Harry Grant
Winner of the 1909 & 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races
Nationality: American
Born: July 10,1877 Cambridge, Massachusetts
Died: October 7, 1915 Sheepshead Bay, New York 38 Years
Harry Grant was the only driver of the Alco Black Beast. Along with Frank Lee as his mechanician, Grant won the 1909 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races.
Related Posts
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Dec 12
2023
InstaGRAM Report: Interview with Rob Ida About the Black Beast
Rob Ida shares what it’s like to work on the Black Beast and gives us an insider’s look into vintage automotive restoration
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Oct 24
2023
Mystery Friday Foto #42: Solved: The #8 ALCO Black Beast and the #9 Chalmers-Detroit Battling it Out in the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Did you identify the racers in this weekend's photo?
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Sep 05
2022
Mystery Friday Foto #36 Solved: Harry Grant in an Alco at the 1912 Old Orchard Beach Meet in Maine
Kelly Williams challenged you to solve this holiday weekend Mystery Foto.
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Feb 14
2022
Mystery Friday Foto #7 Solved: A 1912 Alco Convertible Touring Car driven by Dick Hovey
Did you solve this weekend's Mystery Foto?
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Sep 13
2021
Mystery Foto #37 Solved: The Allen-Kingston Racer during the 1909 Readville Races
Jim Fahey of Rhinebeck, New York challenged you to solve this weekend's Mystery Foto auto.
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Sep 01
2021
Greg O’s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection- The 1915 Panama-Pacific Expo and the 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race
The official Pan-Pacific Expo Program found in the Helck Family Collection archives provides insights into the Expo and the 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Races.
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Jan 01
2021
Update From the Pickering Collection: Images of the Vanderbilt Cup Races and Long Island
Roslyn resident William Pickering (1865-1929) was one of the earliest Long Island photographers documenting many of the people, buildings and events in Nassau County including the Vanderbilt Cup Races. In 2009, Catherine Pickering shared with me these photos and postcards taken by her grandfather.
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Oct 10
2020
Automobile Quarterly: The Mighty Alco- A History by Beverly Rae Kimes
The definitive article on Alcos was written by Beverley Rae Kimes in the 1973 Volume Number 2 issue of Automobile Quarterly.
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May 18
2020
Kleiner’s Korner: Advertising Using the Vanderbilt Cup Races and the Long Island Motor Parkway
As shown in previous posts, advertisers often mentioned the Vanderbilt Cup Races or the Long Island Motor Parkway as an endorsement of their products. Here are additional examples.
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Nov 13
2019
Garden City Archives: The “Snake Turn” of the 1908-1910 Courses of the Vanderbilt Cup Races
As a follow-up to Mystery Foto #45, my favorite co-author Al Velocci and I visited Garden City historian Bill Bellmer and reviewed the one-of-a kind 1908 Motor Parkway Construction Book. Below is documentation of the "Snake Turn" of the 1908-1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race courses.
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Jul 03
2019
Los Angeles Herald October 2, 1910: Harry Grant and his ‘Black Beast’ Alco & Tonight’s Fireworks
Chuck Camp has forwarded this October 2, 1910 Los Angeles Herald article documenting why Harry Grant's Alco was painted black.
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Jun 26
2019
Hemmings Classic Car: The Vanderbilt Cup- America’s first internationally recognized road-race
The August 2019 issue of Hemmings Classic Car features an excellent review of the Vanderbilt Cup Races by Jeff Koch with the assistance of photos from my collection.
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Feb 02
2019
The Alco “White Beast” in 1909
Ray Holmes has forwarded this never-before-published photo of Harry Grant in the Alco "White Beast". Based on 1909 articles also provided by Ray, the photo was likely taken before the Lowell Trophy Race held on the Merrimac Valley Course, Massachusetts on September 8, 1909.
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Jan 22
2019
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: From the Archives of Mechanician Emilio Jandelli
Emilio Jandelli (1882-1919) was a riding mechanician for many of the leading auto races from 1913 to 1919 including the 1913 Indy 500 Race, 1914 Vanderbilt Cup Race and the 1915 American Grand Prize. His grandson James Jandelli has forwarded several photos from his family archives.
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Aug 07
2018
Frank Lee’s Great-Grandson Visits the Alco Black Beast
Rich Lee, the great-grandson of the Alco Black Beast's mechanician Frank Lee, traveled down from Maine to visit the Black Beast tonight at the Waterfront at Roslyn garage.
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Jul 04
2018
When 1909 Alco “White Beast” Raced on July 4th at Indy
In celebration of the 4th of July, here is a holiday repost from June 2014.
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Apr 23
2018
Mystery Foto #16 Solved: Harry Grant Driving the #1 Isotta During the 1914 Vanderbilt Cup Race
This weekend's Mystery Foto featured a photo error in the 2016 book "The Gilded Age in New York (1870-1910)".
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Dec 18
2017
Mystery Foto #50 Solved: Harry Grant at the 1914 Indy 500 Race
Chuck Rudy Jr. needed your help to identify details on last weekend's Mystery Foto.
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Dec 02
2017
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Charlie Chaplin and Mabel Normand at the 1914 Vanderbilt Cup Race
These are the only known film scenes of the 1914 Vanderbilt Cup Race held in Santa Monica, California.
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Nov 11
2017
Jalopnik.com: Today’s Race Car Divers Have it Easy
Jalopnik.com editor Raphael Orlove describes his recent experience as the mechanician for the Alco Black Beast.
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Nov 08
2017
Updated: Jalopnik:America’s First Great Car Race Happened On Roads People Still Use Every Day
Jalopnik editor Raphael Orlove has posted this excellent article on the Vanderbilt Cup Races promoting tonight's 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM showings of "Car vs. America" episode on Fusion TV.
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Sep 13
2016
From a Lodgekeeper’s Family Album: A View of the Massapequa Lodge
Arthur Mauriello, grandson of lodgekeepers Thomas and Josephine Zinzi, has forwarded two photos of the Massapequa Lodge from one of his family albums.
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May 30
2016
Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Harry Grant Preparing the Alco for the 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race
Chuck Rudy, Jr. challenged you to solve this holiday weekend's Mystery Foto.
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Apr 09
2016
Amazing Photos of the Alco Black Beast During the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Brandon Sails, Art Director for the Saratoga Automobile Museum, has forwarded these previously unpublished photos of the Alco Black Beast during the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The photos are courtesy of the Alco Historical & Technical Society.
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Mar 07
2016
Mystery Fotos #10 Solved: Road Testing the Motor Parkway During the Summer of 1908
The Garden City Archives challenged you to identify this series of unique photos of three automobiles on a road test prior to the Motor Parkway's opening.
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Jan 23
2016
The Race to a Doctorate: Michelin, Bibendum and the Vanderbilt Cup Races
Professor Pau Medrano Bigas, Professor of Graphic Design at the University of Barcelona, has spent ten years researching Michelin's graphic history. In July 2015, Pau completed his doctorate thesis "The forgotten years of Bibendum: the American stage of Michelin in Milltown." Design, illustration and advertising at tire companies (1900-1930). .
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Jan 18
2016
Mystery Foto #3 Solved: Harry Grant driving an Isotta in the 1913 Elgin National Trophy Race
Stuart Middlemiss challenged you to solve this weekend's Peter Helck's "Mystery Painting."
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Jan 16
2016
The Making of “Chrysler’s Chrysler: The Painting” Updated 1/18/16
Automobile artist George Ellis has created a beautiful watercolor of the 1937 Chrysler LeBaron Town Car. George has provided this background on the making of "Chrysler's Chrysler: The Painting."
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Dec 08
2015
New England Historical Society: Harry Grant Wins the Vanderbilt Cup
The New England Historical Society has posted this profile of Harry Grant, the only driver of the Alco Black Beast.
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Sep 02
2015
NewEnglandHistoricalSociety.com: Profile of Driver Harry Grant
Utilizing information from VanderbiltCupRaces.com, the New England Historical Society has posted a profile of driver Harry Grant.
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Apr 20
2015
Mystery Foto #16 Solved Again: Ralph Beardsley’s Simplex Practicing for the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Chuck Rudy Jr. challenged you to identify this photo which he recently obtained.
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Feb 25
2015
Starting Lineup: The 1911 Vanderbilt Cup Race, Savannah, Georgia
For the first Vanderbilt Cup Race held outside of Long Island, a total of 14 entries raced on a 17.1 mile road course in Savannah and Effingham on November 27, 1911.
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Oct 22
2014
Starting Lineup: The 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race in San Francisco, California Updated: 10/10/2016
The 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race was held in conjunction with the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, California.
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Oct 11
2014
Motorsportmagazine.com: The Vanderbilt Cup
Gordon Kirby has written an article on the Vanderbilt Cup Races on Motorsportmagazine.com .The images in the article were courtesy of VanderbiltCupRaces.com .
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Mar 18
2014
Video: “Black Beast Wins INDY 500…100 Years Later!”
Chris Collora of Patch.com created this video of the Alco Black Beast's participation in the 2011 Indy 500 Pre-Race. ThIs nine-minute film features an extended interview with me describing my first Indy experience.
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Mar 12
2014
Carlo Demand and the Alco “Black Beast” on Long Island
In 2011, I met car rally enthusiast Steve McKelvie at the Lime Rock Historic Festival. I recently discovered two blog posts by Steve McKelvie concerning the Alco Black Beast. This SteveMcKelvie.com post focused on artist Carlo Demand's painting of the Alco Black Beast and the Corbin Cannonball during the 1910…
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Jan 28
2014
Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #43: Massapequa-Hicksville Motor Parkway Bridge in Plainedge
The 43rd bridge in the series documenting the 60 bridges built by the Long Island Motor Parkway is the Massapequa-Hicksville Road Bridge in Plainedge.
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Dec 26
2013
Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series#42:Wantagh Avenue Bridge in Hempstead Plains Updated:6/20/16
The 42nd bridge in the series documenting the 60 Long Island Motor Parkway bridges is the "parkway" bridge over Wantagh Avenue in the Hempstead Plains (now Levittown).
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Dec 21
2013
The Vanderbilt Cup Race Fantasy Team
Wiliam K. Vanderbilt Jr loved competitive sports and was a member of his St. Mark's Preparatory School's football team (first row, far right).
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Dec 18
2013
Wharton Magazine “The Black Beast and The Blue Pill”
Editor Matthew Brodsky of Wharton Magazine has posted this online article "The Black Beast and The Blue Pill" .
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Dec 11
2013
The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #11 Massapequa Lodge in Plainedge
Going west to east, the tenth Motor Parkway toll collection structure was the Massapequa Lodge in Plainedge.
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Dec 02
2013
Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The #7 Alco Shaft Drive 6- Cylinder Racer in Elgin, Illinois
Last week's Mystery Foto featured a shaft driven Alco racer.
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Nov 30
2013
Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #41: The Bloomingdale Road Bridge in Hempstead Plains
The 41st bridge in the series documenting the 60 Long Island Motor Parkway bridges is the highway bridge built for the extension of Bloomingdale Road in the Hempstead Plains (now Levittown).
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Nov 23
2013
Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #40: Jerusalem Avenue Bridge in the Hempstead Plains
The 40th bridge in the series documenting the 60 bridges built by the Long Island Motor Parkway is the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge in the Hempstead Plains (now Levittown).
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Oct 28
2013
Mystery Foto #39 Solved: The Alco Racer Practicing at the Indy 500 Track
Hugh Nutting submitted this week's Mystery Foto, a previously unpublished photo of a race car.
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Oct 21
2013
Mystery Foto #38 Solved: 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race Officials, Committee & Drivers in San Francisco
This week's Mystery Foto was a real challenge. Where in the world was the Vanderbilt Cup Trophy?
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Aug 13
2013
Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #36:The Stewart Avenue Bridge in East Meadow Updated:2/18/16
The 36th bridge in the series documenting the 60 bridges built by the Long Island Motor Parkway is the Stewart Avenue Bridge in East Meadow.
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Jun 25
2013
Then & Now: The Westbury Old Country Road Turn at the 1909 & 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races
Another crowd favorite to view the 1909 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races was the turn of Old Country Road on to Ellison Road (Avenue) in Westbury. Check out the "Then & Now."
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Jun 12
2013
Then & Now: The Hicksville Old Country Road Turn at the 1909 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races
One of the favorite locations to watch the 1909 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races was the Old Country Road Turn in Hicksville. Here is a "Then & Now" of the turn and another Vanderbilt Cup Race discovery.
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May 18
2013
In Search of the Grandstand, Press Box/Officials Stand and Pits in Levittown
From 1908 to 1910, the center of the auto racing world was a 200-yard strip of the Long Island Motor Parkway in the Hempstead Plains, now Levittown.
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Apr 23
2013
Profile: Frank Lee, Mechanician for the Alco Black Beast
Frank Lee was the mechanician for driver Harry Grant's Alco Black Beast for 15 of the car's 16 major races and all six major victories.
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Apr 01
2013
Mystery Foto #8 Solved: Levittown/Bethpage on May 27, 1947
Congratulations to Tim, Frank Scotty, Greg Tsistinas, Steve Lucas, Brian McCarthy, Frank Femenias, susansmoose, Gary Hammond, Art K., and Joe Oesterle for correctly identifying last Friday's Mystery Foto.
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Mar 23
2013
Then & Now: Massapequa Road During the 1908-1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races
The intersection of Massapequa-Hicksville Road and the Long Island Motor Parkway was a favorite location for watching for watching the 1908, 1909 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races.
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Dec 27
2012
A View of the Vanderbilt Cup Races From the Massapequa-Hicksville Road Motor Parkway Bridge
One of the most exciting spots to view the 1909 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races was from the Long Island Motor Parkway bridge over the Massapequa-Hicksville Road.
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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.
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Oct 25
2012
The Making of an Alco Black Beast Watercolor Painting
Artist George Ellis has painted this beautiful watercolor painting of the Alco Black Beast at the Hicksville Turn during the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race. George has provided background information on the painting.
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Jul 14
2012
Race Profile: 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race in San Francisco, California
In 1915 both the Vanderbilt Cup Race and the American Grand Prize were held in conjunction with the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, California.
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May 12
2012
Then & Now: The Santa Monica Course for the 1914 and 1916 Vanderbilt Cup Races
Both the 1914 and 1916 Vanderbilt Cup Races were held on the beautiful Santa Monica, California road course bordering on the Pacific Ocean. Check out the changes over the last 98 years.
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Apr 28
2012
The Hempstead Plains Motor Parkway Bridge Near Bloomingdale Road
Tim Ivers: "Howard, the 1932 Hagstrom Map shows an overpass over the LIMP (Bloomingdale Road extension) which connected with Hempstead Tpke. The overpass is about halfway between Jerusalem Avenue on the west and Wantagh Rd (Ave.) on the east. Are there any known photos of this overpass, or other information?"
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Apr 06
2012
Fred Wagner- The Official Starter of the Vanderbilt Cup Races
Fred Wagner was the official starter of all the Vanderbilt Cup Races with the exception of the 1904 race. Accordingly, Wagner, a resident of Smithtown, was the "Zelig" of early racing and captured in hundreds of photos. Here are my some of my favorites.
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Nov 10
2011
May 7, 1911 The World : Harry Grant Practicing on the Motor Parkway at 107.8 Miles Per Hour
Margaret, George and Eric Vitale of Barn Find Antiquities recently purchased a vintage leather trunk. To their surprise, the bottom of the truck was lined with a May 7, 1911 edition of the newspaper The World including this article:
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Nov 01
2011
Archives: Alco-6 Racing History (1909-1911)
Index to posts related to the Alco-6 Racing History (1909-1911) Updated: December 1, 2011
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Oct 20
2011
Anatomy of a Photo: Harry Grant Winning the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race
One of my favorite photographs in the book Vanderbilt Cup Races of Long Island captured the moment Harry Grant and Frank Lee won the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race. A closer look of the photo is revealing:
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Jun 29
2011
Favorite Images of the Vanderbilt Cup Races and the Long Island Motor Parkway
Eric M: "Can you provide a sampling of your favorite Vanderbilt Cup Race and Long Island Motor Parkway images?":
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Jun 04
2011
Exclusive Video: Emerson Fittipaldi Driving the Alco Black Beast During the 2011 Indy 500 Parade Lap
This ten-minute "thrill of a lifetime" video documents two-time Indy 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi and Howard Kroplick driving the restored Alco Black Beast during the 2011 Indy 500 Race parade lap on May 29, 2011. Over the 2 1/2 mile lap, the racer averaged 45 mph with a maximum speed…
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May 24
2011
Postcards from the Long Island Automotive Museum: Alcos
The Long Island Automotive Museum offered a wide array of related merchandise including; jewelry, label buttons, photos, model car kits, china and series of postcards. As described in this brochure , provided by Walter McCarthy, there were over 500 cars postcards published featuring the cars of "Henry Austin…
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May 16
2011
News Clip “The Beast is Back”
An excellent news feature was produced today by reporter Greg Cergol and video journalist John Albertson on the restored Alco Black Beast and its upcoming trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Feb 04
2011
Vintage Automobile Ad Series #1: American Locomotive Company
The primary reason American and European manufacturers participated in the Vanderbilt Cup Racers and invested in race cars and racing teams was to publicize their automobile product lines. The winning company had a golden opportunity to promote the connections between their triumphant race car and their best-selling models. In the…
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Jan 22
2011
Article “The ALCO Story: Distinctive, Durable, Doomed”
In the early 1970s, author Howard L. Applegate wrote a history of the Alco in the tabloid newspaper Old Cars. Here is a pdf of the article The ALCO Story: Distinctive, Durable and Doomed.
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Jan 12
2011
Update: The Alco Black Beast Racing History
Alco-6 Black Beast's major races included two Vanderbilt Cup Races, the first Indianapolis 500, two Elgin Trophy Races, and one American Grand Prize Race. Here's the updated racing record with new images:
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Jan 11
2011
Driver Profile: Harry Grant -Winner of the 1909 & 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races
This is an updated profile of Harry Grant including several never before published photos:
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Jan 08
2011
Drivers Who Raced in the 1911 Indy 500 and the Vanderbilt Cup Races (1904-1910)
The decision of the Indianapolis Speedway to hold one major 500-mile race in 1911 with an unheard purse of $25,100 (equal to $571,000 today) attracted the best racing teams and drivers. Not surprisingly, many of the drivers who participated in the Vanderbilt Cup Races and its associated races also drove…
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Jan 07
2011
The Alco “Black Beast” in the Inaugural Indy 500 Race
Besides its two Vanderbilt Cup Race victories, the Alco-6 Black Beast's most famous race was the Inaugural Indy 500 held on May 30, 1911. To further celebrate this year's centennial, here is a comprehensive review of the Alco's performance as one of the 40 participants in this historic race.
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Jan 05
2011
Indy 500 Centennial Celebration: Five 1911 Indy 500 Films
To celebrate the upcoming centennial of the Inaugural Indy 500 Race, here are five films related to this historic race:
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Jan 03
2011
The Alco “Black Beast” at the 1911 “Greatest of Auto Shows”
From January 7th to 21st in 1911, the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers organized the "Greatest of Auto Shows" at Madison Square Garden located at 26th and Madison Avenue.
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Dec 29
2010
Neighborhood Journal Film Series: Part V: Racing Into History
Cablevision's Neighborhood Journal has developed a five-part film series on the Vanderbilt Cup Races. The producer and narrator of the film is Bob Klement who is interviewed by host Joanna Venditto. The five parts of the series are:
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Dec 13
2010
New Series- Rare Images #1: Vanderbilt Cup Race Drivers and Mechanicians
VanderbiltCupRaces.com introduces today a new "Rare Images" series featuring rarely seen photos of Vanderbilt Cup Race personalities. We start off with this photo of Harry Grant and mechanician Frank Lee just prior to winning the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
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Dec 10
2010
Images of the Six Vanderbilt Cup Race Finishes
Photos of the exciting finishes of the six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island:
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Dec 08
2010
The Three Alco Racers at the 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race
The 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race was the only major race in which American Locomotive Company supplied entries besides the Black Beast. The three Alcos in the race were serviced by a team of 12 drivers, mechanicians and mechanics. As captured in this photo provided by Lee Ferbin of…
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Dec 07
2010
Harry Grant Describes His Last Great Race with the Alco Black Beast
Harry Grant's last great race in the Alco-6 Black Beast Racer's was the 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race held on the Illinois course. Driver Harry Grant was shown here with his mechanician George Babcock prior to a practice run. This was the only major race in which mechanican Frank…
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Oct 30
2010
National Speed Sports News “Black Beast Is Among Last Of A Unique Era of Racers”
In the October 27, 2010 issue of National Speed Sports News magazine, an article by Ron Hedger Black Beast Is Among Last of A Unique Era of Racers" provides a summary of the Alco Black Beast.
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Sep 09
2010
The Alco Practicing for the 1911 Indy 500: The License Plate & Mystery Car
Prior to the 1911 Indy 500 Race, the #18 Alco conducted practice runs on the Long Island Motor Parkway. On these runs, a New York license plate M1067 was placed on the front of the car. (Post corrected on November 10, 2011- Original post indicated the Alco was practicing for…
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Sep 01
2010
In Search of Alcos: #1 Alco-6 Black Beast Racer Archives
Links to related posts on the Alco-6 Black Beast Racer on VanderbiltCupRaces.com (Updated: September 14, 2011):
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Aug 26
2010
Times Union Blog: “Serendipity and the Black Beast”
Author and Schenectady County historian Don Rittner has written an article on his timesunion.com blog on his experiences last week with the Black Beast. Here are some highlights:
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Aug 21
2010
The Black Beast Returns to Schenectady and Saratoga Springs
It has been a wonderful two days in the Schenectady and Saratoga Springs area... great shows, friendly people, beautful weather, newspaper coverage and great fun!
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Aug 18
2010
Film “The Black Beast’s Four-Mile Cruise to the Show”
This seven-minute film documents the four- mile ride of the Alco "Black Beast" at the Nassau County Executive's 1st Annual Cruise to the Show Parade held on August 15, 2010. The "Black Beast" was the lead car of over 500 vintage and classic cars that participated. It covered…
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Aug 01
2010
Archives: 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Links to related posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com (Updated: January 31, 2012):
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Aug 01
2010
Archives: 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Links to related posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com (Updated: December 31, 2011):
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Jul 31
2010
Archives: Harry Grant
Links related to Harry Grant on VanderbiltCupRaces.com (Updated: October 31, 2011):
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Jul 22
2010
The 1911 Alco Dealership Photos
To promote their 1911 Alco product line, American Locomotive Company provided four large photos to all their dealerships of their Vanderbilt Cup Race winner. In this dealership photo, the #18 Alco was making the Westbury Turn from Old Country Road to Ellison Road during the 1910 race. Click on the…
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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…
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Jun 11
2010
Mystery Photo Contest #2 Solved: 1911 Indy 500
This is is a comprehensive listing of spring and summer automotive events scheduled to be held in the Long Island area over the next six months. Updated: June 17, 2010.
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Apr 29
2010
The Eight Winning Drivers of the Vanderbilt Cup Races (1904-1916)
Eight drivers won the 11 William K. Vanderbilt Jr. Cup Races held from 1904 to 1916. Three drivers, Harry Grant, Ralph DePalma and Dario Resta, were two-time winners.
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Mar 30
2010
The Six Winners of the Vanderbilt Cup Races (1904-1910)
These are the six winners of the Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910:
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Mar 08
2010
The Alco “White Beast” at the 1910 Worcester Dead Horse Hill Climb
One of the earliest forms of automotive sports was competition against time over an uphill course. The "hill climbs" provided a natural venue for spectators and a challenge for the early automobiles.
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Dec 23
2009
Promoting the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race Victory
The primary reason for automobile manufacturers and their suppliers to build and equip expensive racers for the Vanderbilt Cup Races was the opportunity to promote a potential victory. As an example, these ads appeared in the November 2, 1909 issue of Horseless Age after the Alco-6 driving by…
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Dec 13
2009
Article “Schenectady’s Contributions to the History of Automobiles”
Don Rittner, author and historian, has written an excellent article in the Times Union serving the New York State Capital Region entitled "Schenectady’s Contributions to the History of Automobiles".
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Oct 29
2009
Film “100th Anniversary of the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race”
Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Alco-6 "Black Beast" winning the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race on Long Island. This two-minute and 48-second film celebrates this victory.
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Sep 20
2009
Another Historic Gem from the Pickering Collection: The 1909 Alco Black Beast
After viewing over a hundred vintage photos of Nassau County taken by photographer William Pickering in the early 1900s, Catherine Pickering and I found one more treasure last Wednesday: the "Black Beast"!
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Sep 10
2009
The Alco Black Beast at the First Indy 500 Race
One of the last major races that for the "Black Beast" was the Inaugural Indy 500 Race held on May 30, 1911. As published in the June 3, 1911 issue of Automobile Topics, this photo shows the #19 Alco-6 Racer taking the brick curve during the parade…
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