Text and photos with authorisation of Bibliothèque National de France, gallica.bnf.fr.; compiled by motorracingistory.com,
THE NEW YORK HERALD, European Edition, PARIS, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1905, page 7
VANDERBILT CUP RACE, TO BE RUN ON LONG ISLAND CIRCUIT OCTOBER 14
American and European Drivers Will Try to Wrest Trophy from the Holder, Mr. Heath.
RAPID COURSE FOR CONTEST.
Trench Experts Feared, but Italian Team, Specially Signor Lancia, Considered Most Formidable.
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On Saturday next, for the second time, the Vanderbilt Cup will be raced for in America by automobilists from almost every part of the civilized world. The Vanderbilt Cup race is to Americans what the International Cup race is to Europeans. It is a speed contest on very similar lines, and it advertises the machines taking part in it to American purchasers.
Last year the trophy was won for France and the French club by Mr. George Heath on a Panhard machine, but as the rule governing the International Cup, by which the race must take place in the country holding the cup, does not apply to the Vanderbilt contest, the race must again be held on American territory. European makers, however, are so profoundly impressed with the importance to them of American trade that very little hesitation was shown when it became a question of shipping their racing vehicles over the seas.
Last year’s course has been abandoned, and a new one in close proximity chosen.
The new course is said to be much faster than the old one, and indeed it was proved to be so by the American machines which recently competed in the eliminating contest. There are no controls and no neutralized parts to be traversed, and, consequently, the race becomes one in almost every particular akin to the celebrated annual contest in the Belgian Ardennes.
Short Circuit.
There are some dangerous corners to take, not many serious hills, and the length of the circuit is so insignificant that there is some reason to believe that the first machine away will have made more than one lap before the last contestant has been signaled off. If this is the case, the watching of the race, so far as the public is concerned, will become very complicated. However, the committee which decides all these things, came to the conclusion that it was the best circuit obtainable within a reasonable distance of New York, and, after some slight demur on the part of the French competitors, it was finally adopted.
The most famous automobile racing firm in the world, the Richard-Brasier, will not be represented in this contest. Universal regret has been expressed at this abstention, but, as the Herald was able to point out a month or two ago, before the steadfast refusal of MM. Thery and Caillois to drive again, the directors came to the conclusion that it was not a fair thing to the “marque” to allow its chances to lie in the hands of inexperienced men. This abstention gave a chance to other firms not originally qualified to step in, and one of the earliest to seize the opportunity was the Panhard house, which all through the year has been pursued by the most inexplicable bad luck.
It is generally admitted that some surprises are in store in connection with this race. While it is not imagined in many quarters that the Americans will succeed in placing a vehicle ahead of the finest samples of European automobile engineering at the winning line, it is recognized on all hands that the Americans have made immense strides in the right direction and are ready with vehicles at once exceedingly rapid and reliable. Among these the chief honors must be given to the Pope-Toledo and Locomobile companies. Both these firms competed in the International Cup race this year, and, despite a sea of troubles, Mr. Lytle, who drove one of the Pope-Toledo machines, was able to get classed among the first twelve finishing.
F.I.A.T.’s Favorites.
There is no disguising the fact, however, that the F.I.A.T. machines are the favorites for the cup. Cable advices from New York demonstrate this effectively, and, when the marvelous performances of these vehicles in other races this year are considered, the probability of one of the five vehicles of this make getting near the winning line becomes very large indeed. If the drivers’ opinions are worth anything, then it seems likely that everybody will come in together, for a Herald cable, printed on Thursday, containing interviews with most of the drivers, reveals an alarming spirit of self-confidence on the part of every one of them. Thus M. Jenatzy says he only fears Signor Lancia, M. Hemery and M. Duray; and M. Duray says: “Barring accidents, I will win.” Sisz: “I have an excellent chance of winning the cup.” Wagner:
“I believe that my Darracq is just suited to the route.” Of the entire lot, Signor Nazzaro, who will drive one of the F.I.A.T.’s, is the only one at all reticent.
This spirit of confidence is surprising, and it would appear to indicate that most of the men have been seduced by the apparent simplicity of the circuit. The circuit is only twenty-eight miles round, and, in contrast with any European circuit, even that in the Isle of Man, is a mere nothing. It will, of course, in the actual contest be travelled round an amazing number of times to bring up the total, but beforehand it is not surprising that the drivers should be beguiled by the ease with which one lap is accomplished.
It is stated that 2,500.000 fr. have been spent by the various firms engaged to capture the 10,000 fr. Cup. The vehicles entered aro said to have cost more than 1.000,000 fr. to build, while the rest of the estimate goes in paying for salaries, repair-stations, preparing and guarding the route, etc. About 60,000 people will in-all probability witness the race. This figure is not exaggerated. Mineola is only eighteen miles from New York, and special trains will be running from three in the morning to get people down in time for the start.
The following is a list of the machines and drivers entered, with the order in which they will start: —
1.— Jenatzy Mercedes 120 b.-p. Germany
2.— Durav De Dietrich 130 h.-p. France
3.— Dingley Pope-Toledo 60 h.-p. America
4.— Lancia Fiat 110 h.-p. Italy
5.— Warden Mercedes 120 h.-p. Germany
6.— Wagner Darracq 80 h.-p. France
7.— Tracy Locomobile 120 h.-p. America
8.— Nazzaro Fiat 110 h.-p. Italy
9.— Campbell Mercedes 90 h.-p. Germany
10.— Sisz Renault 90 h.-p. France
11.— Christie Christie 60 h.-p America
12.— Cedrino Fiat 110 h.-p. Italy
13.— Keene Mercedes 120 h.-p. Germany
14.— Heath Panhard 120 h.-p. France
15.— Lytle Pope-Toledo 90 h.-p. America
16.— Chevrolet Fiat 90 h.-p. Italy
17.— Werner Mercedes 120 h.-p. Germany
18.— Hemery Darracq 80 h.-p. France
19.— White White (steam) America
20.— Sartori Fiat 90 h.-p. Italy
TRACY (LOCOMOBILE 120 H.-P.) AMERICA.
LANCIA (FIAT 110 H.-P.) ITALY. – PHOTO ROL & Co
LYTLE (POPE-TOLEDO 90 H:-P.) AMERICA. – Photo gribayedof.
WALTER CHRISTIE (CHRISTIE 60 H.-P.) AMERICA.
THE VANDERBILT CUP.
DURAY (DE DIETRICH 130 H.-P.) FRANCE. – Photo ROLL
WAGNER (DARRACQ 80 H.-P.) FRANCE. – Photo ROL & Co.
DINGLEY (POPE-TOLEDO 60 H.-P.) AMERICA. – Photo gribayedof.
SZISZ (RENAULT 90 H.-P.) FRANCE – Photo Branger.
WERNER (MERCEDES 120 H.-P.) GERMANY.
KEENE (MERCEDES 120 H.-P.) GERMANY.
JENATZY (MERCEDES 120 H.-P.) GERMANY.
MAP OF ROUTE.
WARDEN (MERCEDES 120 H.-P.) GERMANY.
HEATH (PANHARD 120 H.-P.) FRANCE. – PHOTO ROL & Co
NAZZARO (FIAT 110 H.-P.) ITALY – PHOTO ROL & Co
WHITE (WHITE. -STEAM) AMERICA (Photo gribayedof.)
HEMERY (DARRACQ 80 H.-P.) FRANCE.
