History Auto racing 1894-1942

Welcome Don. Good grief everyone's connected to everything!! Was his sister, Mrs. Macomber, married into the Macomber family that built the airplane engines that he used? Neat history, thanks for letting us in on it.

 

Alone and bored in a motel last night I thought I would have a look at what early motor sport gems I could find on YouTube. To my delight there are some absolute gems - The Highlight for me was a 16 part 'History of Motor Sport' If you haven't seen this it is well worth a look if you have a spare hour and a half. It appears to have been produced in the 1950s or there abouts and features extensive live footage from the Gordon Bennet races, Indianapolis, Grand Prix and various road races. The dry wit of the English narrator is fantastic and the sound track produced for the silent film hilarious.

I was trying to post the Youtube window link here as others have done on the Hamb but alas My comp skills are somewhat limited. Keyword search will get you there or try musrum's channel.

http://www.youtube.com/user/musrum#p/u/31/Z8Mo8Kj2txs

 

Those are the the constituent parts of the Shell History of Motor Racing, put together for the Shell Film Unit in (IIRC) 1961 by Bill Mason (father of car nut and historic racer Nick Mason, formerly of Pink Floyd). Seeing those on TV in the 1960s was probably one of the things which sparked my interest in the history of motor sport which has stayed with me ever since!

It was available on VHS video - I think only in Europe - at one time, but has never made it to DVD. David Weguelin of Motorfilms has been trying to get them reissued for some years, but there are apparently some intractable copyright issues which have always blocked it.

 

I always liked this one Harry S. Harkness racing in an exhibition at
Grosse Pointe track in 1903 against Henry Ford

 

Are there any pictures of the Harkness Trophy other than the one that is in the Henry Ford Museum?

 

Sorry, the real trophy was donated to the Henry Ford Museum what I meant to say, just looking for pictures of it. My friend is about an hour away and he is going to go take a picture of the trophy. Can't wait to see it.

 

Hi Don, and welcome.
Some may not realize just how appropriate Steinway IS in this "Auto racing 1894-1944" thread ...
I have some of Alec Ulmann's historic auto archives. Alec was one of the world's leading authorities on the history of Mercedes/Daimler/Benz automobiles. Apparently, in the course of his life-long reasearch on the topic, he received some gifts from (the Piano Co. AND the automotive one)William Steinway's Grandson. William Steinway had purchased Daimler automotive patents to produce Daimler automobiles at the Steinway facilities in 1888. The grandson has signed the first item/ gift- the book "People and Pianos," profusely illustrated with Steinway Grands (and even has 14 full pages of replica signatures of Steinway artists.)In the inscription to Ulmann, the younger Steinway mentions being "the Grandson of Gottlieb Daimler's American Partner." But the Treasure that I got from Alec is an original Daimler Motor Company,Steinway Ave, "Steinway" Long Island City, NY, 8 page, 5 x 8, fully illustrated brochure/catalogue. There are five full-page photos for the Daimler Motor Company automobiles, even motor yachts, and the Daimler Motor Victoria, and te Daimler Motor.
Has info on features of the Daimler auto constuction and performance, and racing prizes.
**RACING info mentions winning First Prize in the 1894 Great International Race at Paris; 1895 race at Turin, and.*The Last Great International Race of Horseless Carriages at Paris in 1895 *winning first through fourth places; and more. Alec had mentioned that he thought this original photo-illustrated brochure (circa 1896?) was the only one known to exist. (and he had combed the world's automotive archives and collections for a Lifetime and knew virtually every Mercedes/ Daimler collection and collector. Of course, my good friend Alec passed away Before there was an Internet...He would have LOVED this thread.

 

Hey Joe, check out the Jalopy Journal thread on Malcom Campbell, would be neat if you could post some of your photos...

 

...

 

Two jokers, a wizard (Smith) and a Harkness (Don) contemplate a pussy on a lion...

 

Youtube video of Louis Chevrolet accepting the Harkness Trophy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSYcrlTcLK8

Does that look like Harry S. Harkness giving the trophy to Chevrolet

 

Motorcycles and automobiles competing in the same event.

http://www.sandspeedwales.co.uk

 

Does that look like Harry S. Harkness giving the trophy to Chevrolet[/QUOTE]

Donald it looks like Harkness to me. I have watched the video a number of times and I believed it to be him.

What a great era. I only wish someone would come up with some remains of Louis Chevrolet's Frontenacs that ran from 1917-1919.-Jim

 

Don, I just remembered I had this Sheepshead Bay program from October 2, 1915 with the great Peter Helck artwork on the cover. Not only a photo of Harry Harkness as President/Owner of the track but he suited up and drove in the race with a Delage. Sorry my camera doesn't produce better photos. The programs turn up on eBay from time to time.

 

Bob

This is for you

 

Bluto- how does the melody go- might use it with my kiddies in class ?!

 

One step forward, two steps back, depessing tune.

 

Bob, not unusual for him to be in a Delage as he bought 4 of them to fill the fields as well as the Peusun (Peugeot with a Sunbeam engine)-Jim

 

Bill

DA-DA dee...... that's all I remember. I'll mail it to you and do a mepg and post it

Bob

Only de-press de-throttle and haul de-butts

 

thanks for the help, that is great! More things to add to an already large collection of images. Forgot to call Henry Ford Museum today, try tomorrow for the Harkness trophy for Race to the Clouds in Washington.

 

Does anyone else think Harkness looks like the villain in the old Rockey the flying squirrel cartoon? What was his name Dick Dasterdly or something?

 

Thanks Doug ...... now you got me drawing a hat and bigger mustachio on the screen

 

Yea, well at least I got two of you to admit to watching Rockey and Bullwinkle.

 

Hey I watch all-kindda stuff

And I feel in good company with the rest here!!

Invader Zim is among us!!!

 

I'd love to take this Fiat for a jaunt.......

 

ZIMMMMMM!!! Muahahahahaha!!!...

 

WE have gotten completly off topic IT'S DOUG'S FAULT!!

HONEST HE STARTED THIS

 

Latvian Michelin men...