Vanderbilt Cup Races

Thank you Howard for your dedication in finding and preserving this part of our family’s history.  I look forward to your weekly updates.  It is always exciting to see racing photos (and now films!) of my Grandfather.

From Amazing Photos from the Archives of the Nassau County Division of Museum Services

I remember many years ago, sometime in the late 1940s or early 1950s, walking up some street in New York, and coming upon a J2 Allard spotlighted in a showroom. It was orange, and just glowed in the dark. It was one of several events that ignited my interest in sports cars.

From New York Times Article "Cars and the City, Imperfect Together"

Jim:
The museum is located at 103rd and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan:

http://www.mcny.org/visit-the-museum/

Howard

From Vanderbilia to be Displayed at Upcoming Museum of the City of New York Exhibition

where is this museum????

From Exhibit "Cars, Culture and the City" March 25 - August 8, 2010

Frederick Gildersleeve! It is great to see first names of some of these people that seem to have only been referred to by their professional titles and last names. Neat!

From Amazing Photos from the Archives of the Nassau County Division of Museum Services

I agree.
Hillclimbs are usually on narrow roads with tight turns, little runoff area and plenty of trees,etc. just off the verge.
Not that this was so different from the early(pre-1940)road courses, witness the Nuburgring course in Germany(a frightening 33+/- mi course thru the mountains).
The Vanderbilt courses were “safe” compared to most courses pre-1940.

From The Alco "White Beast" at the 1910 Worcester Dead Horse Hill Climb

From Tim Helck:

Nice article. I just added a link to it to my Grandfather’s Wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Helck

I really enjoyed looking at your site. Keep up the good work!

From A Tribute to Peter Helck (1893-1988), the Great American Artist

Hi Jim:

It’s free with the $10 admission to the museum:

http://www.mcny.org/visit-the-museum/

Have fun on St. Paddy’s Day.

Howard

From Vanderbilia to be Displayed at Upcoming Museum of the City of New York Exhibition

where is museum
when
time cost

Thanks Howard JIM

From Vanderbilia to be Displayed at Upcoming Museum of the City of New York Exhibition

Hillclimbs can be more dangerous than road racing.
The ALCO looks like a handful.

I nearly killed myself at Duryea in 1975.  Have not tried to drive “in anger” since then besides a few track days on closed courses.

From The Alco "White Beast" at the 1910 Worcester Dead Horse Hill Climb

Active schedule, keep up the great work.

From March/April 2010 Long Island Automotive Events Update

From Frank W:

Hi Howard,

I enjoyed reading about the second ‘06 Locomobile and the piston.  I first heard the story from Elmer McFarland’s son, Rod, with whom I used to work.  Rod said that his father heard through a TV program (I think it was) about Peter Helck and Old 16.  He called Peter and told him about the piston that the McFarlands were using as a door stop.  After he gave Peter the piston, the two became good friends and the McFarlands received a Christmas card from Peter every year thereafter.

From The Amazing and Continuing Saga of the 1906 Locomobile Twins- Part II

Pictures of the other Stanley Vanderbilt Cup replicas can be found at the Stanley Register Online, http://www.stanleyregister.net/VCR.html .

From Jay Leno & the 1906 Stanley Steamer Vanderbilt Racers

Took my 8 year old son to see the mansion on the hill overlooking lake success and Lakeville road Sunday…also did a drive by of the “toll” house near there and the one in Garden City…he might now be your youngest motor parkway fan…he loves the bike video speeded up on the site as well…your site-ings get better and better…sincere thanks!

From Then & Now:The Woodbury Turn of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Hi Jim:

Thanks for the memory! It was quite a thrill when Jerry Helck dug out the piston and rod for me.

Howard

From The Amazing and Continuing Saga of the 1906 Locomobile Twins- Part II

Howard,
As a youngster, I remember seeing this piston and connecting rod at Peter Helck’s place in Boston Corners. It was not hard to imagine this piston moving up and down displacing a gallon volume. I remember thinking that the 16 in Old 16 represented 16 liters displacement.
Jim Andrews

From The Amazing and Continuing Saga of the 1906 Locomobile Twins- Part II

Erratum #8: “Having participated in the Grand Prix cross-country races in Europe that ran from Paris to Monte Carlo”
Vanderbilt Fact: Willie K never participated in a Paris to Monte Carlo race. He did drive in the the Paris to Madrid “Race to Death”. Fortunately, his crowd broke down on the first day.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/Vanderbilts/

From The New NYC Parks & Recreation Motor Parkway Historical Marker in Queens

Erratum #7: “In 1906, after a car crash in which a spectator was killed, Vanderbilt decided to remove the races from local roads and build a landscaped parkway to hold the races.”

Motor Parkway Fact: Willie K. attempted to remove the race from local roads but never succeeded. The last three Vanderbilt Cup Races (1908-1910) were held on public roads and the Motor Parkway.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/sunday_november_22_2009_film_the_1908_vanderbilt_cup_course

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/races/races/preparations_for_the_1909_race

From The New NYC Parks & Recreation Motor Parkway Historical Marker in Queens

Hi Richie:

Thanks for the suggestion. I will include all the Queens automobile events that I can find.

George Spruce is a great collector of Vanderbilia.

Howard

From February/March 2010 Long Island Automobile Event Update

Great list of car shows. please remember the car shows in Queens, like the annual car show at the queens farm sunday april 25th     queens farm .org   ps. my uncle used to build and race cars at freeport raceway in the 1930’s, have a few old photos at home. Also about 10 years ago I sold a vintage poster to a man in saville on the vanderbuilt cup races.  I think his name was George Spruce??

From February/March 2010 Long Island Automobile Event Update