Vanderbilt Cup Races

1904 VCR.  Gabriel.  The Master Nitpicker strikes again!  I can’t read most of the inscription (en français) but the loco is NOT an LIRR loco and the proper name of the LIRR is Long Island Rail Road (RR as two words).  Seems reasonable to assume the art work was based on a Peter Helck original.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #8 Partially Solved:A Humidor Vanderbilia from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

The image is an artistic representation of Fernand Gabriel driving the #2 DeDietrich racer in the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race as he crosses the LIRR tracks in Hicksville, just ahead of the speeding locomotive. The artist was Ernest Montaut (1878-1909), who mainly created French posters. Although no lithograph expert, I think the item In question may have been the engraving from which succeeding prints were made by pouring some molten material (wax, paraffin, rubber, lead?), onto it, allowing it to harden and then using that new impression to “stamp” out new prints.

From Mystery Foto #8 Partially Solved:A Humidor Vanderbilia from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

Sorry, I stand to be corrected! The BMW promotional short is called “beat the devil” not race with Lucifer! Another short from that series with “Madonna” is called “the hire”

From Mystery Foto #8 Partially Solved:A Humidor Vanderbilia from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

Don’t know all the answers but this image could be depicting a close call during the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race in Hicksville, NY. If true, this location is where the RR tracks cross South Broadway/Rt. 107 today (Massapequa Road). The left curve in the road however contradicts my guess. It should be a right curve.

The first train/auto accident ever recorded in the U.S. occurred in Westbury, NY on Oct 1910, where the RR tracks cross Post Ave. French race car driver Henri Fournier and three passengers, collided with a train that ejected everyone out of the vehicle. All occupants survived the wreck.

Original image is not a Peter Helck illustration. The style is different

Possible 80hp De Dietrich with Fernand Gabriel behind the wheel, and mechanician D. Miollans

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/then_now_the_1904_vanderbilt_cup_race_course_through_hicksville

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/mystery_friday_foto_39_a_historic_accident_in_westbury

Looking forward to this week’s answers

From Mystery Foto #8 Partially Solved:A Humidor Vanderbilia from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

I thought it was the building in Great Neck, too.

From Updated 2/21/18: Mystery Foto #7 Solved: The Roslyn Motors Lincoln Dealership in 1926

Which Vanderbilt Cup Race was depicted on the cover?
1904 VCR

Identify the location and the race car and driver?
Hicksville; #2 De Dietrich driven by Fernand Gabriel

Which artist was originally responsible for the artwork?
Looks like the name is E Montaat

What was the possible purpose of this Vanderbilia?
Who manufactured this Vanderbilia and when? (Currently unknown)
Unknown, but looking forward to the answers!

From Mystery Foto #8 Partially Solved:A Humidor Vanderbilia from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

Which Vanderbilt Cup Race was depicted on the cover?  1904

Identify the location and the race car and driver? Hicksville, Fernand Gabriel in a DeDricht

Which artist was originally responsible for the artwork? Ernest Montaut

What was the possible purpose of this Vanderbilia?  To encase the prints contained in the series “10 Years of Race, the Winners 1897 - 1907”.

Who manufactured this Vanderbilia and when? (Currently unknown)
Not sure but photo sent to Howard is of a silvered metal inkstand depicting the work of Ernest Montaut for Michelin tires indicating 34 ceramic tiles.  A long snot, but what’s to lose.

From Mystery Foto #8 Partially Solved:A Humidor Vanderbilia from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

Penny H.

I had the honor and distinct privilege of riding with Kirk Gibson in the Renault when the family owned it. It is a wonderful piece of automotive history especially with its connection to Vanderbilt. Great to see the museum driving it so folks can see and hear the car in motion. Bravo!

From Video: The Renault Vanderbilt Racer at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

Mystery Foto #8… This case depicts the 1904 Vanderbilt cup Race. The location appears to be the railroad crossing at Massapequa Road, Hicksville. The car was a Lorraine-Dietrich (or De Dietrich) driven by Fernand Gabriel (mecanician, D. Miollans). The original art was by E. Montaut. My guess as to the possible purpose of this box is it held prize money for the winner. Can’t find any info on who manufactured this Vanderbilia.

From Mystery Foto #8 Partially Solved:A Humidor Vanderbilia from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

Nice to see it in action!

Ken

From Video: The Renault Vanderbilt Racer at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

HAC’s stories and comments appeared regularly in Old Cars Weekly back in the 70’s and 80’s and were tremendously enjoyable. One could not help but developed a fondness for this fun loving person. Thanks for keeping his memory alive!

From Highlights from the AACA Annual Meeting Presentation "A Tribute to Henry Austin Clark. Jr."

I used to attend the annual AACA meeting with Austin, we would drive to Philadelphia and back in his Mark III Lincoln (which was a new car at the time not a collectible it now is)  . He and George Norton ( a former AACA President) would host the truck seminar and I got involved when Austin asked me to run the slide projector for him and George . It was standing room only at those seminars as Austin and George had a wicked sense of humor and were on full force at the seminars, which on occasion could get a bit risque image wise as Austin liked the female form as much as he liked the look of early trucks! AACA annual meetings were always a highlight of the year and apparently still are Howard with the talk you gave.
Walt G.

From Highlights from the AACA Annual Meeting Presentation "A Tribute to Henry Austin Clark. Jr."

Those cars are amazing! Wonderful restoration work done here. Congrats to all.

From Video: The Renault Vanderbilt Racer at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

As teenagers we went to the Sports Car Review at the Ford Museum in the mid 1950s. It was a pet project of Benson and Wm. Clay Ford. The Mercedes 300 SLR was displayed on the back of the blue MB car hauler. Eventually the Mercedes Museum wanted the hauler back but gave the Ford Museum the 300 SLR you see on the 1966 Program cover. The 1956 4.9L Ferrari was at the 1956 SCR. I can remember it passing me on US 10 when returning from a sports car race in Grayling Michigan in 1957 - about blew the windows out of the Chevy sedan I was driving when he hit 4th gear. Those were the days when race cars were driven to the track and back. One of the Alfa BATs was on display back then, too.

From Henry Ford Museum 1966 Program: Sports Cars in Review

Hi, Howard,
We have the great Petersen Museum here in LA, but in many ways, I enjoyed the Simeone more for its informality and breadth of its collection.  And they drive them!

From Video: The Renault Vanderbilt Racer at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

Remember the Museum and Austie well. Since his primary residence was in Glen Cove and my father being an expert model maker/machinist in Locust Valley, if Austie needed a rare car or fire truck part made, he’d come over and ask my dad to create. In fact, his Packard town car drove my wife and I from the church to reception on our wedding day back in 1972

From Hemmings Daily: Site of former Long Island Automotive Museum sells decades after it closed

Hi Howard. Before I tackle this one, is it OK to know the following:

The drawing appears to be edged on a metal surface, encased in a metal frame with a clear glass covering?

From Mystery Foto #8 Partially Solved:A Humidor Vanderbilia from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

the photo was likely taken by Capt. Robert Selff of the Us Army Air corp. He took numerous aerial photos during the air corps maneuvers in 1931.

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: The Historic Hangar 16 at Curtiss Field (Circa 1931)

It looks like a problem that still exists to this day on Long Island. Railroad crossings and railroad crossing gates. The box could be an urn with ashes from the first Vanderbuilt racer to die at one of those crossings while making a daring attempt at beating the train. It all reminds me of a really well done BMW promotional video with Cive Owen and James Brown

Check out this video on YouTube:   Beat The Devil (BMW Short Film)

http://youtu.be/-qQvXawnmjk

From Mystery Foto #8 Partially Solved:A Humidor Vanderbilia from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

Hi Howard:
    I believe it to be a lithograph plate for a painting of a 1907 Renault 35/45 HP.
in the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Races.
                      Best To You,  Ron

From Mystery Foto #8 Partially Solved:A Humidor Vanderbilia from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum