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.
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Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
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Recent Comments
That’s the J18 Mitchell racer with F. Zirbes driving at the start of the Jericho Sweepstakes on October 10, 1908. I think one of the officials is Fred Wagner and another could be Jefferson DeMont Thompson.
From Mystery Foto #26 Solved : The J18 Mitchell racer driven by Frank Zirbes at the Start Line
I have seen these booklets on ebay over the years, very rarely, and very, very expensive to purchase. Thank you for posting.
From Greg O.'s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection- Barney Oldfield and the "Green Dragon"
The first few years of the Vanderbilt Cup, no American car had a chance of beating the Europeans. And I doubt the Europeans would have any reason to put Barney in one of their cars. They had Grand Prix champions to chose from. So maybe Barney had no desire to harm his reputation by taking a chance on the race. Also, American entries in the Cup were allowed to engage European drivers, and some did.
From Greg O.'s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection- Barney Oldfield and the "Green Dragon"
Salt Lake race may be mis-dated, unless real busy Dec.13, 1904.
Explains chronological question.
Fantastic document! Thank you for sharing in its entirety.
From Greg O.'s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection- Barney Oldfield and the "Green Dragon"
Great article on a superb artifact - thanks Greg!
From Greg O.'s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection- Barney Oldfield and the "Green Dragon"
Two articles from 1938 pertaining to the opening of the Motor Parkway bike path in Queens. Note that the flags in the photo match those shown in the original post and the cyclists appear to be the Girl Scouts of which the first article refers. The uniforms also match two cyclists shown on the right side in the original photo. From the “NY Daily News” of June 15 and July 10, 1938.
From The Opening of the Motor Parkway Bike Path- July 9, 1938
The race was postponed until October 25 due to rain on the original date and was held on the Sheepshead Bay track. Oldfield raced a 60 hp Knox with Johnson in a 90 hp Thomas Flier.
From Greg O.'s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection- Barney Oldfield and the "Green Dragon"
An example of Oldfield’s defiance of the established rules of the AAA was his race in 1910 against the world boxing champion, “negro” Jack Johnson (I’m using the term “negro” here as it appeared in the articles of the time).
Here’s a video of the race in which Oldfield defeated Johnson (courtesy “firstsuperespeedway.com” and Mark Dill).
https://youtu.be/zrQWWgHZT7U
Note the incorrect date which shows 1911. Also, as pointed out in this article from “firstsuperespeedway.com” Oldfield tried to make the moving pictures as entertaining as possible by making the race appear closer than it was by using the same clip over and over again.
https://www.firstsuperspeedway.com/blog/oldfield-vs-jack-johnson
From Greg O.'s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection- Barney Oldfield and the "Green Dragon"
Al, it is a great question! Barney Oldfield was constantly in conflict with the AAA, the sanctioning sponsor of the Long Island Vanderbilt Cup Races during this period and often suspending from racing in their events: https://www.mmshof.org/index.php/inductees/inductees/314-barney-oldfield-2
From Greg O.'s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection- Barney Oldfield and the "Green Dragon"
Al,
It makes sense. How was the fastest man alive not included in the Vanderbilt Cup Races in the beginning? The first year of the Cup Races in 1904, he held every record at all the big tracks that year in the Green Dragon….I believe Barney’s exclusion from the Vanderbilt Cup Races was more socioeconomic than anything else.
Read this and let me know what you think.
https://toledosattic.org/essays/101-abstracts/biography/105-ess-oldfield
From Greg O.'s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection- Barney Oldfield and the "Green Dragon"
Thanks Howard and http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com for Keeping American Automotive Racing History Alive! Give my Best to the Black Beast!
You Know Me
From Greg O.'s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection- Barney Oldfield and the "Green Dragon"
Howard, Meant on Long island. Any idea why not?
From Greg O.'s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection- Barney Oldfield and the "Green Dragon"
Great painting of Howard and great photos from Robert!
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A wonderful painting of Howard Kroplick in the Alco Black Beast by Joe Pep
Completion of the article.
From Mystery Foto #26 Solved : The J18 Mitchell racer driven by Frank Zirbes at the Start Line
Additional info. on driver Frank Zirbes who was employed by the Mitchell company for many years and drove their cars in many endurance runs.
From Mystery Foto #26 Solved : The J18 Mitchell racer driven by Frank Zirbes at the Start Line
#18 Mitchell
Frank Zirbes
The Jericho Sweepstakes, one of the races of the 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes.
October 10, 1908
Fred Wagner, possibly Jefferson DuMont Thompson
From Mystery Foto #26 Solved : The J18 Mitchell racer driven by Frank Zirbes at the Start Line
Al,
Barney raced in two Vanderbilt Cup Races:
-The 1914 Vanderbilt Cup Race held in Santa Monica. He finished second in the #7 Mercer:
http://www.champcarstats.com/races/191401.htm
-The 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race held in San Francisco. He finished seventh in the #1 Maxwell:
http://www.champcarstats.com/races/191505.htm
He was entered in the 1916 Vanderbilt Cup Race in a Delage, but did not appear.
http://www.champcarstats.com/races/191613.htm
Enjoy,
Howard
From Greg O.'s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection- Barney Oldfield and the "Green Dragon"
Greg, Thanks for the comprehensive article on Barney Oldfield….however, don’t believe he ever participated in any of the Vanderbilt Cup Races ???
From Greg O.'s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection- Barney Oldfield and the "Green Dragon"
-The race car
-The driver
The #18 Mitchell driven by F. Zirbes who came in 3rd with a time of 3:46:07 for the 140.76 mile contest.
-The race and its date
Jericho Sweepstakes, Sept. 10th 1908
-Kudos question: Identify one or more officials in the Mystery Foto
The official on the right could be holding a rolled up flag making him possibly Starter and Clerk of the Course Fred Wagner.
From Mystery Foto #26 Solved : The J18 Mitchell racer driven by Frank Zirbes at the Start Line
Barney Oldfield, Master Driver of the World & America’s Legendary Speed King. Thanks for keeping American Automotive Racing History Alive! http://www.firstsuperspeedway.com, www.brownfoxbooks.com.
From Greg O.'s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection- Barney Oldfield and the "Green Dragon"
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