Mystery Foto #37 Solved: #9 50-HP Christie Touring Car at the Hairpin Turn during the 1906 American Elimination Trial
Did you identify this racer at speed on a turn?
Identify;
- The car and driver
#9 50-HP front-wheel drive Christie driven by Walter Christie. His touring car was a replacement for his racer that he crashed during a practice run.
- Location and orientation of the photographer
Looking northeast, at the Hairpin Turn at Wheatley Road and Old Westbury Road in Old Westbury.
- Race and date
1906 American Elimination Trial held on September 22, 1906. Rationale: The size of the crowd at the turn.
- Finish position of the racer
Finished fifth and qualified for the1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race racing as #17.
Comments (6)
Congrats to Art Kleiner, Steve Lucas and David Miller for identifying the 50-HP Christie Touring Car.
Kudos to Art Kleiner, Steve Lucas amd Joseph Oesterle for recognizing the Hairpin Turn.
Greg O. & Howard Kroplick
Comments
Walter Christie, 50 hp front-wheel drive Christie (#9). Replacement car for the original one that crashed in a practice run.
Hairpin Turn - Wheatley and Old Westbury Roads, Old Westbury
Since the racers made the turn and headed west, I would say the photographer was situated on the corner looking northeast.
1906 American Elimination Race, Sept. 22, 1906
Finished 5th.
Original photo and description from the Detroit Public Library Digital Collections.
I think that’s J. Walter Christie driving his stripped down 50 HP Touring Car in the 1906 American Elimination Trial, on September 22, 1906. He had crashed his racer in a test run the day before. I think the photographer is facing north or slightly north-east as Christie is turning on to Old Westbury Road at the hairpin turn in Old Westbury. Christie finished fifth, qualifying him for that year’s Vanderbilt Cup Race.
This is a 1906 Christie #17 race car driven by Walter Christie in the 1906 Vanderbilt cup race on October 6th, 1906. The car finished 13th when the race was called. The location in the picture looks like the “hairpin turn” at Wheatley rd and Old Westbury rd. The photographer is facing north.
From Greg O.
The 4 cylinder Christie he wrecked during practice which caused him to use his smaller 50 H.P. for the Elimination Trials and Race.
The American Elimination Trials program and score card
From Greg O.
Felice Nazzaro driving the #8 FIAT during a practice run on the Westbury Hairpin turn.
The 50 H.P. Christie as shown from the 1906 Elimination scorecard
The turn at Wheatly Road onto Westbury Ave.
Quite possibly the birth of front wheel drive, used extensively today