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The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
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Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
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Recent Comments
Amazing stuff and details!
From Update: Photos of the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races from the Philadelphia Free Library
WOW, amazing info keeps pouring in with photos never seen before! Great stuff. Al, looking forward to walking the GC RoW once again. It’s long overdue. New 1938 race pics are incredible. Amazing stuff!
From Update: Photos of the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races from the Philadelphia Free Library
Curious about Bernd Rosemeyer, he unfortunately died in a 1938 race. His wife of 2 years, Elly Beinhorn ( 1936 - 1938 ) was an accomplished aviatrix and lived to be a century old ( 1907 - 2007 ). Much more about them with web search.
From Update: Photos of the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races from the Philadelphia Free Library
Roosevelt Field looking East. Photographer is in the grandstand.
Parade during the LI Industrial Exposition on Oct. 9, 1954 commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1st VCR.
1897 Delahyde Brake.
Three VCRs conducted there in late 30’s and 60’s.
From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: The 1954 Roosevelt Raceway Parade Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race
The picture shown of the unknown race have the cars going clockwise at the finish line, not counterclockwise as most track races are run ?
From Update: Photos of the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races from the Philadelphia Free Library
Pic from a few weeks ago.
From Update: Photos of the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races from the Philadelphia Free Library
This photo was taken from the grandstand at Roosevelt Raceway (harness track) looking northwest toward Carle Place. It was taken on October 9, 1954 during the celebration parade of vintage cars honoring the 50th. anniversary of the first Vanderbilt Cup Race in 1904. The lead car is an 1897 Delahyde Brake, the oldest car in the parade. This site was the location for the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races. I believe the grandstand was originally built for those two races.
From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: The 1954 Roosevelt Raceway Parade Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race
Howard, Spent some of Sunday afternoon at Raymond Court in Garden City. The Village has cleared and exposed about 50 feet of the concrete extension west of the parking field. After doing some clearing, the Parkway ROW is now walkable westward to where there are some downed wires. Just before that point, there is a cleared pathway to the rear of the house on the east end of Vanderbilt Court. I’m guessing the occupants make use of the Parkway ROW for walking, jogging, etc.,
From Update: Photos of the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races from the Philadelphia Free Library
Clearly the old Mineola Fair grounds in Garden City (today’s court complex), probably
the 08 Jun 1946 VMCCA Jubilee Anniversary run. If so, Joe Tracy in Old 16 Locomobile. An I recall me aright, looking NNE, from roof of grandstand{?}. White car could be Cannon’s 1-cyl. Caddy. Sam, III
From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: The 1954 Roosevelt Raceway Parade Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race
Post has been updated with information form Aldo Zano and race films.
From Update: Photos of the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races from the Philadelphia Free Library
Aldo Zana
Many thanks for mailing the newsletter I always enjoy reading.
About the Vanderbilt Cup photos:
1. The no.8 Alfa Romeo is the 12C-36 driven by Antonio “Tonino” Brivio Sforza (1905-1995), 1936 poleman and third classified due to an scheduled pitstop a few laps before finish to fasten the right cover of the engine bay.
2. The other driver with Nuvolari is Giuseppe “Nino” Farina (1906-1966), third driver of the Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeo, ninth on the grid and DNF. He became the first F1 world champion in 1951, driving the works Alfa Romeo 158
3. The driver looking at the photographer while mechanics work on the engine is Attilio Marinoni, chief mechanic of Alfa Romeo and reserve driver on the Italian cars. The photo was taken during early practice, as it could be seen by the missing race number and national flag.
4. The photo of the no.18 Auto Union was taken at the Karussel corner of the Nuerburgring circuit, Germany, during the Eifelrennen 1936, June 14..Rosemeyer, driving, won and received the title of “Nebelmeister” (master of fog) having won in appalling conditions of rain and fog.
Hope to have been helpful.
Have a nice Sunday.
All the best.
Aldo
From Update: Photos of the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races from the Philadelphia Free Library
Howard, The North Shore Historical Museum is having an on line video lecture Tuesday, Dec. 1, on Louis Comfort Tiffany and Laurelton Hall. The lecture will be given by a great grandson, I believe at 7 p.m.
From Update: Photos of the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races from the Philadelphia Free Library
Without a doubt, the winning car in the unknown race photo is a Bugatti. I haven’t turned up any info about the race, but there are a few curious things about the photo. Firstly, the track is dirt. The vehicles racing appear to be too old to be racers of the day. Passenger cars and people ON the track, are just a few of the things that are a bit puzzling. I’m thinking this must have just been some sort of fun, exhibition type of race with some older racers, but have come up empty handed on searching any #31 Bugatti racers at Roosevelt Raceway.
From Update: Photos of the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races from the Philadelphia Free Library
check that, Auto Union and MB did not enter the ‘36 race
From Update: Photos of the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races from the Philadelphia Free Library
last photo of the ‘36 group. It could be Hans Stuck. A few pictures of them together in 1936 . See the Nixon book, page 121
From Update: Photos of the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races from the Philadelphia Free Library
I question the identification of Cummings #18 (1937 photo 6)
Auto Union
Sieber: it looks more like a Bugatti rad and wheels in the unknown race. Bug fans might be able to help the race year / event question.
$0.02
From Update: Photos of the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races from the Philadelphia Free Library
In photo 4 above, it looks like Bernd Rosemeyer is on the left.
From Update: Photos of the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races from the Philadelphia Free Library
The car in front may be the 1934 Studebaker Indy Team car.
From Update: Photos of the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races from the Philadelphia Free Library
WOW, great find Greg! The history is becoming clearer.
From Film of the Week: Care-Free Cars (1956) Starring Henry Austin Clark, Jr.
Fascinating details in this aerial. Thanks Howard for posting a zoomed photo revealing the Garden City Lodge porte cochere (with flag pole in the center driveway). The lodge is not visible in this photo, likely the evergreen tree blocking the lodge’s view. The lodge was just east of the porte cochere. Thank you Howard for all you do with keeping Long Island History alive!
From Mystery Foto #47 Solved: A 1956 Aerial of the Motor Parkway Behind Stewart Field in Garden City
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