We love all sorts of racing here in The Garage, but nothing more than rally. As a driver, there is something very primitive about racing balls to the wall along a real road. Back in the early days of racing though, there was no choice between formats. They raced on real roads that were usually some sort of dirt. Sort of like modern rally cross, only without all the safety equipment like roofs, seat belts or decent brakes. As Ryan from the Jalopy Journal points out, these guys truly were daredevils.
Ryan tells the incredible tale of the Vanderbuilt Cup, held on Long Island in the early 1900’s. His story is accompanied by some stunning photos that were found by a member of the H.A.M.B. who was working on a research project. Both Ryan’s tale and the photo gallery are well worth spending some time.
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Gary
There are some amazing photos there …
It was real ‘bug-in-the-teeth’ racing: they had to be fearless in those machines.
I wonder how many of those cars are still around?
Cheers!
Paul
Not 10 minutes from my house is Motor Parkway aka Long Island Motor Parkway aka Vanderbilt Motor Parkway. William Vanderbilt, Jr. built the Long Island Motor Parkway as a private toll road that stretched 45 miles. It was one of the first concrete roads in the US and certainly the first highway to use bridges and overpasses to eliminate intersections.
When Vanderbilt ran the Cup races on local street it caused death and injury to spectators. The incident that lead to the creation of the Motor Parkway as a racing venue came in 1906 when two people were killed and a number injured at an intersection that is right near my brothers current home.
The parkway hosted races on its first open portion in 1908 and on the full road in 1909 and 1910, but another accident in the latter year, killing four with additional injuries, caused the New York Legislature to ban racing except on race tracks, ending the parkway’s career as a racing road.
Jeff
It’s great that you have more info on the history of the venue; it’s always hard to get detailed info like this.
Cheers!
Paul
I just love these old photos and the paintings created from them. Gary, I just sent you some examples of fine automobilia art that is very much like the photo in this article. What many fans don’t remember is if you look closely you will see there are always two men on the car. One of them had no seat and he was the mechanic. Back then they had no way to change spark control as well as the need to fix brake rods and pedal assemblies that would shake loose so the mechanic’s job was to make the needed repairs while the car was still in the race.
Gary (Faules)
I would love to see those paintings also.
Artists like Carlo Demand, Ernest Montaut, F Gordon Crosby and Walter Gotschke captured the heroics and drama of those races beautifully.
I’m not there yet, but I going to keep working at it.
Cheers!
Paul
This whole topic really does form the basis for the passion we all share.
Just wait till you see my next post!
Paul, I bet if we ask real nice Gary might post them. As a matter of fact one of them is indeed a Crosby!
And don’t forget Alfredo De La Maria, Peter Helck, Rob Roy or Michael Turner!
My father-in-law recently passed away.(95yrs) Upon going through his belongs there is an original framed picture of the locomobile winning the Vanderbilt Cup Race 1908.Car #16, also info on picture has (Made with Goerz,Daoor Lens #6.) It is in excellent condition. Is a picture like this of any value, other than memories. What would yu advise. Thanking You,