Starting Lineup: 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes
On September 10, 1908, the AAA Race Commission announced plans to christen the Motor Parkway with an event called, “The Long Island Motor Parkway Sweepstakes.” Five concurrent stock car races were scheduled for October 10, 1908.
The idea was to create an opportunity to test the new course, timing systems, and crowd control for the Vanderbilt Cup Race scheduled two weeks later. The cars in the Sweepstakes Races were classified by their sales price. Seven cars participated in the "Motor Parkway Sweepstakes", the race for the stock cars selling for over $4,000. Each "Motor Parkway Sweepstakes" car was identified with a "P" for Parkway next to its number:
#P41 Chadwick (USA) driven by William Haupt. Finished 5th
#P42 Isotta (Italy) driven by Herb Lytle. Finished 1st with an average speed of 64.25 mph.
#P43 Simplex (USA) driven by Frank Lescault. Finished 4th.
#P44 Hotchkiss (France) driven by J. Kilpatrick. Finished 7th.
#P45 Knox (USA) driven by Charles Basle. Finished 6th.
#P46 Renault (France) driven by Lewis Strang. Finished 2nd.
#47 Itala (Italy) driven by Gus Lechleitner. Finished 3rd.
February 8, 2010 Update: A photo of the #P43 Simplex with the mechanician in the driver's seat. Courtesy of Bob Valentine.
1908 Sweepstakes results as published in Automobile Topics
Links to related posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com
Comments
Howard..I have a nice picture of no P43 a non race street scene. The driver looks more like the riding mechanic of your picture…Bob
Hi Bob:
Please send me the jpeg and I will post it. Thanks!
Howard
howard
did you get the e-mail with picture attached of p43.
just making sure you got it.
bob
Hi Bob:
Please send it to me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Thanks!
Howard
Hi Bob:
Thanks again for the photo posted above. It sure looks like the mechanician. I wonder where it was shot?
Howard
Howard I do not know where the P43 picture was taken. Using the building in the back, playing with the PC sharpens it, ive looked at East Norwich, Jericho, Mineola nothing. Maybe HIcksville. The picture was taken by Joseph Burt photographer thru the 30s Mineola area and beyond. Do you know the machanics name? How was Philly? Bob Valentine
Hi Bob:
Thanks for the information!
Many of Joseph Burt’s photos were taken in Mineola:
http://www.queenslibrary.org/ext/central/longisland/manuscripts/index.asp?f=burt+finding+aid.xml&tt=Joseph+Burt,+Sr.+Photographic+Collection+
The ACCA presentation was lots of fun:
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/saturday_february_13_2010
Howard
p43 picture corner Willis and Harrison Avs, Mineola. Unser’s General Store