Vanderbilt Cup Races

TL Thousand has provided additional information on our latest photo:

Hi Howard!

Wow!  You will never believe this, but I was able to identify the man in the passenger seat next to my grandfather in the mystery car—which
changes quite a few things my family thought we knew about the mystery photo.

The man in the passenger seat—the man my grandfather chauffered for—is William Grant (“W.G.”) Faatz.  The location is Binghamton, New York. The photo was taken sometime between November 20. 1910 and April 14, 1911.

It’s a long story, but I was able to identify Mr. Faatz from a profile photo his family had of him, that was taken in 1890.  It erases all doubt; my
grandfather’s boss and co-pilot in this fabulous car is Mr. Faatz.

Some information on Faatz:  After starting as a harness-maker in Susquehanna in 1885, he gradually broadened his affairs and eventually founded the Faatz Brush and Felting Company of Lestershire (later, Johnson City) with his
two brothers.  Faatz retired from the business’s presidency in 1912 and, following his heart’s passion for motors, founded the Binghamton Motor
Car Co. Inc. the same year.

Maybe that information will help jog someone’s memory!

I plan to follow some historical leads in Binghamton, and will keep you apprised.  But, how great to know that this was a New York car!

Cheers,
TL Thousand

From Update on the Latest Mystery Photo!

howard, thank you for purchasing the pennant. after having been laid off a month ago .... it will help with the bills!

From Premium Vanderbilia Estimated Market Values

Dear Howard,

Congratulations on your book VMP.  It was a fun read!

I didn’t think you were around that long. 

Hope to hear from you.

Best,

Pete

From Long Island Motor Parkway Suffolk County Mystery Photo

An email from Walter McCarthy:

Thank you for that great photo of the “Mystery Race Car.”  I compared it with my photos of Mercedes, IF, and Fiat, and most of the details such as hubs, sprocket hub and sprocket bolts, wheels and other details seem to say MERCEDES.  The horn is later about 1912.  Walter

From Update on the Latest Mystery Photo!

Art:

Thanks for the comment. It was a fun to do!

Enjoy,

Howard

From Howard Kroplick Interview: The Vanderbilt Cup Races and the Long Island Motor Parkway

Nice interview Howard.  Very entertaining. 

Art

From Howard Kroplick Interview: The Vanderbilt Cup Races and the Long Island Motor Parkway

Ken:

Al Velocci and I will be discussing and signing “The Long Island Motor Parkway” on Thursday, October 30, 2008 ath Book Revue in Huntington at 7:00 PM.

Enjoy,

Howard

From New Book from Howard Kroplick and Al Velocci "The Long Island Motor Parkway"

Walter:

Thanks for the information!

Enjoy,

Howard

From Long Island Motor Parkway Suffolk County Mystery Photo

Hi Howard, I don’t know the location, but the car in the photo is a 1912 Hupmobile “20” roadster.
  Regards,  Walter

From Long Island Motor Parkway Suffolk County Mystery Photo

Hi Tom:

Thanks for the comment.

I had both my 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350H and its 40th anniversary tribute car, the 2006 Shelby GTH, at this fun event. I am sorry that I missed you. Likely, I was inside the Nassau Museum of Art at my exhibit “Treasures of the Vanderbilt Cup Races”. I did get to do a demonstration run with “Shelby” for the fifth consecutive year.

Hope to talk to you soon!

Enjoy,

Howard

From Newsday Publishes Special Pullout on the Long Island Motor Parkway: October 20, 2008

fantabulous to have such cars in 1900’s

From Question of the Day: Searching for Willie K's Oldest Surviving Car

Hi Howard,
This is Tom from the Bridgehampton Motoring Club. I just discovered your website here. Great stuff!
I went to the Vanderbilt Cup Races this past sunday. Very cold but a nice day indeed. I believe I spotted your GT350. It looked great. It’s been awhile and I did not spot you around the car though.
This site is great and I will have to spend some time looking through it all.
Thanks,
Tom M.

From Newsday Publishes Special Pullout on the Long Island Motor Parkway: October 20, 2008

Rob:

You are 100% correct.

For the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race, a large section of the course was on a newly-built Hempstead Turnpike. Last Wednesday night, Barack Obama and John McCain were on the very same road as the 1904 drivers in order to reach their debate site at Hofstra University.

Enjoy,

Howard Kroplick

From Question of the Day: What do Barack Obama and John McCain have in common with the 1904 drivers?

The answer: Barack Obama, John McCain and the drivers of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race needed to use the Hempstead Turnpike to reach their October destinations. Right?

Rob H.

From Question of the Day: What do Barack Obama and John McCain have in common with the 1904 drivers?

I purchased an oil painting from Alfred Gabali West Denis on Cape Cod in 1954.  The artist wrote on the back of the picture “The Last Race between Vanderbilts Defender and Sir Liptons’ Shamrock in 1914.  Is this of value to you?

From Premium Vanderbilia Estimated Market Values

Joe:

Thanks for the post and your information on the mystery sign. Your signed book will be complimentary of Al and myself. See you at Book Revue in Huntington on October 30th!

Enjoy!

Howard

From Long Island Motor Parkway Suffolk County Mystery Photo

I’ve seen a picture with a sign like that and a smaller sign under it in another picture that was taken at a different angle further away which was at Wicks Road in Suffolk County dated about 1917 to 1920.
Great new book. See you at the book signing.
Regards,
Joseph

From Long Island Motor Parkway Suffolk County Mystery Photo

Judi:

Great to hear from you. Hope to see you at the Book Revue. Wine and cheese will be served!!

Enjoy,

Howard

From Long Island Motor Parkway Suffolk County Mystery Photo

Where do you find these things?  I do love the goggles!
Trying to get to Book Revue on the 30th
Best
Judi

From Long Island Motor Parkway Suffolk County Mystery Photo

George:

Please email me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call me at 1-516-625-0123 and provide the details.

Enjoy!

Howard

From Film "The 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race"