Albert Calvin Webb.  Alonzo is incorrect. Albert Calvin Webb was my great-uncle.

From The Premier Vanderbilt Cup Racer that Never Raced

I cannot believe the Batmobile does not have a secret enclosed trailer,,!

From Upcoming car shows, concours and exhibits for the Howard & Roz Kroplick Collection: Updated 5/8/26

Graham Hollywood, looks like a cord but I do not believe it was front drive. I had a six cylinder engine. My Dad’s first car was an earlier Graham.

From Mystery Friday Foto #42 Solved: The Next Installment of ‘Name That Car!’

I how how tough restoration deadlines can be. So happy to hear it gone done in time. Best of luck at Pebble.

From Restoration Update #6: The 1930 Duesenberg J Murphy Convertible Sedan Berline #2448 J-399 is on the road to the 2025 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

This is a ‘41 Graham Hollywood. story is not right. Huppmobile having finanial issues to come with all an new ‘39 body, so they bought ‘36-‘37 Cord ‘810’ sedan body dies, and using their chassis and engine with new front end, Huppmobile Skylark. But Huppmobile still had financial issues ask Graham slightly better financially to take over producing both their versions The Skylark and Hollywood with having chrome insert over grille for the Hollywood. The War had started and they did well $. After the war, Hupp got in to Real Estates, Graham hired designer Howard ‘Dutch’ Darrin for a new body, but Henry J. Kaiser been doing ship building for the war effort, Looking for new peace time business, bought Graham along Joe Frazer who was head of Graham at the time, Kaiser-Frazer until a fallen out with both of then, beame just Kaiser

From Mystery Friday Foto #42 Solved: The Next Installment of ‘Name That Car!’