Vanderbilt Cup Races

Jerry Helck and Walt Gosden in Old 16 Locomobile, winner of the 1908 VCR. Celebrating the 80th anniversary of the 1908 race at the Maine Maid Inn in Jericho on Oct 23rd 1988.

Obviously that’s the “Old 16” Locomobile racer, winner of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race. I believe that’s Jerry Helck in the driver’s seat with Walt Gosden as the mechanician. The date of the photo is October 23, 1988 at the Maine Maid Inn in Jericho during the 80th. anniversary celebration of the 1908 V. C. R. sponsored by the L. I. Old Car Club.

Mystery Foto #16… The race car shown here is the one and only Old 16 Locomobile, In 1908, George Robertson drove this car to victory in the Vanderbilt Cup, America’s first great automobile race. It was the first time an American car won a major international road race in the United States. The Locomobile competed while wearing race number 16, and it’s been known as “Old 16” ever since. The two friends in the car are Jerry Helck and Walt Gosden. This photo was taken at the Maine Maid Inn in Jericho on October 23, 1988. The event was the Long Island Old Car Club 80th Anniversary celebration of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race.

I’m going to guess Walter McCarthy behind the wheel with Floral Park town historian Walt Gosden, sitting in Alco Old 16, winner of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race driven by George Robertson, first time American victory during the early races. Based on photo quality, I’d say mid ‘70’s. Oh the Ford truck, definitely mid 1970s. Don’t know the event, possibly the racer’s 70th anniversary. Keeping my fingers crossed!

I like the ad notice for the 80th anniversary!