The Motor Parkway Sweepstakes
The Press and Officials’ Stand in Hempstead Plains
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. Officials of the Motor Parkway Sweepstakes met in front of the new double-decker press and officials’ stand on race day.
Deadman’s Curve in Central Park
During the Sweepstakes races, Axel Peterson’s Rainier #M36 battled William Haupt’s Chadwick #P41 at “Deadman’s Curve” in Central Park, now Bethpage. A Long Island Railroad train can be seen in the background.
Italian Isotta Wins the Motor Parkway Sweepstakes
The winner of the Motor Parkway Sweepstakes was Herb Lytle driving his Italian #P42 Isotta at an average speed of 64.25 mph, an American record for long-distance speed contests. As Lytle drove past the newly constructed Jerusalem Road Bridge over the Motor Parkway, his riding mechanician looked back towards the grandstand. The grandstand could be seen through the bridge passageway.
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Motor Pkwy
Feature
The 128-page book by Howard Kroplick, a researcher and lecturer on the races, contains rare images of the races from the archives of major museums, libraries and private collectors. The book Vanderbilt Cup Races of Long Island will be available from Arcadia Publishing in March 2008.
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