Vanderbilt Cup Races

Auto enthusiast opportunity of a lifetime. Thanks so much for this detailed share.

From InstaGRAM report: The Sam Mann Collection Auction Preview

I commend the positive attitude but strongly suggest the Garden City powers that be take a look at what has been accomplished in Queens in order to comprehend the reasons for preserving such a rich part of our collective Long Island past.

From Garden City News: Village urged to restore historic Motor Parkway remnants

I’m glad your presentation was well received and that some preservation efforts may still be undertaken.  Thanks for your efforts Howard and know that we are all behind you.  It’s been a while since I’ve been there but hoping one day to be able to walk some part of what once was a beautiful reminder of the Parkway’s history.

From Garden City News: Village urged to restore historic Motor Parkway remnants

What an amazing collection! Thanks for sharing it in this excellent article. It felt like I was right there, seeing the cars in person.

From InstaGRAM report: The Sam Mann Collection Auction Preview

Greg, Eddie Rickenbacker went on to become an automobile race driver and has a connection of sorts with this website. First, he drove in one of the Vanderbilt Cup Races, drove at least once in an Indy 500 race and won at least one race in a Duesenberg around 1914.

From Mystery Friday Foto #30 Solved: Lee Frayer in the 1906 Frayer-Miller

A well deserved win.

From The 1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Sedan Convertible Berline Wins Best of Show at the Misselwood Concours d"Elegance

Lee Frayer, driving the Frayer-Miller #8 110hp at the 1906 American Elimination Trial on Sept 22, 1906. Photo is looking west down Jericho Tpke, just west of Powells Lane in Westbury. Racer is heading east and broke down on lap 1 finishing 12th place. WWI Flying Ace Eddie Rickenbacker, standing 6’2” matches the height of mechanician but the nose appears different. Willie K is standing by the mechanician looking down at the clipboard.

From Mystery Friday Foto #30 Solved: Lee Frayer in the 1906 Frayer-Miller

The car is a Frayer Miller and the driver is Lee Frayer. The race is the American Trials Elimination for the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The young mechanician is Eddie Rickenbacker of WW I fame.  At the time of the photo he was 16 years old. The car did not even finish the first lap of the Elimination Race suffering both a broken clutch and a failed radius rod.

From Mystery Friday Foto #30 Solved: Lee Frayer in the 1906 Frayer-Miller

I thought I would attach this September 21, 1906, Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper page which posted the American Elimination Trial lineup of drivers, cars and mechanicians.  Check out the Lee Frayer information.  I do think that Eddie Rickenbacker is in the photo with Frayer.

From Mystery Friday Foto #30 Solved: Lee Frayer in the 1906 Frayer-Miller

That’s a 110HP Frayer-Miller being driven by Lee Frayer at the 1906 American Elimination Trial on September 22, 1906. The mechanician is yet-to-be world famous Eddie Rickenbacker. Frayer finished 12th. after breaking a radius on lap #1. I think I see Peter Prunty with his megaphone and possibly Fred Wagner to the left of Prunty. Willie K. might be just to the right of the left front wheel.

From Mystery Friday Foto #30 Solved: Lee Frayer in the 1906 Frayer-Miller

Congratulations Howard and crew Always the best in show in our minds JeRita

From The 1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Sedan Convertible Berline Wins Best of Show at the Misselwood Concours d"Elegance

Congratulations on such an impressive win. That was some serious competition you were up against.

From The 1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Sedan Convertible Berline Wins Best of Show at the Misselwood Concours d"Elegance

Lee A. Frayer driving a Frayer-Miller in the September 22, 1906, American Vanderbilt Cup Elimination race.  Lee Frayer and William Miller entered three Frayer-Miller’s in the race.  The cars were manufactured by the Oscar Lear Automobile Co. of Columbus, Ohio.  Eddie (Edward Vernon) Rickenbacher (changed to Rickenbacker in 1917) is the mechanician.  There are articles in September 5, and 6, 1906 newspapers reporting “Lee Frayer’s mechanician was C. M. Foss who would ride with him in the race and daily going over the course”.  Eddie Rickenbacker would race in the Indianapolis 500, Was Americas Ace of Aces in World War 1, own Rickenbacker Motor Co., own the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 1927-1945 and own Eastern Air Lines.  Joe Tracey driving a Locomobile would win the American Elimination race.  Lee Frayer would drop out of the race on the first lap with a broken radius rod at Roslyn.  Some of the others around the car, A. L. Riker, A. R. Pardington, Fred Wagner, Jefferson de Mont Thompson, and William K. Vanderbilt.

From Mystery Friday Foto #30 Solved: Lee Frayer in the 1906 Frayer-Miller

Howard,
Congrats on your award.  You and your Duesy deserve it.
All the best,
Rog

From The 1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Sedan Convertible Berline Wins Best of Show at the Misselwood Concours d"Elegance

I was running a 74’ black Pantera. There was a guy running a twin turbo Ferrari factory race car. I believe a gt mustang won that day. Any footage or pics would be nice.

From Video/Film of the Week: Classic Bridgehampton Racing

I look at this picture, and it’s like it could have been taken yesterday.  So crazy.  That whole world from 1904 is long gone.

From Mystery Friday Foto #28 Solved: Willie K. Jr. at the 1904 Races

I’m working on an article about these wonderful cars.
I’d be very pleased to have any additional information.

Many thanks!

From Mystery Friday Foto #29 Solved: A Rare Buick Racer and Louis Chevrolet

Congratulations to you Howard, the renouned expert on the topic, and that they have selected this feature as important as it is to we Americans, as a keynote at their Conference.

From Howard Kroplick to be a featured speaker at the Fifth FIVA Pan-European Conference for Automotive History in Lillehammer, Norway

Louis Chevrolet raced at Vanderbilt in 1909/1910.
One of two Buick race cars built in 1910.
This one called the “Buick Bug” for a nickname.
Timed at 105.87 mph at Indianapolis Raceway.
This car still exists in a museum today/
I love my 1998 super charged Buick GS Regal.

From Mystery Friday Foto #29 Solved: A Rare Buick Racer and Louis Chevrolet

Howard, Roz and your crew thank you again for sharing your marvelous collection with us. You are truly the best ambassador of classic car culture on Long Island. Gerry Duff thank you for including the Studebaker club and for breakfast. Thank you to the Buick club for a great lunch. Yours Rita and Jerry PS on our way home we tried to locate the Maiden again, but we think she was cut down and think it was in front of or near 150 Motor Parkway where the Motor Parkway museum display is today.

From Update: InstaGRAM report: AACA Vanderbilt Cup Region, Studebaker Club and Long Island Buick Club Visit the Kroplick Collection