The fifth annual Centennial Celebration of the Vanderbilt Races scheduled for Sunday, October 19, 2008
In the spirit of England’s Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Pebble Beach Concours, this year’s Vanderbilt Races Celebration will again be held on the grounds of Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn, New York. The races will feature timed demonstration runs, among many other celebrations of the original race and the Vanderbilt family.
Original Vanderbilt Cup Races
At the turn of the 20th century the superiority of European automotive craftsmanship cast a long shadow over America’s fledgling car industry. To encourage American automobile manufacturers to challenge European quality, 26-year old William K. Vanderbilt Jr., heir to a railroad fortune and a pioneer race car driver, organized America’s first international road race, modeled after those held in Europe. He donated the Vanderbilt Cup, which was awarded to the winner of the race. The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day. These colorful, exciting, and dangerous races drew huge crowds from 25,000 to over 250,000 spectators.
A total of 84 drivers participated in the six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910. American-born drivers accounted for 71% of the participants and 4 victories. French drivers made up only 10% of the participants but won 2 races. George Heath, born in the USA, won the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race for France in a Panhard. The most successful driver was American Harry Grant who won the two races that he entered in an Alco (1909 and 1910). Louis Chevrolet, whose name would eventually become one of the most famous brands in American car history, entered the most Vanderbilt Cup Races of any driver. His highest finish in four races was 10th in the 1905 race.
Vanderbilt Cup Races Centennial Celebration
Now, in a unique setting reminiscent of the early 20th Century, 100 years of automotive evolution will be celebrated with Timed Demonstration Runs for cars with a racing heritage and Concours de Provenance for vehicles with unusual history or significance.
An exhibition of Vanderbilt Cup Race paintings, “Vanderbilia” and films will be on display in the museum including the Tiffany plaque given to George Robertson- winner of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race. Sponsors, vendors, competitors, car clubs and the public are invited to enjoy formal gardens and massive sculptures in rolling woodlands, just 20 miles from New York City.
The Vanderbilt events will begin at 9:00 am on Sunday, October 19 with Awards Ceremonies at 3:30 pm on the great lawn at the Frick Mansion. Spectators will be charged $10 per car for access to Vanderbilt events and the museum grounds.
Entrance to Nassau County Museum of Art is on the north side of Northern Boulevard, 1/2 mile west of Glen Cove Road.
For more information, entrant inquiries, contact Guy Frost at (516) 621-2745
Our special thanks to the kind people of Sports Car Digest for the above write up.
Download a Printable Entry Form
A printable version of the Introduction Letter, Entry Form and Demonstration Run Map is available in a PDF Format (Adobe Reader)
Download a Printable Art Auction Form
A printable version of the Art Auction, an oil painting of an LT1 Corvette Oil Painting is available in a MSWord Format (Microsoft Word).
Video Section of Vanderbilt Cup Races & Celebrations
Below are a number of videos from past Vanderbilt Cup Races and Celebrations.
Our thanks to all the members of the VCR who provided these wonderful film clips with a special thank you to Howard Kroplick for the vintage film clips he was able to provide for your viewing pleasure.
The September 16, 2007 segment as shown on WABC-TV.
The 2004 Vanderbilt Cup Race
1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Centennial Celebration Video
October 2, 2004
The 1960 Vanderbilt Cup Race
The 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Race Video
The 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race