Stanley Register Online - Vanderbilt Cup Racers

11 cars listed,  3 outside US

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Last update: 6/30/14

These cars are inspired by the two specials that the Stanleys built compete in the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
They were ordered by 2 Philadelphia amateurs, with the specification that they do one mile in 30 seconds.
Those cars' initial performance was unsatisfactory and they did not compete in that race, although they later had success in other races. 
        Neither is not known to survive.
These replicas, from all reports, give quite satisfactory performance.
There are now at least 11 of these cars in existence. 
The first two were built by Carl S. Amsley, and appear in the 1991 Sprague Register as "1908" cars,
        with chassis numbers VCR-1 and VCR-2.
The next three were built by Robert J. Boudeman and Win Howard, 2 of which used Bryan tractor engines.
Bodies and frames to construct these cars, aesthetically patterned after the Boudeman/Howard cars but designed to accept the original Stanley engine and suspension,
        are available at Midwest Coach & Carriage Works.

In owners column:
    Current owner is identified by 2-letter country & state
    Date to left of name is purchase date, to right of name is known ownership date

chassis VCR-1 engine model body racer	image source - "My Classic Car", episode 10020	current owner US, CA, 2012 Jay Leno previous owners Robert J. Boudeman Carl Amsley	horsepower:  20 boiler:  29"x16" gear ratio:  58-60 tires:  875 x 105 wheelbase:  106 weight:	Sprague Register 1991 notes: Wire wheels, 20 hp engine; 1278 tubes in boiler. other notes: Boudeman commissioned Amsley to build this car.  Recently fitted with newly built 30" burner and newly-designed baffles. - - - 1990 Int'l Steam Car Tour, Orillia, Ont. 1991 Steam Car Tour, Charlottesville
chassis VCR-2 engine model body racer	image source - StanleySteamers.com	current owner 1914, US, CA Allan Blazick previous owners Phil Lewis Carl Amsley	horsepower:  20 boiler:  29"x16" gear ratio:  58-60 tires:  875 x 105 wheelbase:  106 weight:	Sprague Register 1991 notes: Wire wheels, 20 hp engine; 1278 tubes in boiler. other notes: Amsley built this one at the same time as the Boudeman commission.
chassis VCR-3 engine model body racer		current owner US, PA, 2011 Willis Abel previous owners	horsepower:   boiler:   gear ratio:   tires:   wheelbase:   weight:	Built by Daryl Kendall.
chassis 1728 engine model body racer	image source - Wikimedia Commons	current owner US, PA, 2014 previous owners	horsepower: 30 boiler:  30"x18" gear ratio:  48-54 tires:  wheelbase:  weight:	Built by owner to scaled drawings taken from original photographs. - - - 2002 SACA Meet, Danville 2003 Ormond Beach 2004 Ormond Beach 2007 Steam Car Tour, Wilmington, DE 2009 Newport Hill Climb 2011 AACA Fall Meet, Hershey
chassis engine model body racer	image source - SACA Northeast	current owner US, ME, 2012 previous owners Robert J. Boudeman	horsepower: boiler:  gear ratio:  tires:  wheelbase:  weight:	Built 1994 by Robert J. Boudeman, some time after his receipt of the Amsley commission.  Footage of this car in action can be found here. - - - 1997 Dead Horse Hill Climb
chassis engine model body racer	image source - Birthplace of Speed	current owner US, ME, 2011 previous owners Robert J. Boudeman	horsepower: boiler:  gear ratio:  tires:  wheelbase: weight:	Built 2000.  Bryan engine, independent rear suspension, inboard disk brakes. - - - 1999 Goodwood Festival of Speed 2001 SACA Meet, Danville 2002 Steam Car Tour, Charlottesville 2003 Ormond Beach 2004 Ormond Beach 2004 SACA Meet, Berrien Springs 2005 Newport Antique Hill Climb 2006 Ormond Beach
chassis engine model body racer	image source - unknown	current owner US, MI, 2011 previous owners	horsepower: boiler:  gear ratio:  tires:  wheelbase: weight:	Built 2000. Bryan engine, independent rear suspension, inboard disk brakes. - - - 2001 Steam Car Tour, Block Island 2002 Steam Car Tour, Charlottesville 2003 Ormond Beach 2006 Ormond Beach
chassis engine model body racer		current owner US, MN, 2011 Robert J. Boudeman previous owners	horsepower: boiler:  gear ratio:  tires:  wheelbase: weight:	Unfinished.  Bryan engine, independent rear suspension, inboard disk brakes.
chassis engine model body racer	image source - HCCA classifieds	current owner 2008, DE, 2012 Helmut Karbe previous owners Al Rohrstaff, 2007	horsepower: 30 boiler:  gear ratio:  tires:  wheelbase: weight:	10-year construction project by Rohrstaff, finished in 2007.  Originally 20hp Stanley engine, now 30hp Goold/Stanley.  Video of a drive in this car is here.
chassis engine model body racer	image source - Steam Car Club of Great Britain	current owner GB, 2012 previous owners	horsepower:  boiler: gear ratio:  tires:  wheelbase: weight:	Built 2002-2006.  Bolsover boiler, right-hand drive. GB reg. BF 4183
chassis engine model body racer	image source - Midwest Coach and Carriage	current owner GB, 2012 previous owners	horsepower:  boiler: gear ratio:  tires:  wheelbase: weight:	Completed in 2014.  Body by Mark Johnston of Midwest Coach & CarriageWorks.

A couple of bonus Vanderbilt Cup pictures

I had to include these pictures because I just love them.

Here's Jay firing up.  And up, and up.  From "My Classic Car", episode 10020.

(Good Stanley operators know that it doesn't have to be this way.)

Here's an excellent picture from The Steam Automobile Bulletin, Oct-Dec 2003, showing the layout
of the works and the reason for that delightfully long hood.  Weight distribution is reportedly superb.



And here's the one that started the whole idea.  A wonderful picture of a youthful Fred Marriott at the wheel.

Image and text from The Antique Automobile, March-April, 1968.

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