Vanderbilt Cup Races

The track is the one in Savannah, Georgia operated by the Savannah Automobile Club. The photo was taken in 1908 in conjunction with the first Grand Prize Race of America. The Irish Volunteer Guards were hired to help with crowd control, They were actually issues ammunition for the rifles. There is a distant connection with the Vanderbilt Cup Races. That year the European Race Organization asked Vanderbilt to run the Vanderbilt Cup Race under their regulations, Vanderbilt didn’t have a problem with that but the Automobile Club of America, the sponsor of the Vanderbilt Cup races, said no. But they agreed to the formation of the new Grand Prize Race the first of which was held in 1908 at Savannah. ( I forgot who won). My guess that the notation of Vanderbilt Cup Race on the card was made when there was a possibility that Vanderbilt would agree to change the name of his race. I think not.

From Mystery Friday Foto #34 Solved : A Guard on the Indianapolis Speedway Track in August 1909

The track is too wide to be anywhere on the Motor Pkwy, but it is a racetrack nonetheless. The guardrails and posts are of later design with improved impact resistance. I believe this is after 1908. Photo is captioned “Corona, New York City,” but I am unaware of any racetrack in early Corona, Queens. The closest racetrack to Corona that comes to mind was in Brooklyn, just northeast of Coney Island. Amazing detective work on this solved mystery. Looking forward to this week’s comments

From Mystery Friday Foto #34 Solved : A Guard on the Indianapolis Speedway Track in August 1909

The Stereo-Travel Company was a specialty photography company that produced images for use in a device called a stereoscope or stereo viewer. There were many companies that produced them from around 1890 - 1915 and when placed in the viewing device (see attached photo) allowed the user to see it in 3-D. They were usually sold in sets of between 50 and 100 cards for each topic. The Stereo-Travel Co. issued a set in 1912 related to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway so I’m guessing this mystery card is from that set which probably included scenes from various events held there from 1909 through 1911.

From Mystery Friday Foto #34 Solved : A Guard on the Indianapolis Speedway Track in August 1909

This was a “race” between multiple marks and was judged by 3rd parties. Each car was given a carefully measured single gallon of gas and then the gas cap was sealed. So no, Franklin did not exaggerate.
Today, this car would be called an “ultra-light.” H.H. Franklin invented die-casting of aluminum and even came up with the word. Most Franklin cars had aluminum body parts, engine block, pistons and other pieces. For a time, Franklin was the #1 consumer of aluminum in the world.
13 years after this test another inventor built the first Ford Trimotor airplane. It was the first all metal plane built in the USA and of course he used an aluminum alloy: duraluminum. He was William Bushnell Stout and his motto was: “Simplicate and Add More Lightness.”

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: "The 1913 Long Island Economy Run" by Walt Gosden

This is photo #36 of 40 taken during the very first race at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway August 19th - 21st, 1909 prior to the speedway being paved with bricks.  The Stereo-Travel Co. of Corona, New York City produced 40 stereoviews of the opening race meet.  The bottom right of the stereoview says “Don’t go near the track” with a copyright of 1909.  Place the stereoview card in a stereoscope which will presents two slightly different images separately to the left and right eye of the viewer.  These two-dimensional images are then combined in the brain to give the perception of 3D depth.  3D photos!  Attached is my overview of the first Indianapolis Motor Speedway race meet.

From Mystery Friday Foto #34 Solved : A Guard on the Indianapolis Speedway Track in August 1909

One more…Just before the wheel broke…

From Mystery Foto #33 Solved: Aerial of the Bridgehampton Race Circuit in 1957 and a very special Comment

Some additional Bridgehampton info: my Dad, Walt Luftman raced there at the beginning. In 1964 He was racing nose to tail in a Ferrari GTO prototype with Frank Dominiani’s Corvette when Frank put a wheel off and a rock shattered the Ferrari’s windshield. Dad came in and Walt Hansgen handed him some goggles and he set off again, well back. Some days later this hand painted rock arrived from Frank. I still have it!
Dad’s last race at the Bridge was the next year in a Series II GTO in the Vanderbilt Cup race but a broken wheel put him out. The car, now restored and repaired is back in the Hamptons owned by Aaron Hsu. I first raced at the Bridge in an Alfa in 1968 and last ran there in 1996 finishing 3rd in A Sedan in a Camaro.

From Mystery Foto #33 Solved: Aerial of the Bridgehampton Race Circuit in 1957 and a very special Comment

The photo was made in 1909 at the Indianapolis track. The little house, seen here seemingly standing alone, was part of an area with tents used by the different competing teams for workshop and garaging. Uploaded a few photos from the opposite direction of the same building with the tents behind. It is clearly all very new, looking at the young trees and their support structure. The photos were made by Spooner & Wells. Many more can be found in the automotive collection of the Detroit Public Library.
The track was built in 1909 and the inaugural races took place from 19 to 21 August of that year. So the photos will date from that weekend or shortly before.

From Mystery Friday Foto #34 Solved : A Guard on the Indianapolis Speedway Track in August 1909

Link to the 1957 Bridgehampton Race Circuit Inauguration video, courtesy of The Bridge      

https://youtu.be/UnT4d_Mt6kg

From Mystery Foto #33 Solved: Aerial of the Bridgehampton Race Circuit in 1957 and a very special Comment

Photos from the DPL Digital Collection.

From Mystery Friday Foto #34 Solved : A Guard on the Indianapolis Speedway Track in August 1909

Great mystery photo!  The track is Indianapolis Speedway and the race was August, 1909.  The Stereo-Travel Company produced a set of 40 stereo cards documenting the first automobile races at Indy.  The attached documentation provides more detail and the source (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) has compiled a list of all 40 cards (I’ve included stereo card #36 of which the mystery photo is marked).  Other attached photos are from the Detroit Public Library Digital Collection and clearly show the wooden building, fences and trees in the mystery photo.  Tents are shown which aren’t in the mystery photo so presumably the tents were put up a few days after the mystery photo was taken.  The Guard is a member of the Indiana National Guard.

From Mystery Friday Foto #34 Solved : A Guard on the Indianapolis Speedway Track in August 1909

Thank you Susan!

From Kleiner's Korner: The Vanderbilt Cup Races in the Media

Nice catch Brian, that’s another encounter of a “Potters Field” in the NY(C) area. I suspect there were more throughout the city and the suburbs, all ultimately resting at Hart’s Island in the East River.

From Mystery Foto #33 Solved: Aerial of the Bridgehampton Race Circuit in 1957 and a very special Comment

I really enjoy your email publication. Thank you so much.

From Kleiner's Korner: The Vanderbilt Cup Races in the Media

Didn’t have time to become involved with this Mystery, but I’ll leave a screenshot of a map like seen above. The only difference with this map is that a Potter’s Field is shown where Parking Lot 3 is noted on the other maps. There must be a very old burial area there, encountered when developing the raceway.

Nice job with your maps just above, Frank.

From Mystery Foto #33 Solved: Aerial of the Bridgehampton Race Circuit in 1957 and a very special Comment

Might be Doctor Thompson’s Corvette

From Mystery Foto #33 Solved: Aerial of the Bridgehampton Race Circuit in 1957 and a very special Comment

Delivered mail to Janet Guthrie in Great Neck in the 60’s, always had a little sports car out front, nice lady. Also met Dan Gurney , he came down to a slot car meet at a local hobby shop in Great Neck, spent a few hours racing borrowed slot cars, nice easy going guy. No air about them , two regular people.

From Mystery Foto #33 Solved: Aerial of the Bridgehampton Race Circuit in 1957 and a very special Comment

Photo is dated between 1999-2002, closer to 1999

From Mystery Foto #33 Solved: Aerial of the Bridgehampton Race Circuit in 1957 and a very special Comment

Bridgehampton Race Circuit, Suffolk County looking NE. Today it’s The Bridge Golf Club. Photo taken sometime between 1981 and 2002 when the golf club opened

From Mystery Foto #33 Solved: Aerial of the Bridgehampton Race Circuit in 1957 and a very special Comment

Outstanding achievement, keep up the great work!

From Long Island Press: Howard Kroplick for lifetime of community service