Vanderbilt Cup Races

Howard,

Thank you for posting this info on Joe Tracy.  I recall a photo of two young children at the gravesite many years ago.  I don’t know who the children are.  Knowing that my grandfather and Joe were best of friends, I would like to learn more of him as time goes by.

I very much appreciate the work you are doing to bring this history to us.

Jim Poole

From Film: A Tribute to Joe Tracy

Hi Howard. Nice recognition of, by all accounts, a quality race driver, engineer and human being. Also, Joe also finished second in the Cuban road race of 1905!

From Film: A Tribute to Joe Tracy

And Howie - you captured just what the NY Times reported!!!  Beautiful.  Thanks for posting it.

From Look, up in the sky, it's the space shuttle!

From Tony De Seta, Spring Grove,PA:

Hi Howard,

Back in the winter I became fascinated by the old classics in Havana and elsewhere. On flicker there are tons of photos of them. Some of the photos are professional quality. I made a file on my computer and put a ton of them on there.
Go to flickr and seach the word Havana or Cuba and you can see what I mean.

I`m pretty good at 50s cars I can get them to within a year or two in most cases.
The very last car in you video is a Buick-I would say 1955. Also the car you call a 1937 Ford is a 1935. I`ll look at the tape and try to tell you more cars.

From The Classic Cars of Cuba: 60 Classic Cars in 6 Minutes!

From Bob Junell: Seattle Washington:

Wonderful!!! I’m going to enjoy replaying this as well as sending it to my brother.

In 1956, I spent two weeks in Havana where my brother was attache at American
Embassy (I was 16 and driving in Havana at that).  I remember these cars first hand. So grateful for being able to see your film.

Thanks so much for sharing this. Now I’ll have to see how good the memory bank is regarding the various makes.

From The Classic Cars of Cuba: 60 Classic Cars in 6 Minutes!

I’d like to discuss video startegy, production re a website I co-founded and manage.

http://www.registryofcorvetteracecars.xom

I’m off to 57th Sebring 12 hr race tomorrow, back next week.

Jan Hyde (via Terry Dunne)
718-802-1104

From Video: Mission to Cuba

Thanks for the comments and input!

It was truly amazing to see these cars being used on the streets. At any given time, you could see 3 or 4 of these cars at any busy Havana intersection.

Among the best kept classic cars are owned by the government and used as taxi cabs for tourists. They can be identified by the blue license plates and the “Grancar” logo on it side.

The classic cars with yellow license plates are privately-owned, passed by the owner’s family. There is great pride in caring for these cars, since they are considered a symbol of the city, similar to the San Franciso cable cars.

Other American 1950s cars, usually in poor condition, are used as boteros, livery cabs for the people. Off-limits to tourists, these cabs usually pick up 3 or 4 fares at a time.

Enjoy,

Howard

From Havana: World's Largest Living Museum of American Cars

Looks like a 56 Imperial with AC from the rear quarter vents. 55 buick twin-pak,  55 caddy and 56 ford as well as 53 chevy and 59 chevy.  57 Poncho is neat.

From Havana: World's Largest Living Museum of American Cars

Howard—

I was there a couple of years ago.  It was interesting to note that the cars were taken care of a lot better than the buildings.  But then again, the State owns the buildings.

Nice pix and your video brings back some good memories.

—Richard

From Havana: World's Largest Living Museum of American Cars

Great stories and comments. I was racing at The Bridge when I first met Austie as the Commendatore (bartender, too) of the Circuit Club and later as the fun one at Chowder for many years after the raacetrack’s agonizing demise. It’s about time for someone to do his biography. He was truly a man for all seasons who led a richly diverse life and was always a wonderful mix of joy and grumpiness. I recommend Wade Hoyt.

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

Great!

Is that a 300-C Chrysler?

Sad to think that under the present impoverished management, we’ll see no more of those grand buildings constructed.  Having gone to school with one of Baptista’s sons, it’s safe to say that the “good old days” truly are but a memory.

My son visited Cuba about 18 months ago.  As a professional photographer, he was in heaven, that the people were wonderful, but that he was watched very carefully.
http://www.richerimages.com.

Thanks, Howard.

ROBERT

From Havana: World's Largest Living Museum of American Cars

Amazing - they’re pristine!  As if if right out of the factory—beautiful!

From Havana: World's Largest Living Museum of American Cars

Wonderful photos that really go a long way in telling the story of your amazing trip. 
P.S.  Was that the first-ever meeting of Chiquita Banana and Mr. Met? (MEET the Mets!)

From Video: Mission to Cuba

Cool stuff, Howard. This confirms Havana’s rep as a haven for 1950’s American cars!

From Havana: World's Largest Living Museum of American Cars

Howard - great Blog - I want to talk with you about how we can work together on the 2011 event -If you email me your address, I’ll send you small prints of the Wasp and Lozier from original samples that got us the exclusive job for the 1911 Indy 500 Movie, along with a portfolio of other GA Automotive events and press etc.

Linda Jones The Gilbert Art Group

From The Magnificent 1910 Lozier

Hi Howard:

I’m glad to see you are exposing your passion to the masses.

I was wondering when I was going to see a blog by you. I Google you all the time.

I’m happy to see you have one!

With Warm Regards,
Jimmy Adames
http://jimmyadames.com

From Approaching the Merrick Avenue Bridge during the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Jack:

It was a pleasure speaking with you. Best of luck developing this event.I will help as much as possible.

Enjoy,

Howard

From The Restored Alco-6 Racer Returning to Long Island!

I got a little excited but was hoping to read $4 million to resurface the abandoned portion as a walking/biking trail! I guess I need to keep working on that idea a while longer…

From The Stimulus Bill and the Motor Parkway

ask Roosvelt field if you can do it again
call GUY it would be a better venue

From Cars from the October 2008 Gymkhana

Howard:

Congratulations on your purchase of Alco #6.

You have renewed my interest in holding the Dead Horse Hill Climb again. If I can pull it off, I would love to see your car there. I would like to talk to you about it personally. I would appreciate your phone number. Mine is 508-888-3103 Thanks. Jack Wegman Cape Cod

From The Restored Alco-6 Racer Returning to Long Island!