Vanderbilt Cup Races

The eventual race was held on the second choice of roads.  According to the Milwaukee Journal, June 2, 1912, the first planned choice of the route was to be Beloit Road to Lincoln Ave to 60th, south to Forest Home Avenue, west to 92nd Street, north to Beloit Road, east to Lincoln Ave. These are the current names of the roads on the planned path.

From Hemmings Blog: "Miller Club to celebrate Milwaukee Vanderbilt Cup centennial"

Hi Bruce:
Here is a link.

From Archives: Alco Trucks

My dad worked for ALCO for 45 years. I never knew that they made trucks. Is there any more info on this truck?

From Archives: Alco Trucks

I am not going to be able to tell you anything that you don’t already know. I did, however, discover a listing of John H. Rowley (your grandfather) of Hartford, CT with license plate #9800 in the 1908 Connecticut Motor Vehicle Register. The 1908 listing of Connecticut does not list the make or registration number as it did in later years.

I have also been able to discover about 25 Pope Hartford Automobiles in the 1920 CT Motor Vehicle Register with license plate #, registration #, body style, owner and owner’s address.

I wonder if it might be possible to track down the 1958 or 1959 CT Motor Vehicle Registration through the state archives and discovered who purchased John Rowley’s automobile.

God bless,
Frank

From Can You Help Find This 1908 Pope-Hartford Touring Car?

Amazing photo

From Amazing Image: Sign Promoting the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race at Times Square

Why did they stop having races there? After 1936 and 37, it seemed successful the races. So what put a stop to it?
Very interesting photos

From Aerial Views of Roosevelt Raceway After 1937

Joe, excellent point!

From Amazing Image: Sign Promoting the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race at Times Square

Please keep me informed of your on going effort. I’d love to contribute.

From Third Clean Up the Old Bethpage Motor Parkway Bridge Day Scheduled for Saturday, December 3, 2011

can you place our club on your site
Long Island Vettes inc.
http://www.longislandvettes.com

From Long Island Car Club Directory- Sorted by Type

The most interesting part of the photo is the dichotomy between the advertisement and the principal means of conveyance. Save the mechanized public transportation, all the horsepower in this photo is actually supplied by horses.

From Amazing Image: Sign Promoting the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race at Times Square

I became acquainted with HAC III in the late sixties and visited the museum many times. I think at the time I did not have sufficient knowledge to appreciate every aspect of the museum but I remember well a Mercer Runabout that was magnificent. Henry was the most gracious person I ever met in the Hamptons and even invited me to stay at “Peeling Manor” so I could stay over for the races. As an aside, I will never forget a midnight ride down Werewolf Road with Vitor in his race prepped TR-4A complete with a Super Oscar and Marchals blazing. All my best to Henry and family.

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

Hi J.M THANKS a BUNCH Jim

From Drivers Who Raced in the 1911 Indy 500 and the Vanderbilt Cup Races (1904-1910)

Hi Jim:

An Amplex was driven by Walter Jones in the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race. I will do more research on Amplex racing for you during the next week.

From Drivers Who Raced in the 1911 Indy 500 and the Vanderbilt Cup Races (1904-1910)

Hi Sandro:
Thanks for the feedback. You can follow VanderbiltCupRaces.com on both Twitter and Facebook. Look for the t and f on the header on top of every page,

From An Armband Discovery and a Lantern Mystery

I am from Mishawaka Indiana, the home of the Simplex Amplex Cars #12 & # 44 in the 1st Indy 500. What I am looking for any information that you or your readers might have.or know if any of these cars ever were in any other race events in the GOOD OLD U.S.A. thanks for your anticipated response.JM

From Drivers Who Raced in the 1911 Indy 500 and the Vanderbilt Cup Races (1904-1910)

Thank you amazing blog, do you have twitter, facebook or something similar where i can follow your blog

Sandro Heckler

From An Armband Discovery and a Lantern Mystery

From Richard Flood:

I stumbled upon your blogsite while doing a random car-guy history review. I am now 63; my family (Dad and Uncle, and spouses and kids) became involved with sports cars in ~1957. We met Charlie in about 1959, although I can only conjecture on how that happened. We knew him and visited the garages (w/ Austin Healeys, A.C. Bristol, Lotus Elite and Elva Courier, etc.) periodically until 1962+, and I was totally enthralled with his abilities and what cars were there and the stories and events that occurred. I’ll get back to you with more recollections and maybe old photos. The various Ferraris of Jim Place and Maj. Bill Cooper were frequently there, as well as others.  I went to Road America June Sprints in 1958, and became totally hooked on sports cars and racing. Haven’t stopped (Australian GP is still a month away . . . damn !).

When I was in junior high, we were assigned a class project to “write a biography on someone you know.” My theme was entitled, “My Friend Charlie.” Not a very original title, but I remember the kid-perspective interview pretty well. I remember him (and what I wrote) talking about him growing up in Alsace-Lorraine, marriage to Elise (I have no recollection of discussion of children, but it was probably mentioned . . . but I probably wasn’t interested in anything not painted red !), coming to U.S. to do design work for Nash Automobile Co., his good friend Luigi Chinetti (I’ll write more recollections), AND having worked with GP Alfa-Romeo prior to its’ being taken over as Ferrari. I cannot provide anything definitive or documentable, but I’m sure of the discussion. Being “part of the team” was probably not too formal then—whoever was available that weekend got to go. You’ll probably have to research something as mundane as hotel records to confirm. I’d be glad to help !

Anyway, we followed or met up with Charlie at Elkhart Lake, Meadowdale, Wilmot, and other Midwest track, and beyond. While he was “mechanic-ing” he took me along on two laps at Road America on a completely unsupervised Friday prelim session in a 300 TR (Jim Place’s ?). I distinctly remember his unkempt, beautifully wind-blown flowing white hair, chin-up position, and classic overalls; him with a flimsy 2-point seatbelt and me with none, (me) sitting in a very small fiberglass bucket seat barely able to hold on through the constant harsh suspension hits, vision vibration, wind assault, and extreme engine and exhaust noise. My first time over 100 mph, and him as casual as could be—perfect cornering and braking (even if not at top speed). I was sure he could have been a GP champ. Perhaps the most perfect ~ten minutes of my life ! (My Lexus IS350 can now lap faster and more smoothly . . . but not as much fun).

Anyway, I can convey stories about Charlie’s influences on the Rodriguez brothers, Place and Cooper, Doug Thiem, Chinetti, NART, and some other shared experiences. Nostalgia ain’t so bad . . . and if I ever have a chance to return to the Chicago area, I would be very pleased to visit his grandson and to take a look at the memorabilia.

Best regards (and thanks for starting the topic !)

From In Search of Master Mechanic Charlie Kirschhoffer

Ralph, I do not have a record of your grandfather. Best of luck in your search.

From Spectacular Aerials of Roosevelt Field and Roosevelt Raceway (1924-1938)

Another link to information and photos of the LIRR Central Branch Extension.

From Article "The Long Island Motor Parkway" By Howard Kroplick & Al Velocci

Remnants of the Motor Parkway can still be found off Westbury Avenue.

The overpass near Meadowbrook Parkway was part of the LIRR Central Branch. Here is a link to to a discussion of the overpass.

From Article "The Long Island Motor Parkway" By Howard Kroplick & Al Velocci