The “X” Mercedes at the Start


Country representation in the Vanderbilt Cup Races was determined by the manufacturer of the car, not the nationality of its driver or owner. Four Mercedes owned by Americans were entered on behalf of Germany. The drivers representing Germany included Belgian driver Camille Jenatzy, the first man to hit 60 mph and the winner of the 1903 Gordon Bennett Race, and American Al Campbell, who placed a large X on the front of his car instead of the bad luck “hoodoo” number 13.