Vanderbilt Cup Races

 This weekend's Mystery Foto documented three people in a Vanderbilt Cup race car.

Answers to the Mystery Foto questions:

• Identify the Vanderbilt Cup Race and the location of the image

1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race. On Jericho Turnpike in Mineola, looking southeast from the 1905 press box/officials' stand.

• Identify the race car and the three people in the race car.

The #4 FIAT driven by Italian Vincenzo Lancia. Announcer Peter Prunty with a megaphone is in the mechanician's seat. Mechanician Alissa is sitting backwards over the spare tire.

• Provide an explanation on what is happening in the photo.

This photograph was taken after Lancia completed the ten laps of the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race.  After Joe Tracy finished the race, Lancia's racer was mobbed by spectators. Peter Prunty and his megaphone was called upon to clear the course in order for Lancia to go to the official weigh-in station in Albertson.

Lap 10 of the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race

George Heath had carved better than a minute off Victor Hemery’s lead by the start of lap 10, making for high drama among the spectators. The two drivers were so close Heath could see Hemery’s Darracq in the distance.  Telephoned reports from the 15 locations around the course came with updates in rapid succession, building anticipation in the frenzied grandstand crowd. 

Hemery’s Darracq delivered speed when he needed it most, the fastest of the drivers still running that final lap. When Peter Prunty shouted “Two Cars Coming!” as the leaders approached the finish line, most spectators assumed it was Hemery and Heath running neck and neck. Instead, it was Warden, the last of the Mercedes, running well off the pace to complete his eighth lap but near the winner, when, at 10:52:08 a.m.,  Hemery won the race.  Heath’s Panhard finally came across the start-finish line 32 seconds later,  giving Hemery, who started his Darracq 3 minutes after Heath, a 3 minute, 32 second margin at the finish.

Next, everyone awaited the arrival of Lancia’s Fiat. His reputation coming into the race and his dominance during it won over a lot of fans. The crowd had already become unruly and ran onto the course despite the fact that Lancia and American Locomobile driver Joe Tracy were racing for third position and due within minutes. People packed the road and Lancia was forced to bring the Fiat to a crawl before he crossed the finish line.  He was stormed by a horde of admirers who unleashed what The New York Times called a “hurricane of cheers.” With Tracy’s Locomobile due within seconds and third place at stake, officials scurried down the road frantically waving yellow warning flags and begging people to run for their lives.  For the most part these men were ignored, but the bugle blasts from the roof of the press box at last improved the situation. 

Within a minute of Lancia, Tracy’s Locomobile arrived, holding its speed until the last possible moment.  Perilously, the Locomobile parted the foolish crowd more effectively than any official, flag or bugle.  He had done what seemed impossible: make up time on the flying Italian Lancia and his Fiat. Tracy secured third place for America and Locomobile by just over 2 minutes. One report said Lancia developed tire trouble in the final lap and slowed.  The Locomobile had been steady if unspectacular; the only trouble it encountered all day was a slippery clutch that had to occasionally be scraped of oil. Peter Prunty then stepped into Lancia's FIAT and cleared the course.

Comments (7)

Congrats to Brian McCarthy, Steve Lucas, Art Kleiner,  Greg O., and Frank Femenias for identifying Lancia's #4 FIAT.

Kudos to Brian McCarthy and Steve Lucas for recognizing Peter Prunty.

Enjoy,

Howard Kroplick