Vanderbilt Cup Races

you can park that in front of my house any time

From The Royal Tourist in the Vanderbilt Cup Races (1904-1910)

Joel Finn provided information on the car and its driver in his book “American Road Racing in the 1930s:

“(McClure) Hallye’s pride and joy was his Mercedes-Miller, which he had Zumbach’s create for him at the shocking cost of almost $20,000 Depression-era dollars..Somehow, Halley got the bright idea that installing a four-cyclinder, 220-ci, twin-camshaft Miller engine in an ex-Indianapolis Mercedes would result in a superior racing machine, despite the experts’ opinion that the Mercedes had performed dismally at Indianapolis because of poor handling….Hally registered it for ARCA competition in 1934 and 1935 and also entered for the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race, but the vehicle never made it to the starting line of any race.”

In the photo caption of the car, Finn identified the driver as Fred Winnai at Roosevelt Raceway in 1936.

From Update of Local Car Shows and Automotive Events & Mystery Photo Contest #4

Thanks, Andy:

From The37kid:

“That is Haley’s Comet, OFFY powered 1923 Mercedes chassis. Restored in Bob McConell’s collection in Ohio.”

Congrats, The37kid! Please send your address to me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and I will send you signed copies of “The Vanderbilt Cup Races of Long Island” and “The Long Island Motor Parkway”.

Howard

From Update of Local Car Shows and Automotive Events & Mystery Photo Contest #4

hi Howard, Bob aka 37kid on the HAMB quickly identified the car as ‘Halley’s Comet’, a Miller powered 1923 Indy Mercedes. Kurtis added the car proved unsuitable and Halley instead entered a type 51 Bugatti driven by Dave Evans.  It seems likely it would be Dave and some of his Indy pics look like the Comet driver. It’s a great pic, thanks -Andy

From Update of Local Car Shows and Automotive Events & Mystery Photo Contest #4

I have really enjoyed seeing photos and the film from Mr. Clark’s museum. I work for the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum in Fairbanks, Alaska, and we have four cars that I’m told were in the Long Island Museum. These are the 1899 Hertel,1906 Compound, 1914 Moline-Knight and 1918 Biddle. We have postcards of all but the Moline-Knight. Was there one even made of the latter?
Nancy

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

Roberto:

Congratulations on your discovery!

Howard

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

Since posting the above, yesterday we found the car’s registration hidden away inside the car. Last registered to Waleta H. Clark on February 3, 1970. No doubt about it, its the same Knox.

You can see some photos of it running for the first time since the Claks owned it on the Seal Cove Auto Museum Facebook page.

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

Here’s a link to Mike Caruso’s website:

http://www.carusomidgetracing.com/about-mike-and-rose.html

It does not appear to be Mike Caruso’s car.

Howard

From Update of Local Car Shows and Automotive Events & Mystery Photo Contest #4

Hi Andy:

Thanks for the response. This photo did not come with a caption. I will try to track down photos of Mike Caruso and see if there is a match.

Howard

From Update of Local Car Shows and Automotive Events & Mystery Photo Contest #4

Hi Rachael and Roberto:

Thanks for the comments!

Raphael, wonderful photo of the Black Beast with the Fiat:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/tuesday_the_black_beast_in_port_jefferson_and_hicksville

Howard

From The "Sensational" 1910 Port Jefferson Hill Climb

The “Black Beast” does not like to stop!!

From Film "Around the Block in the Black Beast"

Loved seeing the ‘Black Beast’ at the Klingberg Vintage Motorcar Festival in New Britain last Father’s Day weekend. We were there showing our 1909 Corbin Model 0 Small Tonneau, one of five Corbins that showed up!

If folks would like to see the pride of Port Jefferson, a perfect F.R.P. Model C Touring, come up to the Seal Cove Auto Museum on Mount Desert Island, Maine. (President Obama has finished his visit and traffic is almost back to normal). Also see Seal Cove Auto Museum on Facebook or at http://www.sealcoveautomuseum.org.

From The "Sensational" 1910 Port Jefferson Hill Climb

I think the 1904 Knox is in our collection at the Seal Cove Auto Museum. The only notes I have say that our car was built for Harry A. Knox, President Knox Automobile Company. Same model, same color… sure looks to be the same car. Unfortunately, when Richard C. Paine Jr., the Museum’s founder, died he took most of the information about the cars to the grave with him… trying to establish their provenance is proving an interesting challenge!
Does anyone know if any records from Clark’s Long Island Auto Museum exist?

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

Great find Howard!!!

From Found-The 1906 George McKesson Brown Scrapbook

Hello!

I just returned from watching the Hill Climb in Port Jefferson and had to stop by tell you that the Black Beast is just spectacular. Seeing it and hearing it in person was awesome. Though it didn’t make it to the top of the hill, it still made my day. LOVED it!

Thanks for sharing it with the world 😊

-Rachael

From The "Sensational" 1910 Port Jefferson Hill Climb

Hey Howard! Ya ran a stop sign!  😊

From Film "Around the Block in the Black Beast"

It looks like a Mercedes and Mike Caruso but he didn’t qualify did he?

From Update of Local Car Shows and Automotive Events & Mystery Photo Contest #4

Kenny writes:

“I hope my car runs that well when its 100 years old!

From Film "Around the Block in the Black Beast"

Thanks everyone for the feedback and great information! FYI,  $13,074 in 1957 is the equivalent of $98,500 today.

Howard

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

From Fred Miceli, President/Director of Cadillac & LaSalle Long Island Dreamboats:

“The Cadillac pictured is a 1957 Eldorado Brougham four door hardtop. It was built with a brushed stainless steel top & and also had suicide type rear doors. The vehicle was hand built by G.M. Cadillac Division and was a limited edition. Only 400 were built and was sold for $ 13,074. I have no idea where the 57 pictured is today.”

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