About
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.
All Content © 2026 VanderbiltCupRaces.com
Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
Which Vanderbilt Cup Race was depicted on the cover? 1904
Identify the location and the race car and driver? Hicksville, Fernand Gabriel in a DeDricht
Which artist was originally responsible for the artwork? Ernest Montaut
What was the possible purpose of this Vanderbilia? To encase the prints contained in the series “10 Years of Race, the Winners 1897 - 1907”.
Who manufactured this Vanderbilia and when? (Currently unknown)
Not sure but photo sent to Howard is of a silvered metal inkstand depicting the work of Ernest Montaut for Michelin tires indicating 34 ceramic tiles. A long snot, but what’s to lose.
From Mystery Foto #8 Partially Solved:A Humidor Vanderbilia from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum
Penny H.
I had the honor and distinct privilege of riding with Kirk Gibson in the Renault when the family owned it. It is a wonderful piece of automotive history especially with its connection to Vanderbilt. Great to see the museum driving it so folks can see and hear the car in motion. Bravo!
From Video: The Renault Vanderbilt Racer at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum
Mystery Foto #8… This case depicts the 1904 Vanderbilt cup Race. The location appears to be the railroad crossing at Massapequa Road, Hicksville. The car was a Lorraine-Dietrich (or De Dietrich) driven by Fernand Gabriel (mecanician, D. Miollans). The original art was by E. Montaut. My guess as to the possible purpose of this box is it held prize money for the winner. Can’t find any info on who manufactured this Vanderbilia.
From Mystery Foto #8 Partially Solved:A Humidor Vanderbilia from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum
Nice to see it in action!
Ken
From Video: The Renault Vanderbilt Racer at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum
HAC’s stories and comments appeared regularly in Old Cars Weekly back in the 70’s and 80’s and were tremendously enjoyable. One could not help but developed a fondness for this fun loving person. Thanks for keeping his memory alive!
From Highlights from the AACA Annual Meeting Presentation "A Tribute to Henry Austin Clark. Jr."
I used to attend the annual AACA meeting with Austin, we would drive to Philadelphia and back in his Mark III Lincoln (which was a new car at the time not a collectible it now is) . He and George Norton ( a former AACA President) would host the truck seminar and I got involved when Austin asked me to run the slide projector for him and George . It was standing room only at those seminars as Austin and George had a wicked sense of humor and were on full force at the seminars, which on occasion could get a bit risque image wise as Austin liked the female form as much as he liked the look of early trucks! AACA annual meetings were always a highlight of the year and apparently still are Howard with the talk you gave.
Walt G.
From Highlights from the AACA Annual Meeting Presentation "A Tribute to Henry Austin Clark. Jr."
Those cars are amazing! Wonderful restoration work done here. Congrats to all.
From Video: The Renault Vanderbilt Racer at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum
As teenagers we went to the Sports Car Review at the Ford Museum in the mid 1950s. It was a pet project of Benson and Wm. Clay Ford. The Mercedes 300 SLR was displayed on the back of the blue MB car hauler. Eventually the Mercedes Museum wanted the hauler back but gave the Ford Museum the 300 SLR you see on the 1966 Program cover. The 1956 4.9L Ferrari was at the 1956 SCR. I can remember it passing me on US 10 when returning from a sports car race in Grayling Michigan in 1957 - about blew the windows out of the Chevy sedan I was driving when he hit 4th gear. Those were the days when race cars were driven to the track and back. One of the Alfa BATs was on display back then, too.
From Henry Ford Museum 1966 Program: Sports Cars in Review
Hi, Howard,
We have the great Petersen Museum here in LA, but in many ways, I enjoyed the Simeone more for its informality and breadth of its collection. And they drive them!
From Video: The Renault Vanderbilt Racer at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum
Remember the Museum and Austie well. Since his primary residence was in Glen Cove and my father being an expert model maker/machinist in Locust Valley, if Austie needed a rare car or fire truck part made, he’d come over and ask my dad to create. In fact, his Packard town car drove my wife and I from the church to reception on our wedding day back in 1972
From Hemmings Daily: Site of former Long Island Automotive Museum sells decades after it closed
Hi Howard. Before I tackle this one, is it OK to know the following:
The drawing appears to be edged on a metal surface, encased in a metal frame with a clear glass covering?
From Mystery Foto #8 Partially Solved:A Humidor Vanderbilia from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum
the photo was likely taken by Capt. Robert Selff of the Us Army Air corp. He took numerous aerial photos during the air corps maneuvers in 1931.
From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: The Historic Hangar 16 at Curtiss Field (Circa 1931)
It looks like a problem that still exists to this day on Long Island. Railroad crossings and railroad crossing gates. The box could be an urn with ashes from the first Vanderbuilt racer to die at one of those crossings while making a daring attempt at beating the train. It all reminds me of a really well done BMW promotional video with Cive Owen and James Brown
Check out this video on YouTube: Beat The Devil (BMW Short Film)
http://youtu.be/-qQvXawnmjk
From Mystery Foto #8 Partially Solved:A Humidor Vanderbilia from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum
Hi Howard:
I believe it to be a lithograph plate for a painting of a 1907 Renault 35/45 HP.
in the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Races.
Best To You, Ron
From Mystery Foto #8 Partially Solved:A Humidor Vanderbilia from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum
Just googled Engineering of Arthur Archibald, and saw your article. My mother told me that my grandfather from Nova Scotia was an engineer and was quite inventive. Could this be him? Please respond.
_________________________________
Howard Kroplick
Becky, I need some additional information from you to begin trying to help. Please forward to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Motor Parkway Treasure Chest Found in Malverne
My comment on Oct.19th that the building listed on Google Map as 1307 Old Northern Blvd. is the Hendricks Tavern, across from the showroom, an error. I had identified the car in the showroom as 1923-24 period Lincoln by the drum type headlights and wood spoke wheels, a double check, it seem to be from 1923 thru 1926 with those item, also with the bowl type headlights and wire wheels that was available also?
From Updated 2/21/18: Mystery Foto #7 Solved: The Roslyn Motors Lincoln Dealership in 1926
Art - I really appreciate your comment, it is my pleasure to always share what I know or have collected over the past 50+ years, be it a period photograph, image from a sales catalog of that era, or information I have found in endless hours of research (which also gives me endless hours of total pleasure to do). Some people have the material but do not have the ability to put the words or the story together to share with others, fortunately Howard and I do. I never understood anyone who hoarded information images etc. they had or knew about - just isn’t right in my mind. Great to see more comments coming in.
From Updated 2/21/18: Mystery Foto #7 Solved: The Roslyn Motors Lincoln Dealership in 1926
Walt - I share your enthusiasm, as many of us on this blog do. And thank you for providing us with your commentary and on going places and topics to research!
From Updated 2/21/18: Mystery Foto #7 Solved: The Roslyn Motors Lincoln Dealership in 1926
Oh, good grief! I’ve been off Island too long! I was looking at the Art School at 1170 ONB, NOT 2 Main-cum-1307 ONB. Sorry ‘bout that. Hey, I remember those garages from ‘way back when I first started driving in 1950; always wondered about them - thanks. Sam, III
From Updated 2/21/18: Mystery Foto #7 Solved: The Roslyn Motors Lincoln Dealership in 1926
Always stick to your first instinct, eh? Wonder why I discarded the actual location? Fun, though, to see that others picked Tower Ford in Great Neck. By the way, the Oyster Bay building that I noted, which Grumman used briefly, was their Marine Div. or some such, where they had an unsuccessful go at USN hydrofoil craft, as I recall. Any corroboration? My, how we digress. Sam, III
From Updated 2/21/18: Mystery Foto #7 Solved: The Roslyn Motors Lincoln Dealership in 1926
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