Vanderbilt Cup Races

Scott:
March 14, 2016 8:45 pm
If there was ever an uglier car made, I’ve yet to see it. And I’ve seen a lot.

Tim:
March 14, 2016 8:50 pm
I hereby call for mandatory drug testing of all Amelia Island judges…

Howie:
March 15, 2016 11:54 am
How about some vision testing also?

Jay Busse says:
March 14, 2016 9:10 pm
Reading these comments I am reminded of Matthew 7:6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not cast your pearls to swine…”

Peter Atherton
March 14, 2016 9:29 pm
In the early ’60’s the Pegaso was at Edgar Jurist’s Vintage Car Store,in Nyack,NY.The roof had been cut off to create a roadster,it was painted white,and rather seedy looking.Fortunately,the entire top was still with the car.I never knew what had happened to it thereafter,but it’s nice to see it restored!

Joe S.
March 14, 2016 11:39 pm
When will the clowns start bailing out?

gerry
March 15, 2016 7:49 am
My 65 Checker wears that color much better

Sal Pugliese
March 15, 2016 12:52 pm
I have attended every Amelia Island Concours since its inception and it just gets better every year !
Although my favorite show was 3 years ago when Ferrari was the spotlighted brand and 11 GTO’s paraded thru downtown!!
How often do you see $35M cars driving on public streets !!!
Pegasos were one of the highlighted brands this year and of the 84 or so examples produced, this one had to be the ugliest of the litter!!!
How it won an award for anything is beyond me !!!!
There were several gorgeous examples of the brand worthy of a trophy, but to select the “yellow peril” is a mystery to most in attendance !
The side pipes look to be sourced directly from a J.C. Whitney catalog and the roofline is incongruent with any line of the body !!!

adam
March 15, 2016 4:00 pm
The Oscar-Meyer Weinermobile is easier to look at than this thing. Sorry, but mustard paint and ketchup wheels are making me want a hot-dog for lunch!

Howard Munday
March 15, 2016 5:10 pm
Now I finally know where Nash(American Motors) hotshots got their upside down bathtub designs they are so famous for and I always ass/u/med they came from the “camel” design team that was charged with designing a “horse”. I saw a brown one of those on the road once and thought a red tired turd had escaped it’s designer.

I’m a died in the wool classic car guy and live just a ferry ride away from Amelia Island but have never once wasted my time attending the Amelia Island Concours de Elegance, nor do I even bother to look at nor read the Times Union’s daily coverage of the Concours and cars. I will admit having visited the venue via tv with “Chasing Classic Cars”. Usually I don’t bother to watch the whole show when Wayne’s at the Concours, like I usually do the actual chasing episodes.

Looks like my lack of affinity for the Concours has been very much more rewarding than I even realized. Most of the attendees have probably never laid down two long screaming black marks on a rural road or even a dark city street while behind the wheel of a 1965 GTO 0.30 over-bored 428, four barrel Hurst/Muncie 22 “Rock Crusher” four speed.
Whole new world!!!!!!!!!

Sal Pugliese
March 20, 2016 9:56 am
I’ve attended the Amelia Island Concours D’Elegance every year since its inception 20 years ago… I’m also a die hard muscle car collector and have campaigned a 1961 Pontiac Catalina in Nostalgia S/S for years… So much for your theory !!!

Sal Pugliese :
March 20, 2016 10:49 am
It’s quite obvious you’ve never been to the Amelia Concours D’Elegance because muscle cars are, and always have been, a major participant !!
This year, Todd Werner, noted muscle car collector, brought his ORIGINAL #43 Richard Petty Hemi Plymouth Superbird .. He lit up the crowd when called to receive his award and the unmufflered 800 HP Hemi rumbled it’s way to the show stand !!!
 

EdR
March 15, 2016 5:38 pm
Anyone else see the early Nash design similarities????

Vince Wilson:
March 15, 2016 5:48 pm
If I owned an “average”auto at that show, I would be hesitant to bring it before those judges again.
I feel for the other owners of truly fine automobiles.

GabrielS
March 15, 2016 9:39 pm
Being polite, I’d say this design was challenged. How about that huge rear window? Yuck! Must have been conceived after a heavy bout of sangria consumption.

Dan
March 15, 2016 9:41 pm
Usually, the winners of these events are worthy…This is seriously ugly automobile!

Madman
March 15, 2016 10:34 pm
When I publish my dictionary of slang, I will use this photo with the definition of “Ugly As Sin.”

Looks aside, the mechanicals of a DOHC V8 with a 5-speed manual were fairly advanced for 1952. Chevrolets still had dip-cup engine oil lubrication in their flathead 6-cylinder!

John C. Kovalo
March 21, 2016 12:17 am
I think 1950 was the last year for the dippers, as well as babbited rods.

mike
March 16, 2016 1:38 am
The Cupola looks like someone made a car out of one of Ronald McDonalds shoes.

Mike
March 18, 2016 6:19 pm
That exact car complete with red walls, appeared on the cover of a 1953 Popular Science which I remember seeing and reading as a teen. It was billed as the world’s most expensive auto at the time ($29,000 I believe). Also noted was the fact that it was built to drive on the primitive Spanish roads in the heat and not overheat. Ugly today? It seemed to be a real show stopper to me at the time.

Tom Turner
March 19, 2016 8:15 pm
“Design by committee” Is considered a put-down. Designed by a schoolkid would be too. This car was designed by a committee….of schoolkids. I there any surprise it’s so awful?

Dan Haapala
March 20, 2016 2:47 pm
Yes it’s ugly BUT, it’s the coolest ugly car I’ve ever seen (next to a Crosley). It’s unique and as such really appeals to me as it must have to the judges. BTW Madman the 52 Chevy 235-6 was OHV not flathead, just saying:)

From Hemmings Blog: 1952 Pegaso Z-102 Cupola takes Best in Show Concours de Sport at Amelia Island

In 1964 my brother Greg Alger entered N Stock at the drag races in a 1953 Ford 2 door hardtop six cylinder and an automatic transmission that he got from the wrecking yard he worked at we tuned it up really good took it to The track and went home with the N stock trophy that was quite a day we lived about a mile North of the track at the time

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: Islip Speedway in the 1960s

Wow,what pictures of those cars sliding around that corner. I couldn’t answer this mystery,was having trouble with computer,which affected my iPad. But I would have had some kind of an answer,it’s a well known racing area

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: A Memorable Moment at Krug's Corner at the 1906 American Elimination Trial

Identify the race and the date of the photo. Note: Previous descriptions of this photo are incorrect!
Um.  Let’s make the race the 1906 Elimination Trial and the date Sept. 22, 1906.

What was surprising and memorable about this moment captured in the photo?
Not really sure except maybe the huge crowd coming out for this pre Cup race.  And the fact that they aren’t on the roadway itself.

Who are the two people in the race car?
Willie K. and race surgeon, Dr. Louis Lanehart.

Identify the race car.  Willie K.‘s “90” 1903 Mercedes.

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: A Memorable Moment at Krug's Corner at the 1906 American Elimination Trial

Wow!  Looks like 1930’s -50s version of concept cars…

From The Amazing Automobiles of the 2016 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance

Great collection of images! Glad I was able to help!  Perry

From The 2014 Annual Ford Employee Product Development Center Car and Truck Show

Looking at the RR P2 reminded me of a car my dad owned.  It was a RR P1 Springfield, 1929, a Rivera Town Car with the same sort of white canework design in the rear quarter.  Unlike one now all over the web for an auction, it was clearly Springfield and Brewster - and American - the one on the web looks pure British.  His car had an aluminum head engine, and the traditional pipe style bumpers as I recall.  Its original owner was the founder of Time Magazine, and by the time my dad got it it was in poor condition, very run down.  He sent it off for a very slow restoration to a shop in the Wilkes Barre PA area (we lived in Scranton) but he was very preoccupied with hs work, and there was little progress - and it got caught up in the floods of Hurricane Agnes in 1972 or so, just making things worse.  But even in that condition it was a beautiful car.  Years later my mom sold it; I’ve no idea what became of it, but hopefully it ended up in a good home.

From The Amazing Automobiles of the 2016 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance

I hope my family in Bayside will be able to assist.

From District 23 to Vote on Resurfacing of the Motor Parkway Section of the Queens Greenway

I think the photo was taken on October 6, 1906 during the third Vanderbilt Cup Race with Willie K. driving his 1903 Mercedes along with Dr. Louis Lanehart as the passenger. However, I don’t think it was during the first lap as previously thought by many but rather during the 6th. lap when Elliot F. Shepard, in his Hotchkiss racer, ran into spectator Curt Grunner slightly east of the photo. Since Lanehart was Chief Surgeon for the race, I think Willie K. may have been bringing him to the scene of the accident in an attempt to help Grunner.

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: A Memorable Moment at Krug's Corner at the 1906 American Elimination Trial

I love that Buick Convertible and the Phantom Corsair.  The movie clip of the Wombat was familiar to me.  Where did I see that before?
Thanks Howard.
Joe

From The Amazing Automobiles of the 2016 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance

Hey!  This was #15 of 13 May 2013!  No fair repeating!  I’ll have to send you a good one.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: A Memorable Moment at Krug's Corner at the 1906 American Elimination Trial

The photo was the 1906 race when an alarm was sounded by a driver of the crowd crowding the course and masses going to be killed, Willie K and surgeon Louis Lanehart took to the course for a visual inspection and course clearance.  Willie K had entered the 1906 race then abruptly withdrew bowing to pressure from American car manufacturers…..according to my reading it simply had a bit to do with him driving a foreign car, which would work against his reasoning for the race.  So he was no doubt ready for a drive regardless.  That car was a Mercedes, and that was probably Willie K’s only lap on the racing track of a Vanderbilt Cup race.

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: A Memorable Moment at Krug's Corner at the 1906 American Elimination Trial

This mystery photo was presented before. It still looks like President Teddy Roosevelt (VCR Chief Surgeon, Dr. Louis Lanehart) being driven by Willie K, as he’s burning rubber at Krugs Corner (Jericho Tpke and Willis Ave). They’re in Willie K’s personal 1903 Mercedes and heading east on Jericho Tpke, checking crowd conditions around the 1906 VCR circuit. Could that be 13 year old Peter Helck?!?! That would be some find Howard! Memorable, because the boy is memorizing all the race images to depict on his famous paintings for decades to come. I could smell the aroma from Rodizio Restaurant hovering over this intersection, good Portuguese restaurant for ‘all you can eat’ meat lovers (100 years later). Alright, I’m anxious AGAIN waiting for this week’s answers.

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: A Memorable Moment at Krug's Corner at the 1906 American Elimination Trial

Hello, Howard. I have used this website for everything plus the LIMP. But I spent about half of today perusing….nyshistoricnewspapers.org…It’s format is quite easy to use. I found everything from my birth announcement to LIMP info.
_________________________________________________________________________________
From Howard Kroplick:

Brian, good suggestion! Thanks!

From Favorite Website: Suffolk Historic Newspapers

A second go around with this one from 3 years ago!
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/mystery_friday_photo_14_can_you_identify_this_thrilling_moment_during_a_van

My answers from then should suffice;

-The location
Jericho Turnpike and Willis Avenue in Mineola

-The race
1906 Elimination Trial or Cup Race (they drove through and cleared the track for both)

-The car
Vanderbilt’s 1903 Mercedes that broke the one-mile land speed record

-The two people in the car
Willie K and Dr. Louis Lanehart

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: A Memorable Moment at Krug's Corner at the 1906 American Elimination Trial

Greetings. 

Is it possible to get a higher resolution image of Bob Fria’s chart of the S-Code Mustangs that were delivered to Dearborn Steel Tubing; the image on your page is so small that it can’t be printed and read with any degree of clarity.

I’m trying to chase down the history of the Mustang Vivace (built at DST) and I think it was built on one of the S-code Mustangs.  Please advise.

Thanks for your time.

Mark
_________________________________________

Mark, I will email the scan to you. Howard

From The 15 1963 Pre-Production Mustangs Built at Ford's Pilot Plant in Allen Park

The top photo is a real time machine with the Beast next to that cup. Great job!

From Alco Black Beast Highlights from the 2016 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance Updated 3/18/16

Me not knowing anything about the physics of aircraft flying, but it’s a good guess things went awry way before contacting the transmission tower phase/phases. It certainly added to the stress factors either way. The electrical field surrounding the wire is wider with higher voltages. There’s normally a span of static/ground running along the highest point of the tower or steel pole. If anything is large enough to encompass ground to phase or phase to phase, end of story. I don’t know if this was done initially, but it’s now required to install “aircraft lighting fixtures” at the top of these towers, etc. Especially in the vicinity of airports. But no amount of lighting was going to stop this, very sad for them and their families.

From The Day an Airplane Crashed Near the Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge Updated 3/19/16

Brian, Sam III - Found the article of this event with a bit more detail, And with conflicting details under the same newspaper! (Brooklyn Daily Eagle) In any event, these two souls lost their lives by what appears to be mere inches!

From The Day an Airplane Crashed Near the Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge Updated 3/19/16

Absolutely rockin’ that you had the trophies with the cars! I know Bill Warner is a great guy, but I now realize he has infinite pull, as well. What a coup! And how proud you, Roz, John and the Black Beast must have been.

From Alco Black Beast Highlights from the 2016 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance Updated 3/18/16