Vanderbilt Cup Races

Related Posts

• Feb 13 2024

  Mystery Friday Foto #6 Solved: #7 Locomobile at the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race starting line

  Did you identify this racer at the starting line?

• Jun 26 2023

  Mystery Friday Foto #25 Solved: The 1905 Locomobile Being Tested

  Did you identify this new race car being tested from the Helck Family Collection?

• Dec 12 2022

  Mystery Friday Foto #50 Solved: Old 16 and four Vanderbilt Cup Race drivers and mechanicians at the 1948 Antique Auto Show

  The Helck Family Collection challenged you to solve this weekend's Mystery Foto.

• Nov 28 2022

  Update: Mystery Friday Foto #48 Solved: The 1901 Riker Torpedo setting the one-mile land speed record for electrics in Coney Island

  Did you identify this photo from November 16,1901?

• Oct 17 2022

  Mystery Friday Foto #42 Solved:  1949 AACA Racing Camp dinner featuring Vanderbilt Cup Race drivers

  Did you identify the famous faces in these Helck Family Collection's Mystery Fotos?

• Aug 08 2022

  Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908

  Frank Femenias challenged you to solve this weekend's Mystery Foto.

• Sep 20 2021

  Mystery Foto #38 Solved: Working on a 1906 Locomobile in Lake Success

  Greg O. challenged you to solve this weekend's Mystery Foto.

• May 24 2021

  Mystery Foto #21 Solved: 1906 90 HP Locomobile with designer A.L. Riker, driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole on Riverside Drive, Manhattan

  Did you identify this weekend's Mystery Foto and Auto?

• Nov 07 2020

  VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Photos of Old 16 at the 1948 Antique Auto Show from the Helck Family Collection

  Old 16 was the featured vehicle at the Antique Auto Show held from March 8-14, 1948 at the 71st Regiment Armory in Manhattan. Below are never-before published photos of the event from the Helck Family Collection

• Jul 21 2020

  Kleiner’s Korner: From the Helck Family Collection- In Search of the 1905 Locomobile Racer

  Prior to "Old 16" gaining fame and fortune, the Locomobile Company built a "monster" racer that participated in the 1905 Gordon Bennett and Vanderbilt Cup Races. While much is known about "Old 16", very little attention is given to why the 1905 racer was built and what became of it.…

• May 09 2020

  Kleiner’s Korner: From the Helck Family Collection: Al Poole Wins at Brighton Beach in 1910 with a Little Known Mechanic

  Al Poole drove a Simplex to the winner's circle at Brighton Beach, New York in May of 1910. With co-driver Charles Basle they completed the 24-hour battle with 1,145 miles accumulated.

• Mar 11 2020

  Kleiner’s Korner: Another Poole Connection to the Vanderbilt Cup Races

  As shown in the Helck Family Collection of letters to Al Poole from his brother Alex, we can establish that Alex also counted Joe Tracy as a friend and was deeply involved with the design and manufacture of automobiles.

• Mar 10 2020

  Kleiner’s Korner: Mechanician Al Poole - Letters from Home

  Included in the Peter Helck Family Collection is correspondence between Al Poole (chauffeur, mechanician and driver) and his father and brother between the years 1902 and 1906.

• Dec 11 2019

  Kleiner’s Kolumn: Al Poole’s Original Documents from the Helck Family Collection

  The Helck Family Collection contains official documents pertaining to Peter Helck's friend Al Poole. The documents include his driving license and being summoned to appear in court, both in his home country of England and in the United States.

• Oct 21 2019

  Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Team Reunion of Joe Tracy and Al Poole for the 1956 “Rerun”

  The Helck Family Collection challenged you to identify this weekend's Old 16 Mystery Foto.

• Oct 14 2019

  Mystery Foto #41 Solved: The East Norwich Turn of the Vanderbilt Race Courses As Seen in 1955

  The Helck Family Collection challenged you to identify this weekend's Mystery Foto.

• Dec 24 2018

  Mystery Foto #51 Solved: Tracy and Poole Changing A Tire During the 1906 American Elimination Race

  Tim Helck, the grandson of the great artist Peter Helck, challenged you to identify this race Mystery Foto.

• Jul 30 2018

  Mystery Foto #30 Solved: The Lakeville Hotel on the 1905 and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race Courses

  My favorite co-author Al Velocci challenged you to solve this Vanderbilt Cup Race course Mystery Foto.

• Jul 21 2018

  Helck Family Collection: Peter Helck Recalls the Greatest Vintage Car Event in Long Island’s History

  Among the treasures discovered in the Helck Family Collection is an unedited 128-page biographical document written by Peter Helck. In the first post from these memoirs, Peter Helck recalls the 50th anniversary celebration of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race held on Long Island.

• Feb 17 2018

  Helck Family Collection: The 1942 Bill of Sale From Joseph B. Sessions for Old 16

  Another gem of the Helck Family Collection treasure is the original January 30, 1942 bill of sale transferring the 1906 Old 16 Locomobile from the estate of Joseph B. Sessions to Peter Helck .

• Nov 04 2017

  Gregg D. Merksamer: “Remembering the 1908 Briarcliff Trophy Race”

  The most exciting and spectacular automobile race ever held in Westchester County is considered the 1908 Briarcliff Trophy Race. Run six months before the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race, the Briarcliff race attracted skilled drivers and over 100,000 spectators along the 32.4-mile course.

• Jan 21 2017

  Driver/Mechanician of the Week: Al Poole (1904, 1905 and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races)

  The driver/mechanician of the week is Al Poole- the mechanican for Joe Tracy in the 1904, 1905 , and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races and the 1905 and 1906 American Elimination Trials.

• Jun 01 2016

  VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive-The Helck Family Memoirs #2: Joe Tracy and the Cotter Pin in 1906

  Jerry Helck, former owner of the Old 16 Locomobile and son of the great artist Peter Helck, has agreed to share family memoirs related to the Vanderbilt Cup Races. The second post in the series provides the story of how driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole prepared the #12…

• Jan 04 2014

  Vanderbilia: The 1905 Locomobile Model Owned by the Helck Family

  In 1948, prominent artist Peter Helck commissioned a model of the 1905 Locomobile that participated in the 1905 Gordon Bennett Race, the 1905 American Trial for the Vanderbilt Cup Race and finished third in the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race.

• Dec 28 2013

  Vanderbilia Postcard Series #2: The Locomobile Postcards of the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race

  In celebration of its surprising third place finish in the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race, Locomobile Company of Bridgeport , Connecticut published a series of 12 postcards showing the #7 racer driven by Joe Tracy and Al Poole.

• Sep 07 2013

  Images & a Trophy From the Greatest Vintage Car Event Ever Held on Long Island

  In my opinion, the greatest vintage automobile event ever held on Long Island occurred on October 9, 1954 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Vanderbilt Cup Race. The event was organized by Long Island Old Car Club and the Mineola Fair and Industrial Exposition.

• Aug 31 2013

  Who Owns the Original Vanderbilt Cup Trophy and Where Is It Today?

  Linda C: "Howard, who is the current owner of the Vanderbilt Cup trophy and how did they obtain it"?

• Feb 12 2013

  Article: “The Cup Races- Recollections of 1904-1905-1906” by Joe Tracy

  VanderbiltCupRaces.com contributor Walter McCarthy has forwarded this July 1944 article by driver Joe Tracy published in Veteran Motor Car Club of America's Bulb Horn. Illustrations were provided by the prominent artist Peter Helck.

• Aug 11 2012

  Then & Now: Maple Cottage- The Locomobile Headquarters for the 1905 and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races

  Racing teams for the Vanderbilt Cup Races typically had local headquarters to store and work on their racers and also provide lodging. In 1905 and 1906, the Locomobile team from nearby Bridgeport, Connecticut set up their headquarters at Maple Cottage, a farmhouse and inn located in Lakeville (now Lake Success).

• Aug 07 2012

  The Lakeville Hotel In Lake Success

  On the courses for both the 1905 and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races, the Lakeville Hotel was a great place to catch the action.

• Jul 06 2012

  Race Profile: The 1906 American Elimination Trial

  As in 1905, an American Elimination Trial determined the five racers to represent the United States in the Vanderbilt Cup Race. Of 16 entries, 12 cars survived the practice runs to race on Saturday, September 22, 1906.

• Jan 31 2012

  Then & Now: Krug’s Corner in Mineola

  Krug's Hotel, on the north-west corner of Jericho Turnpike and Willis Avenue in Mineola, was a favorite viewing site for the 1904, 1905 and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races. This Then & Now look found a rarity- A building on the Vanderbilt Cup Race course that is still standing!

• Nov 19 2011

  The 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race on October 9, 1954

  The Vanderbilt Cup Races have been celebrated by vintage car clubs and historical organizations for over 75 years. The grandest and most memorable celebration was held on Long Island on October 9, 1954, marking the 50th anniversary of the first Vanderbilt Cup Race.

• Aug 27 2011

  A Tribute to the Mechanicians of the Vanderbilt Cup Races

  Every race car that participated in the Vanderbilt Cup Races of 1904 to 1910 carried two men, the driver and a riding mechanic called a mechanician. The mechanician assisted with repairs, helped navigate the course, and, when needed, worked a hand pump to maintain fuel pressure. The mechanician was the…

• Feb 07 2011

  Peter Helck and a Piece of Locomobile Vanderbilia

  In 1905 Roslyn photographer William Pickering captured the #7 Locomobile passing Krug's Hotel on Jericho Turnpike in Mineola. The Locomobile's third place finish in the race was the first time an American car had ever placed in an international competition. Tim Helck, the grandson of Peter Helck, brought back…

• Feb 05 2011

  Rare Images Series #2: Vanderbilt Cup Race Driver Joe Tracy

  Joe Tracy (1873-1959) was the only driver to participate in the first five races associated with the Vanderbilt Cup Races (1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race, the 1905 American Elimination Race, the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race, the 1906 American Elimination Race, and the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race). As part of the Rare…

• Dec 13 2010

  New Series- Rare Images #1: Vanderbilt Cup Race Drivers and Mechanicians

  VanderbiltCupRaces.com introduces today a new "Rare Images" series featuring rarely seen photos of Vanderbilt Cup Race personalities. We start off with this photo of Harry Grant and mechanician Frank Lee just prior to winning the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race.

• Aug 01 2010

  Archives: 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race

  Links to posts related to VanderbiltCupRaces.com (Updated: Febraury 1, 2012):

• Jul 31 2010

  Archives: Joe Tracy

  Posts related to driver Joe Tracy Updated: September 24, 2011:

• Feb 18 2010

  Then & Now: The Locomobile Factory in Bridgeport

  Old 16, the first American car to win a Vanderbilt Cup Race, was manufactured directly across the Long Island Sound in Bridgeport. Here are some photos of the Locomobile factory, one of the largest automobile manufacturing plants of its era. Remember to click on the photo to…

• Jul 11 2009

  The Twin Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup Racers

  For the 1906 American Elimination Trial and the Vanderbilt Cup Race, Locomobile built two identical cars, one to race and the other, back-up. This photo is the only known evidence of the two cars together preparing for the American Elimination Trial. Note that both cars have the #12 on their…

• Jun 24 2009

  Vanderbilt Cup Race Drivers on the Broadway Stage in 1906

  Last week, a photo was posted of Elsie Janis on stage for the 1906 musical The Vanderbilt Cup. The above recently restored photo was taken during the same night as the drivers and mechanicians posed with Elsie Janis after the show.

• Mar 20 2009

  Film: A Tribute to Joe Tracy

  Today marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Joe Tracy , one of the best Vanderbilt Cup Race drivers. In tribute to Joe and his mechanican Al Poole, I have placed a five-minute film of their racing careers in the Blog.

• Mar 10 2008

  Film “The 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race”

  The 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race was one of the most exciting sporting events of its era- drawing over 200,000 spectators to Long Island. This rare film shows the race action among the French, Italian, German and American cars at the grandstand on Jericho Turnpike in Westbury and the Hairpin Turn…