Vanderbilt Cup Races

The back parking lot sits on the old motor parkway.
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Howard Kroplick

Mark, you are correct: https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/mystery_friday_foto_38_where_in_the_world_is_this_section_or_the_long_islan

That side view at top makes the car look enormously long.  I didn’t remember it being THAT long and that got me curious and so I checked.  According to your specs, the Bête Noir has “only” a 134” wheelbase.  Just for examples readily to hand, the Chas. Adams 1927 S-Modell Mercedes driven in the old-car parade had a 147.6” w/b, my 1931 CG Chrysler Imperial 8 had a 145” w/b, and my 1949 C-46 Chrysler NYer 8s had 131½” w/bs (but the NYers had long rear overhangs).  Your 1938 C-19 Chrysler’s Chrysler 8 has a 144” w/b and also a long rear overhang.  [Just what everyone needs to know, eh?]  Appearances sure are deceiving!  Sam, III

Oog!  When I goof, I goof BIG!  The ‘27 Mercedes S was NOT 147.6” w/b but “only” 134” w/b, as I note on the 1946 VMCCA Jubilee/Mineola Fair Grounds blog.  Sorry ‘bout that.  Also, the old car parade to which I refer here was the one out at Austie Clark’s 1948 museum opening in Southampton (I theenk), not the ‘46 one.  By the way, purists, he was very much known as “Austie”, even by Wally, and not just because I say so - see attached invitation to the opening (from this site).  Sam, III

All this old blog searching turned up a reference, in the 25 Sep 2009 post, “Film ‘The Long Island Automotive Museum’” to Austie having owned a Bugatti Royale (Type 41).  Not so’s I recall.  Didn’t want to reopen the 2009 thread so I’ll put it here.  He MIGHT have had a Type 46 or 50 which had those same (or similar) giant one-piece wheels and so looked much like a Royale, although I don’t remember any such, either, and doubt it.  I do remember seeing a 46 or 50 out there once, but I don’t think it was in the collection, only visiting or loaned.  Any corroboration?  Sam, III

Sam , most interesting to see the press preview form 1948. I worked for Austin for several years at his house in his library and never did I hear his wife ever call him Austie. he didn’t object to people calling him Austie but when he introduced himself it was always as Austin. He never owned a Bugatti Royale. The only Bugatti I recall him having for many many years was the type 35 race car that he bought at the estate sale of the cars that Wallace Bird of Oyster Bay owned.

I just went through about 50 pieces of correspondence between Austin and Peter Helck found in the Helck Family Collection and found Austin was the name he used when signing letters to Peter.  One was signed Austie but this was actually written by someone else for him.  Peter often noted Austie on the letterhead when filing them.

Austie was a favorite name used by many friends and people who thought they were his good friend as a term of endearment. Bev Kimes always referred to him as Austie but when speaking to him called him Austin. When he called me to set up an “Iron Range” date to inform people that is would be happening, or we worked on Vanderbilt Cup Race reunions together for the L.I. Old Car Club he never called or referred to himself as Austin. I am not trying to be nit picky just want all to know him better. One thing you never did was call him Henry! He would frown if you did that and correct you to call call him Austin.

Correction - “he never called or referred to himself as Austie” - typo.

Can’t argue with Walt, obviously, but I never called him Austin, only Austie, and never once did he correct me.  Only those in his social circle called him Austn.  I can not claim to have been close friends but we did know each other and downed a few, just the two of us together, into the wee hours at local spiritous beverage dispensaries after events.  Probably Austi"x” was too much of a gentlemen to set me straight.  And then there’s that printed invitation.  All this just makes me miss him all the more; what a great guy (in spiteof those plaid jackets)!  Sam, III