Kleiner’s Korner: Part 2 - Motorcycling on the Motor Parkway
The second part of this series looks at how motorcycle enthusiasts followed with earnest the development of The Motor Parkway as a possible new venue for racing and touring on Long Island. Local motorcycle clubs would eventually use the parkway throughout its history.
Art Kleiner
A High Level of Interest
Motorcycle Illustrated, Oct. 1, 1908
Motorcycle oriented publications reported on the progress of The Motor Parkway and how, unlike, automobilists, motorcyclists could ride on it to get a feel for it. (Motorcycle Illustrated, Oct. 1, 1908)
The Bicycle World and Motorcycle Review, Sept. 5, 1908
A familiar location accompanied the article. Notice the motorcycle or bicycle in the shack on the right.
Construction Photos: All from "Motorcyle Illustrated", Oct. 1, 1908
Motorcycle Illustrated published a series of photographs so that its readers could see the Parkway's progress. The article mentions photos were taken with a Kodak camera, however the photos were of low quality (or possible just reproduced poorly in the publication).
Each picture was accompanied by a caption: This first one reads: "the western approach to the viaduct over the country road and railroad at Central Park, half a mile from the Central Park railroad station".
"the cut through which the parkway passes under one of the roads near Westbury, and is the only cut of the kind on the whole course"
"the last stretch of the parkway, looking east from Central Park"
"the only railroad crossing on the course, on the Jericho Turnpike, at Locust Grove, between Woodbury and Jericho"
This caption was wrong. Thanks to Brian McCarthy the correct caption should be: "On the Vanderbilt Cup Course - A sharp turn on the Plainview Road".
"a dangerous down grade at Central Park"
"a banked curve, southeast of Central Park, one mile from the railroad station"
"the flatiron turn at Woodbury"
Motorcycle Races to be Planned
Following the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race, the Federation of American Motorcyclists entertained a request for a race to be held in November. (Motorcycle Illustrated, Nov. 15, 1908)
A hundred mile race proposed by A.R. Pardington?
Instead a spring, 1909 race was planned. (Motorcycle Illustrated, Dec. 1, 1908)
Two "loops" were proposed on each side of the grandstand.
The next installment of this series will document several motorcycle races and/or touring runs held on The Motor Parkway.
Comments
That “shack” in the first small pic is almost-certainly a pump house. Sam, III
Art, Motor cycles, your post of the motor cycle toll ticket is a story in it’s own right. First, they are extremely rare, not aware of any motor cycle toll ticket in in private hands. secondly, Vanderbilt’s signature in script appears on the ticket making it even rarer. Originally the toll tickets had Pardington"s signature on them. After he left the Parkway employ, Vanderbilt’s name appeared on the tickets only in 1911. Thereafter, and until the Parkway closed, Kienzle was the signatory. Note the ticket number is 50, that means only 50 motor cycles entered the Parkway from this entrance since July 9, 1910 when the Great Neck Lodge first opened.
Just found this miss captioned image within the photo archive, Art.
Thanks Brian. I’ll update my post and credit you.
Good find!
Wow, great historic and intricate details Al. Thank you for sharing to all of us. The historic picture is becoming clearer
Thanks Art for covering the story of motorcycling on the Motor Parkway. I ve been Motorcycling for over 43 years and found the stories very interesting.Its a shame that motorcycles were eventually banned in 1923 from operating on LIMP..It must have been a blast riding those early motorcycle machines on the parkway. Take care, Gene Perry
From Art Kleiner:
Gene, so glad you enjoyed the series - thanks for the feedback. Part 5 (even though I indicated Part 4 would be the final one) will be forthcoming. This talks about a motorcycling event on LI but not on the Motor Parkway, of which there were many.