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1960 VANDERBILT CUP

The Vanderbilt Cup races were famous from 1904 to WWI. They were revived in the late 1930'’s with the legendary Tazio Nuvolari winning in 1936. The NY Region made a deal with Roosevelt Raceway for a regional race when someone said - let’s bring back the Vanderbilt Cup. SCCA waived its anti-pro rules for this formula Junior pro event. Most of the top NE road racers bought rides or cars to enter and Indy 500 winners Jim Rathman and Roger Ward were enticed into coming along with Carroll Shelby, the Rodriguez brothers and even Ferrari F1 star Lorenzo Bandini. The format was two 5 lap heats to form the starting grid and a 50 lap-75 mile feature. Sadly it was a one and done weekend and we bring you a bit of what happend through these historical photos from Don Cooke and the NY daily news.

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 Harry Carter in his black Stanguellini was always in contention and when some of the faster guys dropped he narrowly beat Charley Wallace to win.

Harry Carter in his black Stanguellini was always in contention and when some of the faster guys dropped he narrowly beat Charley Wallace to win.

 Vanderbilt Cup program

Vanderbilt Cup program

 Jim Rathmann, 1960 Indy winner and Carroll Shelby 1959 LeMans winner were the definite headliners. What a catch to have the latest Indy 500 and LeMans winners at your race.    photo by ny daily news

Jim Rathmann, 1960 Indy winner and Carroll Shelby 1959 LeMans winner were the definite headliners. What a catch to have the latest Indy 500 and LeMans winners at your race.

photo by ny daily news

 Harry Carter won  from Charley Wallace. DC Region champion Wallace, like other SCCA stars, was better known for his Porsche cars but took advantage of the SCCA allowing drivers to participate.

Harry Carter won from Charley Wallace. DC Region champion Wallace, like other SCCA stars, was better known for his Porsche cars but took advantage of the SCCA allowing drivers to participate.

 Charley Wallace, arms out and hustling his #200 Skorpian DKW. The 2 stroke motors made great power, incredibly noisy but was often a winner.  On this day Wallace got a terrific 2nd overall.

Charley Wallace, arms out and hustling his #200 Skorpian DKW. The 2 stroke motors made great power, incredibly noisy but was often a winner. On this day Wallace got a terrific 2nd overall.

 Two of the fastest battle it out. Charley Kolb’s Elva with DKW power goes against eventual winner Harry Carter’s Stanguellini. Kolb would lead but drop out.

Two of the fastest battle it out. Charley Kolb’s Elva with DKW power goes against eventual winner Harry Carter’s Stanguellini. Kolb would lead but drop out.

 Walt Hansgen had one of the first Lotus 18 juniors in the country.  He won his heat, led the main and had to drop out with a flat tire.  Flat tire?  The car was so new it came with only the 4 wheels on it - no spare.

Walt Hansgen had one of the first Lotus 18 juniors in the country. He won his heat, led the main and had to drop out with a flat tire. Flat tire? The car was so new it came with only the 4 wheels on it - no spare.

 Walt Hansgen in the brand new Lotus 18 was the class of the field.  Walt looks over at Norm Buerdsell in his Isis.  Norm shows some nose damage as did a lot of cars that day.

Walt Hansgen in the brand new Lotus 18 was the class of the field. Walt looks over at Norm Buerdsell in his Isis. Norm shows some nose damage as did a lot of cars that day.

 Charley Kolb in #1a (#1 was reserved for Roger Ward) was a tall thin man and you can see how high he sits in his Elva.  Racing with him is Chaparral driver, engineer, biss Jim Hall in his Elva DKW #3.

Charley Kolb in #1a (#1 was reserved for Roger Ward) was a tall thin man and you can see how high he sits in his Elva. Racing with him is Chaparral driver, engineer, biss Jim Hall in his Elva DKW #3.

 Newt Davis, Lotus importer, drives a Stanguellini. He’s about to be passed by Lorenzo Bandini.  Davis was 5th in his heat and would finish a great 4th in the final.

Newt Davis, Lotus importer, drives a Stanguellini. He’s about to be passed by Lorenzo Bandini. Davis was 5th in his heat and would finish a great 4th in the final.

 Jim Hall was very quick in his Elva DKW and led briefly but dropped back at the end and was classified 13th.

Jim Hall was very quick in his Elva DKW and led briefly but dropped back at the end and was classified 13th.

 Ferrari F1 driver Lorenzo Bandini came over to drive this rear engine Wainer. Here racing David Carpenter’s Elva - BMC.  The Wainer was not up to Bandini’s skills and he finished 7th in his heat and 17th in the main race.

Ferrari F1 driver Lorenzo Bandini came over to drive this rear engine Wainer. Here racing David Carpenter’s Elva - BMC. The Wainer was not up to Bandini’s skills and he finished 7th in his heat and 17th in the main race.

 Bob Akin in his Volpini passes George Waltman #51 Taraschi as he pulls off the racing line. .

Bob Akin in his Volpini passes George Waltman #51 Taraschi as he pulls off the racing line. .

 Bob Grossman in an open wheeled car? The allure of a big, pro race got the upstate NY dealer in a Cunningham Stanguellini. Here is goes outside a spinning Sy Kabak’s OSCA.  Grossman managed a 6th in his heat but like more than half the field, did no

Bob Grossman in an open wheeled car? The allure of a big, pro race got the upstate NY dealer in a Cunningham Stanguellini. Here is goes outside a spinning Sy Kabak’s OSCA. Grossman managed a 6th in his heat but like more than half the field, did not finish the feature race.

 The track ran around the main building and horse race track on service roads and specially marked parking lots. Kolb drives in front of the swanky main entrance.  Kolb finished 2nd in his heat and dropped back with a faulty fuel pump to finish 7th i

The track ran around the main building and horse race track on service roads and specially marked parking lots. Kolb drives in front of the swanky main entrance. Kolb finished 2nd in his heat and dropped back with a faulty fuel pump to finish 7th in the feature.

 George Constantine in the #49 Volpini is working hard passing the front entrance.  George drove the car in several races in 1960 without a lot of great results.

George Constantine in the #49 Volpini is working hard passing the front entrance. George drove the car in several races in 1960 without a lot of great results.

 Phil Forno looks relaxed as he drives Cunningham’s BMC special.  This one off car still lives in vintage events.  Phil took it to 5th in his heat and 8th in the Cup race.

Phil Forno looks relaxed as he drives Cunningham’s BMC special. This one off car still lives in vintage events. Phil took it to 5th in his heat and 8th in the Cup race.

 Jordan King drove his Gemini most of the season but had a miserable weekend not finishing either his heat or the main event.

Jordan King drove his Gemini most of the season but had a miserable weekend not finishing either his heat or the main event.

 The program listed this driver as George Woltman, we know better and will say it was Geroge Waltman of TR-4 and Morgan fame.

The program listed this driver as George Woltman, we know better and will say it was Geroge Waltman of TR-4 and Morgan fame.

 Bob Akin alone in his Taraschi.  Akin nver came to terms with the car and finished far back in his heat and dnf’d the cup race

Bob Akin alone in his Taraschi. Akin nver came to terms with the car and finished far back in his heat and dnf’d the cup race

 Bob Rubin, yet another SCCA driver usually associated with Alfa Romeo drives his usual race number #55 Stanguellini.  Rubin had an 11th in his heat race but dnf in the feature event.

Bob Rubin, yet another SCCA driver usually associated with Alfa Romeo drives his usual race number #55 Stanguellini. Rubin had an 11th in his heat race but dnf in the feature event.

 Freddy Windridge in a very unfamiliar Volpini.  Fast Fred was known for his Corvette and Lister-Chev cars rather than the small formula racers.  Poor Fred dropped out of both his heat and the main race.

Freddy Windridge in a very unfamiliar Volpini. Fast Fred was known for his Corvette and Lister-Chev cars rather than the small formula racers. Poor Fred dropped out of both his heat and the main race.

 Nicolos Cone in an unusual Testa Doro special.  Cone is not shown in either heat or final results and the Testa Doro was not heard from again.

Nicolos Cone in an unusual Testa Doro special. Cone is not shown in either heat or final results and the Testa Doro was not heard from again.

 The NY Region SCCA used the Vanderbilt track for an entire regional race.  Here a couple Abarths race past the front entrance.  Note the security guard who has the best seat in the house.

The NY Region SCCA used the Vanderbilt track for an entire regional race. Here a couple Abarths race past the front entrance. Note the security guard who has the best seat in the house.

 Harry Carter kneels next to the huge Vanderbilt Cup. In 1960 the cup was presented by Cornelius Vanderbilt IV.   photo by NY daily news

Harry Carter kneels next to the huge Vanderbilt Cup. In 1960 the cup was presented by Cornelius Vanderbilt IV.

photo by NY daily news

 Map of the 1.5 mile track layout.  It was tight in most places but has a half mile start/finish straight

Map of the 1.5 mile track layout. It was tight in most places but has a half mile start/finish straight