Louis Chevrolet
The most famous name in the Vanderbilt Cup Races
Nationality: Switzerland later United States
Born: December 25, 1878 Bernese Jura region of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.
Died: June 6, 1941 Detroit, Michigan 62 Years
Louis Chevrolet was the most famous "name" who participated in the Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island. Chevrolet participated in more Vanderbilt Cup Races than any other driver (1905, 1908,1909 &1910). His name has become one of the most recognizable brands in American car history.
Related Posts
-
Feb 02 2013
From the Barney Oldfield Collection: Four Classic Photos and One Mystery
Wayne Carroll Petersen, the great-great-nephew of the legendary racer Barney Oldfield, has provided these five historic photos from the Barney Oldfield Collection. Can anyone help Wayne identify the one mystery image?
-
Jan 29 2013
Then & Now: New Hyde Park Turn
One of the six exciting turns in the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race was the intersection of Lakeville Road and Jericho Turnpike.
-
Jan 14 2013
Three Amazing Photos from the Starting Line of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Three amazing photos of cars preparing for the start of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race. Courtesy of Paul Osik.
-
Dec 01 2012
Vanderbilt Cup Races Stats: Drivers, Cars and Manufacturers
Here are summary stats for the Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910.
-
Aug 28 2012
Then & Now: Racing on Roslyn Roads
As part of the lecture series sponsored by the Roslyn Landmark Society, tonight I will be presenting an overview of the Vanderbilt Cup Races with a focus on racing in the Roslyn area.
-
Jul 28 2012
Film: The 1917 Match Races Among Oldfield, Chevrolet and De Palma in Sheepshead Bay
In 1917, three of the most famous daredevil drivers were veterans of the Vanderbilt Cup Races; Barney Oldfield (1914 & 1915), Louis Chevrolet (1905, 1908, 1909,& 1910) and Ralph De Palma (1911,1912, 1914 & 1915). On August 17, 1917, over 40,000 spectators came to Sheepshead Bay Track in Brooklyn to…
-
Dec 10 2011
Then & Now: The 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race “S Turn” in Albertson
One of the most exciting places to watch the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race was the "S Turn" at the intersection of I.U.Willets Road and Willis Avenue in Albertson.
-
Sep 01 2011
Race Profile: The 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race- France Captures Second Consecutive Race
The First William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., Cup Race held in 1904 was an immediate success among the public and supporters of automobile racing. America had finally created a major road race that attracted great drivers and cars from around the world. Newspapers and automobile trade journals helped to build the interest…
-
Mar 07 2011
Rare Image Series #3: Louis Chevrolet- The Most Famous “Name” in the Vanderbilt Cup Races
Louis Chevrolet drove in four Vanderbilt Cup Races (1905, 1908,1909 &1910), more than any other driver. These are rarely seen photos of Louis Chevrolet, whose name became and continues to be one of the most recognizable brands in American car history:
-
Aug 01 2010
Archives: 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Links to related posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com (Updated: January 31, 2012):
-
Aug 01 2010
Archives: 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Links to related posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com (Updated: December 31, 2011):
-
Aug 01 2010
Archives: 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Links to related posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com (Updated: December 31, 2011):
-
Aug 01 2010
Archives: 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Links to posts related to VanderbiltCupRaces.com (Updated: Febraury 1, 2012):
-
Jul 31 2010
Archives: Louis Chevrolet
Links to related posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com (Updated: April 1, 2011):
-
Jul 06 2010
Starting Lineup: The 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race
A large field of 30 cars raced in the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race held on October 1, 1910. The race was run on the same course as in 1909- a total of 12.64 miles including 5.15 miles of the Long Island Motor Parkway. The winner needed…
-
Nov 28 2009
Louis Chevrolet and the End of the Long Island Vanderbilt Cup Races
Chevrolet’s steely-eyed focus shown in 1905 and 1908 was noted by William Durant, chairman of General Motors, who wanted to promote Buicks through auto racing. By 1909 Durant hired both Louis and younger brother Arthur. Both worked on the cars, but Louis joined Lewis Strang and Bob Burman,…
-
Nov 27 2009
Louis Chevrolet and the Vanderbilt Cup Races- Part II
After his tenth place finish in the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race, Chevrolet was mentored by two larger-than-life personalities: French champion Victor Hemery and front-wheel drive pioneer J. Walter Christie.
-
Nov 26 2009
Louis-Joseph Chevrolet and the Vanderbilt Cup Races- Part I
Only four drivers particpated in half of the six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island; Herb Lytle (1904, 1905, and 1908), William Luttgen (1904, 1906,and 1908), Joe Tracy (1904, 1905, and 1906) and a driver whose name would become one of the most famous brands…
-
Jun 24 2009
Chevrolet Challenges Heath during the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Louis Chevrolet in a FIAT challenging George Heath in a Panhard during the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race was captured in this dramatic photo published in the French publication Les Sports Modernes in October 1905.
-
Jun 20 2009
Louis Chevrolet, Joe Tracy and the 1908 Matheson Team
The Matheson Automobile Company of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania made a strong effort to win the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race. They hired Louis Chevrolet as one of the drivers for their two entrants and selected retired veteran driver Joe Tracy as their team manager.
-
Apr 01 2009
Louis Chevrolet-The most famous name in the Vanderbilt Cup Races
The most famous name in the Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island was Louis Chevrolet. Chevrolet participated in more Vanderbilt Cup Races than any other driver (1905, 1908,1909 &1910). His name has become one of the most recognizable brands in American car history. For more information on Chevrolet,…
-
Mar 12 2009
Linking the Vanderbilt Cup Race Course from Ellison Road to the Motor Parkway
The fourth set of 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race photos from the Hayden Allen Collection focuses on a stretch of the course that connected Ellison Road with the Motor Parkway just west of Merrick Avenue.

Ariejan, good question!
The photo was from a Motor Parkway article in a road engineering magazine.
Howard