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- Members of the Vanderbilt Cup Race Commission, Including Henry Ford, 1906 - The Vanderbilt Cup, held from 1904 to 1916, was America's first internationally prominent automobile race. William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., a wealthy railroad heir, organized the competition over public roads on Long Island. European cars dominated until 1908, when Connecticut-built Locomobile "Old 16" won. Long Island residents tired of the crowds and accidents, and the race relocated to Georgia, Wisconsin, and finally California.
- 1906
- Collections - Artifact
Members of the Vanderbilt Cup Race Commission, Including Henry Ford, 1906
The Vanderbilt Cup, held from 1904 to 1916, was America's first internationally prominent automobile race. William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., a wealthy railroad heir, organized the competition over public roads on Long Island. European cars dominated until 1908, when Connecticut-built Locomobile "Old 16" won. Long Island residents tired of the crowds and accidents, and the race relocated to Georgia, Wisconsin, and finally California.
- Tricycle & Two-Wheeled Motors Trophy Won by George M. Holley, 1901 - George M. Holley founded his first automotive company, with his brother Earl, in 1896 -- when he was still a teenager. After initially building three- and four-wheeled vehicles, the brothers specialized in carburetors, and the Holley Carburetor Company became a major supplier to American automakers. George Holley won this trophy in a 1901 auto race in Rhode Island.
- August 30, 1901
- Collections - Artifact
Tricycle & Two-Wheeled Motors Trophy Won by George M. Holley, 1901
George M. Holley founded his first automotive company, with his brother Earl, in 1896 -- when he was still a teenager. After initially building three- and four-wheeled vehicles, the brothers specialized in carburetors, and the Holley Carburetor Company became a major supplier to American automakers. George Holley won this trophy in a 1901 auto race in Rhode Island.
- Program for "One Mile World's Record Automobile Races," Brooklyn, New York, November 16, 1901 - Andrew Riker made headlines in November 1901 when his battery-powered "Torpedo" racer hit 57.1 miles per hour in a race at Coney Island, New York. It was a world speed record for electric automobiles. Despite his success, Riker soon determined that the automobile's future lay with a different fuel. In 1902, he joined Locomobile and started designing gasoline-powered cars.
- November 16, 1901
- Collections - Artifact
Program for "One Mile World's Record Automobile Races," Brooklyn, New York, November 16, 1901
Andrew Riker made headlines in November 1901 when his battery-powered "Torpedo" racer hit 57.1 miles per hour in a race at Coney Island, New York. It was a world speed record for electric automobiles. Despite his success, Riker soon determined that the automobile's future lay with a different fuel. In 1902, he joined Locomobile and started designing gasoline-powered cars.
- Photograph Album, 1906 Elimination and Vanderbilt Cup Races - The Vanderbilt Cup, held on New York's Long Island from 1904 to 1910, was America's first internationally prominent automobile race. William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., a wealthy railroad heir, organized the competition over public roads. European cars dominated the event's first years. This photo album documents the 1906 race, won by French driver Louis Wagner in a French-built Darracq.
- 1906
- Collections - Artifact
Photograph Album, 1906 Elimination and Vanderbilt Cup Races
The Vanderbilt Cup, held on New York's Long Island from 1904 to 1910, was America's first internationally prominent automobile race. William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., a wealthy railroad heir, organized the competition over public roads. European cars dominated the event's first years. This photo album documents the 1906 race, won by French driver Louis Wagner in a French-built Darracq.
- Photograph Album, 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race - The Vanderbilt Cup, held on New York's Long Island from 1904 to 1910, was America's first internationally prominent automobile race. William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., a wealthy railroad heir, organized the competition over public roads. European cars dominated the event's first years. This photo album documents the 1905 race, won by French driver Victor Hemery in a French-built Darracq.
- 1905
- Collections - Artifact
Photograph Album, 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race
The Vanderbilt Cup, held on New York's Long Island from 1904 to 1910, was America's first internationally prominent automobile race. William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., a wealthy railroad heir, organized the competition over public roads. European cars dominated the event's first years. This photo album documents the 1905 race, won by French driver Victor Hemery in a French-built Darracq.
- Fourth Annual International Competition for the William K. Vanderbilt Jr. Cup, Long Island, New York, 1908 (1978 Reprint) - William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., launched America's first great automobile race, the Vanderbilt Cup, in 1904. Top American and European drivers and cars came to Long Island, New York, for the annual event. After three consecutive victories by French cars, an American-built Locomobile won in 1908. Driver George Robertson and mechanician Glenn Ethridge earned the prize with their car "Old 16."
- October 24, 1908
- Collections - Artifact
Fourth Annual International Competition for the William K. Vanderbilt Jr. Cup, Long Island, New York, 1908 (1978 Reprint)
William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., launched America's first great automobile race, the Vanderbilt Cup, in 1904. Top American and European drivers and cars came to Long Island, New York, for the annual event. After three consecutive victories by French cars, an American-built Locomobile won in 1908. Driver George Robertson and mechanician Glenn Ethridge earned the prize with their car "Old 16."
- Photograph Album, W.K. Vanderbilt Jr. and 1908 Vanderbilt Cup - The Vanderbilt Cup, held on New York's Long Island from 1904 to 1910, was America's first internationally prominent automobile race. William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., a wealthy railroad heir, organized the competition over public roads. This photo album documents the 1908 race, won by American driver George Robertson in a Locomobile. It was the first Vanderbilt Cup victory for an American-built car.
- 1905-1908
- Collections - Artifact
Photograph Album, W.K. Vanderbilt Jr. and 1908 Vanderbilt Cup
The Vanderbilt Cup, held on New York's Long Island from 1904 to 1910, was America's first internationally prominent automobile race. William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., a wealthy railroad heir, organized the competition over public roads. This photo album documents the 1908 race, won by American driver George Robertson in a Locomobile. It was the first Vanderbilt Cup victory for an American-built car.
- Automobile Racing Trophy Won by Oliver Belmont Driving a De Dion Voiturette, 1901 - Wealthy banking heir Oliver Belmont published a newspaper and served in the U.S. House of Representatives. He also raced cars. At the time, automobile racing was largely the province of the rich, who had the time and money to devote to the sport. Belmont won this trophy, driving a French-built De Dion Voiturette, at Newport, Rhode Island, in 1901.
- August 30, 1901
- Collections - Artifact
Automobile Racing Trophy Won by Oliver Belmont Driving a De Dion Voiturette, 1901
Wealthy banking heir Oliver Belmont published a newspaper and served in the U.S. House of Representatives. He also raced cars. At the time, automobile racing was largely the province of the rich, who had the time and money to devote to the sport. Belmont won this trophy, driving a French-built De Dion Voiturette, at Newport, Rhode Island, in 1901.
- The William K. Vanderbilt Challenge Cup, circa 1904 - Starting in 1904, William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., organized an annual automobile race through Long Island, New York. For the grand prize, Vanderbilt commissioned a silver cup from Tiffany & Company. The trophy was inscribed with winners' names and included an image of Vanderbilt himself at the wheel of his Mercedes. He gifted the cup to the Smithsonian in 1934.
- circa 1904
- Collections - Artifact
The William K. Vanderbilt Challenge Cup, circa 1904
Starting in 1904, William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., organized an annual automobile race through Long Island, New York. For the grand prize, Vanderbilt commissioned a silver cup from Tiffany & Company. The trophy was inscribed with winners' names and included an image of Vanderbilt himself at the wheel of his Mercedes. He gifted the cup to the Smithsonian in 1934.