Vanderbilt Cup Races

Not sure if this picture will prove its Samuel Todd Davis in the car.  From Automobile Quarterly.  The short bio is from the Davis Family History published by a family member (George Jacob Davis, Jr.) in 1955.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

Below is a screenshot from the website that I shared here. A.L. Riker in 1st place, S.T. Davis Jr. came in 2nd, 50 mile race here on Long Island.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

I passed this extant roof structure daily in the 1960’s and into the 1970’s, always wondering what it was, until I learned of its history. Unfortunate that so much history is lost without a proper record.

From The Story of the "Four" Brentwood Toll Lodges (1911-1934)

Binney, You’re assumption is logical and may be correct. However, after a search for a photo of him to compare, I’ve come up without one. At the time of the photo in 1906, Samuel Todd Davis would have been 33 years old. The gentleman in the mechanician seat appears to be around that age. He was President of Locomobile from 1903 through 1915 when he died of food poisoning, then known as Ptomaine poisoning, so again, logic and timeline makes your assumption possible. I’m going to keep searching, but maybe Art K. can uncover further info on him.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

 
I agree with all those who have identified A.L.Riker, Joe Tracy and Al Poole. I think
it a strong likelihood that the person in the mechanic’s seat is S.T. Davis jr. then
president of the Locomobile Co. I have a letter written by him dated Oct 11,1906
indicating that they had a written offer for one of the racing cars for $15,000 but
had not made up their minds to sell it. Obviously as president of the company he
was very involved with the cars and could well have been pictured in the car.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

Brian, wonderful link. Thanks! Howard

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

Informative website about A.L. Riker

http://www.kcstudio.com/riker.html

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

I believe the first picture posted by Greg O above, is a picture of the 1905 car Harold Thomas of Chicago, Illinois commissioned Locomobile to build. It is what prompted Riker to build the two 1906 cars. It had a 7x7 T head motor while the two 1906 cars had a F head motor. That may be Harold Thomas at the crank. There is a lot of confusion over the three cars.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

Mystery Foto #21…The race car is 1905 Locomobile and it competed in 1905 Vanderbilt Cup, the 1905 Gordon Bennett race and 1906 American Elimination Trial (winner). The driver is Joe Tracy and the passenger could be Al Poole. A.L. Riker may be there too. Brand new car…so the location could be the Locomobile factory in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

Bravo guys????????????????????????

From Update: Restoration of a section of the Motor Parkway in Garden City

I believe this is the sister car to old 16. In 1906, Locomobile made two almost identical race cars,  numbered #1 and #16 for the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The number 1 car was painted white while the number 16 was painted grey. This picture was evidently taken in 1906. The driver may be Joe Florida. Most people know old 16 still exists and is in the hands of The Henry Ford Museum but the #1 car, the one pictured above, has been restored and is in a private collection. Both cars passed from racing history to Andrew Riker, chief engineer at Locomobile.  Peter Helck owned both cars.

This car is easily distinguishable from its sister car by the wheels and color, though black and white photos are tricky when it comes to color. Old 16 sports a much heavier wheel construction.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

I saw you pass by on nothern Blvd. I thought you were headed for Macy’s until I read this blog 20 hours after the show! The randevue was at Daiseys place.

From Chrysler's Chrysler returning home to Kings Point today

The location looks like Manhattan somewhere, maybe Hell’s Kitchen. More research needed.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

NICE WORK GUYS

From Update: Restoration of a section of the Motor Parkway in Garden City

The driver looks a little like Victor Hemery and maybe there’re on 5th. Avenue, NYC near Vanderbilt’s house but that’s all I’ve got. Didn’t have much time this weekend. Looking forward to the answers.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

Thanks Lee!

From Greg O's Garage: Removable rims and their impact on early motoring and racing

Beautiful!

From Stahls Automotive Museum acquires a 1963 Chrysler Turbine car

Greg, the michelin photos above are from the French National library, Gallica.  Google it if you are not familiar.  Wonderful hi-res photos are available online for free.

From Greg O's Garage: Removable rims and their impact on early motoring and racing

Greg, the modern recreation wheel that I posted above is Christie’s final racing car of 1909.  It’s a current photo from the complete car recreation which is underway as we speak.  Christie’s wheel patent shows the bracket details. I think the problem with Christie’s wheel is that the spokes are a casting, so the 12 spokes are unlikely to come from the foundry exactly equally spaced about 360 degrees.  That requires machining each casting perfectly so all the rims and wheels are interchangeable. My email is leestohr at teleport.com if you wish to discuss further.  Your in depth research on this subject is excellent and fascinating to me, at least.

From Greg O's Garage: Removable rims and their impact on early motoring and racing

The Road behind the houses, parallel to Motor Pkwy is a paper street.  It used to be more identifiable (when I moved in 38 years ago).  Its the extension of Cherokee Street.

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures:#19 and #20 The Ronkonkoma Toll Gate & Ronkonkoma Lodge