Mercedes #5 (1908)
Owned by William K.Vanderbilt, Jr.-Reportedly same Mercedes that broke the one-mile land speed record in 1904
Make: Mercedes
Year: 1903
Mechanician: Pfeiffer
Horsepower: 90
Finish Place: 4
Average Speed:
#5 Mercedes (Germany) driven by William Luttgen. 90 HP. Finished 4th. Car owned by William K. Vanderbilt Jr. Running in last lap when race was called.
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Mar 23 2024
The Irish Volunteers at the Vanderbilt Cup Races
Author and Mitchel Field historian Paul R. Martin III's wonderful excerpt from his book 'Beneath the Shadows of Wings' about the Irish Volunteers and the Vanderbilt Cup Races
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May 12 2020
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.
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Nov 13 2019
Garden City Archives: The “Snake Turn” of the 1908-1910 Courses of the Vanderbilt Cup Races
As a follow-up to Mystery Foto #45, my favorite co-author Al Velocci and I visited Garden City historian Bill Bellmer and reviewed the one-of-a kind 1908 Motor Parkway Construction Book. Below is documentation of the "Snake Turn" of the 1908-1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race courses.
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Mar 26 2018
Mystery Foto #12 Solved: William Lutgen’s Mercedes at a Pit Stop During the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Mitch Hackett challenged you to solve this Vanderbilt Cup Race Mystery Foto.
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Aug 05 2017
The 16 Mercedes Race Cars of the Vanderbilt Cup Races of Long Island
Mercedes was one of the most successful marques in the early history of automobile racing. Despite participating in all six Long Island Vanderbilt Cup Races and entering more automobiles than any other marque (16), a Mercedes never finished in the top three places.
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Jan 02 2017
Mystery Foto #53 Solved: A Rare Look Inside William K. Vanderbilt Jr.‘s Long Island Garage in 1904
This holiday weekend's Mystery Foto was a never-before-published image from the Helck Family Collection, gifted from Joel Finn in 1970.
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Jan 14 2015
Video: “The Ellison Avenue LIRR Bridge of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course”
The Velocity Channel's 2013 AmeriCARna "Vanderbilt Cup" episode focused on the six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island and the Vanderbilt Cup trophy. This three-minute segment highlighted the Elllison Avenue LIRR Bridge on the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race course and the creation of the Long Island Motor Parkway.
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Jan 03 2015
The Unsolved Mystery of William K. Vanderbilt Jr.‘s 90-HP Mercedes Automobile(s) (1904-1908)
From 1904 to 1908, William K. Vanderbilt Jr. owned 90-HP Mercedes automobile(s) which he used as race car, a hill climber and a course patrol car. The mystery is determining how many 90-HP Mercedes did Willie K. actually own during this period; 1,2,3 or 4?
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Dec 27 2014
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive:The 1908 Race Album of William Luttgen & William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.
William Luttgen participated in four Vanderbilt Cup Races, three as a driver (1904, 1906, and 1908) and one as a mechanician (1905). Today, I met with his grandson Robert Luttgen of Key Biscayne, Florida, who brought along a rare photo album of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
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Dec 15 2014
Mystery Foto #98 Solved:The #4 Chadwick on the Ellison Road RR Bridge During 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Frank Femenias has forwarded this weekend's Mystery Foto that he discovered while searching the Detroit Public Library's National Automotive Collection.
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Apr 30 2014
Newsday “LIRR bridge replacement proposed in Westbury”
The MTA is proposing to build a new bridge over the LIRR tracks at Ellison Avenue in Westbury for $39.2 million. The 1899 bridge was used as part of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race course.
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Dec 07 2013
Vanderbilia Postcard Series #1: The Locomobile Postcards of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Ron M. Jr: "I love the site. Thank you for your hard work on it. I am a Long Island postcard collector and am wondering if you have a complete 'checklist' of the Long Island Vanderbilt Cup postcards that were produced. I have a few and am interested in learning…
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Dec 05 2013
Chaos at the Finish of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
The primary goal of the newly built Long Island Motor Parkway for the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race was to keep crowds under control and off the course. Unfortunately, chaos once again prevailed at the end of a Vanderbilt Cup Race.
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Oct 23 2013
Happy 105th Anniversary- The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
In celebration of the 105th anniversary of the Fourth Vanderbilt Cup Race held on October 24, 1908, here are several of my favorite race images photographed near the grandstand and press box/officials' stand in the Hempstead Plains (now Levittown).
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Feb 25 2013
Mystery Photo Solved #3: The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on Ellison Road (Avenue) in Westbury
Last Friday's mystery photos of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race were courtesy of the Witmer Photograph Collection of the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society in Port Washington.
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Jan 28 2011
Film “The William Luttgen Story (1877-1965)”
Relatives of William Luttgen, who participated in the Vanderbilt Cup Races from 1904 to 1908, met earlier this month for a family reunion. As part of the celebration, this 4-minute film was created documenting the career of this road racing pioneer.
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Jan 17 2011
A Family Remembers a Vanderbilt Cup Race Driver- William Luttgen
From Lisa Conley: "Howard, I finally can answer your question about what my grandfather William Luttgen did after he quit racing. I got a lot of stories from several family members over the past year and have compiled them. Thanks for all the fun and sharing!"
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Aug 11 2010
The Pits of the 1908-1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races
Robert Richer comments: "Yes, there was a time when the “pit men” who serviced the cars were actually in a pit below the racing surface. What a terrifying view it must have been."
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Aug 01 2010
Archives: 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Links to related posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com (Updated: December 31, 2011):
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Jul 31 2010
Archives: William Luttgen
Links to posts related to William Luttgen:
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Feb 10 2010
The Vanderbilt Cup Race Pits: An American Innovation
One innovation of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race was the first use of service racing pits in an American automobile race.
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Nov 07 2009
Driver Profile: William Luttgen Part IV -The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
In response to a Luttgen family request, this week I have been profiling William Luttgen, who participated in four Vanderbilt Cup Races as a driver and mechanician. Prior posts included his initial success as a driver (1904), his dramatic experince as a mechanician (1905) and his…
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