Vanderbilt Cup Races

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 Kroplick Car Shows, Concours, Presentations and Exhibits Updated 7/25/26

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!’

What can you say but WOW.  The finished car looks terrific.  Has to be in the running for Best in Show.
Good luck

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

Such a privilege witnessing the restoration experience. Best of luck and have a wonderful time at Peeble Beach.

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

The Dusenberg was in amazing condition when you purchased it.
The car has to be stunning, after having the work done in preparation to compete at Pebble Beach.
Good luck I’m sure you are going to Win at Pebble Beach.

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

It is gorgeous! Safe trip and good luck at Pebble Beach!

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

That’s a 1941 Graham Hollywood Custom Supercharged Sedan. It was also manufactured as a 1941 Hupmobile Skylark.

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

Hupmobile purchased the body dies from the defunct Cord 810/812 model. However, Hupmobile lacked the necessary production facilities to build the cars themselves.
In 1941, Hupmobile and Graham shared the same factory for the production of their vehicles. they partnered with Graham-Paige to build both the Hupmobile Skylark and the Graham Hollywood (their version using the same body dies. So, while the companies were distinct and the cars differed slightly (for instance, using their own engines). they were assembled in the same factory due to the arrangement for sharing the Cord body dies.
the total 1940-1941 Graham Hollywood production was between 1,500 and 1,800 cars. total 1940-1941 Hupmobile Skylark production was 319 cars.

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

1941 Graham Hollywood

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

Apparently my great grandfather, Frank Jeffries Corwin, owner at the time of The Long Island House in Riverhead, NY was the starter for this race. We have quite a beautiful large ornate lidded silver cup with porcelain inside that is engraved “Presented By R H D C to F. J. Corwin ~STARTER~ Season 1909”
I have been wondering exactly what RHDC stood for, now I know thank you.

From UPDATE 3/22/23; Mystery Friday Foto # 11 Solved: Driver Frank Lescault in his #7 Palmer Singer during the 1909 Long Island Stock Car Derby

Graham Hollywood, I think my Father’s first car was an early thirties Graham.

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

My father is Sydney Salisbury Breese Jr. He had a side view color illustration of the1907
  B L M car. I am trying to find another copy of this picture. It showed a logo below the side view of the car.

From Greg O's Garage; Photographs from the James L. Breese Photo Albums

Cords had seven separate pieces that made up the roof of the car. It was horribly labor-intensive to make them all fit together properly. When Cord closed shop, the dies went to Hupp (Skylark) and Graham (1941 Hollywood, the pictured car) and along with them went Tremulis.

As Alex Tremulis recollected: “Our (Cord’s) prices escalated to the point where you could buy two Cadillacs for the price of one supercharged Cord. That was the beginning of the end. When the Cord empire collapsed, the Cord tooling was sold to Hupmobile and Graham who felt that front-wheel drive and V8 engines were too expensive, and that off-the-shelf, six-cylinder engines were the way to go with rear-wheel drive and that they could cut the cost in half. I was retained because of my experience at Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg by the president of Hupmobile as a consultant. Consulting is a very precarious position to be placed in—you have only two options: number one you tell the client what he would like to hear, or, number two, you tell him what he should hear. I chose the latter, which was a calculated risk. I strongly recommended that he spend $150,000 for a one-piece roof, and all his tooling men agreed with me. He retaliated by stating, “I’m not interested in saving money, I only paid $40,000 for the Cord dies.” My answer was, “You just bought yourself $40,000 worth of junk.” I was paid off and fired on the spot after three days! The lesson I learned was that if one must break necks, one must do it very, very gently. It’s a shame that both Graham and Hupmobile failed in their venture as both cars were very beautiful, and they had the reputation of having very loyal clienteles of satisfied owners.”

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

Also, I’ve been going to the NY International Auto Show held at the NY Colisum NYC, by Columbus Circle, now gone, every April. The Chrysler Gas Turbine was to be introduce at the show, BUT it decided to have it shown at Manhatan Chrysler, some blocks south on Brodway, my first time seeing the Gas Tubine! Yes it was roped off, couldn’t get up and close, Drat!

From Update: 1963 Chrysler Turbine Car Highlights at the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals, Carlisle, PA