The Vanderbilt Cup Races Blog

Friday, July 17, 2009: In Search of “Grand Prix Motors”

2009-07-16T23:34:15-05:00

I love a good racing mystery...especially one that is not easily solved by a Google Search. To recap, last Tuesday, I posted a film of the 1951 Bridgehampton Cup Race. What captured the attention of many viewers was the unique custom tow-truck hauling a racer at the 9-second mark of the film. Yesterday, we established the racer being hauled was a Swedish EFFYH. But, what was "Grand Prix Motors"? Guy Frost of Roslyn, New York recalls that Grand Prix Motors was owned by James McAllister of the famous tugboat family. David Belden of Woodstock, Connecticut also remembers; "One of the tugboat McAllisters ran a Grand Prix Motors or some such name in E. Seatucket, LI in the '80s and into the '90s at least. They were a Ferrari dealer among others. I got my first ride in another of their brands, a Delorean (last also), there while stopping to pick up a motor from Ted Wenz who had his engine shop out back. I don't believe there was a connection with the 1950ish operation but I suppose there might have been." The 1989 New York Times obituary for James McAllister noted; "Besides owning two automobile agencies in East Setauket, L.I., Mr. McAllister was an avid racer of vintage sports cars. He stopped racing Maseratis when he was 75 years old. Finally, I searched the 1951 clasified ads for "Grand Prix Motors" using the New York Times Proquest. I discovered the two addresses that were printed on the custom tow-car; 536 Merrick Road, Lynbrook and 125 Northern Boulevard, Great Neck. Although there was no match to McAllister's East Setauket shop, the Great Neck "Grand Prix Motors" ad was promoting the availability of the "EFFYH" Swedish midget racing car. We are getting closer to unraveling the mystery of Grand Prix Motors and their wonderful custom tow-car! Enjoy, Howard Kroplick Highlights from VanderbiltCupRaces.com -The Alco-6 Racer -37 Films and Videos Blog Highlights: -January-June 2009 -January-December 2008 Vanderbilt Centennial Events -Sunday, July 26, 2009: The Second Annual Vanderbilt Autocross and Concours Registration form -Sunday, August 30, 2009: Sixth Annual Vanderbilt Centennial Celebration -Feed Burner for "Vanderbilt Cup Races" Calendar of Car Cruises, Shows and Auto Events

Thursday, July 16, 2009: The Racer on the Trailer at Bridgehampton in 1951

2009-07-15T23:17:52-05:00

Monday's post of the film of 1951 Bridgehampton Races continues to generate comments and questions on multiple racing history boards througout the Internet. As discussed on Tuesday's post, especially intriguing is the the 9-second mark of the film where a futuristic custom-tow-car is hauling a race car in Bridgehamptom. Today, let's explore the racer on the trailer. Dave Belden of Woodstock, Ct was the first to identify the racer on the Yahoo Racing History Board. "The car on the trailer may be an Effyh F3 car; one of the 500cc bike engined cars that were popular as Europe was recovering from the war." Cardatabase.net provided the above photo of a Effyh and 500Race.org provides this excellent Effyh profile. I also spoke to Guy Frost, a Bridgehampton Race historian and an owner of a 1957 Effyh. "That's definitely the EFFYH that Fitch drove on the trailer." The #77 Effyh driven by John Fitch went on to win the 16-mile Hayground Cup Race for Formula III cars at the 1951 Bridgehampton Races.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009: The Futuristic Tow-Car at the 1951 Bridgehampton Races

2009-07-15T00:02:52-05:00

Yesterday's post of the film documenting the 1951 Bridgehamptom Cup Race resulted in a record Tuesday viewership of VanderbiltCupRaces.com. But, the talk of the Yahoo Racing History Group and Jalopyjournal.com boards was the futuristic tow-car that appeared at the 9-second mark of the film. Above are close-up clips of the mystery car from the film. The side of the car was promoting "Grand Prix Motors..Unique Motor Cars of Quality". Two Long Island offices were listed; one is unclear while the other reads "125 Northern Boulevard, Great Neck, L.I. N.Y.". A Google search shows no record of this company. 50Fraud of the H.A.M.B. board (focused on hot rods and customs) discovered two other views of the car in a 1951 Motor Trend article on custom cars. The car was called the "Beast", weighed 2,669 pounds and had a Jeep engine.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009: Exclusive Film “The Bridgehampton Cup Race June 9, 1951”

2009-07-14T01:20:17-05:00

In a VanderbiltCupRaces.com exclusive, this three-minute film documents the Third Annual Bridgehampton Races held on June 9, 1951. This rare 16-mm film was provided by Walter McCarthy and the Long Island Old Car Club and has not been shown in over 25 years. Prior to the five races held on the streets of Bridgehampton, a Vintage Exhibition Run was held including; Austin Clark's #42 Duesenberg and a Stanley Steamer driven by 79-year old veteran Vanderbilt Cup Race driver Joe Tracy. The feature race was the 25-lap, 100-mile Bridgehampton Cup Race. It was won by Tom Cole driving the #87 Chrysler-Allard. The other 16 cars in the race (in order of their finish) were: 2. #56 Ferrari 195 Coupe driven by Phil Walters 3. #98 Cadillac-Allard driven by Erwin Goldschmidt 4. #81 Fitch-Whitmore Jaguar driven by John Fitch 5. #42 Ferrari 1662 driven by Briggs Cunningham 6. #74 Jaguar XK120 driven by Bob Reider 7. #102 Jaguar XK120 driven by Fred Wacker 8. #2 Cadillac-Meyer Special driven by Bruce Stevenson 9. #4 Ford-Fiat driven by Paul O'Shea 10. #34 H.R.G. driven by Fritz Koster 11. #57 Healey Silverstone driven by Jim Simpson 12. #37 MG driven by Jim Stiles 13. #3 Cisitalia driven by Jim Magee 14. #6 Crosley driven by Steve Lansing 15. #108 Cisitalia driven by Joe Ferguson 16. #103 Chrysler-Allard K2 driven by Fred Zeder 17. #5 MG driven by Jim Pauley

Sunday, July 12, 2009: The Twin Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup Racers

2009-07-11T23:10:56-05:00

For the 1906 American Elimination Trial and the Vanderbilt Cup Race, Locomobile built two identical cars, one to race and the other, back-up. The above photo is the only known evidence of the two cars together preparing for the American Elimination Trial. Note that both cars have the #12 on their radiators. The #12 Locomobile won the American Elimination Race and finished 10th in the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race as the #9 car. For the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race, both cars were modified and were entered in the race as the #1 Locomobile driven by Jim (Joe) Florida and the #16 Locomobile driven by George Robertson, who won the race. On October 24, 1908, the 100th anniversary of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race, writer Leigh Dorrington and I visited Jerry Helck, the last private owner of Old 16, to discuss the two Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup Racers. This adventure and the story of the two racers are described in the latest issue of Automobile Quarterly . The excellent article "The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Twins" provides photos from the archives of Peter Helck and my collection. Leigh Dorrington's footnotes include: Thanks as well to Jerry Helck, for inviting the author into his home and sharing his personal recollections of nearly a lifeline spent with Old 16 and Peter Helck's archives. And to Howard Kroplick, whose enthusiasm for the subject and voluminous image library are unequalled. ... More of Kroplick's imagery can be found at VanderbiltCupRaces.com.

Saturday, July 11, 2009: The Alco-6 Racer Invited to the 2009 Fairfield County Concours D’Elegance

2009-07-11T00:28:29-05:00

The Alco-6 Black Beast Racer has been invited to the 2009 Fairfield County Concours D'Elegance to be held on Sunday, September 13, 2009 at The Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, Connecticut. This event will feature more than 200 extraordinary classic automobiles and rare motorcycles.

Friday, July 10, 2009: The Long Island Motor Parkway Trailway Update

2009-07-10T00:59:06-05:00

For several years many Long Island groups have been trying to preserve the right-of way of the Long Island Motor Parkway and create a greenway and recreational trail called the "Long Island Motor Parkway". These groups include; the Long Island Motor Parkway Panel led by Sam Berliner, Pedal Pushers Online, Parks and Trails New York and C.L.I.M.B. led by Michael Vitti. In November 2004, 77% of Nassau County voters approved a referendum to authorize the issuance of $50 million bonds to fund an Environmental Program to preserve open space, preserve working farms, improve parks throughout the county, clean up brownfields and protect waterways. In November 2005, Nassau County announced the proposed uses for the bond. Due to the efforts of the above groups and many other concerned residents, a total of $450,000 was allocated to explore the viability of of a "Long Island Motor Parkway Trailway". The project description is as follow: This project entails the preparation of a master plan for the preservation of the entire route of the Long Island Motor Parkway (Vanderbilt Parkway), a historic roadway that could become a valuable greenbelt and recreational trail. This project also includes the installation of route and historic signs, and construction of the initial phase of the master plan. Nassau County will fund cleaning of greenways. Last week, Nassau County published the current status of the bond projects. A consultant for the Long Island Motor Parkway Trailway project has been selected and is expected to begin preparation of a Master Plan this month with construction documents scheduled to be completed by January 15, 2010. I am very pleased that the official project photograph, a 1937 Long Island Motor Parkway license plate, was downloaded from VanderbiltCupRaces.com .

Thursday, July 9,2009:The Alco-6 Racer will be Featured at the 25th Annual Great Neck Plaza Festival

2009-07-08T21:48:55-05:00

The 1909 Alco-6 Racer will be featured at the 25th Annual Great Neck Plaza AutoFest and Street Festival to be held on Sunday, October 11 from 12 noon to 5:00 PM. The Great Neck Plaza Business Improvement District has issued this press release concerning the event. Jay Corn, Great Neck Plaza Business Improvement District (BID) vice president and AutoFest committee chairperson, stated: “The Great Neck Plaza BID is proud to have such an iconic car headlining our Autofest this year. Participation is always great in these events and I am sure all participating car enthusiasts will appreciate this exotic addition."

Wednesday, July 8, 2009 Off-Topic: You will likely watch this video more than once!

2009-07-04T23:55:42-05:00

I read an excellent article "Gaga for P.S.22" in New York Magazine about a 5th grade chorus from Staten Island and their wonderful music teacher Greg Breinberg ("Mr. B"). You will likely watch their 2-minute video more than once!

Tuesday, July 7, 2009: The 1911 Breese Racer

2009-07-06T23:54:12-05:00

Sunday's post featured a film of the 1946 "Race of Racers" where Old 16 driven by Joe Tracy just beat out the 1911 "Breese of Paris" Racer driven by Bobby Breese. Walter McCarthy has provided this photo of Bobby Breese and his car. Coachbuilt.com provides the following information on Bobby Breese and the Breese automobile: Robert P. Breese (b.1887-d.1958) was a Harvard-educated American engineer who relocated to France where he served as Assistant Engineer of the Peugeot Freres Sigma Auto Company of Paris from 1909-1911. He then introduced his own limited-production Breese automobile which was a light speedster powered by four-cylinder Ballot and Fivet engines. Approximately 65 Breese roadsters were produced during 1911-1912, and one is known to exist today. At the start of the war Breese joined the American Ambulance Corps after which he became attached to the US Aviation Service attaining the rank of Lieutenant. At the end of 1916 he returned to the United States and became the Manhattan distributor of the Philadelphia-built Biddle Automobile. His partner in Breese-Montant Motors was a French automobile importer named Louis Montant and the pair displayed a number of custom-bodied Biddles at the January 1917 New York Automobile Show. It was later that year that Breese announced he intended to manufacture the Breese Speedster. Production on the second automobile to bear his name did not ensue, although two years later he introduced another Breese automobile to the automotive press. Powered by a 20 hp Harley-Davidson engine, the Lilliputian Breese racecar was built using surplus aircraft parts and looked very much like the midget racers that would become popular after the Second World War. Unfortunately no backers were forthcoming and Breese spent the rest of his professional career as an engineer for Bendix Aviation and the General Bronze Corp.