Vanderbilt Cup Races

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• Feb 14 2022

  Mystery Friday Foto #7 Solved: A 1912 Alco Convertible Touring Car driven by Dick Hovey

  Did you solve this weekend's Mystery Foto?

• Oct 10 2020

  Automobile Quarterly: The Mighty Alco- A History by Beverly Rae Kimes

  The definitive article on Alcos was written by Beverley Rae Kimes in the 1973 Volume Number 2 issue of Automobile Quarterly.

• 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.

• Jul 03 2019

  Los Angeles Herald October 2, 1910: Harry Grant and his ‘Black Beast’ Alco & Tonight’s Fireworks

  Chuck Camp has forwarded this October 2, 1910 Los Angeles Herald article documenting why Harry Grant's Alco was painted black.

• Jun 26 2019

  Hemmings Classic Car: The Vanderbilt Cup- America’s first internationally recognized road-race

  The August 2019 issue of Hemmings Classic Car features an excellent review of the Vanderbilt Cup Races by Jeff Koch with the assistance of photos from my collection.

• Aug 07 2018

  Frank Lee’s Great-Grandson Visits the Alco Black Beast

  Rich Lee, the great-grandson of the Alco Black Beast's mechanician Frank Lee, traveled down from Maine to visit the Black Beast tonight at the Waterfront at Roslyn garage.

• Jul 04 2018

  When 1909 Alco “White Beast”  Raced on July 4th at Indy

  In celebration of the 4th of July, here is a holiday repost from June 2014.

• Nov 11 2017

  Jalopnik.com: Today’s Race Car Divers Have it Easy

  Jalopnik.com editor Raphael Orlove describes his recent experience as the mechanician for the Alco Black Beast.

• Nov 08 2017

  Updated: Jalopnik:America’s First Great Car Race Happened On Roads People Still Use Every Day

  Jalopnik editor Raphael Orlove has posted this excellent article on the Vanderbilt Cup Races promoting tonight's 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM showings of "Car vs. America" episode on Fusion TV.

• Sep 13 2016

  From a Lodgekeeper’s Family Album: A View of the Massapequa Lodge

  Arthur Mauriello, grandson of lodgekeepers Thomas and Josephine Zinzi, has forwarded two photos of the Massapequa Lodge from one of his family albums.

• May 30 2016

  Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Harry Grant Preparing the Alco for the 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race

  Chuck Rudy, Jr. challenged you to solve this holiday weekend's Mystery Foto.

• Apr 09 2016

  Amazing Photos of the Alco Black Beast During the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

  Brandon Sails, Art Director for the Saratoga Automobile Museum, has forwarded these previously unpublished photos of the Alco Black Beast during the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The photos are courtesy of the Alco Historical & Technical Society.

• Jan 23 2016

  The Race to a Doctorate: Michelin, Bibendum and the Vanderbilt Cup Races

  Professor Pau Medrano Bigas, Professor of Graphic Design at the University of Barcelona, has spent ten years researching Michelin's graphic history. In July 2015, Pau completed his doctorate thesis "The forgotten years of Bibendum: the American stage of Michelin in Milltown." Design, illustration and advertising at tire companies (1900-1930). .

• Jan 16 2016

  The Making of “Chrysler’s Chrysler: The Painting” Updated 1/18/16

  Automobile artist George Ellis has created a beautiful watercolor of the 1937 Chrysler LeBaron Town Car. George has provided this background on the making of "Chrysler's Chrysler: The Painting."

• Dec 08 2015

  New England Historical Society: Harry Grant Wins the Vanderbilt Cup

  The New England Historical Society has posted this profile of Harry Grant, the only driver of the Alco Black Beast.

• Sep 02 2015

  NewEnglandHistoricalSociety.com: Profile of Driver Harry Grant

  Utilizing information from VanderbiltCupRaces.com, the New England Historical Society has posted a profile of driver Harry Grant.

• Apr 20 2015

  Mystery Foto #16 Solved Again: Ralph Beardsley’s Simplex Practicing for the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race

  Chuck Rudy Jr. challenged you to identify this photo which he recently obtained.

• Feb 25 2015

  Starting Lineup: The 1911 Vanderbilt Cup Race, Savannah, Georgia

  For the first Vanderbilt Cup Race held outside of Long Island, a total of 14 entries raced on a 17.1 mile road course in Savannah and Effingham on November 27, 1911.

• Mar 18 2014

  Video: “Black Beast Wins INDY 500…100 Years Later!”

  Chris Collora of Patch.com created this video of the Alco Black Beast's participation in the 2011 Indy 500 Pre-Race. ThIs nine-minute film features an extended interview with me describing my first Indy experience.

• Mar 12 2014

  Carlo Demand and the Alco “Black Beast” on Long Island

  In 2011, I met car rally enthusiast Steve McKelvie at the Lime Rock Historic Festival. I recently discovered two blog posts by Steve McKelvie concerning the Alco Black Beast. This SteveMcKelvie.com post focused on artist Carlo Demand's painting of the Alco Black Beast and the Corbin Cannonball during the 1910…

• Jan 28 2014

  Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #43: Massapequa-Hicksville Motor Parkway Bridge in Plainedge

  The 43rd bridge in the series documenting the 60 bridges built by the Long Island Motor Parkway is the Massapequa-Hicksville Road Bridge in Plainedge.

• Dec 26 2013

  Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series#42:Wantagh Avenue Bridge in Hempstead Plains Updated:6/20/16

  The 42nd bridge in the series documenting the 60 Long Island Motor Parkway bridges is the "parkway" bridge over Wantagh Avenue in the Hempstead Plains (now Levittown).

• Dec 21 2013

  The Vanderbilt Cup Race Fantasy Team

  Wiliam K. Vanderbilt Jr loved competitive sports and was a member of his St. Mark's Preparatory School's football team (first row, far right).

• Dec 18 2013

  Wharton Magazine “The Black Beast and The Blue Pill”

  Editor Matthew Brodsky of Wharton Magazine has posted this online article "The Black Beast and The Blue Pill" .

• Dec 11 2013

  The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #11 Massapequa Lodge in Plainedge

  Going west to east, the tenth Motor Parkway toll collection structure was the Massapequa Lodge in Plainedge.

• Dec 02 2013

  Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The #7 Alco Shaft Drive 6- Cylinder Racer in Elgin, Illinois

  Last week's Mystery Foto featured a shaft driven Alco racer.

• Nov 30 2013

  Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #41: The Bloomingdale Road Bridge in Hempstead Plains

  The 41st bridge in the series documenting the 60 Long Island Motor Parkway bridges is the highway bridge built for the extension of Bloomingdale Road in the Hempstead Plains (now Levittown).

• Nov 23 2013

  Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #40: Jerusalem Avenue Bridge in the Hempstead Plains

  The 40th bridge in the series documenting the 60 bridges built by the Long Island Motor Parkway is the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge in the Hempstead Plains (now Levittown).

• Oct 28 2013

  Mystery Foto #39 Solved: The Alco Racer Practicing at the Indy 500 Track

  Hugh Nutting submitted this week's Mystery Foto, a previously unpublished photo of a race car.

• Jun 25 2013

  Then & Now: The Westbury Old Country Road Turn at the 1909 & 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races

  Another crowd favorite to view the 1909 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races was the turn of Old Country Road on to Ellison Road (Avenue) in Westbury. Check out the "Then & Now."

• Jun 12 2013

  Then & Now: The Hicksville Old Country Road Turn at the 1909 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races

  One of the favorite locations to watch the 1909 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races was the Old Country Road Turn in Hicksville. Here is a "Then & Now" of the turn and another Vanderbilt Cup Race discovery.

• May 18 2013

  In Search of the Grandstand, Press Box/Officials Stand and Pits in Levittown

  From 1908 to 1910, the center of the auto racing world was a 200-yard strip of the Long Island Motor Parkway in the Hempstead Plains, now Levittown.

• Apr 23 2013

  Profile: Frank Lee, Mechanician for the Alco Black Beast

  Frank Lee was the mechanician for driver Harry Grant's Alco Black Beast for 15 of the car's 16 major races and all six major victories.

• Apr 17 2013

  Thumbs Ups from the 2013 St. Patrick’s School Car Show

  Congratulations to St. Patrick's School in Smithtown for another wonderful car show. Thumbs ups and highlights are posted below including a special visit from a Vanderbilt Cup Race family.

• Apr 01 2013

  Mystery Foto #8 Solved: Levittown/Bethpage on May 27, 1947

  Congratulations to Tim, Frank Scotty, Greg Tsistinas, Steve Lucas, Brian McCarthy, Frank Femenias, susansmoose, Gary Hammond, Art K., and Joe Oesterle for correctly identifying last Friday's Mystery Foto.

• Oct 25 2012

  The Making of an Alco Black Beast Watercolor Painting

  Artist George Ellis has painted this beautiful watercolor painting of the Alco Black Beast at the Hicksville Turn during the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race. George has provided background information on the painting.

• Nov 10 2011

  May 7, 1911 The World :  Harry Grant Practicing on the Motor Parkway at 107.8 Miles Per Hour

  Margaret, George and Eric Vitale of Barn Find Antiquities recently purchased a vintage leather trunk. To their surprise, the bottom of the truck was lined with a May 7, 1911 edition of the newspaper The World including this article:

• Nov 01 2011

  Archives: Alco-6 Racing History (1909-1911)

  Index to posts related to the Alco-6 Racing History (1909-1911) Updated: December 1, 2011

• 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…

• May 16 2011

  News Clip “The Beast is Back”

  An excellent news feature was produced today by reporter Greg Cergol and video journalist John Albertson on the restored Alco Black Beast and its upcoming trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

• Jan 12 2011

  Update: The Alco Black Beast Racing History

  Alco-6 Black Beast's major races included two Vanderbilt Cup Races, the first Indianapolis 500, two Elgin Trophy Races, and one American Grand Prize Race. Here's the updated racing record with new images:

• Jan 07 2011

  The Alco “Black Beast” in the Inaugural Indy 500 Race

  Besides its two Vanderbilt Cup Race victories, the Alco-6 Black Beast's most famous race was the Inaugural Indy 500 held on May 30, 1911. To further celebrate this year's centennial, here is a comprehensive review of the Alco's performance as one of the 40 participants in this historic race.

• Jan 03 2011

  The Alco “Black Beast” at the 1911 “Greatest of Auto Shows”

  From January 7th to 21st in 1911, the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers organized the "Greatest of Auto Shows" at Madison Square Garden located at 26th and Madison Avenue.

• 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.

• Dec 10 2010

  Images of the Six Vanderbilt Cup Race Finishes

  Photos of the exciting finishes of the six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island:

• Dec 08 2010

  The Three Alco Racers at the 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race

  The 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race was the only major race in which American Locomotive Company supplied entries besides the Black Beast. The three Alcos in the race were serviced by a team of 12 drivers, mechanicians and mechanics. As captured in this photo provided by Lee Ferbin of…

• Oct 30 2010

  National Speed Sports News “Black Beast Is Among Last Of A Unique Era of Racers”

  In the October 27, 2010 issue of National Speed Sports News magazine, an article by Ron Hedger Black Beast Is Among Last of A Unique Era of Racers" provides a summary of the Alco Black Beast.

• Sep 09 2010

  The Alco Practicing for the 1911 Indy 500: The License Plate & Mystery Car

  Prior to the 1911 Indy 500 Race, the #18 Alco conducted practice runs on the Long Island Motor Parkway. On these runs, a New York license plate M1067 was placed on the front of the car. (Post corrected on November 10, 2011- Original post indicated the Alco was practicing for…

• Aug 26 2010

  Times Union Blog:  “Serendipity and the Black Beast”

  Author and Schenectady County historian Don Rittner has written an article on his timesunion.com blog on his experiences last week with the Black Beast. Here are some highlights:

• Aug 21 2010

  The Black Beast Returns to Schenectady and Saratoga Springs

  It has been a wonderful two days in the Schenectady and Saratoga Springs area... great shows, friendly people, beautful weather, newspaper coverage and great fun!

• Aug 18 2010

  Film “The Black Beast’s Four-Mile Cruise to the Show”

  This seven-minute film documents the four- mile ride of the Alco "Black Beast" at the Nassau County Executive's 1st Annual Cruise to the Show Parade held on August 15, 2010. The "Black Beast" was the lead car of over 500 vintage and classic cars that participated. It covered…

• Aug 01 2010

  Archives: 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

  Links to related posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com (Updated: January 31, 2012):

• Aug 01 2010

  Archives: 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race

  Links to related posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com (Updated: December 31, 2011):

• Jul 22 2010

  The 1911 Alco Dealership Photos

  To promote their 1911 Alco product line, American Locomotive Company provided four large photos to all their dealerships of their Vanderbilt Cup Race winner. In this dealership photo, the #18 Alco was making the Westbury Turn from Old Country Road to Ellison Road during the 1910 race. Click on the…

• Jun 11 2010

  Mystery Photo Contest #2 Solved: 1911 Indy 500

  This is is a comprehensive listing of spring and summer automotive events scheduled to be held in the Long Island area over the next six months. Updated: June 17, 2010.

  
  
  
  

• Mar 30 2010

  The Six Winners of the Vanderbilt Cup Races (1904-1910)

  These are the six winners of the Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910:

• Mar 08 2010

  The Alco “White Beast” at the 1910 Worcester Dead Horse Hill Climb

  One of the earliest forms of automotive sports was competition against time over an uphill course. The "hill climbs" provided a natural venue for spectators and a challenge for the early automobiles.

• Dec 23 2009

  Promoting the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race Victory

  The primary reason for automobile manufacturers and their suppliers to build and equip expensive racers for the Vanderbilt Cup Races was the opportunity to promote a potential victory. As an example, these ads appeared in the November 2, 1909 issue of Horseless Age after the Alco-6 driving by…

• Dec 13 2009

  Article “Schenectady’s Contributions to the History of Automobiles”

  Don Rittner, author and historian, has written an excellent article in the Times Union serving the New York State Capital Region entitled "Schenectady’s Contributions to the History of Automobiles".

• Sep 20 2009

  Another Historic Gem from the Pickering Collection: The 1909 Alco Black Beast

  After viewing over a hundred vintage photos of Nassau County taken by photographer William Pickering in the early 1900s, Catherine Pickering and I found one more treasure last Wednesday: the "Black Beast"!

• Sep 10 2009

  The Alco Black Beast at the First Indy 500 Race

  One of the last major races that for the "Black Beast" was the Inaugural Indy 500 Race held on May 30, 1911. As published in the June 3, 1911 issue of Automobile Topics, this photo shows the #19 Alco-6 Racer taking the brick curve during the parade…

• Aug 13 2009

  Why the Alco was Assigned #19 for the First Indy 500 Race

  After winning its second consecutive Vanderbilt Cup Race in October 1910, the Alco-6 Racer was one of the favorites for the Inaugural Indy 500 Race to be held on May 30, 1911. For this race, the Alco-6 was assigned # 19. Unlike, the Vanderbilt Cup Races, the…

• Apr 28 2009

  The Alco-6 Black Beast Racer in the First Indy 500

  The Alco-6 Black Beast Racer participated in major automobile races throughout the United States from 1909 to 1911 including; two Vanderbilt Cup Races, the first Indy 500 Race, two Elgin Trophy Races, and one American Grand Prize Race. Until recently, the only Indy 500 image that I could find of…

• Apr 06 2009

  Brochure “Harry Grant’s Own Story”

  Richard, in 1911, American Locomotive Company published a promotional brochure The Vanderbilt Cup Race-Grant's Own Story. The brochure described Harry Grant's strategy in winning the Vanderbilt Cup Races in 1909 and 1910. He also gave credit to your grandfather:

• Mar 13 2009

  The Alco Black Beast’s Last Great Race in 1911

  The Alco-6 Black Beast Racer's last great race was the 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race held on the Illinois course. In the above postcard, driver Harry Grant and his mechanician George Babcock are shown prior to a practice run. This was the only major race in which…

• Mar 03 2009

  New photos of the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race Discovered

  Over 25 years ago, Hayden Allen provided his grandfather's photo album to Walter Gosden to help document the history of their home town of Floral Park. The album also included 16 photos taken by Mr. Allen's grandfather of the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race. Walter Gosden, who is now the…

• Feb 23 2009

  The Alco Team at the 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race

  From 1909 to 1911, the Alco-6 Black Beast Racer competed in 13 major races. The Alco's last race was at the Elgin National Trophy Race held on August 26, 1911. Despite finishing a strong second , the American Locomotive Company decided to quit racing two weeks later. Lee…

• Feb 05 2009

  Harry Grant at the First Indy 500 Race

  After winning consecutive Vanderbilt Cup Races, Harry Grant entered the Alco-6 Black Beast Racer in the Inaugural Indy 500 Race on May 30, 1911.

• Jan 20 2009

  When the Alco Black Beast Warmed Up for the First Indy 500 on the Motor Parkway

  Mark Dill has discovered an Indianapolis Star article published on May 21, 1911 describing how Harry Grant warmed up the Alco Black Beast for the first Indy 500 Race. The Alco reached a speed of over 107 mph on a practice run on the Long Island Motor Parkway.

• Jan 09 2009

  The Alco at the 1911 Indy 500 Race

  Driver Harry Grant with mechanician Frank Lee drove the 1909 Alco Black Beast in the greatest races of its time; two Vanderbilt Cup Races, two Elgin National Trophy Race, one American Grand Prize and the Inauguaral Indy 500 Race in 1911.

• Jan 06 2009

  The Dangerous Role of the Mechanician

  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 worked a hand pump to maintain fuel pressure.

• Jul 12 2008

  The Alco Black Beast: Winner of the 1909 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races

  An excellent write-up of the Alco 6- winner of the 1909 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races can be found on the conceptcarz.com website.

• Apr 16 2008

  Calling All Vanderbilt Cup Race Families

  VanderbiltCupRaces.com has heard from several relatives of participants in the Vanderbilt Cup Races including George Robertson, Frank Lee, Al Poole and Harry Grant. If your relative participated in the Vanderbilt Cup Races as a driver or mechanician, leave a post or contact us and I will send you complimentary images…