Vanderbilt Cup Races

Thanks so much for the positive comments! Much appreciated!!

Howard

From Video: The Alco Black Beast Racer Arrives On Long Island

Dennis:

As described in Part III, it is my opinion that there never was a Nassau Boulevard Toll Booth that straddled the Motor Parkway in Fresh Meadows, but a small kiosk that was never manned.

Enjoy,

Howard

From In Search of the Nassau Boulevard Toll Booth: Part I

Art:

Welcome to VanderbiltCupRaces.com!

Howard

From In Search of the Nassau Boulevard Toll Booth: Part III

Howard, New to this site and believe what you are doing is vital and interesting. I grew up in Suffolk off Vanderbilt Motor Parkway (In that area Vanderbilt name is included) and always wondered even as a child how it was when it was the only Highway. Avid Automobile lover too and a novice.
Arthur

From In Search of the Nassau Boulevard Toll Booth: Part III

I can’t wait to hear about this!

From In Search of the Nassau Boulevard Toll Booth: Part I

Always a great time!  Met some very interesting people.  Regards,  Walter

From A Fun Alco Gathering

Mark:

Thanks for the comment. I agree the gentleman on the far left is David Bruce-Brown, winner of the 1910 and 1911 American Grand Prize races.

Enjoy,

Howard

From Harry Grant at the First Indy 500 Race

Hi Howard.

I can tell you with some confidence that the tall man with the thick mane on the left is David Bruce-Brown. I am equally confident that the man on the far right is Hughie Hughes. Less certain, but I think a pretty fair guess is that the man standing to Harry’s left is Johnny Aitken. Also, I believe the man standing just left of Aitken is Bill Endicott.

If you know the answers, I’d love to know. If not, I can see about getting the drivers properly identified.

Mark

From Harry Grant at the First Indy 500 Race

To All Vanderbilt Cup Race fans: If you haven’t seen the Alco Black Beast Racer in person…. get to an up-close showing.  It’s a real treat!

Rich

From A Fun Alco Gathering

Howard:  It just keeps getting better and better.  Be well. Tom

From Video: The Alco Black Beast Racer Arrives On Long Island

Thank you very much, Howard.  That last photo was one of deja vu.  I didn’t think a photo still existed.  Fantastic website. The building deteriorated even more before it was finally demolished.
I also remember vividly the Massapequa Lodge.  That building was still at the rear exit of the 8th Precinct stationhouse (at Rte. 107/Hicksville Road) when I worked there in 1963.

From The Bethpage Lodge (1910-1960s): A Classic Repost from 2009

Howard thank you my great grandfather raced that beauty   Chris

From Video: The Alco Black Beast Racer Arrives On Long Island

New Owner!  Congratulations Howard!  Will we see this storming the access road at the Nassau Museum next year?

From Video: The Alco Black Beast Racer Arrives On Long Island

Howard,

Our Great Grandfather Harry Grant would be proud to see what you have accomplished.  Thank You

From Video: The Alco Black Beast Racer Arrives On Long Island

I respectfully ask T.L. if they also have the 1903 photograph attributed to being W.G. Faatz on a Google book site apparently titled- ‘Johnson City Firefighting’ by
Robert G. Blakeslee and Michael J. McCann. In the photo the blurb describes W.G. Faatz in his Chief Engineer firefighter uniform as a member of the Lestershire F.D. sitting behind the wheel of the town’s first automobile. The question I have is that he somewhat resembles the passenger in the mystery photo above, yet the ear shape appears different. I’m inclined to believe an accredited photo description a bit over one that is not. Bushy black eyebrows and a strong jawline can be similar on several men- particularly in that time frame. Ears are similar to fingerprints in that they are distinctive in shape and detail. the photo above shows a laid back pointed ear with tucked in lobe. The ear shape in the firefighter photo from a few years prior, apparently, shows a tucked in lobe but the top of the ear is not laid back or compressed and there is no peak at the rear- it’s rounded. I haven’t yet downloaded and enlarged the firefighter photo to take a closer look- but that is my preliminary view. Thanks.
Steve A

From Update on the Latest Mystery Photo!

Comment from Robert R.:

WHOOPEE!

Wonderful.

Cannot believe it actually has an on-board starter.

Thanks, Howard.

ROBERT

From The Alco-6 Racer Gets Fired Up

Comment from Tony De Seta:

Hello Howard,

What an exciting automobile! They called them fire breathing beasts back then,with good reason.
I can still remember like it was yesteday,when I had the good fortune to be at Hershey in the early 1980s when the Old #16 was being shown. I was right there when they fired her up for the drive off the judging area. I would love to see that big ALCO Vanderbilt Cup winner!

Best Regards,

Tony De Seta
Spring Grove,PA

From The Alco-6 Racer Gets Fired Up

Outstanding Howard!!!  Glad to see “the Beast” made it home in good order.  She sounds fantastic.

From The Alco-6 Racer Gets Fired Up

Comment from Richard R, East Hills, New York:

OK…Gentlemen: Start your engines!! Ready to put’er in gear..and let’s get rolling. Very exciting!

Rich

From The Alco-6 Racer Gets Fired Up

Comment from Cliff Manley, Southport Old, Australia:

Amazing car, this video underlines how similar today’s racers are to the pioneers of racing a century ago… noise, flame, smoke, power… some things never change…. 😉

From The Alco-6 Racer Gets Fired Up