Mystery Foto #26 Solved: The Dangerous Newbridge Avenue Bridge on 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course
This weekend's Mystery Foto featured another important section of a Vanderbilt Cup Race course.
Answers to the Mystery Foto questions:
- Identify the location, the Motor Parkway bridge and orientation and position of the photographer.
View looking west/north in East Meadow looking at the Newbridge Avenue (Bellmore Road) Motor Parkway Bridge. The photographer was standing on the nearby Stewart Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge. The Newbridge Avenue Bridge was often also called the Meadowbrook Bridge.
- Identify the Vanderbilt Cup Race, the race car and its driver.
Hugh Harding was driving the #6 Apperson in the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
- What significant event happened at this location?
During the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race, Harold Stone lost control of his Columbia racer and went off the Newbridge Avenue Bridge His mechanician Bacon died as a result of the accident. This accident and the death of Louis Chevrolet's mechanician resulted in the end of the William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. Cup Races on Long Island.
Comments (8)
Congrats to Ron Ridolph, Greg O., Steve Lucas, Tim Ivers and Dick Gorman for correctly identifying the East Meadow location.
Kudos to Tim Ivers and Dick Gorman for correcting identifying Hugh Harding's #6 "Jackrabbit" Apperson.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Close-Up
Newbridge Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge
August 8, 1938 aerial of the two bridges
Stewart Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge
Hugh Harding's 1909 #6 Apperson
Comments
Photo is: Bridge# 35— Newbridge Avenue // Bellmore Road in
East Meadow.
Identify the location, the Motor Parkway bridge and orientation and position of the photographer.
-Looking Easterly towards what is now Eisenhower Park and Salisbury Park Drive at the corner of the Ladenburg Farm.
Identify the Vanderbilt Cup Race, the race car and its driver.
-Hugh Harding driving his Apperson in the 1909 VCR.
What significant event happened at this location?
-The bridge was the scene of a tragic accident during the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race. Driver Harold Stone lost control of his Columbia racer trying to make the curve on the bridge at speed. The car ran off the bridge killing the mechanician Matthew Bacon.
The Meadowbrook bridge (Newbridge Avenue) in East Meadow (Salisbury) looking northeast in the 1909 race. High Harding in the Apperson #6 .
This location was the scene of a fatal wreck in the 1909 race.
Another incredible photo. Standing alone, it’s hard for me to tell if this is Long Island or Nebraska!
No comment (I’ve forgotten this one) but, OH!, how I’d love to know what the sign, facing away at left, reads [“magic” - appended!]. Sam, III
I think that’s Herb Lytle driving the #6 Isotta having just gone over the “Meadowbrook” bridge which went over Newbridge Avenue (Bellmore Road) during the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The photographer is facing west from a position on top of the Stewart Avenue bridge in the Salisbury Plains area. During the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race, Driver Harold Stone lost control of his Columbia racer, went off the road and crashed, killing his mechanician Matthew (William?) Bacon. This and other prior fatalities lead to the end of racing on Long Island’s public roads.
Mystery Foto #26…photo shows Meadowbrook Bridge in East Meadow looking northeast.
This photo was shot during the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The car is a 1909 Apperson Jackrabbit driven by Hugh Harding. A year later a tragic crash happened at this location when Harold Stone lost control of his Columbia racer. The car ran off the bridge, killing mechanician Matthew Bacon. Though reported as killed in this crash, driver Stone survived and recovered from his injuries.
This is deadman’s curve with the LIRR bridge in the background. Thanks Howard for posting this picture.Regards,Gene
Hmm. I can’t help but wonder if the #6 Apperson was actually a Jackrabbit. The “Jackrabbit” was only first introduced as a Speedster in 1908 and the whole line briefly became “Jack Rabbits” around the time of the race or so. Speedsters were short wheelbase cars and the #6 appears to be on a long wheelbase chassis (as were most racers). Anyone know? The Master Nitpicker strikes again! Sam, III
P. S. - Sorry about the above levity - the REAL sign is now appended.