Film “Willie K. Driving in the 1905 Ormond-Daytona Beach Automobile Races”
This 30-second film is the only known record of William K, Vanderbilt Jr. driving in an automobile race.
In the first heat for the Sir Thomas Dewar Trophy at the Ormond-Daytona Beach races held on January 24,1905, Vanderbilt in his #1 90-HP Mercedes competed against the #6 Mercedes driven by Edward Hawley, the #5 Napier driven by Arthur McDonald and the #4 steamer driven by Louis Ross. In a surprise, the 20-HP steamer won the heat and then went on to win the final race for the Dewar Trophy.
Comments
More great stuff - thanks HK
Do we know who the mechanic was that rode with Willie K. on his Number 1 Mercedes?
Hi Robert:
Great question! I have never been able to document who the mechanician was. I will try to find out on my next visit to the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum archives.
Howard