Vanderbilt Cup Races

STOOD ON EVERYTHING! - 1904 Vanderbilt Cup

This drawing depicts the #9 Mercedes, with Wilhelm Werner in the driver's seat, slamming on the brakes as a train crosses paths with the race route. Based on actual events during the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup — there were two separate railroad crossings on the race course; a disaster waiting to happen. Thankfully, no race cars collided with a train during the race.

Ironically, the #9 Mercedes broke down on the second lap of the race at the Mineola railroad crossing on Jericho Turnpike.

CRACKED ITS ENGINE BLOCK! - 1905 Vanderbilt Cup

This drawing tells the story of the #7 Locomobile as it prepares for the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The artwork shows the Locomobile garage in full panic mode as the team tries to repair a cracked engine block ten hours before the start of the race. Mr. Helck’s attention to detail in this drawing is incredible, from the Locomobile-branded toolbox on the floor at the bottom left to the painstakingly accurate details on the race car's chassis and engine.

There's always drama when preparing for an automotive race, but thankfully hard work paid off for the Locomobile race team. With the engine block repaired, Joe Tracy achieved a third-place finish in the 1905 race.

HUSH-HUSH CARS IN REMOTE PLACES - 1905 Vanderbilt Cup

Though the Premier automotive company — based out of Indianapolis, Indiana — was disqualified for exceeding the 2,200 pound weight limit on its race car, this drawing shows the team as it gets ready for the 1905 race. The irony of the “keep out” sign within the artwork is a discreetly clever foreshadow of how events unfolded for the team.

TRACY'S RECORD LAP - 1906 Vanderbilt Cup

Joe Tracy, in the #9 Locomobile, is showcased here by a fantastic sense of flat-out speed during the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race. You can see the sheer excitement on the faces of the spectators as they watch Tracy zoom past in his car.

In 1906, Tracy was predicted to finish at the top of the field, however, this prediction was far from the reality of what happened during the race. Despite a strong start during the first two laps, Tracy unfortunately encountered a series of mechanical failures, which led to a tenth place finish. There's one known film of the Locomobile during the race; the footage was taken at the hairpin turn in Old Westbury and the Westbury grandstand.

THE NIGHT BEFORE THE BIG RACE - 1906 Vanderbilt Cup

We all know that feeling of excitement in anticipation of race day, and this drawing highlights the emotions of the spectators camping and staking out their spots the night before the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race. In today’s world, the festivals and trackside entertainment are markedly different from back in the day, however, one thing will never change: heavy traffic and the jockeying for a good parking spot at the big event.

I hope you have enjoyed the first installment of these high-quality photos of Peter Helck’s Vanderbilt Cup-related drawings. Stay tuned for Part Two where I will dive into more drawings by Peter Helck of the later Vanderbilt Cup races.