Vanderbilt Cup Races

Comments on the Blog posts are encouraged and much appreciated. Below are a sampling.

A Rare Photo of the North Hempstead Turnpike LIMP Bridge

Mitch K:

Hi (fellow panelist) Howard,

I've been scrounging around your web site (I love it!) and found the December 5, 2008 mention of the rare photo of the North Hempstead Turnpike overpass of the LIMP. It was taken by Robert C. Levine. I supplied the photo of the overpass used in the book that you and Al Velocci just completed.

Howard K: Mitch, your above contribution to our book The Long Island Motor Parkway was very much appreciated!

Click here to go to the North Hempstead Turnpike LIMP Bridge post.

The LIMP Bridge over Willis Avenue

Joe O:

Do we know if this picture is looking north or south?

Click here to go to the Mineola LIMP Bridge post.

Looking for the Restored 1908 Alco-6 Racer

Tom Grant:

Howard: Thanks for finding the Bete Noir. I can almost see Frank Lee and Harry Grant on board. Hope you enjoyed your “road trip.” Be well and Happy Holidays.

Howard Kroplick Interview: The Vanderbilt Cup Races and the Long Island Motor Parkway

Art K.:

Nice interview Howard. Very entertaining.

Update on the Latest Mystery Photo!

TL Thousand:

Hi Howard! Wow! You will never believe this, but I was able to identify the man in the passenger seat next to my grandfather in the mystery car—which changes quite a few things my family thought we knew about the mystery photo. The man in the passenger seat—the man my grandfather chauffered for-- is William Grant ("W.G.") Faatz. The location is Binghamton, New York. The photo was taken sometime between November 20. 1910 and April 14, 1911.

Click here to go to the Mystery Photo post.

Premium Vanderbilia

Jan Lee:

Love your site and have to get your book. My great grandfather was Frank Lee, Harry Grant’s mechanic. We have many photos from the races. The photo of them crossing the finish line hung in my great-grandmothers and then our home. The house burned in 99.It was a pleasure to see the picture again.

Long Island Motor Parkway Mystery Photo

Joe DeBono:

I’ve seen a picture with a sign like that and a smaller sign under it in another picture that was taken at a different angle further away which was at Wicks Road in Suffolk County dated about 1917 to 1920. Great new book.

Click here to go to the Mystery Photo post.

Question of the day: Can you identify this Vanderbilia plaque?

Keith Korbut:

I have one of these plaques on my 1911 Cole 30. It is on the left side of the firewall. Leroy is correct that all 1911 Cole’s had this to celebrate the winning of the 1910 Vanderbilt Massapequa race. The driver was Bill Endicott.

Click here to go to the plaque post.

The 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race Program Guide

Heather:

I was wondering if you could help steer me in the right direction. I was going through some items that had been given to me by a great grandparent. One item is the Official Score Card and Guide of the 2nd International Race for William K. Vanderbilt Jr. 1905. I wanted to learn more about the program.

Click here to go to the program guide post.

Calling All Vanderbilt Cup Race Families

Johannes Larsen:

A close friend of mine and fellow racer once showed me a fascinating scrap book about her grandfathers pursuit as a driver for the Fiat team, her maiden name is Parker and her grandfather drove the second finish car in the 1909 VCR. I am now trying to piece together his other starts, for example his participation as a relief driver for the #18 car driven by Eddie Hearne in the first ever Indy 500 (1911). Any leads you may have would be greatly appreciated.

Click here to go to the Vanderbilt Cup Race families post.

What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

Robert Lowell:

Yowza All, I collect/restore old vehicles and came across an article in Speed Age circa 1953 on the Museum. I hit the Web to see if possibly this place still existed, unfortunately not, but somehow the land hasn’t been developed after all these years. If memory serves me correctly the Harrah Collection bought the Thomas Flyer from the famous race and it was left as original as possible because of it’s historical significance. My only hope is whoever ended up with it did not do a full body off restoration as it would be criminal. Anybody who has knowledge of the actual people who restored the cars at Harrah’s or possibly owned or currently own one please contact me at [email protected].

Click here to go to the LIAM post.