Vanderbilt Cup Races

Dick-
A little poking around on the site uncovered a post from 2010 that makes clear what became of both Locomobiles, even a piston and connecting rod from the spare parts that Peter/Jerry Helck had in their possession.

https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/monday_march_1

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: Vanderbilt Cup Race driver Joe Tracy with reporter Ada Patterson

The trophy then and today

From Mystery Foto #43 Solved: George Robertson winning the 1908 Founders Week Cup Race in Irving Morse's Locomobile

-The driver ,and mechanician

George Robertson and Glenn Ethridge.

-The race, location and date of the photo

The Philadelphia 200 mile race at Fairmount Park, October 10, 1908

-The race car and its owner

#10 Locomobile (Old 16) owned by Irving Morse

-The trophy

From 1909 through 2009, the Cup was in the Irving Morse family. With the death of 90-year-old Birmingham, Michigan, resident Louise Barrows, did the Cup surface in public again. Louise was the granddaughter of Irving Morse.
The cup was sold at a March 22nd, 2009 auction for $128,700 to a Toronto-based buyer.

From Mystery Foto #43 Solved: George Robertson winning the 1908 Founders Week Cup Race in Irving Morse's Locomobile

Great to see the Black Beast on the Jersey shore!

From The Alco Black Beast racing on the Jersey Shore and highlights from TROG (The Race of Gentlemen)

Nice to see the additional information, Gary.  Thanks.  Guess the Motor Parkway never came up while you knew them.

From Kleiner's Korner: And Now For Something Completely Different: Part 6 (Motor Parkway - 1930+)

I knew both Edward (1903-1991) and Mabel (1908-2008) Gronroos, as they were neighbors of ours in Farmingdale.  I believe they were the original owners of their 1950’s house, like my parents were, on Lowell Drive in suburban Farmingdale.  Both were quiet and unassuming, having a well maintained home.  It was only in later years after he had passed that I discovered his role in the LIMP.  Interestingly, the 1930 U.S. Census lists Edward, age 26, as “motorcycle police” living with his wife Mabel, age 21, and father-in-law Samuel S. Sadler, age 71, occupation “Toll Collector” at Lakeville Road, Motor Parkway, Lake Success.

From Kleiner's Korner: And Now For Something Completely Different: Part 6 (Motor Parkway - 1930+)

Tried all week-end to research but came up empty. Looking forward to the answer.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: A 1915 autographed photo from Ralph DePalma to his "good friend" Peter Helck

Nobody makes a bigger splash in auto racing history than you do.

From 2021 TROG (The Race of Gentlemen) captured by photographer Jason Barr

Thanks to Howard Kroplick & Roger White for Keeping American Automotive Racing History Alive! http://www.firstsuperspeedway.com

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Vanderbilt Cup Trophy Today

????

From 2021 TROG (The Race of Gentlemen) captured by photographer Jason Barr

I have the 1930s Vanderbilt programs as well in my archives. GREAT stuff, and especially for listing the local car dealerships and their addresses/locations. It can give you a great number of locations to see if the building still survives in tact and is not totally altered from when it was new with the addition of aluminum siding,windows , neon signs etc.

From Greg O's Garage: 85th Anniversary of the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Another photo of DePalma in the #2 Mercedes as well as 2 Helck paintings.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: A 1915 autographed photo from Ralph DePalma to his "good friend" Peter Helck

Ralph DePalma with his first place winning #2 Mercedes at the 1915 Indy 500 on May 31st.

Ralpha DePalma drove Mercedes racers in four Vanderbilt Cup Races, winning in 1912 and 1914:

1911 Vanderbilt Cup Race (Savannah): Drove the #10 Mercedes. Finished 2nd.

1912 Vanderbilt Cup Race (Milwaukee):Drove the #22 Mercedes. Finished 1st.

1914 Vanderbilt Cup Race (Santa Monica): Drove the #12 Mercedes. Finished 1st.

1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race (San Francisco): Drove the #22 Mercedes. Finished 4th.

Below:
In the #2 Mercedes and taking the checkered flag at the 1915 Indy finish line.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: A 1915 autographed photo from Ralph DePalma to his "good friend" Peter Helck

Hello, I am the granddaughter of Gladys Van Ausdall. She, her husband George, and their son, George (my father, now deceased), used to lived on Grove St. and of course in what is now called Harbor Mist Restaurant. My 88-year-old mother recently discovered this website and showed it to me. I also collect antiques, and we wondered where grandma’s highboy had ended up. Louise, if you still own the dresser and would like to get in touch, please feel free to contact me here or provide other contact information. Thank you!

From Mystery Foto #59 Solved: The Van Ausdall's Hotel in Cold Spring Harbor, NY Circa 1914

Greg,
Forgot that Jayne’s Hill in S. Huntington is in Suffolk County.

From Greg O's Garage: A 1906 Nassau County Map

Mark-
A lot of people (myself included for a while) do think Bald Hill is the highest, but Jayne’s Hill in S.Huntington is highest. Other high spots in Nassau AND Suffolk are Beacon Hill in Port Washington and the hill that Oheka Castle is built upon. Interesting tidbit about Oheka is that it was man-made. Otto Kahn wanted the highest point on Long Island, so he built the Cold Spring Harbor LIRR station to have train loads of dirt, rocks and material to build the ‘mountain’ that Oheka is built on.

From Greg O's Garage: A 1906 Nassau County Map

Neat!

From Kleiner's Korner: Petting Parties on the Motor Parkway

Please Note re. Foto #41…. Just to keep us confused I show a clip from our own VCR blog from December 2010 using the same photo as above with Joe and Ada in the #12 Locomobile and is captioned as 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race. Not 1906 Cup Race.

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: Vanderbilt Cup Race driver Joe Tracy with reporter Ada Patterson

On a similar note, the automobile was used as a fast means as early as 1900 for a loving couple to make their escape to elope as this article indicates.  Fathers should better learn how to drive an automobile to stop such elopements. 

I’m assuming Echoville refers to Echo, which is today’s Port Jefferson Station.  Interesting that the Echo Arms Adult Home is today located in Port Jefferson Station keeping the name alive.  Article is from “The Motor World Nov., 1900.

From Kleiner's Korner: Petting Parties on the Motor Parkway

Seen this map on display once? at the Oyster Bay Historical Society in Oyster Bay. Ball Hill, Farmingville, highest point in Suffolk Co. at 300+ft. Just to let you know.

From Greg O's Garage: A 1906 Nassau County Map