Mystery Friday Foto #13 Solved; A Long Journey to Montauk
Did you identify the 1910 Montauk Point Reliability Run in this photo?
Identify;
- The Location
The Montauk Lighthouse
- The Event
1910 Montauk Point Reliability Run, also known as the "Montauk Light or Bust" reliability run.
- Approximate date
A two day event. The date of the photo is either June 14 or June 15, 1910
- Kudos; The motor vehicle in front
1910 Mitchell Model S Touring Car in foreground.
Comments (3)
Congrats to Steve Lucas, Paul W, and George Philippides for identifying the Montauk Lighthouse. Kudos to Steve Lucas for identifying all the questions.
Greg O.
Other views of the 1910 Montauk reliabilty Run
Close-up view of motorists and Captain Scott in front of the Montauk Point lighthouse during the 1910 Montauk Point Reliability Run. Scott, the lighthouse's longest serving keeper, presented a gold medal to commemorate the arrival of the first car at the lighthouse. Sponsored by the Motor Contest Association, the two-day endurance run, also known as the "Montauk Light or Bust" reliability run, took place June 14-15, 1910.
Comments
That’s the Montauk Point Lighthouse at the eastern end of Long Island. This was the half-way point of a two day automobile endurance run started in NYC called the 1910 Montauk Point Reliability Run. Sponsored by the Motor Contest Association, it was also known as the Montauk Light Or Bust run. The date of the photo is either June 14 or June 15, 1910, the two days of the event. I think the car in the front is a Mitchell.
Montauk Point Light House.
Location is the Montauk Point Lighthouse. Sometimge between 1910 and 1931 as the paved road to lighthouse is absent ( built in 1931)
No idea about the event or car though there was a New York State Motor Trade Association 200-mile Efficiency Run to Montauk Point in 1912 I believe.
Fantastic Fotos, 114 years later! Clever to use the ‘Continental Tires’ banner lengthwise to help shield the dusty ride. I’d bet the course included Motor Parkway’s entire 45 mile length. After Ronkonkoma heading east towards the light, you’re on your own through 75 more miles of pristine and mostly undeveloped lands of early Long Island.
Frank, No part on the Motor parkway was used for the 2 day contest. It started in Manhattan and most of the run eastward was on the Merrick Rd. The route used the second day back west was mostly along the north shore of the Island.
An article from The New-York Tribune, June 12, 1910 outlining the course. Sorry Frank, it doesn’t appear the Motor Parkway was used. Maybe they didn’t want to pay the toll!
Finishing up the course and a picture taken prior to the run.
Thanks Al and Art for the course details. Appears tough road conditions throughout the whole course. Westbound heading back was likely more treacherous with the hills along the north side. Surprised some completed the event in just two days. No doubt others were disabled enroute with multiple flat tires