Vanderbilt Cup Races

Fantastic Fotos, 114 years later! Clever to use the ‘Continental Tires’ banner lengthwise to help shield the dusty ride. I’d bet the course included Motor Parkway’s entire 45 mile length. After Ronkonkoma heading east towards the light, you’re on your own through 75 more miles of pristine and mostly undeveloped lands of early Long Island.

From Mystery Friday Foto #13 Solved; A Long Journey to Montauk

Thanks for all those pix.  They brought back so many memories of my many visits to Austin’s great museum and collection.  i remember when he just got back his beautiful red Simplex.  Austin was a great gracious man.  always loved chatting with him.  Rog

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Unpublished Long Island Automotive Museum Photos from 1958 to 1962, Part 6

Location is the Montauk Point Lighthouse. Sometimge between 1910 and 1931 as the paved road to lighthouse is absent ( built in 1931)
No idea about the event or car though there was a New York State Motor Trade Association 200-mile Efficiency Run to Montauk Point in 1912 I believe.

From Mystery Friday Foto #13 Solved; A Long Journey to Montauk

The Pierce-Arrow still looks just like this, in a California collection.  I have been trying to establish the coachbuilder, but have had no luck so far.  The step-daughter of the original owner gave the car to Clark around 1947, and he thought it was the only one ever made with this body.

Interestingly, the book “New Departure Classics” has a drawing of a Houpt-Rockwell from 6 years earlier, with a surprisingly similar body.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Unpublished Long Island Automotive Museum Photos from 1958 to 1962, Part 6

Hi I only went to the Austin Clark Museum once. Just yesterday, the subject came up about Austins “clown car”. He would bring it to the 4th of July Parade and do wheelies up and down Main Street. Any idea as to where the car is now? Thank-you

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Unpublished Long Island Automotive Museum Photos from 1958 to 1962, Part 6

Montauk Point Light House.

From Mystery Friday Foto #13 Solved; A Long Journey to Montauk

Thanks for another great article. Always enjoy seeing these photos and reading your commentary.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Unpublished Long Island Automotive Museum Photos from 1958 to 1962, Part 6

Thanks for anot

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Unpublished Long Island Automotive Museum Photos from 1958 to 1962, Part 6

That’s the Montauk Point Lighthouse at the eastern end of Long Island. This was the half-way point of a two day automobile endurance run started in NYC called the 1910 Montauk Point Reliability Run. Sponsored by the Motor Contest Association, it was also known as the Montauk Light Or Bust run. The date of the photo is either June 14 or June 15, 1910, the two days of the event. I think the car in the front is a Mitchell.

From Mystery Friday Foto #13 Solved; A Long Journey to Montauk

Nice Joel, thanks for sharing.  I am sure not many Dragon registrations exist.  Registered by almost a namesake of mine.  Lol!

From Kleiner's Korner: A 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race Entry

I have a rare registration card for a Dragon car in Pennsylvania from 1916.

From Kleiner's Korner: A 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race Entry

Thanks to Howard Kroplick and http://www.vanderbiltcup races.com for Keeping American Automotive Racing History & my Great Great Uncle Barney Oldfield, Master Driver of the World & America’s Legendary Speed King Legacy Alive!

From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Barney Oldfield in the 1909 Christie Racer which established the 102.6 mph Indy lap record in 1916

Looks like Mr. Vanderbilt with his son next to him and not sure of the other people. The location is probably Fisher Island Miami due to the palm tree in the background and the Alva went to Fisher Island every year during the winter.

From Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved; William K. Vanderbilt Jr. with Family and Friends on a Caribbean Cruise

Thanks for asking Brian - I’m going on 5 years being retired (or as Howard corrected me, refocused!).  Best job I’ve ever had.  As my dad many times said, “keep your mind and body active and you’ll be fine”.  He was retired from age 55 until his passing at 91 and lived that saying to the fullest.  I try to follow his example and so far so good!  Motor Parkway research is just one part of my on-going activities. 

You may be correct in your assessment - wonder if others may have something to offer on your thinking.

And Frank, good guess on the white car occupant.  Wonder if Hymie is a reader of vanderbiltcupraces.com

From Kleiner's Korner: Three Unbridged Motor Parkway Crossings

Congrats, Howard. What an honor and privilege!
Enjoy!

From The 1937 Chrysler' Chrysler is heading back to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Loved this little slice of Vanderbilt Cup history. Hard to imagine a modern day race having such a terrible time with crowd control. Imagine the Formula 1 races in Miami or Las Vegas with spectators wandering out into the middle of the course!

From The Irish Volunteers at the Vanderbilt Cup Races

The driver in the white vehicle in the last photo is Hymie Vanderbilt, Willie K,‘s great-great grandson. He’s kept the Vanderbilt family legacy extant by applying for a patent (U.S. Patent #H.K. 63469221)  for his invention of an automobile fuel additive that extends the mileage of an internal combustion engine by up to 75MPG.

From Kleiner's Korner: Three Unbridged Motor Parkway Crossings

Pierre Merillon was the great nephew of A.T. Stewart of whose family he inherited his wealth.  Merillon often cruised with the Vanderbilts.

From Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved; William K. Vanderbilt Jr. with Family and Friends on a Caribbean Cruise

Robert Lancaster, Mrs. Willie K. Vanderbilt, Willie K., Willie K.‘s son (William Jr.) and Pierre Merillon.  Seated are Mrs. Vanderbilt’s children Barclay and Rosemary Warbuton.
November 8, 1933 - The day the group arrived back from a Mediterranean cruise onboard Willie’s yacht, the Alva.  Trip was documented in various publications using this photo.
Vanderbilt estate on Fisher’s island, Miami Beach.  Also well documented. 

The first group photo I’ve included was published on November 9.  The second group photo was published on November 18 and includes information on the crash that killed Willie’s son in South Carolina just a few days after the photo was taken. 

See next comment on who Pierre Merillon was. 

From Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved; William K. Vanderbilt Jr. with Family and Friends on a Caribbean Cruise

This time I’ll be able to view the Pebble Beach Concours LIVE via a slick ZOOM presentation with the partnership of Hagerty Ins. and Pebble Beach Concours organizers. A LONG 4 hr. event! Fortunatly I have a big all-in-one computer with a headphone and a comforable office chair, I do take a bathroom break in the middle!

From The 1937 Chrysler' Chrysler is heading back to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance