The 1906 Vanderbilt Cup required elimination trials to determine the five American racing cars and teams that would participate in the race. The elimination trial took place on September 26; the race itself ran on October 6. This year, however, some American manufacturers assured that race specials were participating in the race, such as Locomobile, Pope-Toledo, Frayer-Miller, Thomas, Maxwell and Christie with engine displacements ranging from 16.2 to 18.4 liters. The race course this year was sightly modified, such that the „Old Westbury“ hairpin became a new feature, enabling many new and dynamic photographs to be taken. Just as in the former years, the race had to be stopped prematurely, as the enthusiastic crowd invaded the course after the first cars passed the finish line. Winner was Louis Wagner in a Darracq. The first American car unfortunately finished 8th; a Thomas, driven by Le Blon. The race was marred by a deadly incident and this, with what was called „poor crowd control“, finally led to postponing the next Vanderbilt Cup race for 1907.