Vanderbilt Cup Races

Howard:  Thank you so much for the excellent Harry Grant profile.  You have really made him come alive for us. I wish my Grandfather, my Father and my Uncle Harry (named after Harry Grant)could have had the opportunity to view your terrific website.  Thanks again and be well.  Tom Grant (Grandnephew of Harry Grant).

From Driver Profile: Harry Grant -Winner of the 1909 & 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races

Joe, William, Wally, and Sal:

Thanks for your stories concerning the Long Island Automotive Museum. Hopefully, someday we can build a new automobile museum here on Long Island.

Enjoy!

Howard

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

Virgina:

I will try to track your uncle down.

Unfortunately, the mechanicians were sometimes the forgotten people in the races. They served an important and dangerous function in making sure the car was operating properly but were often not named in the racing programs and newspapers.

Enjoy!

Howard

From Driver Profile: Harry Grant -Winner of the 1909 & 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races

I never visited the Museum while it was open, but I visited several times after it closed for what was called an “Iron Range”, sales conducted to dispose of the various parts still in the buildings. I was invited by Les Cutting, of Huntington who was very well known in the hobby and Wally could tell you lots about. I collected a pile of parts and collectable items and asked Mr. Clark for a price when he was closing down for lunch. He did not want to sell me some items, sign and pictures, etc. he said they were not for sale and I said I was told everything was for sale. Within a few seconds, he would not sell me anything, and then Les came over and stated I was a fine young man and not a dealer and the he said I could have the stuff, so I asked for a price, he just gave me the stuff. I still have it all today. I also attended and “Iron Range” run by Walter Kraft for his estate. It was still a great place to visit even with out any cars.

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

Hi Howard,  Thank you for sending me your wonderful web site information.  I will have to go through my stuff and see if I have any other items and photos with related to your interests. I knew Austin Clark for many years and he was a great help in some of my automobile restorations through the years. In the interest of historical accuracy you might want to change your L.I. Automotive Museum article to owner Henry Austin Clark Jr. He would always say “Mr. Clark passed away” when people left off the Jr. 
      Keep up the good work!
Regards, Your friend, Walter

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

Hi Howard.  I enjoyed your article about Harry Grant.  Sounds like a good man. 

In your readings about the September 27th accident, did you come across mention of the mechanics for the Maxwell team?  I think my uncle, Clyde Latta, might have been among them.  As is often the case, I didn’t find the names of the mechanics in the articles about the accident in the Indianapolis Star.

From Driver Profile: Harry Grant -Winner of the 1909 & 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races

My father was a Ham Radiio operator (W2BSP) and back in the 1950’s when I was just a kid he took me out th see Austin Clark’s Automotive Museum.  Clark had been a ship’s radio operator and knew dad.  The Museum was a glorious experience.  Like yourself I was in the area in more recent times and was saddened to see a banner across the sign in front in the weed infested parking lot and the delapadated hut that once housed those wounderful automobiles.  I noticed a dirt road along side the site and feeling adventurous found it led to a back enterance onto the property.  The big door was open and serveral men were inside trying to start one lone old 1940ish Lincoln.  One man stepped out and very sternly asked me what I was doing there.  It was none other than Austin Clark himself.  I told him my story and he opened his heart to me about how the local government would not let him use billboard signs to advertise his Museum and how his famly lost interest in the work it took to open each season.  He gave me some post card pictures still there in the little store.  The ceiling of the building showed signs of leaking and what remained in the storage racks were falling into decay.  It was sad but a privlage to have met this early historian of American Automobiles.

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

Howard - I was at your presentation in the Smithtown Library last week and really enjoyed the info you related to us.  Thanks.

Re the Long Island Automotive Museum above, I remember my parents taking me to the museum a couple of times when I was probably 8 - 10 years old.  I will be 61 on 6/27/08.  I remember going for rides in an early 1900’s fire engine and sitting up alongside the driver while I cranked the handle on the manually operated siren.  As I recall, the fire engine was driven down dirt roads in the rear of the museum.  As a kid of that age, I had a ball!!!

I haven’t thought of that in many years.  It brings back good memories.  Thanks for the reminder!

Regards,

Joe Romano
Smithtown, NY

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

Tom:

Thanks for the feedback on the website. I will be sending you some additional images and information on your Great Uncle Harry Grant, winner of the 1909 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races.

Enjoy!

Howard Kroplick

From Calling All Vanderbilt Cup Race Families

Melinda:

There were at least two George Robertsons who were involved in auto racing in the early 1900s and sometimes confused.

George Hepburn Robertson (1885-1955) was the winner of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race. He and his wife, Lillian, lived at 440 East 23rd Street in New York City and had three children, George Robertson, Jr., Joan Robertson Shriver of Summit, New Jersey and a son, Crawford of Garden City, New York. George Robertson, Jr. died serving with the US Army in Germany during the last weeks of World War II.  He was shot while on a balcony, probably by a sniper. Crawford’s wife Betsey still lives on Long Island.

George Francis Robertson (?- 1940)was a mechanic on some of the early Ford racing cars. I believe he spent much of his life in Texas.

Enjoy!

Howard Kroplick

From Calling All Vanderbilt Cup Race Families

I just ordered the book.  What a great website.  I am Tom Grant,. a great nephew of Harry Grant.  My Grandfather was Harry Grant’s brother.  Thanks again for your efforts.  Be well, Tom

From Calling All Vanderbilt Cup Race Families

We need to protest the information suplied above by Mr. Peter Hepburn Shriver.

We are the living relatives to George Robertson and my mother was his daughter

Perhaps Peter is a long lost relative?...

From Calling All Vanderbilt Cup Race Families

Phil:

Can you send me a photo? I will post it on the website.

Enjoy!

Howard

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

Michael:

Thanks for posting on VanderbiltCupRaces.com and your positive feedback.

You have quite the racing heritage. I have many images of the 1904 and 1905 Ormond Daytona Beach Tournaments and believe several include your relatives. I will check through my 20,000 image database and email them to you later this week. Have you also seen the film of the 1905 Ormond race?

Great to hear you are also race a Shelby Mustang. I own a white 1966 Shelby Mustang GTH-350.

http://www.vanderbiltracecelebrations.com/2007eventphotos.html

Enjoy!

Howard

From Calling All Vanderbilt Cup Race Families

Hello Howard Kroplick,
Thank you for putting together so much wonderful information on the Vandy races and the early footage! Fantastic. I have a direct connection to the Vanderbilt cup- my great Grand Uncle, B M Shanley purchased the 90 hp Mercedes- Willie K from WK V jr shortly after the race in 1904 Ormond Beach- yes the car that adorns the trophy was raced by my family until 1917. 
The 90 HP fell short of victory in 1905, but I have great photos of BM Shanley, WC Shanley (My Great Grandfather) and WK Vanderbilt, Jr at the 1905 races in Ormond. 

I have continued the tradition by racing Ford GT350 Mustangs- 1966 and 2006!  NASCAR Stock Cars and I currently own the fastest growing motorsports team in the USA, with over 6,000 active drivers in two years!  I was born in Manhassett - so the island is always home turf, if you have any more events, please let me know.  I am very sorry to have missed the last - but I was racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway!! 
I will get your book shortly and please - again- let me know if you have any more events- I attended the racing celebrations for Ormond and Fords 100 yr celebration! 

Best to you and THANK YOU For your effort in preserving the true beginning of Motorsports in America!
B Michael Shanley

Here is some of the history on the races- and Dick Punnet has got many more photos for me! 

http://www.teamdan.com/archive/gen/indycar/1904.html
30th January: 20 miles - Handicap
1   Herbert L.Bowden           Mercedes           0:18:40.0, 66.4 mph
2   Samuel B.Stevens           Mercedes 60         0:18:50.0
3   Walter Christie       Christie           Finished
4   Bernard M.Shanley     Decauville
5   Joe Tracy           Peerless
19th November - Weequahio Park, Waverly, NJ. 0.5 mile dirt oval.
Exhibition
    Bernard M.Shanley     Mercedes           0:01:17.8, 46.27 mph, 2 laps
    Bernard M.Shanley     Mercedes           0:02:37.0, 45.86 mph, 4 laps
    Bernard M.Shanley     Mercedes           0:03:57.5, 45.47 mph, 6 laps
    Bernard M.Shanley     Mercedes           0:05:17.2, 45.40 mph, 8 laps

5 miles - Under $6500
1   Bernard M.Shanley     Mercedes           0:05:56.2, 50.53 mph
2   J.H.Armory           Speedway 24         10 laps



http://www.teamdan.com/archive/gen/indycar/1905.html

31st January: 25 miles - E.R.Thomas Cup
1   Arthur MacDonald           Napier 90         0:15:23.0, 97.51 mph
2   William Wallace       Fiat 90           0:15:34.0
3   Harry Fletcher       De Dietrich 80       0:15:36.8
4   Paul Sartori         Fiat 90           0:16:01.0
5 8 Bernard M.Shanley     Mercedes 90         0:16:25.6

31st January: 10 miles - Major C.J.S. Miller Trophy
1   Arthur MacDonald           Napier 90         0:06:15.0, 96.00 mph
2 6 Edward R.Thomas       Mercedes 105       0:06:18.2
3 8 Bernard M.Shanley     Mercedes 90         0:07:25.4

B. Michael Shanley
203-455-4137

Team SCP, LLC

From Calling All Vanderbilt Cup Race Families

Wonderful to hear from the Vanderbilt Cup Race families! I will be emailing you a selection of photos of your grandfather and great grandfathers.

Enjoy!

Howard

From Calling All Vanderbilt Cup Race Families

there is one down the road from me, and it has been restored once in the 50"s, and has the “V” grille, and is in mint condition…....

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

I am the great granddaughter of Frank Lee. It’s great to see the pictures I remember as a child seeing in my great granparents home. Good job! Now where can I find the book?

From Calling All Vanderbilt Cup Race Families

hello. i am the great grandson to frank lee, who raced with harry grant as his mechanic,i still have some old photos but you may already have what i have…

From Calling All Vanderbilt Cup Race Families

I just finished your book and enjoyed it very much.  I am giving away several copies as well. I am the only grandson of George Robertson.  I’d like to learn more about the races.  thank you.

From Calling All Vanderbilt Cup Race Families