Vanderbilt Cup Races

From Ivan- Australia:

The earliest recorded use of “Pits” in European racing was at the 1908 Targa Florio-18 May at the Circuito Grande Madonie. These are described as shallow emplacements dug into the ground so the mechanics could work on the detatchable rims. Unfortunately i don’t have any photos but i’ve always been curious as to the deepness of the area. However, photos do exist of the pits at the 1908 GP de l’ACF at Dieppe run on the 7th of July. The rules stipulated that only the driver and mechanic could work on the car during the stop.

I can’t answer your question in regards to the first use of pits in American autoracing but i always assumed it was at the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup although the little bird on my shoulder is telling me it could’ve been earlier. Maybe the American’s invented the idea first?

From The Pits of the 1908-1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races

From Richard Armstrong, Bath, UK

The 1907 pictures you are referring to are of the Pesage (scrutineering) area, not the track, and were taken the day before the race. The inspection pit was so that the officials could check for extra hidden fuel tanks as the official fuel allocation was provided by the ACF. There was actually a separate “depot” area for the 1907 race, set back from the track on a “by-pass” and which is also illustrated in Mathieson’s book.

The accepted first use of “pits” is the 1908 GP de l’ACF: I have to wonder when looking at pictures of them whether the dug-out design was simply to give the spectators a better view. After all, only the driver and riding mechanic were allowed to work on the car, with the people at trackside being there purely in an advisory capacity.

From The Pits of the 1908-1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races

From E. Dean Butler- Broughton Green, UK

The 1965 book “Historie du Grand Prix de l’Automobile Club de France 1906-1914” by T. A. S. O. Mathieson has photographs showing pits at Dieppe in 1907. The pits were just narrow enough that a car could straddle them for service from below. The pits seem to have been one continuous pit (not absolutely clear from the photographs). One can see from the photos that
groups of boards nailed together in the size of doors had to be used for the cars to pull into or out of the pits. Photos from the 1908 event also show pits, but these were not designed to be straddled by the cars. They are similar to the Vanderbilt 1908 pits.

From The Pits of the 1908-1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races

From George Benson- Klamath River, CA

This is a very interesting post. I never knew that underground service pits pits were used during the early years of auto racing. I did know where the term “Pits” came from, My Dad and Grand Father owned and operated the “Hester Garage”, the Durant agency, in San Jose, CA during the 1930s. I remember the service pits at the garage. As I recall there were three of them in a car port type section of the U shaped garage structure. I was always frantically instructed not to fall in the “Pits” anytime it looked like the “Pits” had attracted my attention.

From The Pits of the 1908-1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races

From Hugo Becker- Independence, MO

Howard, Scott-Moncrieff mentions that the French Grand Prix at Dieppe in July1908 had dug out pits for servicing cars in front of the grand stands.

From The Pits of the 1908-1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races

I can’t imagine how terrifying it was for the ride along mechanic travelling in a 1,200kg metal behemoth at break neck speeds on tires that could at any given moment decide they no longer could be bothered with such abuse, all the while trying to find anything within eyesight to hold onto. Such was life for these unheralded men. At one particular Grand Prix race, Christian Lautenschlager changed ten sets of tires because of excessive wear. Now,i wonder whether his mechanic had anything to do with the decision. I would rather be in the pits, if only for a short time.

From The Pits of the 1908-1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races

The Klingberg Vintage Motorcar Festival was a blast! We so enjoyed showing the Seal Cove Auto Museum’s Corbin and seeing the “Black Beast”.

Here’s an idea… bring the “Black Beast” up to Mount Desert Island and we can race it and the Corbin along the Crooked Road to Bar Harbor.

Cheers

From Article "Black Beast Roars" & a Klingberg Vintage Motorcar Festival Highlight

From Mark A- Baldwin
“History too often languishes in static museum displays, imaginations left to wonder. But not the Black Beast! She lives and breathes her historical grandeur, rumbling and roaring a century on. Thank you Howard Kroplick for your generosity in showing, caring for, and giving rides in the ALCO. Viva la Bete Noire!”

From The "Black Beast" at Last Sunday's Roosevelt Field Celebration

Amazing… a few days after confirming that the Seal Cove Auto Museum’s 1904 Knox came out of the Henry Austin Clark Jr. Museum, who should walk through the door but Austie’s son and grandson! They were on Mount Desert Island attending a wedding and had no idea that the Knox was here. Austie’s son was rather taken by our Thomas Flyer and remembered when the remains of the original 1908 New York to Paris car was owned by his dad prior to Bill Harrah acquiring it.  Back then, the Flyer’s driver, George Schuster, denied that it was the original car… It took Harrah’s pointing out repairs to Schuster that he had made to convince the old man that this was indeed the actual race car that he had won the race in.

From Film "50 Years of Automotive Progress" Featuring Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

Apparently the scoreboard was intended to be mounted on the opposite side of the course. It would then be correct, and also visible from the grandstand without turning around to see it.
Nice touch, though.

From The Curious Map Scoreboard at the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I am fortunate to be the current custodian of Austin Clarks Jrs 1906 Studebaker Model G Touring car that was sold at Auction in 1968—-It was purchased by Bill Harrah for the sum of $6,750 . After Harrah passed away the car was again sold in 1982 and Bob Volpe brought it back to the east coast. For a number of years it was in various states or disassembly and then finally the restoration was almost complete in 2005. I acquired the car from Leo Parnagian and since then I have completed the restoration to my satisfaction and now it gets toured and shown regularly—-What a great car and a great history—When Austie found the car, he recorded the event for posterity and I am fortunate to have this in my 1906 Studebaker portfolio.  Eric and Linda Edwards Baxter Ontraio Canada.

From Postcards from the Long Island Automotive Museum (#1-6)

Wow, thats great to finally see a few photos of the interior. Thank you very much. Of course if there are more, would be great to see them as well.

From Inside the Long Island Automotive Museum

From Dave and Carroll:

The pictures of The Black Beast at various shows brought a smile to us.

We have several Meyers Manx dune buggies and have taught several grandchildren to how to drive. At car shows we encourage people of all ages to sit in them and take pictures.

Their delight is long remembered, especially by young people. They need encouragement to dream, and to do something with their hands.

From Archives: Alco Black Beast 2010 Slideshows

Thanks for your updates
Stephen
I’m on my way to the pebble beach concours

From Inside the Long Island Automotive Museum

Hi Nancy:

Thanks for the comment.

I don’t have the Moline-Knight postcard in my collection. I will keep looking for it.

Howard

From Postcards from the Long Island Automotive Museum (#7-11)

Austie took my kids for a ride on his fire engine.
Many years later at a “Chowder” meeting, I gave him the photograph that I took.  In the photo he was still young and handsome.

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

I was in my early teens when my father got us, with my younger brother into the pits. We were close to Bernd Rosemeyer, and saw the race at waist level.

From George Vanderbilt Cup Race Tickets and Passes

Hi Howard A. Ballard is correct none of the cars in the Wheatley Sweepstakes are Mercers.  All three are Abbott-Detroit automobiles!  Regards,  Walter McCarthy

From A Visit to the Amazing Simeone Foundation Museum

Howard:
  These are awesome!!! Hope all is well with you.
  Tom

From The 1911 Alco Dealership Photos

What Walter says about the Captain’s badges is true, and Austin kept a list of everyone he gave a badge to. I felt very honored to receive mine from Austin many decades ago.

From Austin Clark Jr's Sandy Hollow Fire Department Badges