Vanderbilt Cup Races

Mr Holterbosch sounds as if he were quite a man!
I’m currently investigating the history of a 1966 Lola T70 that he owned from 1976 to 1996.  He had it completely restored in 1987 in England by Crosthwaite and Gardiner and I wondered if anyone contributing to this thread can answer any questions about it, such s who Mr Holterbosch bought it from/sold it to?
I’m also writing a piece on early 1948-1952 Ferrari F1 cars and I believe Mr Holterbosch owned one of the 1952 Indianapolis 375s. Can anyone tell me more please?
Thank you
John Starkey

From In Search of H. Dieter Holterbosch and his W.C. Bird's Duesenberg

The remnants of automobile #1042 ‘found vanished’ once the injured Police officer returned home, seems the only lost Tucker affording a glimmer of hope.
As, around 1961, it was unclear if the remains were stolen or carted off to a scrap yard by the officer’s landlord, the missing car’s story remains unfinished.
I can admit to being a born optimist, and the trail is a wee bit cold now, but strange and wonderful things do happen.
Wayne Carini was 9 or 10 years old at that time and Jay Leno almost 18 months older. Time to form a Chasing Classic Car detectives’ posse, guys?
First, which might have been the yard - very likely since redeveloped - the Tucker could have been taken to? Second, any mention in the local press of the car’s disappearance?

From Greg O's Garage; The four "lost" Tuckers #1027, #1023, #1018 and #1042

The driver was Louis Chevrolet
The first automobile in the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race was a Fiat
The second automobile in the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race was a Buick
Vanderbilt Cup Race on October 2, 1905. During early morning practice, he got into a patch of fog and ran into a telephone pole with the 110 hp Fiat.
Vanderbilt Cup race of October 1, 1910, Chevrolet drove a Marquette - Buick. One of the Buick’s wheels became wedged in a rut and snapped the steering mechanism. The car slammed into a parked street car in Hicksville, crashed through a fence, hit a touring car and a tree before landing upside down in front of a farm house.

From Mystery Friday Foto #2 Solved: Louis Chevrolet's Wreck on the Course

“The people that put up the coin for the sport.”  This looks like this was the area by the grandstand where spectators could pay to park along the fence near the start/finish line.  Parking here was insanely expensive.  So the comment is appropriate.  The “inconclusive” location of the one photo might be somewhere between Carmen ave and Newbridge rd.  These pictures are all treasures.  Keep finding and preserving things like this.

From A Family Discovers 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race Photos in their Grandfather's Photo Album

Wow! More great historic photos that have been saved. The travel from Montclair, NJ to CA recorded is equally amazing (https://myveronanj.com/2021/08/01/a-cross-country-adventure-in-1921/). The photo below appears a CRR steam engine captured on the left edge while smoking up Eisenhower Park. Thanks Charles for sharing these gems

From A Family Discovers 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race Photos in their Grandfather's Photo Album

Fantastic photos (and captions)!  Thanks Charles for sharing!

From A Family Discovers 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race Photos in their Grandfather's Photo Album

Thanks Thomas - here are two maps from 1906 and 1914 showing some buildings on property of an R.E. Stephens (1906) and Mrs. R.L. Stephens (1914) just north of Jericho Turnpike.  Might this be the farm in which your grandmother lived?  As Greg noted, any additional info. you have would be great.

From Mystery Friday Foto #1 Solved: The Dangerous Woodbury Turn on the 1908 Course

Thomas-
If you have any stories, photos or souvenirs from you grandmother, we’d love to hear or see them.

From Mystery Friday Foto #1 Solved: The Dangerous Woodbury Turn on the 1908 Course

In 1905-1907, my grandmother Nellie Parsons LaTourette lived in Westbury with her Parsons family at ages 10-12. My Grandmother told me it was on a farm in Old Westbury, (the Stephen’s Farm) on or near Red Ground (Rd.), just north of and facing E. Jericho Pike/Mineola Blvd. (and Maunch Chuck?) and just north of present day LIE, near or on Wheadley Rd and Old Westbury Rd, near Hairpin curve on the race course of the Vanderbilt Racing Car Cup races.  She also shared stories of her family hosting one of the French racing teams in 1906 and their using her barn for their cars and her mom cooking breakfast for them during the races.

From Mystery Friday Foto #1 Solved: The Dangerous Woodbury Turn on the 1908 Course

At least they tried to put an embankment to help the racers a little with that sharp left turn.  I’d still rather watch from the inside part of that intersection though, thank you very much.

From Mystery Friday Foto #1 Solved: The Dangerous Woodbury Turn on the 1908 Course

The church in 2021. The second floor window is now sealed with stained glass. The church still sits 250 feet west of the Woodbury Rd intersection on Jericho Tpke

From Mystery Friday Foto #1 Solved: The Dangerous Woodbury Turn on the 1908 Course

Like modern EVs with two electric motors for all wheel drive.

From Mystery Friday Foto #51 Solved: J. Walter Christie's 1905 Vanderbilt Cup racer

The Christie might be the first twin-engine, 4WD gasoline auto.

From Mystery Friday Foto #51 Solved: J. Walter Christie's 1905 Vanderbilt Cup racer

Mark, yes, that was electric. There was also a Spyker and Benz. Cotta-Mobile and Twyford in the USA.  Steam vehicles even earlier.

From Mystery Friday Foto #51 Solved: J. Walter Christie's 1905 Vanderbilt Cup racer

Lee, would that be with electric motors mounted on all 4 wheels?

From Mystery Friday Foto #51 Solved: J. Walter Christie's 1905 Vanderbilt Cup racer

No, the 1898 “System Lohner–Porsche” was an earlier all wheel drive.

From Mystery Friday Foto #51 Solved: J. Walter Christie's 1905 Vanderbilt Cup racer

Amazing high resolution photo! Looks like the winning ‘Old 16’ during the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race with George Robertson at the wheel and mechanician Glenn Ethridge at his side. Appears a 90 degree left turn was just executed but photos can be deceiving. There’s 3 possibilities on the counterclockwise course. I’ll guess it’s Woodbury, the left turn from Woodbury Rd onto Jericho Tpke heading west. If true, the photo is facing Southeast. Dangerous curve because the intersection today is still approximately 70 degrees, 117 years later. Vantage point likely from the top of a 2nd story house or business. The roadway seems wide enough for Jericho Tpke ca. 1908. The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race was held on October 24, 1908

From Mystery Friday Foto #1 Solved: The Dangerous Woodbury Turn on the 1908 Course

Is J. Walter Christie a pioneer of ALL WHEEL DRIVE?

From Mystery Friday Foto #51 Solved: J. Walter Christie's 1905 Vanderbilt Cup racer

Nice - you never know what cars will end up in the Kroplick collection.  I might just put my 2012 Toyota Camry up for auction one of these days.

From Looking Back at the 2016 Keeneland Concours d'Elegance

Woodbury turn, Woodbury Road and Jericho Turnpike
Photographer was on the steeple of a nearby church
October 24, 1908
Locomobile, George Robertson, Glenn Etheridge

From Mystery Friday Foto #1 Solved: The Dangerous Woodbury Turn on the 1908 Course