George Robertson

GEORGE ROBERTSON was one of America’s most versatile competitors, compiling a tremendous record during a three-year period starting in 1908. His major 1908 victories were in the 200-mile Fairmount Park (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) inaugural race, the 258-mile Vanderbilt Cup race run at a record speed of 64.4 miles per hour, and the Brighton Beach, New York, 24-hour race (with Lescault). In 1909, Robertson repeated his Fairmount Park triumph, won another 24-hour Brighton Beach race (with Al Poole), won the 318-mile Lowell Trophy, finished second for the 232-mile Indiana Trophy, placed third for the 395-mile Cobe Trophy, and was recognized as the National Champion. In 1910 he won two, one-hour Brighton Beach races and two match races with Ralph DePalma before winning another Vanderbilt Cup. Robertson also was the captain of the Benz team in 1910, but was injured while showing a newspaper reporter the Vanderbilt Cup course and was forced to retire from driving. He continued to be active in racing, however, managing the Duesenberg team for Jimmy Murphy’s 322-mile victory in the 1921 French Grand Prix. He played a very important role in the creation of Roosevelt Raceway, Long Island, New York, for the revival of Vanderbilt Cup competition in the 1930s for which he served as managing director.