About
The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
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Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
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Recent Comments
The is no doubt that Barney turned that 100mph lap. Firestone Tires took out ads to celebrate the fact afterwards. And it was widely reported in the press at the time. I have a scan of the Firestone ad if you want it.
Of course the lap was not official because the Christie was not entered in the Indy race. The Christie engine was too large, and it could never have run 500 miles anyway.
From Saturday Request: Information on the Christie Racers from Barney Oldfield's Great-Great -Nephew
Lee,
Thanks again for your expertise on the Christie as this information clears any doubt in my mind of Barney Oldfield 1916 Indianapolis lap record over 100 MPH in the Christie.
Best regards and keep American history alive.
Wayne Carroll Petersen
Barney Oldfield great great nephew
From Saturday Request: Information on the Christie Racers from Barney Oldfield's Great-Great -Nephew
The 1916 race cars were much more technically advanced than the Christie. The winning Peugeot car had twin overhead cams with 4 valves per cylinder. They won everything in European Grand Prix racing and were widely copied by almost everyone. I think they were about 4.5liters or 274cuin. Horsepower was about 112 at 2800rpm. I am calculating torque at about 230ftlbs. They had shock absorbers by 1916 and probably better tires than the Christie. One thing that Christie had which no one else had was independant front suspension. I doubt the Christie car was any heavier than the other cars. Christie’s 1906 racer weighed 1780lbs during the Vanderbilt trials. It had a smaller engine than the 1909 car, but I believe most 1916 race cars were in the 2200-2500lb range. The 1909 Christie was a marvelously compact and well-packaged engineering design.
From Saturday Request: Information on the Christie Racers from Barney Oldfield's Great-Great -Nephew
I saw you take that lap at Indy and it must have been the thrill of a of a lifetime for you…
From Roslyn News "The Alco Black Beast Racer Returns to Indianapolis"
Lee, Dean or Howard
Do you know what the comparison is on the torque of the race cars of the 1916 Indianapolis 300 and the Christie? I am trying to compare the cars of the 1916 Indianapolis 300 to the Christie. I know that the Cristie engine was approx 1,237 cubic inch compared to the 300 cubic inch of the qualifying 1916 Indianapolis 300 race cars. What I have read the cars that raced in the 1916 Indy 300 had over 100 HP with a lighter weight engine compared to the Cristie 1,237 cu. in. engine but had comparable HP.
Best regards,
Wayne Carroll Petersen
Barney Oldfield great great nephew
Keeping American History Alive!!!!!
From Saturday Request: Information on the Christie Racers from Barney Oldfield's Great-Great -Nephew
Lee, Dean & Howard,
Thank you for your expertise on the Christie as there as been questions in regards to the Christie 100 MPH Indianapolis lap record and being compared as a rocket powered vehicle to the vehicles running in the 1916 Indianapolis 300 race that were more advanced than the at least 7 year old Christie. Thanks again as this information helps greatly.
Best regards,
Wayne Carroll Petersen
Barney Oldfield great great nephew
http://www.firstsuperspeedway.com
http://www.rumbledrome.com
http://www.brownfoxbooks.com
http://www.gambleart.com
From Saturday Request: Information on the Christie Racers from Barney Oldfield's Great-Great -Nephew
Howard, Congratulations, What a wonderful experience! You are the envy of every car racing enthusiest, a lap around the Indy race track in a real race car. Who knew what would transpire when you picked up the Alco on that Newark dock just a short while ago. Hope you will share more of your Indy saga. Al
From Patch.com: "Black Beast to Run Centennial Lap in Indy 500"
another Black Beast “mile stone”!!! I would imagine that Howard is already planning a return in 2111?? can we top 68 MPH?? Bravo
Noel G
From Patch.com: "Black Beast to Run Centennial Lap in Indy 500"
Howard,
Mazel tov!!! What an incredible thrill for you and the Alco to be at Indy and to drive around that fabled track.
I hope there’s a video of the “race” with the Marmon. Again congrats.
Roger Price
From Patch.com: "Black Beast to Run Centennial Lap in Indy 500"
Howard,
What a thrill for you and to awaken the Black Beast. Congratulations!!!!
Best Regards,
Wayne Carroll Petersen
Barney Oldfield, Master Driver of the World, great great nephew
http://www.firstsuperspeedway.com
http://www.rumbledrome.com
http://www.brownfoxbooks.com
http://www.gambleart.com
From Roslyn News "The Alco Black Beast Racer Returns to Indianapolis"
The Black Beast had a fantastic day. We did the parade lap in the fastest time of the five 1911 racers… finally beating the Marmon Wasp after 100 years. Emerson Fittipaldi had the Beast up to 68 mph with me as his waving mechanician!
Details on Tuesday.
Howard
From Patch.com: "Black Beast to Run Centennial Lap in Indy 500"
Howard, I just watched the video clip for the Patch.
I am so happy for you that you got to have The Black Beast: it gives you such joy !
Cathy Ball
From Archives: Indy 500 Races
Hey Howard, I saw you blow by that stop sign on the film included! W
From Patch.com: "Black Beast to Run Centennial Lap in Indy 500"
No Christie automobiles are known to have survived. There are a few fire engines around, I think in Hoboken, LA and Phoenix. Also there was a tank in Aberdeen.
From Driver Profile: John Walter Christie: Front-Wheel Drive Pioneer
Fantastic picture of the ALCO next to the Marmon Wasp. They probably have not been that close since 1911!
Fantastic piece of racing history, congratulations.
From Patch.com: "Black Beast to Run Centennial Lap in Indy 500"
Howard:
Very, very cool! We’ll be tuning in.
Congrats!!
Tom
From Patch.com: "Black Beast to Run Centennial Lap in Indy 500"
We have an amazing assortment of mint, fresh in the box, postcards of automobiles photographed by Henry Austin Clark Jr., in the 1970s. Postcards range from a 1901 Lane Model O Steam Runabout to a 57 Ford T Bird and represent cars in the Long Island Automotive Museum, other famous museum from that period, and private collections. Cards are $1.50 each and discounted in quantities. If interested in seeing our complete list, send me an email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Cheers,
Roberto
From Postcards from the Long Island Automotive Museum: Alcos
Dean is correct, the Christie engine had torque at low rpm unlike anything we are used to driving today. Also, you have to give Barney Oldfield credit for that 100mph lap in what was then a 7 year old race car. Imagine the old Christie on the bricks at Indy, with skinny little clincher tires pumped up to 80psi and no shock absorbers ! Barney rarely gets the respect he deserves for his talent and for just surviving all his years of racing!
From Saturday Request: Information on the Christie Racers from Barney Oldfield's Great-Great -Nephew
My DVR is set to record!
From Roslyn News "The Alco Black Beast Racer Returns to Indianapolis"
It is a great and historic day for the Black Beast Alco, as well as for our good friend Howard . The moment of a lifetime. All of us are so fortunate to be able to share in the thrill of the day because of this wonderful web site. Congratulations.
From Patch.com: "Black Beast to Run Centennial Lap in Indy 500"
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