Vanderbilt Cup Races

The factory photo’s shows no wheel trim rings that was added later, along with a center front bumper guard, was removed in recent time, the original side view mirror that was mounted on top front door hinge, nice, that was replace with some aftermarket side view mirror on the door frame.

From Direct from Brazil: Three Photos of the 1937 Chrysler's Chrysler at the LeBaron Factory

The car is the original Tin Goose prototype, the rear doors opens forward, the hubcap of different designs than the later ones, the front bumper grill painted black. The other things unknown to me?

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved: The Tucker Tin Goose at a 1947 Exhibit

After Count Zobrowski died Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang went to Perry Thomas who put an aircraft engine in it. He called it BABS and was killed when a drive chain broke. It was buried on the beach where Thomas died. Only recently it was dug up and restored. It is now often at British vintage race car events and on several videos. This event caused Reid Railton to quit building his Arab automobile and rebuild Thomas’ engineering firm focused on high speed car and boat development.

From Update: Peter Helck's 1921 Benz-Mercedes "Rabbit-the-First" Now Owned by Jay Leno

What’s interesting is the same Gold Coast families that were together in the early 1900s are still together. Whitney, Vanderbilt, and Phipps all had major wealth and Long Island estates, the same families stuck together in Palm Beach. At one time the Phipps family owned approximately 30% of Palm Beach coastline. Not bad. Our current president likes it there too. He spends most weekends down there in what was formerly Post property, another Old Westbury resident.

From Vanderbilts and Whitneys Convene in West Palm Beach

If anyone hasn’t already, I suggest to check out the Peter Helck website. Especially enjoyed reading his memoirs. Peter and Jerry’s relationships with the racers are expressed in a manner as if you were there, too. Plan on thanking Timothy ( Jerry’s son ) for creating this website.

Jay Leno owns this beast now, very cool. I’ll have to check out his show.

Charles Lytle must be related to Herb Lytle, and as well as the Lytle that you used to work along with Howard?
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Howard Kroplick

Brian, Charles Lytle was Peter Helck’s friend and an automotive historian. I am not sure if he is related to Herb or Tom Lytle.

From Update: Peter Helck's 1921 Benz-Mercedes "Rabbit-the-First" Now Owned by Jay Leno

Howard and Rob, the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance is set for Aug. 26 dawn (for you) some 201 days left. Able to make it?? Howard your Chrysler took some 18 months and just about made it. Simpler restoration for the Tucker?

From Tucker 1044 Conservation Report II: Highlights from the Memorable Open House

Don’t know the car but this monstrous machine reminded me of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt’s 1906 250 hp Fiat.

I believe it’s the Helck father-son team at the helm of what could be a V-12 powerplant on wheels. Possible Mercedes emblem on the radiator. Geez, this thing looks HEAVY and must weigh in at least 6000 lbs. Hope there’s car specs with this week’s answers. Can’t wait!

From Update: Peter Helck's 1921 Benz-Mercedes "Rabbit-the-First" Now Owned by Jay Leno

I was wondering if the Stutz company had an entry in the Vanderbilt cup races
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Howard Kroplick

Roger, there were no Stutz entered in the Long Island Races (1904-1910). But , there were Stutz in the later races (1912-1916):

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/starting_lineup_the_1912_vanderbilt_cup_race_held_in_milwaukee

http://www.champcarstats.com/races/191401.htm

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/starting_lineup_the_1915_vanderbilt_cup_race_in_san_francisco

http://www.champcarstats.com/races/191613.htm

From Driver Profile: Camille Jenatzy- "The Red Devil" and His Tragic Death

It is the 1912 Mercedes Benz Ralph DePalma drove at Indy. 8W model. something like the Olfield 1909 Blitxen Benz. It is also like the chassis Perry Thomas used to build Babs. DePalma and Hetck in it likely in the 1960s. Might be at Bridge Hampton. Part of the Penske collection.

From Update: Peter Helck's 1921 Benz-Mercedes "Rabbit-the-First" Now Owned by Jay Leno

1. Mercedes chassis, Chitty-Bang-Bang, 23 liter Maybach Aircraft engine.
2. Built in 1921by Count Louis Zborowski.
3. Fiat known as “Mephistopheles”.
4. Driver unknown, passenger is Peter Helck.
5. Photo taken after 1924, owned by the sons of Arthur Conan Doyal.
6. Last known owner in 1934 was John Morris who dismantled the car.

From Update: Peter Helck's 1921 Benz-Mercedes "Rabbit-the-First" Now Owned by Jay Leno

The red Fiat S61shown on the envelope is the one that Wagner crashed in 1910 at the U.S. Grand Prix in Savannah. This fiat team of 3 cars was not allowed to race in the Vanderbilt Cup event because the displacement limit was 600 c.i. The Fiats were 616 c.i. They were later sleeved down to 589 c.i. for racing at Indianapolis. This particular car now resides in the Indianapolis Speedway Museum. One other team car is known to exist in the U.S.
Regards,
Randy Reed
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Howard Kroplick
Good job Randy!

From Helck Family Collection: Peter Helck's Illustrated Wagner Envelopes

Identify this racer including: manufacturer, nickname and engine size
-1922 Mercedes Racing Special. A World War I Benz aircraft engine of 19 liters displacement installed in an early Mercedes chain-drive chassis. The car was known as ‘Rabbit the First,’

In what year was this racer built and who was its first owner?
-constructed in 1922 in England for Lord Scarisbrick.

Which automobile was this racer often mistaken for?
-Pure guess and say the earlier Blitzen Benz.

Identify the driver and passenger in the Mystery Foto.
-Peter Helck in the passenger seat, and I’ll guess that could be his son Jerry driving.

When was this photo taken and who were the owners at that time.
Another guess and say Helck’s upstate home sometime in the 60’s. Peter Helck owned the car.

Who owns the racer today
-I’m only seeing David North/North collection being the possible current owner

From Update: Peter Helck's 1921 Benz-Mercedes "Rabbit-the-First" Now Owned by Jay Leno

No clue (again) but the passenger ‘pears to be Peter Helck and dollars to doughnuts it has a Liberty L-12 engine (which, in spite of the misleading model number, is a V12).  Sam, III

From Update: Peter Helck's 1921 Benz-Mercedes "Rabbit-the-First" Now Owned by Jay Leno

The III couldn’t be more appropriate for the exhibit but, old tho’ I be, I have serious trouble considering it as an “Antique” car!  Yes , I can still add but still - - - .  Sam, III

From AACA Museum Announces the 1963 Mustang III Concept Show will be Featured in Upcoming 2018 Exhibit

Interesting about Perkins and so soon after the first flights of any kind.

From Aerial advertising kites flying near the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race grandstand

Art’s got it right!  Hmmm; mayhap I misremember but when I visited Peter ca. 1960, I went directly to Boston Corners (with an “S”!), with no Millerton involved.  Google Maps and Wikipedia leave off the “S” but the latter’s history keeps it.  Anyone know what this is all about?  Howard, do you have any Helck stationery or such?  Sam, III
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Howard Kroplick

Sam III, I am sure I do and check it out this week.

Howard I

From Helck Family Collection: Peter Helck's Illustrated Wagner Envelopes

Amazing way to recieve a letter from a friend. Each sent individually with unique artwork on the cover, without the use of printers and photoshop to assist. Wow!

From Helck Family Collection: Peter Helck's Illustrated Wagner Envelopes

*ID Racer/Manufacturer/Nickname/Engine Size:  Mercedes Benz Special C.H. Crowe Racer. Built by C.H. Crowe & Co. London, England. Nickname “Rabbit”. Powered by a Daimler Benz 18 liter straight 6 cylinder.

*Year Racer built & first Owner:  1921 Edward T. Scarisbrick

*Racer this one was often mistaken for:  Hybrids built by Louis Zyborowski.

*ID Driver & Passenger in Foto:  Jerry and Peter Helck ( Son and Father ).

*When was this photo taken and owner of this racer then:  Year 1964 ( Jerry- 38 yrs old and Peter- 71 yrs old ). It was jointly owned by Charles Lytle and Peter Helck.

*Present Owner of this racer:  Don’t know. The latest info/image of this car that I could find was during the 2001 Pebble Beach Car Show Concours d’Elegance. I submitted the link & image to the site here. It looks in fine shape.

From Update: Peter Helck's 1921 Benz-Mercedes "Rabbit-the-First" Now Owned by Jay Leno

Thanks Howard. I’ll do a walkthrough there for my own curiousity soon.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive-The Helck Family Memoirs #2: Joe Tracy and the Cotter Pin in 1906

That Franklin logo was used by the Franklin car company that built cars in Syracuse, NY between 1902 and 1934. The two men of Air COoled Motors in Liverpool, NY who built the Franklin engine for Tucker met while working at Franklin Carl Doman and Ed Marks were both engineers, Ed Marks was the chief engineer. Both nice men , Carl Doman passed away soon after I met him but Ed Marks became my friend when I started to attend the Franklin Club annual meet in the late 1960s. I have correspondence with Ed Marks from that time, and each year the Franklin club had a former employees reunion that they bought all the former employees lunch at. I helped run that for many years and the questions were interesting from the audience that was there to hear the men reminisce .

From Tucker 1044 Conservation Report II: Highlights from the Memorable Open House