HISTORY AT THE CROSSROADS

“CAR COMING” shouted the flagman in an effort to get the crowd off of North Hempstead Turnpike when he spotted Vincenzo Lancia rocketing westward in his Fiat racer towards the hairpin turn at Bulls Head Corner.  Lancia’s engine screamed as he downshifted into the turn, dirt billowed into the air, his on-board mechanic leaned mightily to the left to maintain balance, and the crowd cheered as Lancia gunned his machine, straightened his wheel, and sped off south on Glen Cove Road to cross the Mineola-finish line in 4^th place.

It was Saturday, October 14, 1905 and this was the second Vanderbilt Cup Race, staged by William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., to take place on Long Island.  In those days, Northern Boulevard was known as North Hempstead Turnpike and Lancia, that young dare-devil driver, still has his name imprinted on one of the most desired automobiles in the world (another driver in that race was the memorable Louis Chevrolet).  The route of the 1905 race also tracked along I.U. Willets Road (West), Lakeville Road (South), Jericho Turnpike (East), and Rt. 106 North; a 28.3 mile circuit driven in ten laps.  These contests were the first international-road races to be held in America and were key  in establishing the automobile as a fixture in American culture.

Greenvale’s Bulls Head Hotel, located smack-dab on the corner of that tough turn, played an important role in the ’05 race.  Aloysiius Huwer, proprietor of the hotel (and the  writer’s great-grandfather), rented his “Auto & Wagon Shed,” to race driver and car owner, Walter White.  White and his mechanics bunked in the Hotel and used Huwer’s Shed to ready his steam-driven racer for the event.  White’s mschine was the only steam racer ever to be driven in the Vanderbilt Cup Races.  He received an “A” for trying, but had to abandon his car in the fifth lap because of engine and tire troubles.  During the 1906 race, the Bulls Head Hotel and Shed became the base camp for the Pope-Toledo car group. They were the last race team to use the site during the races.  These historic events continued on until 1910.

Next month, the hundredth anniversary of the 1905 race will be celebrated at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City.  Antique racers will be on display and run through their paces in timed  trials on September 17 & 18.  “Car Coming,” an exhibit accompanting these events September 9 – 18 will outline the history of Vanderbilt Cup Races with photos and artifacts.  Local resident and Vanderbilt Cup Races expert, Howard Kroplick, was instrumental in curating and producing this unique presentation.

Happy racing!

Fred Blumlein 08/23/05