Innovations and Significance of the Vanderbilt Cup Races
Bob, let's first tackle the innovations associated with the Vanderbilt Cup Races:
Innovations of the Vanderbilt Cup Races
First use of a concrete road built for an automobile race-1908
First time a checkered flag was used to signify the end of a race-1906
First service pits for an automobile race held in the United States-1908
Significance of the Vanderbilt Cup Races
First international automobile race held in the US-1904
One of the largest sporting events ever held in the US drawing crowds of over 250,000 people
Helped promote the use of the automobile
Resonsible for the beginning of improvements in design and construction of American automobiles and parkways
Established the need for protected auto racing tracks and professional race drivers
Helped change Long Island from a rural farmland to a sprawling suburbia
Comments
HI Howard, any idea of the dates of the last two photos in the section “Helped change LI from a . . . “. A grandfather of a neighbor of mine in Levittown owned the property east of Newbridge Road (106) and west of the Wantagh on Hempstead Turnpike. I believe this is the lower right hand part of the photos. Sure he would be interested in seeing these.
Thanks.
Hi Art:
The aerial on the left was taken in 1947. The Motor Parkway is on the far left with the clubhouse and hangar for the Long Island Aviation Country Club in the middle. Hempstead Turnpike is on the right. Note that building materials for future Levitt homes have been place on the ground.
The aerial on the right was taken in 1950- only three years later! Note the Aviation Club’s buildings were still standing.
Howard