The Vanderbilt Cup

There isn't a lot of information on this site about the classic Vanderbilt Cup road race because of my relationship with Howard Kroplick. I first encountered Howard when I developed an article on the 100th anniversary of America's first international road race in 2004. Howard, the owner of vanderbiltcupraces.com, is the world's preeminent authority on the Long Island, NY Vanderbilt Cup races that ran from 1904 through 1910 with the exception of 1907. William Kissam Vanderbilt Jr. was the millionaire scion of one of America's richest families. He was the great-grandson of the family's patriarch Cornelius "The Commodore" Vanderbilt. Cornelius clawed his way out of poverty by building a transportation business starting with ferries from Staten Island in the first half of the nineteenth century and expanding into the largest railroad company during the height of the rail industry in post-Civil War America. Known as "Willie K" William K. Vanderbilt Jr. was fascinated with automobiles and believed racing them was a great way to improve the breed. A driver in his own right, his greatest moment came on the beach of Ormond-Daytona in 1904 where he covered a mile at 92 MPH, faster than anyone had traveled before. Working with the AAA, he created America's first international road race in 1904. The event remains legendary, and deservedly so. After many great moments with giants of the age such as George Heath, Victor Hemery, Lewis Wagner, George Robertson and Harry Grant, the race had to leave Long Island due to unmanagable crowds that resulted in spectator deaths. Road racing on public roads gradually passed away as times changed and speedways led by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway came into vogue.