1906 Vandebilt Cup competitor, the Frayer Miller... and it's 16 year old mechanic? Eddie Rickenbacker

The Frayer-Millers were the largest air-cooled auto engines yet produced at 991cuin. They intended to show the world that their system of engine cooling was the best so far devised.

 Lee Frayer was the chief designer, a graduate of Ohio State University with a Mechanical Engineering degree. He also drove one of the cars in the race. He brought along a 16 year old boy named Edd to be his riding mechanic.

 A few years later Edd was better known as Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker, Ace of Aces, future President of Eastern Airlines and future owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
info from http://www.stohrdesign.com/1/post/2011/11/1906-vanderbilt-cup-part-4.html

the Buick Bug of 1910, in the Vanderbuilt Cup, and it's driver Louis Chevrolet

Bob Burnham is a name you might recognize from the Blitzen Benz land speed record runs on Ormand Beach http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search?q=burman

Photos from http://buickcity.blogspot.com/

Most amazing collection, or museum (might not be open to the public yet) that you've never heard of. The Price museum/collection in Salt Lake City

Just a list and a link to inform you with right now..

the Peerless Green Dragon, 1904. Owned and driven by Barney Oldfield
1903 Pope Toledo race car, Vanderbilt Cup and Daytona beach
1907 Renault race car built for William Vanderbilt to compete in his own race
1911 Mercer Raceabout, barnfind
1911 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, built for a hot air balloon professor, it carries the basket in back
1912 Hudon Mile a Minute, one of 2 known to exist
1913 Pope Hartford roadster Model 29
1914 Marmon speedster
1915 Stutz Weightman Special race car, winner in 1916 race in Wash DC
1916 Stutz Bearcat barnfind... from a barn in Cuba
1924, 1925, and 1932 Miller Indy race cars
1929 Bugatti type 35b owned by Chiron and raced in Le Mans
1931 Blower Bentley
1933 Alfa Romeo 8c 2300 Monza Spyder
1938 Mormon Meteor III land speed record holder
1951 Allard J2 race car owned by Jack Armstrong

these are only some of the most interesting, because I don't want to type all of he collection, so go see their website for more: http://pricemuseumofspeed.org/

"A rare display of the greatest representations of early racing history. Many of these rare vintage race cars either won or placed well in numerous renowned events such as the Grand Prix, Le Mans, Morris Park, Briarcliff Cup, Daytona Beach, Gordon Bennett Cup, Empire Track at Yonkers, Sheepshead Bay, Indianapolis, Mille Miglia among others.

The Mission of the Price Museum of Speed Foundation is to display unique vintage race cars and memorabilia, and provide an automobile research library for future generations of car enthusiasts to enjoy."

Charlie Chaplin was making a movie, and filmed the the 1914 Junior Vanderbilt Cup

found on http://silodrome.com/kid-auto-races-at-venice/

Most famous Locomobile ever, the "Old 16". Winner of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup, it beat the worlds best, and here Paul Newman pays tribute. Is that cool or what!?!

found via http://theoldmotor.com/

racing, about a 100 years ago - chain drives and wood spoke rims

found on http://kissbangbangbatman.tumblr.com/

The first front wheel drive car, the 1905 Christie 4 cylinder Vanderbilt cup racecar

Above photo from http://steampunkvehicles.tumblr.com/

the cylinders were leaned back to take some weight off the front and transfer the weight to the rear a little bit

Walter Christie was involved in the engineering of many other vehicles, steamships, submarines, aircraft and fire engines coincidentally, and this past weekend I and Justacargal were examining the one at the Nethercutt museum just North of Los Angeles in the San Fernando valley: http://justacargal-s.blogspot.com/2011/03/1913-christie-fire-engine.html

the 3 some of race cars at the 1908 Minnesota state fair is from http://steampunkvehicles.tumblr.com/

The machine is known as the “Freak Automobile,” because all its mechanism is built over the two front wheels, where the driving power is also applied. Each of the five cylinders, two of which are to be seen conspicuously over the front right wheel, is capable of developing 60 hp. The front right wheel is double tired and strengthened to withstand the enormous strain when traveling around a curve at a high rate of speed.

The power of the gas engine is so great that it is impossible to run the machine on a city street, and when the mechanism starts working the machine fairly jumps through the air. The inventor is wealthy and follows the sport purely for the joy of rushing along at a speed faster than the flight of a homing pigeon.  http://thiscircularparade.com/2012/02/04/speed-demon-roadster-runs-a-mile-in-57-seconds/

At one time, it had a second engine on the rear wheels, in the same transverse powering it's own axle

The bottom photo is from http://www.atomicantiques.com/

The top 3 are from http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/thursday_november_12_2009_the_christie_fron-wheel_drive_racer_in_the_1905_r

Nov 2011 update, Stohr Design is going to recreate the Vanderbuilt cup racer of Christie's http://www.stohrdesign.com/christie-automobiles-1903-1909.html

above two images found on the HAMB

the Christie comes around the curve at 3:40
video found from info at http://www.stohrdesign.com/christie-automobiles-1903-1909-a-blog.html

above from http://www.stohrdesign.com/christie-automobiles-1903-1909-a-blog.html

above found on http://lecontainer.blogspot.com