The earliest of the sports trophies in the collection is an ornate belt
(fig. 19) made of blue velvet upon which are mounted five engraved
silver plates connected by silver straps. On the center plate is the
inscription:
6 Days Bicycle Champion Belt of Scotland Won by H. W. Higham
Nottingham 19th June 1880 Contested at Glasgow
One of the two adjoining smaller plates has an engraving of a man riding
a high-wheeled bicycle, and the other has an engraving of a man standing
beside a similar bicycle. The two outer plates are engraved with
Scottish coats of arms. The belt is 34-1/2 inches long and 3 inches
wide.
[Illustration: Figure 20.--THE VANDERBILT CUP, an annual award for
automobile races in the early 20th century. Gift of William K.
Vanderbilt, Jr. In Division of Transportation. (Acc. 131820, cat. 310894;
Smithsonian photo 45992-B.)]
Trophies were awarded for competition among the various makes of cars
almost as early as the advent of the automobile itself. The earliest
such trophy in the Museum's collection is a three-handled, cut-glass
cup[42] with a wide silver rim on which is engraved:
Automobile Club of New Jersey. Eagle Rock Hill Climbing Contest.
First Prize Nov. 5, 1901.
The prize was won by Charles E. Duryea who drove an automobile of his
own manufacture.
Most important of the automobile trophies was the Vanderbilt Cup (fig.
20) for racing, which was established by William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., in
1904 to bring the best cars of foreign make to the United States so that
domestic manufacturers could observe them. It is believed that the
trophy contributed in this way to the rapid development of the
automobile in the United States. The Vanderbilt Cup races were held
annually in the United States under the auspices of the American
Automobile Association.
The silver cup, measuring 23 inches high and 20 inches in diameter and
weighing about 40 pounds, is engraved with statistics of the various
races--such as dates, winners, types of cars, distances, and times.[43]
There is a wreath around the brim, and the front is decorated with a
period racing car in repousse. The inscription reads:
Challenge Cup Presented by W. K. Vanderbilt Jr. American
Automobile Assn. under deed of gift to be raced for yearly by cars
under 1000 kilos.