Vanderbilt Cup Races

I guess this is my final answer, so my previous answers can be discarded.

I must admit this was one of the most challenging mystery photos till now, which without hints would have been impossible for me to solve. Even now I’m not 100% sure about my answers, but they are all either a Vanderbilt or directly related to them, which makes sense. The advantage was that I’ve met a lot of new people from the era, which was an interesting and refreshing experience.

When I read polo player, my first thought was Foxhall Keene. However more likely is that the man on the left is Harry Payne Whitney, who was also an avid polo-player. Moreover he married Gertrude Vanderbilt, the great-granddaughter of the Commodore.
The man who owned racing cars was Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt.
The woman on the left: Eleonora Randolph Sears, great great grand-daughter of Thomas Jefferson, famous tennis player, and dating Harold Stirling Vanderbilt, third child and second son of William K..
First I thought that the woman with the veil had to be Margaret Emerson (daughter of inventor Isaac E Emerson). Alfred G. Vanderbilt would marry her in 1911, having been divorced in 1908 from his first wife Ellen French. Margaret Emerson had inherited a race horse stable from her father, which she would give later to her son Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt II. As stated however, Margaret Emerson is the inventor’s daughter, so my guess is then that the woman with the veil is her mother, Emily Askew.

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Waterbury ,Sears, McGrann and Vanderbilt at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I’m guessing that the woman (third from left) could be Mrs. Belmont—not really sure of the others.

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Waterbury ,Sears, McGrann and Vanderbilt at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Here are my guesses from left to right: Foxhall Keene, Alice Ramsey, Eleanora Sears, and no guess for the car owner. Going for 3 out of 4. Alice Hulsey Ramsey was the first woman to drive across the U.S. (1909).
Hope all is well there. Still working on the Holcomb/Knox project here. Very interesting.
Enjoying the Mustang adventures. You’re never bored, are you.
Best Regards,
Dick Rowley

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Waterbury ,Sears, McGrann and Vanderbilt at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Ok, this is my second attempt. If I read polo player, I must immediately think of Foxhall Keene, sportsman, polo player and participant in the Vanderbilt Cup race of 1905. The man who owned racing cars was Alfred G. Vanderbilt. And finally the woman in the middle: Eleonora Randolph Sears, great great grand-daughter of Thomas Jefferson, famous tennis player, and dating Harold Stirling Vanderbilt, third child and second son of William K..

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Waterbury ,Sears, McGrann and Vanderbilt at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Hi all,still with you checking things out,trying to keep up to date with what’s going on,but don’t have much time lately,I just take a quick glance.The move to Virginia is taking a toll on me trying to settle in,very frustrating,Sure wish I was their for the collectable car show in oyster bay, sounds great.    Howard,say hi to John for me.Will be in touch when I get a chance,in a few days

From Mustang III at the Ford Custom Car Caravan (1964-1965)

Identify these four spectators (from left to right) who are watching the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race from the Hempstead Plains grandstand.

Larry Waterbury, Eleanora Sears, Mrs. McGrann and Alfred G. Vanderbilt

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Waterbury ,Sears, McGrann and Vanderbilt at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

From left to right;
Larry Waterbury, Eleanora Sears, Mrs. McGrann, Alfred G. Vanderbilt

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Waterbury ,Sears, McGrann and Vanderbilt at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I could wait until the first hint, but I’ll give it a guess. The couple could be Alice and John Ramsey. Alice Ramsey, a keen motorist, had accomplished her transcontinental tour not long before, and she could well have been a guest of honor during the event. So, I’ll await the hints and if it appears that I’m wrong I’ll give it another try!

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Waterbury ,Sears, McGrann and Vanderbilt at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I would say Ava Belmont Vanderbilt is the woman on the left side of the photo.  The guy directly to her left is definitely Sean Connery.  😊

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Waterbury ,Sears, McGrann and Vanderbilt at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Willie and his sister, Consuelo, and their childhood neighbors, Dr. and Mrs. Sol Epstein….(No?)

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Waterbury ,Sears, McGrann and Vanderbilt at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Are these postcards worth any money? I have a couple of them.
_______________________________________________

From Howard Kroplick

Worth $0.50 to $1.00

From Archives: Postcards from the Long Island Automotive Museum

Hi Howard,
Was this the only race in New York/long Island 1906?
Family stories of my partner say her great grandfather traveled to America from England to work on early petrol cars, he died, as the story has it, while trialing a vehicle at ” the hill” near New York. His name was Thomas Wardle. Would this have been possible?
Simon.
________________________________________
From Howard Kroplick

I believe there were many races on Long Island and New York in 1906 including hill climbs.

From A Tribute to the Mechanicians of the Vanderbilt Cup Races

I was with the Nassau County Police for 32 years and drove through that alley and passed the garage many times and never knew I was basking in the radiance of history.
Your articles are always great.
Thanks Again Howard,
Andy of The Empire Galaxie Car Club

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Long Island Motor Parkway Garage Discovered!

So I went to the garage today. Was curious as per Sam III comment. There are no inscriptions/imprints of “LIMP” or related on any beams/studs, etc. I was hopeful but no luck.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Long Island Motor Parkway Garage Discovered!

I’ve explored this section many times and cycled through the PD lot. I’ve seen the concrete posts too, but never recognized that this garage was a LIMP original! Great find and story!

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Long Island Motor Parkway Garage Discovered!

Hi Howard.    I want to thank you for letting me help,it was my pleasure,I enjoyed it and it gave me something to do. I’m trying to keep up with what’s going on,I’m soo exhausted at the end of the day from unpacking the 82 boxes that have to be unpacked,we’re down to about 30 now,in 4 days,hope to finish by the end of the week. I’m nodding off now. Keep up the good job of preservation and keeping the Vanderbilt Cup Races alive. Goodnight.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Long Island Motor Parkway Garage Discovered!

(From Monterey County, California).  As a fellow Rambler collector (‘59 & ‘60 Rambler Americans, & a ‘64 Rambler Classic), I especially appreciated the photo of the 3 Ramblers on display (two Metropolitans in the foreground, a beautiful tricolor 4 door sedan with a Continental Kit in the background).

From Highlights from the 50th Annual Spring Meet at Old Westbury Gardens

From John Dinkel:

Howard,
The mystery photo is way too easy.

The race was at Ebbets Field.

That’s a Dodger dog.

The driver was George Dunderbeck. 

The location was the left turn close to what was normally first base.

The ensuing “incident” was the inspiration for the following song:

There was a man named Dunderbeck who invented a machine.
It ground out perfect sausages, and it was run by steam,
The pussy cats and long-tailed rats, no more they will be seen,
They’re all ground up for sausage meat in Dunderbeck’s machine.

Oh, Mr. Dunderbeck, how could ye be so mean,
To ever have invented that sausage meat machine?
The pussy cats and long-tailed rats, no more they will be seen,
They’re all ground up for sausage meat in Dunderbeck’s machine.

Now, one fine day, a little boy came walking in the store.
There was a pile of sausages lying on the floor.
While he was a-waiting, he whistled up a tune,
And all them little sausages went dancing around the room.

One night, the thing got busted, the darn thing would not go.
So, Dunderbeck, he crawled inside to find what made it so.
His wife she had a nightmare, she was a-walking in her sleep.
She gave the crank one big yank, and Dunderbeck was meat!

Oh, Mr. Dunderbeck, how could ye be so mean?
Aren’t you awful sorry now you invented that machine?
The pussy cats and long-tailed rats, no more they will be seen,
They’re all ground up for sausage meat in Dunderbeck’s machine.

From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: Hubert Le Blon Avoiding a Dog at the Hairpin Turn During the 1906 Cup Race

This is a follow-up of the previous quiz: here we see Le Blon on his Thomas during the actual Vanderbilt Cup race of 1906. As can be read on this site, this photo was shot at the hairpin turn in Old Westbury and the dog as well as Le Blon got off with a fright. In the accounts I have on the race the incident remains unmentioned, so I can’t really add something to it. Le Blon would finish the race, though on 8th and last place. He ran a rather steady race with engine trouble only during the first round, but his machine just wasn’t fast enough.

From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: Hubert Le Blon Avoiding a Dog at the Hairpin Turn During the 1906 Cup Race

Great discovery Howard! It also looks like there are more of those concrete posts out there yet to be discovered. Thanks for sharing the details of what was a very interesting find.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Long Island Motor Parkway Garage Discovered!