Vanderbilt Cup Races

I like this one!

Location & Orientation:  Jericho Tpke, Westbury NY. Photographer was viewing in a SW direction ( grandstand is on the south side, men are on the north side )

ID race:  VCR October 6 1906

ID Officials & Roles: 
      A - Even though he reminds me of a Nintendo character ‘Wario’, my best guess is A.L. Riker, who owned The Locomobile Company.
      B - William K Vanderbilt II, donor of Vanderbilt Cup.
      C - Reginald Vanderbilt, cousin to Willy K, grandfather to Anderson Cooper.
      D - My best guess is A.G. Batchelder, Board Member.
      E - Jefferson de Mont Thompson, Vanderbilt Cup Commission Chairman.

Found most of my answers on your site here, Howard. Thanks

From Mystery Foto #27 Solved: Officials of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race and Reginald Vanderbilt

Nice research

From Update #1: Village of Garden City Uncovers the Motor Parkway Near Raymond Court

WOW! High five to Garden City for exposing this section of Motor Parkway. This no doubt took a precise and delicate approach to accomplish. History in the making as we observe history as it was. Nice job GC!

From Update #1: Village of Garden City Uncovers the Motor Parkway Near Raymond Court

The photo was taken in front of the grandstand on Jericho Turnpike in Westbury during the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race. Since the grandstand was on the south side of the road, the photographer was facing approximately south-west. Person B is Willie K., referee; “C” is his cousin Reginald Vanderbilt who I believe was an associate referee; “E” is Jefferson DeMont Thompson, who wore two hats: Chairman of the Vanderbilt Cup Commission and Chairman of the AAA Racing Board. No clue on the other two men - looking forward to the answer.

From Mystery Foto #27 Solved: Officials of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race and Reginald Vanderbilt

Keep the progress coming!

From Update #1: Village of Garden City Uncovers the Motor Parkway Near Raymond Court

These cars look amazing.  Hope I have a chance to get here on an upcoming LA trip.

From Current Treasures of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles

Apparently a typo in Grant’s association with the Stanleys - it should probably be 1898 instead of 1888.  That lines up better with the Stanleys’ activity, plus in 1888 he would have been 11 years old.

From Los Angeles Herald October 2, 1910: Harry Grant and his 'Black Beast' Alco & Tonight's Fireworks

My friend Carl Casper built the Batman Returns car I got to see it at his shop in Louisville and again last year in at the Kruse museum before it closed in Indiana

From Current Treasures of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles

During the 50s and early 60s, my friends and I would take our “English 3-gear Racers” on the Vanderbilt Pkwy from Fresh Meadows, where we lived, to where it ended at Winchester Blvd. We did this not only before construction started on the Clearview Expressway, but during its construction; we’d get off our bikes and lug them up, over and down the embankments and earthen preparations for the roadway.
I’m glad that more than 60 years later this beautiful stretch of an open and pleasurable oasis is not only being preserved, but extended.
Thank you for your efforts.
Roy Warner
Phoenix, AZ

From QNS.com: Get your ‘Motor’ running: Northeast Queens celebrates historic parkway trail

Only recognizing Willie K, Jefferson De Mont Thomson (chairman of the cup commission) Reggie Vanderbilt, maybe A.L. Riker, (unsure about the last) standing at the grandstands of the 1906 Cup Race.

From Mystery Foto #27 Solved: Officials of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race and Reginald Vanderbilt

The 1955 Lincoln Futura Concept Batmobile (1966) in my opinion will always be a tough design to beat. I tried comparing but I cannot find anywhere a 1967 Impala on the 1989 Batmobile, not even the doors match!

From Current Treasures of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles

Hello Howard, thanks for a fun tour at the Peterson Museum!  Here’s a picture of George Barris (designer of the original Batmobile) and me in my art booth at the Glenmoor Gathering in Ohio, circa 2009.  George was often the Grand Marshall, sweet guy and full of great stories (he pointed out people in my art for whom he had done custom car work).
Best wishes, Chris Osborne

From Current Treasures of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles

Agreed. Your recollection’s and others are always deeply appreciated, Bob! Thought my 12 pound sledgehammer was a beast, extra 4 lbs makes a BIG difference.

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Lancia Taking a Manhasset Turn at the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Hmm.  I can’t help but wonder if the #6 Apperson was actually a Jackrabbit.  The “Jackrabbit” was only first introduced as a Speedster in 1908 and the whole line briefly became “Jack Rabbits” around the time of the race or so.  Speedsters were short wheelbase cars and the #6 appears to be on a long wheelbase chassis (as were most racers).  Anyone know?  The Master Nitpicker strikes again!  Sam, III

P. S. - Sorry about the above levity - the REAL sign is now appended.

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: The Dangerous Newbridge Avenue Bridge on 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

This is deadman’s curve with the LIRR bridge in the background. Thanks Howard for posting this picture.Regards,Gene

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: The Dangerous Newbridge Avenue Bridge on 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

Mystery Foto #26…photo shows Meadowbrook Bridge in East Meadow looking northeast.
This photo was shot during the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The car is a 1909 Apperson Jackrabbit driven by Hugh Harding. A year later a tragic crash happened at this location when Harold Stone lost control of his Columbia racer. The car ran off the bridge, killing mechanician Matthew Bacon. Though reported as killed in this crash, driver Stone survived and recovered from his injuries.

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: The Dangerous Newbridge Avenue Bridge on 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

O. K.  I well remember using crank phones and party lines out on the East End and upstate and in New England but I sure have no idea how one paid for a call pre-plastic, before coin-op. public phones were commonplace.  Anyone?  Mayhap the LIMP or Willie K. paid for that system.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Lancia Taking a Manhasset Turn at the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Interesting.  That blacksmith shop was owned and operated by my great grandfather Schneider.  It continued to operate (I was told) until the early 50’s by my father’s uncle.  I was born in 1950 so I have no recollection of it.  Dad ended up with a few old tools from the place and I ended up with a 16 lb. sledge hammer from my father.
I wonder if Johnny Brooks (the boy that was run over by one of the cars) was a relation, since my middle name is Brooks.  I never really understood why my folks named me Brooks; going through our family tree there was a Brooks who was a stone mason in Great Neck (in the mid-1800’s as I recall) who married an Allen or whose daughter married an Allen.  But apparently my folks just like the name and didn’t have very clear feelings about Brooks.
So thank you Howard and friends for all this interesting material you put out.
Robert Brooks Allen - Bob
___________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Bob, that is so neat!

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Lancia Taking a Manhasset Turn at the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I think that’s Herb Lytle driving the #6 Isotta having just gone over the “Meadowbrook” bridge which went over Newbridge Avenue (Bellmore Road) during the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The photographer is facing west from a position on top of the Stewart Avenue bridge in the Salisbury Plains area.  During the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race, Driver Harold Stone lost control of his Columbia racer, went off the road and crashed, killing his mechanician Matthew (William?) Bacon. This and other prior fatalities lead to the end of racing on Long Island’s public roads.

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: The Dangerous Newbridge Avenue Bridge on 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

No comment (I’ve forgotten this one) but, OH!, how I’d love to know what the sign, facing away at left, reads [“magic” - appended!].  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: The Dangerous Newbridge Avenue Bridge on 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course