4 replies to this topic

[RVM]

The IndyCar organization apparently obtained the Astor Cup, which was competed for in October 1915 and September 1916 at the Sheepshead Bay Speedway in Brooklyn -- the winners being Gil Anderson (nee Andersen) and Johnny Aitken respectively, and is now using it as the award for the season's champion. This is all well and good, of course, a nice gesture as well as being a nice idea. The Astor Cup was first awarded at the end of the 2011 season.

 

This being IndyCar there is, naturally, a problem with history. The Astor Cup now rests on a black granite base that is inscribed with the names of the past champions of the AAA, USAC, CART, and IRL series. The names begin with the 1909 season and, therefore, includes all the non-concurrent AAA champions. This is, of course, incorrect and yet another fine example of the sort of historical stupidity that plagues the history of pre-1920 US automobile racing.

 

One senses that there is little hope for this organization when it comes to history.

[Nigel Beresford]

Perhaps you could expand a bit on why this is wrong, for those of us who don't know anything about the background. It would be good to know.

 

I do think you're being a bit unfair in your closing statement - I know many people working in the IndyCar paddock who are very knowledgeable about the history and heritage of the series - much more so than their counterparts in more prominent series.  

 

Thanks

Edited by Nigel Beresford, 11 November 2013 - 23:17.

[RVM]

Nigel,

 

No offense, but the lack of historical knowledge among the IndyCar crowd -- and racing fans in general -- regarding early US racing is both pitiful and what there is tends to be incorrect, especially that prior to 1921. I am not being harsh, I am simply stating the obvious. Heritage often is another word for folklore and mythology.

 

There were no AAA national champions for the years 1909 to 1915 and 1917 to 1919. Although there was a AAA champion for 1905, Barney Oldfield, he is usually omitted for various reasons. Plus, many sources still insist the the 1920 AAA national champion was Tommy Milton, not the actual champion, Gaston Chevrolet.

 

This topic has been discussed at great length here at TNF should you wish to do a search (try Russ Catlin or Arthur Means or Bob Russo for starters), as well as here: http://8w.forix.com/rvm-vol7-no6.html and here http://8w.forix.com/rvm-vol8-no4.html and here http://8w.forix.com/rvm-vol10-no1.html plus here http://speedreaders.info/11392-izod-indycar-series-2013-historical-record-book and here http://speedreaders.info/9042-izod-indycar-series-2012-historical-record-book

 

There is a great deal of difference in calling yourself a racing historian and actually being an historian -- and those who are tend to be very few and very far in-between. A great deal of automobile racing "history" tends to be complete bunk, unfortunately.

[Nigel Beresford]

No offence taken, of course, and thanks for the explanation and links. One might reasonably assume that Donald Davidson was involved in or consulted on the decision to include those names. It would be interesting to know his opinion.

[RVM]

No offence taken, of course, and thanks for the explanation and links. One might reasonably assume that Donald Davidson was involved in or consulted on the decision to include those names. It would be interesting to know his opinion.

 

That crossed my mind as well, one of the reasons I was quite surprised by what was done.