A Keystone View of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Some of the best documentation of history from 1892 to 1963 was conducted by the photographers of the Keystone View Company of Meadville, Pennsylvania. Among Keystone's subjects were the Vanderbilt Cup Races of Long Island including this wonderful photo from the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
Additional Keystone photos will be appear on future posts.
Be Safe, Stay Healthy, Save Lives,
Howard Kroplick
Close-Ups
#8 Thomas driven by Joe Seymour, Finished 8th
Check out the protective mask of Seymour's mechanician.
#5 Mercedes driven by William Luttgen and finished 4th. The Mercedes was owned by Willie K. and may have been the same racer that broke the one-mile land speed record at Daytona in 1904.
Very difficult to determine where on the 1908 course the photo was taken. Any thoughts?
The reverse side of the photo.
The photos were made to be seen through Keystone's "three-dimensional" stereoscopes.
Comments
As per the course description in Automobile topics, the only tree lined portion of the course as along Jericho Tpke and that certainly looks like it could be.
I added my film of the tour of the 1908 course. It may be Manetto Road.
My guess is these two cars just completed a left hand turn. The is a man waving a flag on the left side of this photo just across from this turn. If my theory is correct, it will dramatically shrink the possible locations of this photo. Plus, would it not be more likely the photographer would position himself near a turn?
Howard, I couldn’t seem to find anything, but is there any documentation as far as signal flagman locations?
From Art Kleiner:
Greg, “flagmen” and “special officers” were required by Nassau County as documented in the proceedings of the 23rd Meeting of the Board of Supervisors on Aug. 24, 1908 for the speed trials to be held on Oct. 10 and Oct. 24. The “flagmen” were positioned on curves to warn people of approaching vehicles, while “special officers” were to inform persons that the roadway is being used for speed trials and that “standing or walking along or traveling anywhere upon said highways “that they do so at their own peril”. Locations and distances are somewhat detailed in the attached. Hope this provides some clues.
From Art Kleiner:
Last paragraph.
A couple of observations (after watching the entire slide show twice). First, it is notable that women spectators valued their lives; only men ventured out on the course. Second, once again it is amazing to realize how dramatic a change the VCR and LIMP brought; what an achievement! Third, look at the unusually- and extremely-long cross-bars on the telephone poles as a clue; ditto the turnout or entrance/exit at right and the dip in the RoW. These last three might help narrow the choices. Sam, III
Art, Regarding the flagmen and special officers They were paid, at least in North Hempstead, by the Town. $250 was deposited by the A.A.A. into the Town’s Contingent Fund in early 1908 for that purpose. I assume that situation was also the case with the other town’s when it came to roadways under their respective control. Besides the farmers trying to get produce to market, there were at least two other agencies that were not happy with the public highways being closed for the races, these were the local fire departments and the U.S. Postal Service.
From Art Kleiner:
Thanks, Al.
Oops - I forgot to note that #8 has no hood/bonnet. Wonder if it fell or flew off or was left off for cooling or what? Any thoughts? Sam, III
From Art Kleiner:
Looks like the special officers and flagmen had to wait a while until they got paid by Nassau County for their 2 days work during the 1908 races . . . “The Motor World”, January, 1909