Promoting the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race Victory
The primary reason for automobile manufacturers and their suppliers to build and equip expensive racers for the Vanderbilt Cup Races was the opportunity to promote a potential victory. As an example, these ads appeared in the November 2, 1909 issue of Horseless Age after the Alco-6 driving by Harry Grant won the Vanderbilt Cup Race and the Marmon driven by Ray Harroun won the Wheatley Hills Sweepstakes.
American Locomotive Company grabbed the cover of the automobile trade journal celebrating the Alco victory and noting "never was a victory won more strictly on merit."
Nordyke & Marmon created this ad after Ray Harroun won the Wheatley Hills Sweepstakes held during the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race in the #32 Marmon. The "same stock Marmon" The "Thirty-two" with 32-34 horsepower was available for $2,650
Always a promotional presence at the races, Michelin promoted their victories in the Vanderbilt Cup Races and the two sweepstakes in this ad "Michelin tires win as usual".
Bosch magnetos also celebrated the victories that helped make their brand "the standard ignition system of the world".
The importance of a speedometer in the victory was highlighted is this Warner Autometer ad.
The Warner Instrument Company would be pleased to know that the Warner Autometer is on the restored Alco-6 "Black Beast" and still works!
Happy Holidays!
Howard Kroplick
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at [email protected] .
______________________________________________Blog Updates
-December 24, 2009: Why the Marmon racers were assigned #32
-December 16, 2009: Lost Treasures article on Grover Cleveland Bergdoll
Comments