Vanderbilt Cup Races

It is important to note that Locomobile also built another race car in 1905. A Mr Harold Thomas from Chicago, Illinois commissioned the car to be built. It was raced by Locomobile in 1905. It had a T head motor while the two 1906 cars had F head motors. I did some research into the three cars and posted my findings on the AACA Forums under Locomobile and then “What car is this?” The three cars were confused in history and I had a difficult time discerning between the three.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

Interesting bit of trivia, The electric car referenced by the article posted by Brian McCarthy above was built by Andrew Riker. I don’t believe the article states that fact. That vehicle still exists today and is in private hands. Neat, neat, stuff.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

An early photo of one of Willie’s man-made lakes at Deepdale.  Source unknown.

From The fate of Willie K's Deepdale mansion in Lake Success

Another super picture of Krug’s Corner.  Jericho Tpke & Willis Ave.  Looks like Memorial Day Weekend.

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Seven parked automobiles at Krug's Corner Hotel in Mineola circa 1911-1912

By the way, that Rodizio place with the Green Awning in the present photo, is an excellent place to eat if you’re into red meat.

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Seven parked automobiles at Krug's Corner Hotel in Mineola circa 1911-1912

More photos of Krug’s Corner below, courtesy of VanderbiltCupRaces.com.

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Seven parked automobiles at Krug's Corner Hotel in Mineola circa 1911-1912

Fantastic Foto Howard! This is Krug’s Corner Hotel and bar (1890s - 1920s), world renowned pivotal point for viewing the Vanderbilt Cup Races of 1904, 05, 06, 08, 09, and 10 of early Long Island. Krug’s location today is at the same intersection of Willis Ave and Jericho Tpke (photo below). The mystery photo photographer is looking NW, with the Jericho Tpke in the foreground, while standing in the middle of Willis Ave, just south of Jericho Tpke (photo below with tire tracks). Based on the cars, this shot was likely taken in the 1910s, along with the removal of the 2nd floor window awnings of Krugs Hotel. I don’t know the cars; anticipating this week’s answers. 5 of 6 of the cars have start-up handles in the front end. Was one an electric start car? I don’t know? Great mystery! All photos below courtesy of VanderbitCupRaces.com

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Seven parked automobiles at Krug's Corner Hotel in Mineola circa 1911-1912

Richard is from MY Brooklyn, was in MY Oyster Bay in the 80s I think we can relate to the olden days?

From Update with new video: Crankshaft, Richard Lentinello's new quarterly magazine, is available for orders

Good Luck,
  just put my order in.
All the best,
  Tommy Casserly

From Update with new video: Crankshaft, Richard Lentinello's new quarterly magazine, is available for orders

Yes! And he was widely known for unexpectedly breaking into an upbeat rendition of The Candyman during Locomobile board meetings…

Knew you’d come up with something Art!
Personally, I’m seeing some similarities between the shape of his head, ears and sideburns. I’m leaning towards it being Sammy in the seat next to Tracey…

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

Art, this is great! I wonder if his friends called him Sammy Davis, Jr.?

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

Not sure if this picture will prove its Samuel Todd Davis in the car.  From Automobile Quarterly.  The short bio is from the Davis Family History published by a family member (George Jacob Davis, Jr.) in 1955.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

Below is a screenshot from the website that I shared here. A.L. Riker in 1st place, S.T. Davis Jr. came in 2nd, 50 mile race here on Long Island.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

I passed this extant roof structure daily in the 1960’s and into the 1970’s, always wondering what it was, until I learned of its history. Unfortunate that so much history is lost without a proper record.

From The Story of the "Four" Brentwood Toll Lodges (1911-1934)

Binney, You’re assumption is logical and may be correct. However, after a search for a photo of him to compare, I’ve come up without one. At the time of the photo in 1906, Samuel Todd Davis would have been 33 years old. The gentleman in the mechanician seat appears to be around that age. He was President of Locomobile from 1903 through 1915 when he died of food poisoning, then known as Ptomaine poisoning, so again, logic and timeline makes your assumption possible. I’m going to keep searching, but maybe Art K. can uncover further info on him.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

 
I agree with all those who have identified A.L.Riker, Joe Tracy and Al Poole. I think
it a strong likelihood that the person in the mechanic’s seat is S.T. Davis jr. then
president of the Locomobile Co. I have a letter written by him dated Oct 11,1906
indicating that they had a written offer for one of the racing cars for $15,000 but
had not made up their minds to sell it. Obviously as president of the company he
was very involved with the cars and could well have been pictured in the car.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

Brian, wonderful link. Thanks! Howard

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

Informative website about A.L. Riker

http://www.kcstudio.com/riker.html

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

I believe the first picture posted by Greg O above, is a picture of the 1905 car Harold Thomas of Chicago, Illinois commissioned Locomobile to build. It is what prompted Riker to build the two 1906 cars. It had a 7x7 T head motor while the two 1906 cars had a F head motor. That may be Harold Thomas at the crank. There is a lot of confusion over the three cars.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

Mystery Foto #21…The race car is 1905 Locomobile and it competed in 1905 Vanderbilt Cup, the 1905 Gordon Bennett race and 1906 American Elimination Trial (winner). The driver is Joe Tracy and the passenger could be Al Poole. A.L. Riker may be there too. Brand new car…so the location could be the Locomobile factory in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan