From 1908-1911 Savannah was a major Railroad town. Not only did the railroad barons (such as like Vanderbilt) make
their winter homes near the City, but the resources they brought were an integral part of bringing racing to Savannah.
Trains such as the engine (pictured at left) and Pullman cars (similar to the ones shown below) can still be found today
at the Coastal Heritage Society's Roundhouse Museum, along with a wide variety of historic engines, street cars and a
caboose
During the American Grand Prize races, there were over 100 Pullman cars transporting spectators from New York to Savannah.
One luxury train was called The Wall Street Special. It contained sleeping cars, baggage
cars, dining cars, office cars, a barbershop car and a dynamo. Throughout the city, trains of every sort lined the many
tracks. These trains were from all parts of the country, some as far away as the West coast. Not only did spectators
cross the country on them, they were also housed on the trains since hotels were filled to capacity. The Grand Ballrooms
of the DeSoto Hotel were filled wall to wall with cots, and same for the Hotel Geiger (now known as Marshall House) which
had 150 rooms for $1-5 each. So spectators who arrived by train were often given accomodations on the trains they arrived
on for the Thanksgiving weekend events.
Today, the railroads remain the heart of the city and they still have a connection to Grand Prix racing
in Savannah. CSX manages a portion of land on Hutchinson Island (the Savannah Harbor) which make up the purpose
built road circuit which was used as a racing track in 1997 for the Indylights and which F1 drivers Mauricio Guglemin
and Mark Blundell exhibited their cars on. On both sides of the Savannah River, the railroads are as big a part of daily
life as they were 100 years ago.
WILLIE
'K'
William
Kissam (“Willie K”) Vanderbilt Jr. was the grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt. He was an auto
enthusiast and racer at the turn of the century, whose exploits were famous from New York to Georgia. The
Vanderbilts were powerful railroad barons that were able to use their influence to accomplish many things – including
developing auto racing and technology. They raced cars and yachts on the East Coast of the United States of America.
The family were amongst the Founders of the Jekyll Island club, South of Savannah, Georgia, where they kept a winter
home. Willie K and cousin Cornelius Vanderbilt were founders of the American Grand Prize and the Vanderbilt
Cup, awarded by Champ Car annually to the series Champion until 2008. They were also the Founders
of the ACA and AAA. Savannah, Georgia was the home to both races – the AGP from 1908-1911 and the
Vanderbilt Cup in 1911. Long Island was where Willie K ran his Vanderbilt Cup from 1904-1910. Willie K
had a passion for automotive advancement, but he also had an appreciation for the European grand prix style racing –
which is where his own roots in racing were. So he helped build two major races in America, along with
his family, who steered the two organizations AAA and ACA through rocky times when they were on the outs due to weight differences.
Willie K went to fight in World War 1, and this war caused the end of road racing in America – certainly in Europe
- for some time. Yet, Willie K’s accomplishments were not forgotten and the Vanderbilt name and traditions
live on.
Illustration Courtesy of "Great Auto Races" by Peter Helck
