VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: 12 Previously unpublished photos of the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race
I recently purchased an unknown family's scrapbook of 250 photos taken from 1905 to 1914. Highlight are these previously never published 12 photos of the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
The photos provide insight on what it looked like watching the race on Jericho Turnpike; the crowd, the clothes and absence of spectator protection. Despite advances in technology over 116 years, those telephone poles are still standing!
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
The original layout in the album
Willian K. Vanderbilt, Jr.
I believe this is the only know photo of Willie K. driving on the 1905 course in his 1903 Mercedes.
Caption reads: W.K. Vanderbilt, R.L. Morrell and E.R. Thomas. Not sure that Morrell in the middle.
#4 Fiat
#4 Fiat (Italy) driven by Vincenzo Lancia, 120 HP. Finished 4th. Fortunes of race changed when Lancia collided with Christie who was only on Lap 4 at I.U. Willets Road at Michelin Tire Station in Albertson. Broke rear wheel. Delayed 30 minutes and lost by 24 minutes and 23 seconds.
#7 Locomobile
#7 Locomobile (USA) driven by Joe Tracy, 90 HP. Finished 3rd. First American car to ever place in an international race. Beat Lancia by 2 minutes and 5 seconds. Averaged 56.9 mph.
Note the grandstands in the background on the south side of Jericho Turnpike.
#9 Mercedes
#9 Mercedes (Germany) driven by John Warden, 120 HP. Finished 8th. Still running in Lap #9 when race was called. Rear wheel running on rim. Best performance of German team. Averaged 47.3 mph.
#10 Renault
#10 Renault (France) driven by Francois Szisz, 90 HP. Finished 5th. Still running in Lap 10 when race was called. Averaged 55.7 mph.
#14 Panhard
#14 Panhard (France) driven by George Heath. 120 HP. Driver was 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race winner. Finished 2nd. Lost by 3 minutes and 32 seconds. Averaged 60.7 mph.
#15 Pope-Toledo
#15 Pope-Toledo (USA) driven by Herb Lytle. 90 HP. Finished 14th. Broke cylinder, made repairs and was running in Lap 6 when race was stopped.
#16 Fiat
#16 Fiat (Italy) driven by Louis Chevrolet. 90 HP. Finished 10th. Ran into telegraph pole at the S curve at Willis Avenue and broke front wheel and bent front axle during Lap 7.
#18 Darracq
#18 Darracq (France) driven by Victor Hemery. 80 HP. Finished 1st. Hemery received $12,000 from Darracq and tire manufacturers for winning. Averaged 61.5 mph.
#20 Fiat
#20 Fiat (Italy) driven by Paul Sartori. 90 HP. Finished 7th.Broke crankshaft during Lap 9 .
Today: The site of the photos
This is the site of the photographer's location on Jericho Turnpike and Mineola Boulevard as seen today-116 years later!
Comments
Great find.
Incredible find ! Exciting images…
Superb images! Thank you for sharing these, it is like stepping into a time machine.
What a great discovery Howard! Looks like the photographer provided important descriptions too. Glad you were able to acquire them.
Amazing, how exciting that must have been to witness. There’s only one sad photo—the one at the end. The only thing that hasn’t changed are telephone poles.
Amazing, historic photos capturing the thrill of racing along familiar roadways!
Was E.R. Thomas in the photo walking with Willie K the manufacture of the Thomas Flyer?
Amazing pictures. The common element in the before and now pics are the utility poles. They almost look identical 116 years later. So either 1905 was starting to look pretty modern or our present day is a bit antiquated. This is similar to the previously published photos of route 107 facing north at hempstead tpke.
Mark, the Edward Russell (E.R.) Thomas in the photo was not the Edwin Ross (E.R.) Thomas who founded the E.R. Thomas Motor Company of Buffalo.
https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/mystery_friday_foto_2can_you_identify_these_two_men_at_the_1906_vanderbilt.
Edward Thomas was a prominent New York broker who owned the 1904 Mercedes #8 which raced in the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race:
https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/drivers/bio/edward_hawley