Vanderbilt Cup Races

About a year ago, Mary Quigley of Ashfield, Massachsetts emailed me a request for photos of Bert Dingley. The reason for her interest in a driver who participated in two Vanderbilt Cup Races (1905 and 1910) and two American Elimination Trials (1905 and 1906) was very understandable- Mary is Bert Dingley's granddaughter. These are some of the 1905 photos that I had forwarded to the Dingley family.

Bert Dingley was born on August 21, 1885 in Oakdale, California. He was one of the pioneer West Coast drivers. His first recorded race was at the Del Monte race track near San Francisco in 1904. He later raced for the Pope-Toledo team at the Los Angeles Agricultural Park, coming in first in three races and second in the fourth.

In 1905, Bert Dingley came to Long Island as part of the Pope-Toledo team to compete in the 1905 American Elimination Trial and the Vanderbilt Cup Race.

This was Dingley's #2 Pope-Toledo at the starting line of the 1905 American Elimination trial competing against nine other racers.

In what was to be his best performance on Long Island, Dingley came in first place, averaging 56.2 miles per hour over the 113 mile race. He was selected as one of the five American entries for the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race.

Pope-Toledo celebrated the victory with this ad.

In the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race, Dingley's #3 Pope-Toledo competed against four American cars and 14 international racers.

Dingley can be seen here making the New Hyde Park Turn from Lakeville Road on to Jericho Turnpike. During the race, a cylinder of his Pope-Toledo broke down during the first lap.

After making repairs, Dingley was still running way behind in lap 6 when the race was stopped and finished 12th.

On Tuesday, the driver profile of Bert Dingley will continue with a review of his participation in the 1906 American Elimination Trial and the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race.

Links to related posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com and the Internet:

For the Dingley Family: Part II- Bert Dingley and the Vanderbilt Cup Races

Archives: Drivers and Mechanicians

Archives: 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race