Vanderbilt Cup Races

Request from Penny: " I am looking for information on a car pictured in the Westbury Turn. I believe it is in 1909. The image has 2 words at the bottom 'Parker Fiat' and the radiator features a large black '14'. Any information you could give me on this vehicle, driver, and mechanician would be greatly appreciated."

Penny, the car you are referring is the #14 Fiat driven by Eddie Parker with mechanician Tony Scudelari in the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The 4 cylinder, 40-HP car finished second, only firve minutes behind the Alco-6 Black Beast.

The #14 Fiat competed on the 12.64 mile course, primarily running through Hempstead Plains (Levittown), Plainedge, Hicksville, Westbury and East Meadow. Here are images of the #14 Fiat as seen throughout the course:

In front of the Press Box/Officials' Stand on the Long Island Motor Parkway in the Hempstead Plains. The course included 5.18 miles of the Long Island Motor Parkway.

Approaching the Jersusalem Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge. Note: The small grandstand on the right and the larger grandstand with a capacity of 5,000 spectators in the background on the left.

Just after the Massapequa Lodge, the Fiat left the Motor Parkway and headed toward Massapequa-Hicksville Road.

Spectators continued to crowd the course without regard for their safety.

Mechanician Scudelari leaned in as the Fiat made the turn from Broadway to Old Country Road in Hicksville

After completing the banked turn, Parker heads west on Old Country Road.

The next turn was the banked Westbury Turn at the intersection of Old Country Road and Elliston Road. Penny, this photo may match your image.

A different view of #14 Fiat at the Westbury Turn from the west side of Elliston Road.

Here, the Fiat passed until the Stewart Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge in East Meadow.

The Fiat completed all 278.06 miles of the race, averaging 61.6 MPH. The Fiat and the winning Alco were the only cars to complete the total 22 laps before the race was called.