The 'Black Beast' Roars at Village Hall

The "Black Beast" came home Thursday to Garden City.

The ALCO-6 racer that made a name for itself after winning the 1909 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup races and its owner, Howard Kroplick, visited village hall last night in an effort to promote resident history buff Cyril Smith's request to convert a section of the Long Island Motor Parkway that exists in Garden City into a village park.

The Vanderbilt Cup actually ran through Nassau County streets and the newly opened (1908) Long Island Motor Parkway (aka Vanderbilt Parkway), which William Kissam Vanderbilt, Jr. privately built with overpasses and bridges to remove intersections.  

A portion of the parkway ran through Garden City between the present Pell Terrace and Russell Road, turning eastward over Clinton Road and behind Stewart School. Smith hopes to add history markers and a nature trail for Stewart School at the park. 

"[The Black Beast] is one of the most valued vintage automobiles in the world. In effect, it is coming 'home' to Garden City," said Smith, who hoped the car's presence at village hall would serve as a powerful reminder of Garden City's glory days in early automotive history.

Kroplick showed off the vintage racer, which he's owned for a year-and-a-half, taking it for a spin around the village hall parking lot. Spectators, many of them car enthusiasts, came out to get an up close and personal look at the famed auto.

Michael Brosnan, who grew up on Pine Street in Garden City's eastern section, used to own a 1967 Mustang. He gave it up 12 years ago but said he appreciates the beauty of these vintage machines.

"I first saw the Black Beast in person a few years ago while it was on display at the [Cradle of] Aviation Museum," said Brosnan, who volunteers at the museum.

Built in 1909 in Providence RI, the ALCO-6 racer competed in 15 major auto races, including the first Indy 500 race in 1911. It was in Europe for 25 years before Kroplick got his hands on it.

"I have five seconds of the car [racing in the Indy 500], which is very neat," he said. "It was one of the favorites in the race but it broke a bearing in the 52nd lap so it came in 33rd."

Kroplick's "Black Beast," given the French nickname "Bete Noire," which is actually mispelled on the original 1911 logo, has been invited to the Indy 500's centennial celebration next year.

"They want to do a lap with the car," he said. "They want Danica Patrick to drive it. I said that's not a problem as long as I'm the passenger."

A full list of future "Black Beast" appearances and events can be found here.