Tuesday, February 9, 2010: Long Island Business News Article “Hope for the Vanderbilt”
Long Island Business News has published an article on the Motor Parkway Trailway based on the January 2010 press release issued by the engineering firm VHB:
____________________________________________________Hope for the Vanderbilt
by David Winzelberg
Published: Long Island Business News
January 29, 2010
First used as a raceway for the well-heeled nearly 100 years ago, the original Vanderbilt Long Island Motor Parkway is now on track for a long-awaited restart.
The Nassau County Department of Public Works has tapped Hauppauge engineering firm VHB to develop a master plan to transform the broken road that once connected Queens and Ronkonkoma into a viable recreational trail. The ultimate goal of the plan is to create an alternate transportation connection among communities and provide a protected route for hikers and bicyclists.
William K. Vanderbilt Jr. began building his privately owned parkway in 1908, and when it was finished it became the first concrete high-speed road in the country. Home to a race called the Vanderbilt Cup, the Motor Parkway attracted the area’s rich and famous to slap on the goggles and drive. Vanderbilt lost the road in 1938 for failing to pay property taxes and it was turned over to Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Little by little, as suburbia spread eastward, small sections of the parkway disappeared or were rerouted to accommodate development. In Nassau, most of the parkway has become a right-of-way for the Long Island Power Authority. Just 16 feet wide, Vanderbilt’s winding parkway used about 60 bridges to eliminate intersections, most of which have been demolished. Preservation groups have lobbied LIPA and local officials for years to save what’s left, and the master plan is a step in that direction.
The engineers working on the plan will inventory existing conditions of the old road, including the tangled web of right-of-ways and transversals through private properties. After the mapping is completed, the VHB team will then design access for the public and easy maintenance features into sections. Identifying where the parkway was originally located will depend heavily on the use of historical records, old maps and interviews with people familiar with the parkway and its history. VHB has already conducted several meetings with the Long Island Motor Parkway Panel, a volunteer group dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of the trail.
Denis Byrne, who heads a committee called Long Island Greenways and Healthy Trails, has been a strong supporter of reusing the old parkway. "This proposed path will help us change Long Island for the better by allowing people to combine recreational and transportation activities in a fun, safe and enjoyable manner,” Byrne said.
VHB project manager Paul Campagnola said community participation would be a key aspect of the project known as the Long Island Motor Parkway Trailway. He said engineers will work with the county to advertise public meetings and target local officials, civic and business groups, parks and open space proponents, and other stakeholders. Campagnola will be working with Bill DeSantis, a veteran engineer who specializes in roadway, bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Ryan Lynch of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign said the grassroots effort to reopen the trail is another indication of the rising demand for transportation choices on Long Island. “Anytime you can create a safe place for biking and walking you can reduce congestion on the roads,” Lynch said, “especially for short trips.”
Scheduled for completion by the fall, the trail’s master plan will include construction cost estimates and develop a timeline for the whole project.
____________________________________Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Future Events
-Exhibition "Cars, Culture and the City", New York, NY March 17, 2010 to August 1, 2010
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Indexes
-The Long Island Motor Parkway
Blog Highlights
Long Island Car Events
-Links to Car Club Meetings, Car Shows and Car Cruises (Updated: 2/6/2010)
Car Clubs
-Links to 33 Long Island car clubs (Updated: February 5, 2010)
Favorite Websites (Latest addition: February 1, 2010)
Blog Updates
-February 3, 2010: A 2010 photo of the Mineola railroad crossing on Jericho Turnpike.
Sunday, February 7, 2010: Starting Lineup for the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
These are the 17 cars that raced in the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race held on October 24, 1908. The race was run over a 23.46 mile course including 8 miles of the Long Island Motor Parkway. The winner needed to complete 11 laps of the course for a total of 258.06 miles. Remember to click on the photos to enlarge the image:
#1 Locomobile (USA) driven by Joe Florida, 90 HP. Finished 3rd. Crashed into touring car on course at finish. Unofficial third place.
#2 Knox (USA) driven by Al Denison, 50 HP. Finished 7th. Running in lap 10 when race was called.
#3 Mercedes (Germany) driven by Emil Stricker. 120 HP. Finished 6th. Caught fire at Locust Grove, running when race was stopped
#4 Chadwick (USA) driven by William Haupt. 60 HP. Finished 10th. Magneto problem on lap 7. Running in lap 9 when race was called.
#5 Mercedes (Germany) driven by William Luttgen. 90 HP. Finished 4th. Car owned by William K. Vanderbilt Jr. Running in last lap when race was called.
#6 Isotta (Italy) driven by Herb Lytle. 60 HP. Finished 2nd. Previously won the 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes. Less than two minutes behind winner. First to finish, but started 10 minutes ahead of #16
#7 Matheson (USA) by James Ryall. 60 HP. Finished 12th. As seen in this photo, caught fire before completing lap 4.
#8 Thomas (USA) driven by Joe Seymour. 60 HP. Finished 8th. Running in lap 9 when race was called.
#9 Hotchkiss (France) driven by E.J. Kilpatrick. 90 HP. Finished 15th. Broke clutch in Central Park during lap 3.
#11 Acme (USA) driven by Cyrus Patschke. 90 HP. Finished 14th. Broke camshaft gear in Central Park during lap 3.
#12 Thomas (USA) driven by George Salzman. 110 HP. Finished 5th. Running in lap 11 when race was called
#15 Matheson (USA) driven by Louis Chevrolet. 90 HP. Finished 16th. Cracked cylinder in Jericho during lap 2.
#16 Locomobile (USA) driven by George Robertson. 90 HP. Finished 1st. First American car to win the Vanderbilt Cup Race. Averaged 64.3 mph.
#17 Renault (France) driven by Lewis Strang. 115 HP. Finished 13th. Willie K pushed car at the start. Broke clutch during lap 4.
#18 Mercedes (Germany) driven by Foxhall Keene. 120 HP. Finished 11th. Cracked two cylinders in Jericho during lap 5.
#19 Thomas (USA) driven by Howard Gill. 115 HP. Finished 17th. Gear trouble during lap 2.
#20 Knox (USA) driven by William Bourque. 40 HP. Finished 8th. Running in lap 9 when race was called.
Vanderbilt Cup Race Starting Lineups
-1905 American Elimination Trial
-1906 American Elimination Race
Saturday, 2/6/10: February Event Update: Club Meetings, Car Shows, and Car Cruises
This is the weekly update of Long Island February 2010 car events including; car club meetings, car shows, cruises and motor sports activities.
Car Club Meetings and Automobile Events
Monday, February 8, 2010
-Fabulous 50's 60's Nostalgia Club Meeting, Holtsville, 7:30 PM
-Mustang & Shelby Club of Long Island Business Meeting, Marjorie Post Park, Massapequa, 7:00 PM
-VCCA-Long Island Region #11 Meeting,Oyster Bay 8:00 PM
Thursday, February 11, 2010
-Long Island Buick Club Meeting, Marjorie Post Park, Massapequa, 8:00 PM
-Long Island Motor Touring Club, Massapequa, 8:00 PM
Friday, February 12, 2010
-74th Annual AACA meeting, Philadelphia
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
-Long Island Volkswagen Club, Farmingdale, 7:00 PM
-Mustang & Shelby Club of Long Island Meeting, Hauppague, 7:00 PM
-VCCA-Queens County Region #11 Meeting, Bayside 7:30 PM
Thursday, February 18, 2010
-Peconic Bay Region of ACCA Meeting, 8:00 PM
-Studebaker Driver's Club Meeting, Marjorie Post Park, Massapequa, 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 21, 2010
-The Presidents Council meeting to be held in Hicksville NY. For more information, call Andy 631-724-6234
-Tire Kicking Session, Gullwing Motors, 9:00 AM
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
-Long Island Chapter American Truck Historical Society Meeting, Bay Shore, 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 27, 2010
-South Side Boys of Long Island Car Club Breakfast, East Farmingdale, 7:45 AM
-Atlantic City Car Show & Swap Meet
Sunday, February 28, 2010
-Annual Automobile Flea Market,Southold Town Recreation Center, Peconic, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
-5th Annual "Polar Plunge" and Car Display, Bar Beach Park, Port Washington 11:00 AM
_______________________________________________________
Links to Car Shows and Car Cruises
-Life on Long Island Car Shows and Motor Sports
-National auto events listed on autoevents.org
Future 2010 Cruise Nights
-Cruise-Ins listed on Longislandchevelles.com
Mondays:
-Pep Boys (Sunrise Hwy-Lindenhurst approx. 1/2 mile east of Wellwood ave)
Tuesdays:
-Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce Cruise Night
-Bald Hill (Suffolk County - Exit 63 Long Island Expressway)
Wednesdays:
- Levittown Car Cruise. Every 3rd Wednesday Of The Month Cruise To Empress Diner In East Meadow On Hempstead Turnpike, Following Monthly Meeting At VFW Club, 55 Hickory Lane, 7:30PM, All Cadillac Owners Welcome, Sponsored By Long Island Dream Boats, LI Region Cadillac-LaSalle Club, Contact: Fred Miceli (516) 796-7618, Ken Kanner (718) 224-5519 Or Andy Zizolfo (631) 205-0118, Visit the Web Site At: www.lidreamboats.org Or caddycoupe1960@cs.com
Thursdays:
-Wendy's Parking Lot (Montauk Hwy-Oakdale 1/4 east of Locust ave)
-Kings Park at Keyfood shopping center on Indian head road just one block south of the Kings Park train station
Fridays
-Massapequa (Long Island Rail Road Station 8pm-10pm). Cars must stay the duration of the evening beginning at 7:15. Car owners are asked to donate two cans of food for admission. Live music on July 27, Aug.3, and Aug. 24. Contact info: (516) 797-4126.
Fridays and Saturdays:
Babylon Car Cruise to Cedar Beach
Saturdays:
-Commack at the Walmart/Kohls/Home Depot shopping center on crooked Hill Road just north of the LIE
Sundays
-Captree State Park, which moves to the old OBI parking lot just west on Ocean Parkway, around this time of year (May). All year, when the roads are dry and salt-free, hundreds (500+ on really nice days) of the incurably car-crazy show up. But,get there before 7:30 AM (before 7:00 to be safe) or you might not get in.
Please recommend any other Long Island automobile events in the Comments section below or sending an email to Howard@Kroplick.com .
Friday, February 5, 2010: Motor Parkway Trailway Update
As reported last year, the contract for developing a master plan for a Motor Parkway Trailway in Nassau County has been awarded to VHB Engineering, Surveying and Landscape Architecture, P.C. Members of the Long Island Motor Parkway Panel, including myself, met with VHB, LIPA and Nassau officials yesterday to provide input and the comments submitted on VanderbiltCupRaces.com.
VHB recently issued this press release on the project:
VHB TO DEVELOP MASTER PLAN FOR HISTORIC LI MOTOR PARKWAY TRAILWAY
- Once a playground for the rich and famous of the Gatsby era, now will be a biking and hiking trail for all to enjoy
HAUPPAUGE, NY - January 22, 2010 - The Long Island Motor Parkway will once again become a recreational amenity - now for all to enjoy. The Nassau County Department of Public Works has selected VHB to develop a master plan for the reuse of the Long Island Motor Parkway Trailway. Once completed, the LIMP Trailway will become a trail for hikers and bicyclists to enjoy, while maintaining its historical significances. It will also provide an important transportation connection between communities, open space resources, and employment centers for those wishing to walk or bike through Nassau County.
Well before the everyday traffic congestion on the Long Island Expressway or Northern State Parkway, William K. Vanderbilt Jr.'s Long Island Motor Parkway provided a leisurely and picturesque drive from Queens to Ronkonkoma after the turn of the last century. The nation's first concrete high speed road was ideal for the rich and famous of the day to drive and race their cars.
When ground was broken in 1908, the road was marveled by A.R. Pardington, the then-vice president of the Long Island Motor Parkway and general manager of the Vanderbilt Cup, who stated, "Think of the time it will save the busy man of. Speed limits are left behind, the Great White Way is before him, and with the throttle open he can go, go, go and keep going, 50, 60 or 90 miles an hour until Riverhead or Southampton is reached, in time for a scotch at the Meadow Brook Club, a round of golf and a refreshing dip in the surf, and all before dinner is served, or the electric lights begin to twinkle."
The undertaking of the project will utilize VHB's resources and depth of experience in creating master plans for recreational facilities, bikeways and greenways from Maine to Florida. VHB will inventory existing conditions of the trail and its right-of-ways and transversals through private properties and analyze route options and design accessible, easily maintained trails for public use. Identifying where the parkway was originally located will require the use of historical records and old maps as well as conversations with groups and individuals familiar with the parkway and its history.
A key aspect of the project will be community participation, including outreach to the public and trail advocates to take part in meetings. VHB will work with county personnel to advertise public meetings and target local officials, civic and business organizations, parks and open space proponents and other stakeholder groups to attend.
Once completed, the comprehensive master plan for the Long Island Motor Parkway Trailway will include details on existing conditions, structures, road crossings and profile the trail for proposed grading, drainage, trail alignment, plantings and other treatments such as trail markers and signs. Completion of the plan is expected to take six to nine months. Other deliverables to the county will consist of construction cost estimates and identifying any permits or approvals necessary and to develop a timeline for the project.VHB has already conducted several meetings with the Long Island Motor Parkway Panel, a volunteer group dedicated to the historic preservation and revitalization of the trail.
VanderbiltCupRaces.com will be providing regular updates on this project.
Thursday, February 4, 2010: Exhibit “Cars, Culture and the City” March 17-August 1, 2010
The City Museum of New York has announced an upcoming exhibition Cars, Culture and the City" to run from March 17, 2010 to August 1, 2010. The exhibition will include photos, memorabilia and films on the Vanderbilt Cup Races and the Long Island Motor Parkway from my collection .
"Cars, Culture, and the City" is the first exhibition to explore New York City’s century-long relationship with the car and marks the 100th anniversary of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA). The exhibition will feature visionary drawings and models; historic photographs, films, and advertisements; and a wealth of car memorabilia to tell this fascinating, yet untold, story. Wardsauto.com provides details of the exhibition.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
_______________________________________________Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Future Event
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Indexes
-The Long Island Motor Parkway
Blog Highlights
2010 Long Island Events
-Links to car shows, cruises and motor sports
Car Clubs
-Links to 32 Long Island car clubs (Updated: January 31, 2010)
Favorite Websites (Latest addition: February 1, 2010)
Blog Updates
-February 3, 2010: A 2010 photo of the Mineola railroad crossing on Jericho Turnpike.
-January 27, 2010: Joel Finn Identifies the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Brass Box
Wednesday, 2/3/10: New Updates: California Photo Identified, Another Pickering Gem and Mineola Now
Three previous posts have been updated today:
_____________________________________
___________________________________________
A 2010 photo of the Mineola railroad crossing on Jericho Turnpike.
Tuesday, Febraury 2, 2010: January 2010 Highlights on VanderbiltCupRaces.com
VanderbiltCupRaces.com recorded its second highest monthly viewership ever with 3,593 unique visitors in January. The daily average of 116 represented an 82% increase over January 2009. Thanks for stopping by!
The website retained its #1 ranking among the 950,000 websites that appear for a Google search on "Vanderbilt Cup Races" and a #1 ranking among 241,000 websites that appear on a similar Bing.com search. Below is a summary of posts that were placed on the website last month:
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
_______________________________________Vanderbilt Cup Races
Clarence Mackay, the Vanderbilt Cup Races, a Horse and Newsday
The 1906 Accident That Changed Long Island Auto Racing
Opening Day on the Motor Parkway: The 7 “P” Cars for the First Race
Opening Day on the Motor Parkway: the 7 “G” Cars of the Garden City Sweepstakes
Five Locomobiles with Vanderbilt Cup Mascots
The Elusive Sterling Silver Locomobile Vanderbilt Cups
Can You Help Identify This 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race Brass Box?
The 1906 Westbury Grandstand & the Current Battle over the Hitchcock Property
Another View of the Westbury 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Grandstand
The Location of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Grandstand in Westbury
The Vanderbilt Cup Races, LIMP and LILCO
_______________________________________Startling Lineups
Opening Day on the Motor Parkway: The 7 “P” Cars for the First Race
Opening Day on the Motor Parkway: the 7 “G” Cars of the Garden City Sweepstakes
_______________________________________Long Island Motor Parkway
Historic Views of Roosevelt Field, the Motor Parkway and Lindbergh’s Takeoff
A Motor Parkway Sign in Suffolk County
The Motor Parkway’s Petit Trianon at Lake Ronkonkoma
The Motor Parkway Tollgate Inns That Were Never Built
The Vanderbilt Cup Races, LIMP and LILCO
________________________________________Alco-6 Black Beast Racer
“Black Beast” Featured in “Old Cars Weekly” Article
_______________________________________Vanderbilia
Five Locomobiles with Vanderbilt Cup Mascots
Another Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup on Ebay
The Elusive Sterling Silver Locomobile Vanderbilt Cups
Can You Help Identify This 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race Brass Box?
___________________________________Then and Now.
_______________________________________Presentations
The Vanderbilt Cup Races, LIMP and LILCO
_____________________________________Favorite Websites
A Favorite Website: Team Dan Race Archives
A Favorite Website: Chronicling America-Access to Historic Newspaper Articles
A New Favorite Website: OldLongIsland.com
_______________________________________Website Features
New Weekend Feature: 2010 Long Island Car Shows, Cruises and Motor Sports
Can You Identify This California Race Photo?
Banner Year for VanderbiltCupRaces.com and December 2009 Highlights
A New Favorite Website: OldLongIsland.com
_____________________________________________
Sunday,1/31/10: Historic Views of Roosevelt Field, the Motor Parkway and Lindbergh’s Takeoff
As shown in this 1938 aerial, the Long Island Motor Parkway was located to the west and south of the historic Roosevelt Field airfield. Here are other historic photos of Roosevelt Field and the Motor Parkway
This is a 1926 aerial of Roosevelt Field looking north. The Long Island Motor Parkway was along the dotted yellow line surrounding the airfield. I believe this is the only aerial showing the temporary road that connected Ellison Road to the Motor Parkway for the 1908,1909 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race courses.
In 1919, Long Island became part of aviation history when an airship crossed the Atlantic Ocean for the very first time and ended its voyage at Roosevelt Field. In this photo, the British Army's 643-foot dirigible R-34 can be seen after landing. The men on the left were standing on the Motor Parkway Bridge located on the spot where the current Zeckendorf Boulevard Bridge over Meadowbrook Parkway is today.
One of the busiest days on the Motor Parkway was June 16, 1927, when Charles Lindbergh returned to Roosevelt Field to celebrate his successful solo flight to Paris. Lindbergh had taken off from the Roosevelt Field eastern runway 27 days earlier. The cars on the bottom of the photo were lined up on the southern border of the Motor Parkway.
Here is a close-up of the Motor Parkway Bridge leading to Roosevelt Field on the day of Lindbergh's 1927 reception. According to Al Velocci's book The Toll Lodges of the Long Island Motor Parkway , and Their Gatekeeper's Lives, Charles Lindbergh was a frequent user of the Motor Parkway entering and exiting at the Garden City Lodge. The lodgekeeper's daughter Peggy Williams "vividly recalls meeting him, and her father and Lindbergh having nice chats".
Robert Richer has forwarded this website featuring four amazing videos of Lindbergh's flight from Roosevelt Field to Paris. Part 3 shows a spectacular film of the takeoff. Watch Lindbergh barely make it over the telephone wires on Merrick Avenue. Robert notes:
Win Perkins, a real estate appraiser who specializes in airport properties, has posted on his Web site a video he created of Charles Lindbergh's famous and risky takeoff in the Spirit of St. Louis. According to Perkins, this is unlike any other presentation of the takeoff footage. Perkins said he "painstakingly assembled news footage from five cameras that filmed Lindbergh's takeoff from Roosevelt Field, Long Island" and "mixed it with enhanced audio from the same newsreel sources."
This 1935 diagram of Roosevelt Field shows the location of Lindbergh's takeoff relative to the Long Island Motor Parkway.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
_____________________________________________Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Future Event
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Indexes
-The Long Island Motor Parkway
Blog Highlights
2010 Long Island Events
-Links to car shows, cruises and motor sports
Car Clubs
-Links to 32 Long Island car clubs (Updated: January 31, 2010)
Favorite Websites (Latest addition: February 1, 2010)
Blog Updates
-January 27, 2010: Joel Finn Identifies the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Brass Box
Saturday, January 30, 2010:New Weekend Feature: 2010 Long Island Car Shows, Cruises and Motor Sports
A new feature of VanderbiltCupRaces.com is a weekly update of 2010 Long Island car events including; car shows, cruises and motor sports activities. This is the update for January 30 to 31, 2010:
-USHRA Monster Jam, Friday, January 29- Sunday, January 31, 2010
Links to Car Shows and Car Cruises
-Life on Long Island Car Shows and Motor Sports
-National auto events listed on autoevents.org
Future 2010 Cruise Nights
-Cruise-Ins listed on Longislandchevelles.com
Tuesdays:
Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce Cruise Night
Wednesdays:
Thursdays:
Fridays
Fridays and Saturdays:
Babylon Car Cruise to Cedar Beach
Saturdays:
Sundays
-Captree State Park, which moves to the old OBI parking lot just west on Ocean Parkway, around this time of year (May). All year, when the roads are dry and salt-free, hundreds (500+ on really nice days) of the incurably car-crazy show up. But,get there before 7:30 AM (before 7:00 to be safe) or you might not get in.
Please recommend any other Long Island automobile events in the Comments section.
Friday, January 29, 2010: Can You Identify This California Race Photo?
Howard Kroplick Replies:
Matt has supplied this background information on the photo:
"The original picture and negative was found in a bunch of items of a friend of mine as he was cleaning out his father’s basement. The image was taken by his grandfather. It was put in the basement and forgotten about until a couple years ago when it was rediscovered. The original image didn’t survive all that well, but the negative was pristine and high quality. My friend had some museum quality reprints done up and this is a small one (5x17). He did a couple up very large and had them framed. He may have sold one of them. There were other automobile images as well, but I think this was the only racing photo. His grandfather was out in California during this time period and the other images that were with this one and of the same in of negative were taken in California, thus our thought that this is a California image. I tried to use the Start/Finish banner as a focal point as I researched images of races, but I have not been able to match it up with any I have seen yet."
These close-ups of the photo provide some additional clues:
As Matt noted, the banner is an excellent clue to the location. Note the font size and the relation of the "And" to the "Start" and "Finish". The black #11 car was getting ready to start the race.
The #12 car was white and looked like a Lozier.
This is a close-uo of a race official or police officer with the press box in the background.
Matt, based on these Start-Finish Banners, this was not a photo of the 1914 or 1916 Vanderbilt Cup and Grand Prix Races. This was the 1914 banner. Note the letter "A" and "And" were different from your photo.
Here was the 1916 banner. The banner fonts were again different than your photo.
Matt, this is an excellent challenge! Let's see if anyone can identify your photo.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
February 3, 2010 Update: Harold Osmer, an expert on West Coar racing and co author of the book Real Road Racing:The Santa Monica Races, has provided the following information on the photo:
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"Your recent email blast regarding a California race photo is interesting. It's not Santa Monica. And I have a photo I believe is related. This image is of Harris Hanshue at Portola. The official's box is very similar in construction to the one shown in your photo. Portola is near Oakland, just east of San Francisco. Here is an article More Motor Racing for Pacific Coast from the New York Times archives telling of auto racing in California by Fred Wagner on May 19, 1912. He speaks quite highly of California racing and mentions Portola".
Just after receiving Harold's email, Matt B sent this information: "I got a look at the originals this past weekend and one is labeled on the back “East 14th Street Oakland 1910. So it looks like it’s not a Vanderbilt race.”
Using the VanderbiltCupRaces.com favorite websites, it was time to research the Portola Races. Champcarstats.com provided the results of the 1909 Portolo Festival Race won by Jack Fleming in a Pope-Hartford. The #12 car driven by Harry Michener finished third and was indeed a Lozier!! The #13 car in the race was an Apperson driven by Harris Hanshue.
Using another VanderbiltCupRaces.com favorite Chronicling America, I was able to find a front-page article on the Portola Testival Race published on October 25, 1909 in the San Francisco newspaper The Call .
A close-up of the photo in the article (left) was a eureka moment!. The #12 Lozier is the same car as in Matt B's photo (right).
Matt, here's the final answer: Your photo was taken on October 24, 1909 at the Portola Festival Race held in Portola, California. The #11 car was a Knox driven by Frank Free.
Jerry, Mark, and Harold thanks for helping to identify Matt's photo!
Thursday, January 28, 2010: Clarence Mackay, the Vanderbilt Cup Races, a Horse and Newsday
Okay, I admit it, the title for today's post is a bit of a stretch....but trust me I will link all these subjects together and it's fun!
Clarence Mackay (1874-1938) was the heir to the Comstock silver fortune and was a major figure in the development of the international telegraph business. Mackay was friends with William K.Vanderbilt Jr. and, as with most of New York high society, would often attend the Vanderbilt Cup Races.
As seen in this photo following the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race, William K. Vanderbilt Jr. (in the middle wearing googles) was asked to address his friends and race officials at the Westbury grandstand.
Clarence Mackay can seen standing next to Willie K. during the speech.
Before and after the races, Mackay also hosted huge parties for his friends and business associates at his 648-acre estate overlooking the village of Roslyn. Built from 1900 to 1902, Mackay's Harbor Hill estate was one of the largest on Long Island with formal gardens and terraces surrounding the main house designed by Stanford White. In 1910, Mackay commissioned two 25-ton, 40- foot replicas of the famous Champs-Elysees Marley Horse statues for his Harbor Hill west garden. Note the southwest statue in the red circle. The estate gradually fell into despair and the mansion was taken down in 1947. Today, the only remains of the estate are the gate house, a water tower, the dairyman's cottage and the two pink granite horse statues.
In the 1950s, the northwest Mackay Horse Statue was moved to the entrance of Roslyn High School where it stands today. The southwest Mackay Horse statue stood in its original location in the backyard of an East Hills house. The house recently went to contract and Shulman family wished to find a new public home for the statue. My friend Ian Zwerdling and I stepped in and have been coordinating efforts to move the statue to the Gerry Pond Park in Roslyn.
On Wednesday, the Mackay Horse statue was removed from its pedestal for storage.
Here I am with the horse's massive head.
Ian Zwerdling and the remains of the horse's groom.
North Hempstead Town Clerk Leslie Gross and I celebrating the successful removal of the statue. Along with the Shulman family, Franklin Perrell of the Roslyn Landmark Society and the Gerry Trust, Ms. Gross has been instrumental in efforts to save the statue.
Check out today's Newsday for an article on the Mackay Horse project. More photos and a video can be found on this link to Newsday.com . Other related websites are mackayhistory.com and a VanderbiltCupRaces.com favorite oldlongisland.com.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010: The 1906 Accident That Changed Long Island Auto Racing
Howard Kroplick Replies:
Tony, the powerful French Hotckiss car involved in the accident was driven by Elliot Shepard, Jr., a 30-year old American and William K. Vanderbilt Jr's cousin. As described in several publications, the accident occurred near the Long Island Railroad crossing on Jericho Turnpike in Mineola:
Horseless Age10/10/1906:
"The 130 hp Hotchkiss car, driven by Elliot F. Shepard, representing France, struck a man named Gruner near Krug's corner and killed him instantly. The car skidded into the crowd that pressed upon the course just east of the railroad crossing near Mineola, and a short distance from the dangerous turn at Krug's corner. "
The Automobile 10/11/1906:
"In the middle of the race, when the excitement was at its height, a spectator deliberately walked into the road in front of a flying car, undeterred by the warnings of the officials and the cry of "Car coming!" and was almost torn to pieces. The accident occurred at the beginning of the straight after Krug's Corner was turned, just where the cars gather speed for a wild dash of three miles over a straight course to the grandstand...Just beyond the railroad crossing a man appeared in the road ahead of the Hotchkiss car. Shepard swung, but the left wheel struck the man, throwing him twenty feet into a crowd of women, one of whom was knocked down by the body."
Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal October 1906:
"The one individual killed outright on the course was Curt L. Gruner, of Passaic, New Jersey, who was hit by the Hotchkiss, driven by Shepard, on the Jericho Turnpike, about on-eight of a mile east of Krug's Corner, thrown some 60 feet away and picked up dead, his skull and both arms and both legs broken."
New York Times 10/7/1906:
"Mr. Shepard was driving a 130-hp Hotchkiss car at the rate of seventy miles per hour at the place where the cup course crossed the Long Island Railroad track at Krug's Corner, near Mineola, when the accident happened."
The accident was apparently not captured in any photograph. One newspaper printed this illustration of the Hotchkiss hitting Curt Gruner, a 33-year old mill foreman.
Several other 1906 cars were photographed at the location of the accident. Note the parked train in the background to the right and the large number of spectators dangerously crowding the course.
#3 Mercedes driven by Camille Jenatzy.
#8 Fiat driven by Felice Nazzaro.
#14 Haynes driven by John Haynes
Not realizing he struck Gruner, Elliot Shepard continued at speed down Jericho Turnpike to the grandstand where he battled Duray's #18 Lorraine-Dietrich. This moment was captured in this 1906 race film. As a direct result of the fatal accident, Vanderbilt and his associates immediately began plans to develop a privately owned speedway... which became the Long Island Motor Parkway.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
February 3, 2010 Update: A 2010 photo of the Mineola railroad crossing on Jericho Turnpike.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010: A Motor Parkway Sign in Suffolk County
Throughout the Long Island Motor Parkway, there were signs providing directions and "No Trespassing" signs. This photo shows a typical Motor Parkway sign placed in Suffolk County.
Heading east to Lake Ronkokoma, the last parkway bridge went over Deer Park Avenue in Suffolk County. Over 20 additional bridges were planned but never built due to lack of funds. These "No Trespassing" signs were placed on intersections with major public roads to keep unwanted traffic off the Motor Parkway including; trucks, pedestrians and equestrians.
It is possible to find the location of this specific sign based on the two directional signs. This direction sign and the "No Trespassing" sign appeared for a driver heading east on the Motor Parkway. A right turn brought the driver south to Islip (4 miles), Central Islip (1 mile), and Oakdale (7 miles). A left turn brought the driver north to Smithtown (4 miles), St. James (6 miles) and Kings Park (6 miles).
This direction sign was seen by a driver heading south on a public road at the interesection with the Motor Parkway. A left turn on to the Motor Parkway brought the driver heading to Lake Ronkokoma, 4 miles away. A right turn on to the Motor Parkway brought the driver west to Great Neck (36 miles), New York (50 miles) and Brooklyn (50 miles).
Based on the above mileages, the most likely location of this sign was the intersection of the Motor Parkway and Wheeler's Road near Central Isllip and Hauppauge.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
_____________________________________________Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Future Event
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Indexes
-The Long Island Motor Parkway
Blog Highlights
Long Island Car Clubs
-Links to 31 websites (Updated: January 16, 2010)
Favorite Websites (Latest addition: January 20, 2010)
Blog Updates
-January 16, 2010: Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup mascot sells for $2,805.55 on Ebay
Sunday, January 24, 2010: Five Locomobiles with Vanderbilt Cup Mascots
Some of the most sought after Vanderbilia are the Vanderbilt Cup radiator mascots and sterling silver banquet favors issued by the Locomobile Company to celebrate their victory in the 1908 race. These five 1909 and 1910 Locomobile vehicles proudly displayed their Vanderbilt Cup radiator mascots:
Saturday, 1/23/10: Starting Lineup: The 1908 Garden City Sweepstakes
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.
The cars in the Sweepstakes Races were classified by their sales price. Seven cars participated in the "Garden City Sweepstakes", the race for the stock cars selling between $3,001 and $4,000. Each "Garden City Sweepstakes" car was identified with a "G" next to its number:
#G21 Stoddard-Dayton driven by A.R. Miller. Finished 3rd.
#G22 Chalmers driven by L.B. Lorimar. Finished 6th.
#G24 Palmer-Singer driven by Ray Howard. Finished 7th.
#G25 Stoddard-Dayton driven by H. Tuttle. Finished 5th.
#G26 Buick driven by Robert Burman. Finished 4th.
#G27 Knox driven by William Bourque. Finished 2nd.
G28 Sharp Arrow driven by William Sharp. Finished 1st.
Vanderbilt Cup Race Starting Lineups
-1905 American Elimination Trial
-1906 American Elimination Race
Friday, January 22, 2010: Then and Now: Petit Trianon
As described yesterday, in 1911 the Long Island Motor Parkway Inc. built the Petit Trianon Inn as an attraction to the eastern terminus in Lake Ronkonkoma. Today, the Petit Trianon receives the "Then and Now" treatment with images from 1911 to 2008.
This is the front view of the inn after construction was completed. Originally called the Motor Parkway Inn, the name was changed to the more elegant sounding Petit Trianon, after one of the smaller buildings on the grounds of Versailles near Paris.
This postcard was sold at the inn and showed the view from the lake. Visitors had access to Lake Ronkonkoma for bathing, boating and fishing.
This postcard showed the "reading room" lounge in the south wing of the inn.
This 1925 survey for the nearby Lake Ronkonkoma Heights development showed the exact location of the Petit Trianon and nearby staff Annex building.
Sold off by the Long Island Motor Parkway in the late 1920s, the building survived until 1958, when it was destroyed by a fire. Surrounded by a metal fence, the remnants of the inn are seen here as they appeared in 1960.
The staff Annex building was also designed by John Russell Pope with many of the elements of Petit Trianon. As seen here in 2003, the building had become a nursing home. Around 2006, the building was sold to a land developer and was taken down.
This is the site of the Petit Trianon as it appears "Now". Only the fence around the ruins remains.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
_____________________________________________Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Future Event
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Indexes
-The Long Island Motor Parkway
Blog Highlights
Long Island Car Clubs
-Links to 31 websites (Updated: January 16, 2010)
Favorite Websites (Latest addition: January 20, 2010)
Blog Updates
-January 16, 2010: Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup mascot sells for $2,805.55 on Ebay
Thursday, January 21, 2010:The Motor Parkway’s Petit Trianon at Lake Ronkonkoma
When the Long Island Motor Parkway route was completed to Lake Ronkonkoma in 1911, officials decided to build a first-class dining facility and half-way stop for travelers.William K. Vanderbilt Jr. once again commissioned architect John Russell Pope to design the Parkway Inn later renamed Petit Trianon.These two rare photos show the Petit Trianon under construction in early 1911.
In this photo, workers can be seen finishing the roof.The interior of the inn featured a large reception room suitable for weddings, balls and special events. Accomodations for spending a night or a weekend were available in the 30 bedrooms on the second floor.
On June 9, 1911, William K.Vanderbilt Jr. held a special dinner reception at the inn the night before its official opening.
The 1911 menu provided an extensive variety of food as expected by the high-end clientele of the inn. Note the filet mignon entree cost $1.00.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
_____________________________________________Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Future Event
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Indexes
-The Long Island Motor Parkway
Blog Highlights
Long Island Car Clubs
-Links to 31 websites (Updated: January 16, 2010)
Favorite Websites (Latest addition: January 20, 2010)
Blog Updates
-January 16, 2010: Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup mascot sells for $2,805.55 on Ebay
Wednesday, January 20, 2010: A Favorite Website: Team Dan Race Archives
Darren Galpin at the Team Dan website has compiled the results for major historic races and drivers including five of the six William K. Vanderbilt Jr. Cup Races held on Long Island.
-Race Archives
-Gordon Bennett Races (1900-1905)
-1904 Grand Prix Races including 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race
-1905 Grand Prix Races including; 1905 American Elimination Trial and 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race
-1906 Grand Prix Races including; 1906 American Elimination Trial and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race
-1908 Grand Prix Races including 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
-1910 Grand Prix Races including 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race
-1911 Grand Prix Races including 1911 Vanderbilt Cup Race
-1936 Grand Prix Races including 1936 George Vanderbilt Cup Race
-1937 Grand Prix Races including 1937 George Vanderbilt Cup Race
-Motorsport Career Histories
Tuesday, January 19, 2010: Can You Help Identify This 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race Brass Box?
Howard Kroplick Replies:
Hi Matt, I have never seen this box before or whether it was used as one of the entrants' gifts or a prize for the top finishers. The 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race was won by the great Tazio Nuvolari in an Alfa-Romeo. I will post your photos and see if anyone knows the history behind your brass box.
If you can help identify Matt's box, please leave a comment on the Blog at the end of this post. Thanks!
Sunday, January 17, 2010: The Elusive Sterling Silver Locomobile Vanderbilt Cups
The small Locomobile Vanderbilt Cups have become one of the most collectible of Vanderbilia. A Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup radiator mascot (without the cap) was sold last night for $2,805.55 on Ebay surpassing the previous Ebay auction price of $2,550 sold on December 29, 2009.
Earlier this month Joel Finn, the prominent racing author and major collector of automobilia and vintage automobiles, provided this information concerning the different types of Locomobile Vanderbilt Cups as shown in the above photo:
The Locomobile piece was first made in Sterling Silver and given out as favors to the invited attendees at the Vanderbilt Cup victory dinner held at the Stratfield Hotel in Bridgeport, CT on November 9, 1908. These were never made available for sale to the general public. In March 1909, Locomobile began offering two different versions made in pewter to owners of their cars. When the cup was supplied with a radiator cap the price was $2.25. If the owner wanted a cup to install on his existing radiator cap the price was $1.50. Both prices included mailing.From a memo by the sales department in October 1910, it was stated that almost 900 had been sold to that point.
As a follow-up to Joel's comment, let's take a closer look at the 1908 Bridgeport banquet and the Locomobile Vanderbilt Cups. Remember to click on the images to enlarge them.
This was the official ticket to attend the banquet celebrating the officers of the Locomobile Company and the crew of the first American car to win the Vanderbilt Cup Race. The admission price was $5 equivalent to $100 today.
As shown in this photo, approximately 300 men attended the banquet.There is not one woman in the room.
A banquet brochure was placed on each table setting. Note the small bow on the left side.
The guest list included; the winning driver George Robertson and mechanican Glenn Ethridge, Locomobile officers, Bridgeport business owners, members of the automobile trade press and Vanderbilt Cup Race officers. Although listed as a guest, William K. Vanderbilt Jr. did not attend.
The huge 10 1/2 gallon Vanderbilt Cup made by Tiffany & Company was placed in the back of the room. But, were the the small four inch sterling silver Locomobile Vanderbilt Cups distributed before this official banquet photo was taken? Let's take a closer look at the tables.
As evidenced by the brochures on the plates and the uneaten rolls, close-ups of the tables reveal that the official photo was likely taken at the beginning of the banquet. But, no Locomobile Vanderbilt Cups can be seen.
In this close-up, a gentleman was reading the brochure just before he was asked to turn and look at the photographer. But, again, the elusive small Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup can not be found.
The automobile trade journals widely covered the banquet, including this November 12,1908 article published in The Automobile entitled "The Home Coming of the Victor".
Every detail of the reception was described even this song honoring George Robertson sung by guests to the tune of George M. Cohan's hit "Harrigan". But, no mention was made of the distribution of the Locomobile Vanderbilt Cups.
To date, I have not found visual evidence of the cups at the banquet or a mention of the cups in numerous 1908 reception articles. It is possible that the cups were distributed after the official photo was taken and journalists were told, for some unknown reason, not to mention them. In any case, the origins of the elusive sterling silver Locomobile Vanderbilt Cups are still very much a mystery.
January 18, 2010 Update: Joel Finn has provided new information concerning the cups in his comment below.
The history of the Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup radiator mascot is much clearer primarily due to this Locomobile brochure courtesy of Walter McCarthy.
Please leave a comment if you can further unravel the mystery of the sterling silver Locomobile Vanderbilt Cups.
Saturday, January 16, 2010: A Favorite Website: WikiMapia
WikiMapia is an online map and satellite imaging resource that combines Google Maps with a wiki system, allowing users to add information, in the form of a note, to any location on Earth. Here are some links to locations related to the Long Island Motor Parkway and Vanderbilt Cup Races
-Western Terminus of Long Island Motor Parkway, Fresh Meadows (1928-1938)
-73rd Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge, Fresh Madows
-Springfield Boulevard Motor Parkway Bridge
-Site of Rocky Hill Toll Lodge, Hollis Hills, Queens
-Deepdale Estate, Lake Success
-Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge
-Motor Parkway Marker, Willis Avenue, Williston Park
-Site of Krug’s Korner Hotel, Mineola
-Site of Vanderbilt Cup Race Grandstand (1905)
-General Manager’s Office, Garden City
-Current Location of Garden City Lodge
-Site of Meadow Brook Lodge, Westbury
-Site of Vanderbilt Cup Race Grandstand, Westbury (1904 &1906)
-Hairpin Turn (1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race), Old Westbury
-Rosemary Hall, Old Westbury (Home of driver Foxhall Keene)
-Site of Locomobile Headquarters, Jericho
-Site of Vanderbilt Cup Race Grandstand, Levittown (1908-1910
-Site of Vanderbilt Cup Race Officials Stand/Press Box
-Site of Massapequa Toll Lodge
-Massapequa Turn (1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race)
-Site of Motor Parkway Ground-Breaking Ceremonies
-Remnants of Botto Farmway Motor Parkway Bridge, Bethpage
-Colyer Motor Parkway Bridge, Old Bethpage
-Site of Huntington Toll Lodge
-Idle Hour Estate, Oakdale (Willie K’s honeymoon location)
-Site of Petit Trianon Inn and Eastern Terminus, Lake Ronkonkoma
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
_____________________________________________Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Future Event
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Indexes
-The Long Island Motor Parkway
Blog Highlights
Long Island Car Clubs
-Links to 31 websites (Updated: January 16, 2010)
Favorite Websites (Latest addition: January 8, 2010)
Blog Updates
-January 16, 2010: Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup mascot sells for $2,805.55 on Ebay
Friday, January 15, 2010: Starting Lineup: 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes
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. The cars in the Sweepstakes Races were classified by their sales price. Seven cars participated in the "Motor Parkway Sweepstakes", the race for the stock cars selling for over $4,000. Each "Motor Parkway Sweepstakes" car was identified with a "P" for Parkway next to its number:
#P41 Chadwick (USA) driven by William Haupt. Finished 5th
#P42 Isotta (Italy) driven by Herb Lytle. Finished 1st with an average speed of 64.25 mph.
#P43 Simplex (USA) driven by Frank Lescault. Finished 4th.
#P44 Hotchkiss (France) driven by J. Kilpatrick. Finished 7th.
#P45 Knox (USA) driven by Charles Basle. Finished 6th.
#P46 Renault (France) driven by Lewis Strang. Finished 2nd.
#47 Itala (Italy) driven by Gus Lechleitner. Finished 3rd.
February 8, 2010 Update: A photo of the #P43 Simplex with the mechanician in the driver's seat. Courtesy of Bob Valentine.
Vanderbilt Cup Race Starting Lineups
-1905 American Elimination Trial
-1906 American Elimination Race
Thursday, January 14, 2010: Another Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup on Ebay
As noted by J. D. Marklin, another miniature Vanderbilt Cup mascot celebrating the 1908 victory by Locomobile is up for auction on Ebay. With less than two days remaining, the current bid is $1,525.
Last month a Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup mascot sold for $2,550 on Ebay. Expect the bidding to go up $500-$1,000 in the last 15 seconds of the auction.
January 16, 2010 Update: Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup mascot sells for $2,805.55 on Ebay
Wednesday, January 13, 2010: Driver Profile: Hubert Le Blon
Howard Kroplick Replies:
Vince, I have about 21,000 photos and images of the Vanderbilt Cup Races..so I guess I am one of the better sources. Here's what I consider my favorite images of Hubert Le Blon. Please feel free to comment and expand on the information that I have on your grandfather's uncle.
Hubert le Blon was born in France in 1872. He raced a Serpollet for five years and set several world records for steam cars. In the 1902 Paris Grand Prix he finished 13th and 17th in the 1903 Grand Prix. Le Blon was hired to race French Hotchkiss and Panhard cars in 1905. In several of his races, Le Blon's wife acted as his mechanician... whom he considered "an excellent one".
For the 1906 American Elimination Trial, the Thomas Motor Company hired two Frenchmen to drive their entries; Gustave Caillois and Hubert Le Blon who drove the #6 Thomas. Since Madame Le Blon remained in France, Le Blon's mechanician was Marius Amiel.
Le Blon finished a strong second and qualified for the American Team.
The Automobile trade journal encourage the American team of Walter Chrisite, Hugh Harding, Frank Lawwell, Joe Tracy and Hubert Le Blon with this cartoon of "Five Souls with a Single Thought".
Le Blon was the first car to start the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup race and can be seen at the beginning of this 1906 race film.
Le Blon encountered this unusual obstacle at the hairpin turn in Old Westbury. The dog made it across the course without being hit! Le Blon's Thomas was still running when the 1906 race was called and finished in 8th place.
Hubert Le Blon gave up auto racing and became an aeronaut, a racing aviator. Unfortunately, on April 2, 1910 the engine of his plane failed during an exhibition flight in San Sebastian, Spain as reported in this New York Times article.
Vince, if you would like high-resolution copies of any of these photos, please send me an email.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010: The Motor Parkway Tollgate Inns That Were Never Built
In October 1906, William K. Vanderbilt Jr. and his associates announced "the first automobile speedway ever constructed in this or any other country".
As described in the October 25,1906 issue of The Automobile entitled "The Speedway Across Long Island", the plan called for "a straightaway road of 65 or more miles that will extend from Floral Park through the center of Long Island to Riverhead. The idea takes on a more practical phase than the mere building of a race course, the proposition being to provide an automobile highway..."
The article described the plan to have "inns" with tollgates allowing access at frequent intervals. "Each tollgate will take the form of an old English inn, where the motoring public will be privileged to refresh themselves under club conditions. Each inn will be provided with its garage, charging and supply station, oil-sprinkling equipment, road repairing tools and material."
Soon after the Motor Parkway plans were announced, architect John Russell Pope submitted this design for a tollgate inn. This plan was discovered in the archives at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum.
As shown in Russell's design, the tollgate for the Motor Parkway was to the right of the inn.
Pope envisioned the first floor would have a waiting room, living room, kitchen and a keeper's door to collect tolls.
The second floor had three bedrooms, storage and a bathroom
The design called for a car weathervane on the roof of the inn. This feature was later incorporated into the Motor Parkway's general manager's office.
Among the 572 recently discovered survey maps of the Motor Parkway, only this survey included a sketch of a "toll-gate inn". The "Babylon Lodge" was planned for Lee Avenue at Wheatley Heights near Wyandanch. Neither the inn or a lodge was built at this location.
As described in Al Velocci's book The Toll Lodges of the Long Island Motor Parkway, and Their Gatekeepers' Lives, the inn concept was soon dropped due to costs and concerns about antagonizing hotel owners and automobile service companies along the Motor Parkway route. Russell replaced the inn concept with the smaller lodge design as shown here in the Meadow Brook Lodge. Russell designed the first six Motor Parkway lodges which all had small living spaces for the lodgekeeper's families and some of the design features from his original inn plans.
Sunday,1/10/10:The 1906 Westbury Grandstand & the Current Battle over the Hitchcock Property
Last Sunday, the locations of the grandstand and officials' stand/press box for the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race were documented between Powells Lane and Hitchcock lane on Jericho Turnpike. After moving to Mineola in 1905, the Start/Finish Line returned to its original Westbury location with a larger grandstand and press box for the 1906 race.
As seen in this 1906 map, the grandstand and press box were directly in front of Thomas Hitchcock's horse track. Two buildings were key to finding the locations for the 1904 and 1906 grandstands and press boxes; John Allen's house to the east of the grandstand and Baltazzi's large barn to the west of the grandstand.
For the 1906 race, John Allen's home on Jericho Turnpike became the headquarters for the Vanderbilt Cup Commission.
This photo shows Vincenzo Lancia racing down Jericho Turnpike between the grandstand and press box. Notice the cameraman to the left of Lancia's Fiat. His camera captured the grandstand action in this 1906 film.
Here, Duray's #18 De Detrich was making a move on Elliot Shepard's Hotchkiss in front of the grandstand. The photo was taken from the roof of the press box near the scoreboard. The view is to the west with the Baltazzi Barn to the left in the background.
This is the same view 104 years later looking west down Jericho Turnpike.
This amazing photo shows the crowds on the course after the 1906 race was called. It was estimated that 200,000 spectators saw the race around the 28-mile course. Again, the photo was taken from the roof of the press box...this time looking east. The Vanderbilt Cup Commission Headquarters (John Allen's home) can be seen in the background to the right.
This photo was taken yesterday at the site of the grandstand with the same view to the east. The traffic lights are at the Jericho Turnpike intersection with Powells Lane.
This Google Earth photo shows the locations of the Westbury grandstand, the press box, John Allen's home and Baltzazzi's barn. The oval for Thomas Hitchcock's former one-mile horse track is still very visible. This Wikimapia aerial has an even better view.
The look of the Hitchcock property has not changed in over 100 years. The history and photos of Hitchcock's Broad Hollow Farm can be found at OldLongIsland.com, a VanderbiltCupRaces.com favorite.
In 1992, the 97-acre Hitchcock estate was purchased by the Diocese of Rockville with plans to open the Queen of Peace Cemetery. After battling the Village of Old Westbury for years, the Diocese filed suit against the village, village officials and consultants on November 30, 2009.
J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets!
Howard Kroplick
_____________________________________________Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Future Event
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Indexes
-The Long Island Motor Parkway
Blog Highlights
Long Island Car Clubs
-Links to 30 websites (Updated: January 3, 2010)
Favorite Websites (Latest addition: January 8, 2010)
Blog Updates
-January 4, 2010: More photos from the November 2009 Chowder event
-January 3, 2010: Corrected description: The Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup Mascot
Saturday, January 9, 2010: “Black Beast” Featured in “Old Cars Weekly” Article
The Alco "Black Beast" was one of the cars featured in the September 3, 2009 Old Cars Weekly article "The Iconic & The Obsure".
The article describes the 14th Annual Greenwich Concours d'Elegance noting; "Great and small, Greenwich gathers the best of the best"...From the moment Howard Kroplick 1909 ALCO Black Beast roared onto the show field early Saturday with no muffling of its 100 hp, 680.8 cid six-cylinder engine, the weekend's incredibly diverse array of competition cars were also ensured their due."
The next scheduled appearance of the Alco "Black Beast" will be the on the convention floor of the 74th Annual Meeting of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) on Friday and Saturday, February 12-13, 2010.
Friday, 1/8/2010: A Favorite Website: Chronicling America-Access to Historic Newspaper Articles
Art of Art's Long Island Motor Parkway Site has recommended Chronicling America as a favorite website for VanderbiltCupRaces.com. Here's Art's description of a website that provides access to many historic newpaper articles dating back to 1690:
"I know you are always looking for pertinent websites and think the following one is excellent for researching the Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Races. Not sure if you've seen it or published it in the blog yet, but if not, you'll probably agree its very interesting and helpful - its one thing to read about history after the fact, but another thing to read what was published about history as it was being written. Its part of the Library of Congress/National Endowment for the Humanities program.
Art, I agree it is a wonderful site and will head to the Favorite Website section. Thanks for the suggestion!
This is a sampling of the hundreds of pdf articles available on the Vanderbilt Cup Races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and William K. Vanderbilt Jr.:
1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race: The World "Heath Wins Auto Race, Going Over Mile a Minute"
1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race: New-York Tribune "Hemery Wins Cup for France"
1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race: New-York Tribune: "France Wins Big Auto Race"
1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race: New-York Tribune "Yankee Car Wins Mad Race"
1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race: New-York Daily Tribune "Grant Wins the Vanderbilt Cup"
1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race: New-York Tribune "Grant Wins the Auto Race- Four Killed at Race"
The Long Island Motor Parkway: The Sun "First Automobile Parkway"
William K. Vanderbilt Jr.-The San Francisco Call: Virginia Fair to Wed a Vanderbilt"
Thursday, January 7, 2010: Another View of the Westbury 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Grandstand
The location of the Westbury grandstand on Jericho Turnpike for the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race was documented last Sunday..
Here is another exciting photo showing the crowds east of the grandstand.
A close-up of John Allen's house revealed a large "Mercedes Cars Continental Tires" banner across the roof similar to the banner across the front lawn.
Right along side the grandstand, a concession stand was selling beverages and sandwiches.P>
The 1904 race began at the break of dawn.... a little too early for this napping race fan.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010: The Motor Parkway Weathervane
Howard Kroplick Replies:
Walter, as discussed last week, in 1929 a new Garden City office was built for Alfred J. Kienzle, the Motor Parkway's General Manager from 1911 to1938. As seen in this December 2009 photo, the building, now a private residence, does not currently have a weathervane.
However, the book The Long Island Motor Parkway includes an older undated photo of the office building. Check out the roofline.......It's the weathervane!
A close-up of the weathervane shows the images of a car and a running dog.
Amazingly, Al Velocci found the September 1929 invoice for the weathervane in the archives of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum. The aluminum "Speeding" weathervane #15 was made by The Distinctive Products of Wrightswille, Pennsylvania and cost $35. The weathervane was sold to Arthur G. Archibald, the parkway's engineer from 1927 to 1938, marked for the "New Office Bldg" and "Paid by A".
Tuesday, January 5, 2009: The Vanderbilt Cup Races, LIMP and LILCO
Al Velocci and I enjoyed meeting 50 members of the National Grid Retiree Club and presenting “The Vanderbilt Cup Races, the Motor Parkway and LILCO”. Here are several photos and slides from today's presentation:
Co-authors Howard Kroplick and Al Velocci addressing the National Grid Retiree Club.
The presentation was followed by an interactive Q &A session and a book-signing.
Among the slides shown was this postcard from the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race course showing the Nassau Light and Power plant on Old Westbury Road in Roslyn. This company would later be combined into Long Isand Lighting.
A LIPA utility pole at the Old Courthouse Road Bridge over the Motor Parkway in Manhasset Hills.
After the Motor Parkway closed in 1938, Long Island Lighting purchased or leased land throughout the right-of-way including Deadman's Curve in Bethpage.
As seen here in Bethpage State Park, the utility lines follow the Motor Parkway route.
The remnants of the Motor Parkway pavement can be seen among the LIPA poles in Melville just east of Route 110.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
_____________________________________________Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Future Events
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Indexes
-The Long Island Motor Parkway
Blog Highlights
Long Island Car Clubs
-Links to 30 websites (Updated: January 3, 2010)
Favorite Websites (Latest addition: January 2, 2010)
Blog Updates
-January 4, 2010: More photos from the November 2009 Chowder event
-January 3, 2010: Corrected description: The Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup Mascot
-December 28, 2009: A slide presentation of the 2009 Hallockville Car Show
Sunday, January 3, 2009: The Location of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Grandstand in Westbury
Howard Kroplick Replies:
Tony, thanks for the question. Both the 1904 and 1906 grandstands and press boxes were in similar locations on Jericho Turnpike between Hitchcock Lane and Powells Lane. These 1904 race photos will document the location of the grandstand on the south side of Jericho Turnpike (in Westbury) and the press box on the north side (in Old Westbury).
As seen in this 1906 map, the grandstand and press box were directly in front of Thomas Hitchcock's Horse Track. Two buildings are key to finding the locations; John Allen's house to the east of the grandstand and Baltazzi's large barn to the west of the grandstand.
John Allen's distinctive white home was located on Jericho Turnpike directly in front of Powells Lane. Note: a refreshment stand was set up on the Allen property for the 1904 race. On a banner across Allen's lawn, Continental Tires promoted their use on the Mercedes racers.
In this September 1904 photo, the grandstand was under construction. Note the John Allen's home in the background.
This photo was taken from the second level of the press box on the north side of the street looking east. The John Allen home can be seen again across Jericho Turnpike.
This is the view from the John Allen's property looking west down Jericho Turnpike. Note the distance and relationship between the grandstand and press box. A good portion of the American Biograph & Mutoscope film of the 1904 race was shot from the roof of the press box. The large barn in the background is on Baltazzi's property as shown in the above map.
Based on the above information, here are my best Google Earth estimates of the locations of the Westbury grandstand, the press box (which also served as the officials' box), John Allen's home and Baltazzi's barn. Note: The outline for Thomas Hitchcock's one-mile horse track is still visible.
This is a recent photo of the location of the grandstand looking west down Jericho Turnpike. The Hitchcock property is on the right, basically unchanged since 1904.
This is the view of the grandstand site looking east. The traffic light is at the Powells Lane intersection. A 7-11 store is on the right, ironically very near the site of Allen's 1904 refreshment stand.
Next week, I will use dramatic 1906 photos to document the larger grandstand and press box for the third Vanderbilt Cup Race. You will also find out what happened to John Allen's home in 1906 and the current legal controversy surrounding the Hitchcock property.
Saturday, January 2, 2009: A New Favorite Website: OldLongIsland.com
Zach, a historic preservation graduate student, has created the website OldLongIsland.com dedicated to the preservation of Long Island's "Gold Coast" estates and other thing old". This excellent website has photos and details on over 175 Long Island estates including several mansions related to Vanderbilt Cup Race personalities.
The Vanderbilt family section includes profiles on several mansions including William K. Vanderbilt, Jr's "Deepdale" in Lake Success, Alva Belmont's "Beacon Towers" in Sand Point and Willie K's father's home "Idle Hour" mansion in Oakdale. A highlight is a copy of Deepdale sales brochure when it was being sold for $125,000.
As seen here, one of my favorite Long Island mansions was the giant sand castle Beacon Towers built for Alva Vanderbilt Belmont, William K.Vanderbilt's Jr's mother, and his step-father O.H.P Belmont
Vanderbilt Cup Race driver and all-around sportsman Foxhall Keene lived in "Rosemary Hall" in Old Westbury. The mansion is currently being restored to its old glory.
Friday, January 1, 2010: Banner Year for VanderbiltCupRaces.com and December 2009 Highlights
VanderbiltCupRaces.com recorded an amazing year in 2009 with 34,700 unique visitors, a 75% increase over 2008. This represented 95 visitors per day with an average of 4 page views and a 3.3 minutes view time. Visitors came from 121 countries including; China, Slovenia, Serbia, Pakistan, South Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, Mongolia, Bahrain, Iceland and Uzbekistan. Thanks for visiting!
VanderbiltCupRaces.com is ranked #1 on all major search engines for the term "Vanderbilt Cup Races":
Google Search: Ranking #1 of 807,000 websites
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Yahoo! Search: Ranking #1 of 2.34 million websites
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Below is a summary of December 2009 posts:
I wish you a happy and healthy 2010,
Howard Kroplick
_______________________________________December 2009 Highlights
Vanderbilt Cup Races
The 17 Cars of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup Paperweight Sells for $2,550 on Ebay
Then and Now: Lake Success during the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Today: Motor Parkway and Vanderbilt Cup Race Course Scenes
Promoting the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race Victory
The 19 Cars of the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race
The 12 Cars of the 1905 American Elimination Trial
Driver Profile: George Heath- The First Vanderbilt Cup Race Winner
Driver Profile: Victor Hemery- The 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race Winner
The Vanderbilt Cup Race Bridges
Film “The 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course”
An Exclusive Rare View of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
The 18 Cars of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race
_______________________________________Long Island Motor Parkway
Then and Now: The Motor Parkway Office/General Manager’s Home in Garden City
Then and Now: The Great Neck Lodge in Lake Success
Today: Motor Parkway and Vanderbilt Cup Race Course Scenes
16 Photos of Motor Parkway Lodges, Gates, Kiosks and Entrances/Exits
The Mystery of the “Deer Park Lodge”
The Vanderbilt Cup Race Bridges
The Planned Fresh Meadows Motor Parkway Western Terminus in 1912
_______________________________________Alco-6 Black Beast Racer
Article “Schenectady’s Contributions to the History of Automobiles”
__________________________________Starting Lineups
The 17 Cars of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race
The 19 Cars of the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race
The 12 Cars of the 1905 American Elimination Trial
The 18 Cars of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race
_______________________________________William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.
The 1901 Newport Automobile Races and the “Red Devil” Mercedes
Thursday, December 31, 2009: Starting Lineup: The 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race
For the last post of 2009, here are the 17 cars that competed in the third Vanderbilt Cup Race held on October 6,1906. Remember to click on the photos to enlarge the image.
The 1906 race was won by the #10 Darracq driven by Louis Wagner, the third consecutive Vanderbilt Cup Race victory by France. The race was documented in this film.
#1 Thomas (USA) driven by Hubert Le Blon, 115 HP. Finished 8th. Running in last lap when race was called. Averaged 51.3 mph.
#2 Panhard (France) by 1904 winner George Heath, 120 HP. Finished 9th. Running in Lap 9 when race was called. Averaged 49.7 mph.
#3 Mercedes (Germany) driven by Camille Jenatzy, 120 HP. Finished 5th. Completed all 10 laps. Averaged 58.5 mph.
#4 Fiat (Italy) driven by Vincenzo Lancia, 120 HP. Finished 2nd. Completed all 10 laps. Averaged 60.7 mph.
#5 Frayer-Miller (USA) driven by Frank Lawwell, 110 HP. Finished 16th. Broke fan during Lap 5.
#6 Hotchkiss (France) driven by William K.Vanderbilt Jr.'s cousin Elliot Shepard, 130 HP. Finished 15th. Killed spectator in Mineola during Lap 7. Stopped at East Norwich.
#7 Mercedes (Germany) driven by William Luttgen, 120 HP. Finished 11th. Running in Lap 9 when race was called. Averaged 48.2 mph.
#8 Fiat (Italy) driven by Felice Nazzaro, 120 HP. Finished 6th. Still running in Lap 10 when race was called. Averaged 54.8 mph.
#9 Locomobile (USA) driven by Joe Tracy, 90 HP. Finished 10th. Made fastest lap of the race averaging 67.7 mph. Still running in Lap #9 when race was called. Averaged 48.7 mph.
#10 Darracq (France) driven by Louis Wagner, 100 HP. Finished 1st. Finished 3 minutes and 16 seconds ahead of Lancia. Averaged 62.7 mph.
#12 Itala (Italy) driven by Alessandro Cagno, 120 HP. Finished 7th. Running in Lap 10 when race was called. Averaged 52.3 mph.
#14 Haynes (USA) driven by John Haynes, 50 HP. Finished 14th. Running in Lap 8 when race was called. Averaged 44.3 mph.
#15 Clement-Bayard (France) driven by Albert Clement, 100 HP. Finished 4th. Completed all ten laps. Averaged 59.0 mph.
#16 Fiat (Italy) driven by Dr. Aldo Weilschott, 120 HP. Finished 17th. Broke gear during first lap in Mineola.
#17 Christie (USA) driven by Walter Christie, 50 HP. Finished 13th. Running in Lap 8 when race was called. Averaged 44.7 mph.
#18 Lorraine-Dietrich (France) driven by Arthur Duray, 120 HP. Finished 3rd, only 16 seconds behind Lancia. Averaged 60.7 mph.
#19 Itala (Italy) driven by Maurice Fabry,120 HP. Finished 12th. Running in Lap 8 when race was called. Averaged 47.8 mph.
Vanderbilt Cup Race Starting Lineups
-1905 American Elimination Trial
-1906 American Elimination Race
Wednesday, December 30, 2009: Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup Mascot Sells for $2,550 on EBay
Revised: January 3, 2010: A Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup mascot (missing a radiator cap) was sold for $2,550 on EBay last night.
As noted in this August 2008 post, the mascot was issued by Locomobile Company to celebrate their 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race victory and cost $1.50 without a radiator cap.
The mascot with a radiator cap was sold for $2.25 in 1909 and was proudly placed on the hoods of many Locomobiles.
January 4, 2010 Update: This is the Locomobile brochure announcing the radiator mascot. As noted below by Joel Finn, a dinner cup version was also given out at a Bridgeport banquet in November 8,1908 to celebrate the Locomobile victory.
Tuesday, 12/29/09: Then and Now: The Motor Parkway Office in Garden City
From 1915 to mid-1929, the first Long Island Motor Parkway Office was built in Garden City. In 1929, the small office was replaced by this attractive building which served as the office for General Manager Alfred Kienzle.
The office was located east of the the Motor Parkway Bridge over Clinton Road and about 50 yards west of the Garden City Lodge.
As seen in this December 24, 2009 photo, the building is still standing and is now a private residence.
Sunday, December 27, 2009: Then and Now: The Great Neck Lodge in Lake Success
The Great Neck Lodge, located off Lakeville Road in Lake Success, was one of the six toll lodges designed by John Russell Pope. As shown in this photo looking east, Lake Success was the western terminus of the Motor Parkway in 1911. Note the barricade blocking access to the Lakeville Road Bridge which was under construction.
As noted in Al Velocci's book "The Toll Lodges of the Long Island Motor Parkway, and Their Gatekeeper's Lives", after the Motor Parkway closed in 1938, it was purchased by Alex and Sophie Grego for $2,500 and converted into a private home as seen here in this early 1960s photo courtesy of Dale Welsch. The Gregos had both worked on Vanderbilt's nearby former Lake Success mansion.
This photo, courtesy of Lake Success Village Historian Dr. Jack Binder, shows the Great Neck Lodge in the 1980s prior to being incorporated into a house being built on the site.
This is what remains of the "Great Neck Lodge"- a section of the kitchen of a much larger house.
As seen in this December 24, 2009 photo, the Motor Parkway right-of-way immediately east of the "Great Neck Lodge" is still intact and used as a path to the Great Neck South High School athletic fields.
Walking further east, this "Now" photo would likely be very similar to any "Then" photo of the Motor Parkway in Lake Success taken 98 years ago.
Long Island Car Clubs (Updated: February 5, 2010)
-Fabulous 50's 60's Nostalgia Car Club
-Horseless Carriage Club of America- Long Island
-Impressive and Aggressive Motor Club, located in Farmingville, New York. Contact Tom Driscoll at tdriscol@opt online.net
-Long Island Chapter of Antique Truck Historical Society
-Long Island Chevy Owners Association
-Long Island Corvette Owners Association
-Long Island Dreamboats- LI-NYC Region of the Cadillac-LaSalle Club
-Long Island-Metro Packards. Contact Wayne Hedlund whedlund@Verizon.net 631-423-6526
-Long Island Moose Classic Car Club
-Long Island Motor Touring Club
-Long Island Sound Region of Classic Car Club of America
-Long Island Street Road Association
-Long Island Studebaker Drivers Club
-Mercedes-Benz Club of America- Long Island Section
-MG Car Club- Long Island Centre
-Mopar Power Club of Long Island
-Mustang & Shelby Club of Long Island
-South Side Boys of Long Island Car Club
-Vintage Chevrolet Club of America- Long Island Region
-Vintage Chevrolet Club of America- Queens County Region
If you wish to have your Long Island club added to this list, please add a comment at the end of this post.
Saturday, December 26, 2009: Then and Now: Lake Success during the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race
As shown in this map of the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race, Lakeville Road in Lake Success and New Hyde Park made up the western section of the course.
During the 1905 race, a station was set up on Lakeville Road for changing tires and servicing the race cars.This photo was taken on a small hill facing Lake Success on October 14, 1905.
Here is the exact location as it looked on December 24, 2009
Enjoy the Holidays,
Howard Kroplick
_____________________________________________Future Events
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Indexes
-The Long Island Motor Parkway
Blog Highlights
Favorite Websites (Latest addition: December 23, 2009)
-19 Links to Vanderbilt Cup Races, Motor Parkway, racing, aerial surveys and Long Island websites
Blog Updates
-December 24, 2009: Why the Marmon racers were assigned #32
-December 16, 2009: Lost Treasures article on Grover Cleveland Bergdoll
Friday, December 25, 2009: Today: Motor Parkway and Vanderbilt Cup Race Course Scenes
Happy Holidays and a healthy and joyful 2010 !
Howard Kroplick
Enjoy these photos taken on December 24, 2009 of Willie K's former mansion, the Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race courses.
William K. Vanderbilt Jr's Deepdale Estate in Lake Success
Lakeville Road, Lake Success- Site of a tire station during the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Long Island Motor Parkway right-of-way in Lake Success
The Old Courthouse Road Bridge over the Motor Parkway in Manhasset Hills
View from the Old Courthouse Road Bridge looking west on to the Motor Parkway right-of-way
The former home of the Motor Parkway's General Manager in Garden City
Motor Parkway right-of-way in East Williston between the Oyster Bay LIRR tracks and Roslyn Road
Site of the grandstand and Press Box for the 1908-1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races in Levittown
Site of the 1908 ground-breaking ceremonies for the Motor Parkway with the eastern abutment of Jerusalem Road Bridge (Stewart Avenue) in Bethpage still in place.
Deadman's Curve in Bethpage
Thursday, December 24, 2009: Promoting the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race Victory
The primary reason for automobile manufacturers and their suppliers to build and equip expensive racers for the Vanderbilt Cup Races was the opportunity to promote a potential victory. As an example, these ads appeared in the November 2, 1909 issue of Horseless Age after the Alco-6 driving by Harry Grant won the Vanderbilt Cup Race and the Marmon driven by Ray Harroun won the Wheatley Hills Sweepstakes.
American Locomotive Company grabbed the cover of the automobile trade journal celebrating the Alco victory and noting "never was a victory won more strictly on merit."
Nordyke & Marmon created this ad after Ray Harroun won the Wheatley Hills Sweepstakes held during the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race in the #32 Marmon. The "same stock Marmon" The "Thirty-two" with 32-34 horsepower was available for $2,650
Always a promotional presence at the races, Michelin promoted their victories in the Vanderbilt Cup Races and the two sweepstakes in this ad "Michelin tires win as usual".
Bosch magnetos also celebrated the victories that helped make their brand "the standard ignition system of the world".
The importance of a speedometer in the victory was highlighted is this Warner Autometer ad.
The Warner Instrument Company would be pleased to know that the Warner Autometer is on the restored Alco-6 "Black Beast" and still works!
Happy Holidays!
Howard Kroplick
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
______________________________________________Future Events
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Indexes
-The Long Island Motor Parkway
Blog Highlights
Favorite Websites (Latest addition: December 23, 2009)
-19 Links to Vanderbilt Cup Races, Motor Parkway, racing, aerial surveys and Long Island websites
Blog Updates
-December 24, 2009: Why the Marmon racers were assigned #32
-December 16, 2009: Lost Treasures article on Grover Cleveland Bergdoll
Wednesday, December 23, 2009: Favorite Website: Tribute to the Bridgehampton Race Circuit
Ash Automobilia has developed a wonderful website as a Tribute to the Bridgehampton Race Circuit. This website on Long Island's great long lost race course includes; photos, race films, and links to websites, articles and books.
More information on the Bridgehampton races and the race circuit can be found in these VanderbiltCupRaces.com posts:
-Old 16 at the 1952 Bridgehampton Road Race
-The Bridgehampton Race Circuit Today
-The Futuristic Tow Car at the 1951 Bridgehampton Races
-The Racer on the Trailer at Bridgehampton in 1951
-Grand Prix Motors Mystery Solved!
-The 1965 Vanderbilt Cup Race at Bridgehampton
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Tuesday, December 22, 2009: The 1901 Newport Automobile Races and the “Red Devil” Mercedes
One of the most exciting American auto races in 1901 was the Newport Automobile Races organized by 23-year old William K. Vanderbilt Jr. and the National Auto Racing Association.
The major automobile trade magazine Horseless Age reported:
"No automobile races held in this country has eleicted as much newspaper comment as the Newport race of August 30. It is not so much the races themseleves that the press has been discussing but the fierce fight between the promotoers thereof and residents of Newport, who objected to seeing Ocean Avenue turned into a race track even for a single day".
After the Newport residents secured an injunction to prevent holding the race on public streets, William K. Vanderbilt Jr, acting as president of the National Automobile Racing Association, relocated it to the oval horse track at Aquidneck Park. Here is the official program for the event.
The races consisted of six classes representing the most common vehicles of 1901:1. Tricycles and Two Wheeled Vehicles 2. Steam Propelled Vehicles 3. Electric Vechicles 4. De Dion 5-HP Voiturettes 5. Gasoline Vehicles not developing 12 Horsepower 6. Gasoline Vehicles developing over 12 Horsepower. The final "division" was for winners of all classes.
The races were an exclusive country club affair of Newport millionaires, like a golf outing or tennis match. Among the participants were William K. Vanderbilt Jr., John Jacob Astor IV, O.H.P Belmont (Willie K's step-father), Reginald Vanderbilt (Willie K's cousin and Anderson Cooper's grandfather) and two of Willie K's friends, Foxhall Keene and James L. Breese.
Overall 16 races were held among the six classes. The most anticpated races for the 3,000 spectators were the last two events; a 5-mile run for gasoline vehicles with over 12-HP and the 10-mile championship for the winners of all six classes.
Both races were won by the crowd favorite William K. Vanderbilt Jr in his 35-hp Mercedes nicknamed the "Red Devil". in the final 10-Mile Race, Willie K out-powered the winners of all the other classes, averaging 39.0 miles per hour.
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
________________________________________________
Future Events
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Indexes
-The Long Island Motor Parkway
Blog Highlights
Favorite Websites (Latest addition: December 10, 2009)
-18 Links to Vanderbilt Cup Races, Motor Parkway, racing, aerial surveys and Long Island websites
Blog Updates
-December 16, 2009: Lost Treasures article on Grover Cleveland Bergdoll
-December 10, 2009: -TL Thousand reports the December 4, 2008 mystery photo has been solved
Sunday, December 20, 2009: Starting Lineup: The 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race
These 19 cars competed in the second Vanderbilt Cup Race held on October 14, 1905 won by the #18 Darracq driven by Victor Hemery. Remember to click on the photos to enlarge the image:
#1 Mercedes (Germany) driven by Camille Jenatzy, 120 HP. Finished 15th. Cracked cylinder during Lap 4.
#2 De Dietrich (France) by Arthur Duray, 130 HP. Finished 9th Running in Lap 8 when race was called. Averaged 55.0 mph.
#3 Pope-Toledo (USA) driven by Bert Dingley, 60 HP. Finished 12th. Broke cylinder, made repairs and was running in Lap 6 when race was stopped .
#4 Fiat (Italy) driven by Vincenzo Lancia, 120 HP. Finished 4th. Fortunes of race changed when Lancia collided with Christie who was only on Lap 4 at I.U. Willets Road at Michelin Tire Station in Albertson. Broke rear wheel. Delayed 30 minutes and lost by 24 minutes and 23 seconds.
#5 Mercedes (Germany) driven by Foxhall Keene and mechanician William Luttgen, 120 HP. Finished 11th. Skidded into telegraph pole at S curve at Willis Avenue and broke wheel during Lap 6. Pole was owned by his father's company.
#6 Darracq (France) driven by Louis Wagner, 80 HP. Finished 16th.Lost gear box covers, bearings seized during Lap 4 at Bull's Head Hotel in Greenvale.
#7 Locomobile (USA) driven by Joe Tracy, 90 HP. Finished 3rd. First American car to ever place in an international race. Beat Lancia by 2 minutes and 5 seconds. Averaged 56.9 mph.
#8 Fiat (Italy) driven by Felice Nazzaro, 120 HP. Finished 6th. Still running in Lap #9 when race was called. Averaged 58.2 mph.
#9 Mercedes (Germany) driven by John Warden, 120 HP. Finished 8th. Still running in Lap #9 when race was called. Rear wheel running on rim. Best performance of German team. Averaged 47.3 mph.
#10 Renault (France) driven by Francois Szisz, 90 HP. Finished 5th. Still runing in Lap 10 when race was called. Averaged 55.7 mph.
#11 Christie (USA) driven by Walter Christie, 60 HP. Finished 17th. Collided with Lancia who was on Lap 8 pulling out of the Michelin tire station on IU Willets Road in Albertson and broke both wheels during Lap 4. Turned into a ditch to avoid Lancia.
#12 Fiat (Italy) driven by Emanuel Cedrino. 90 HP. Finished 18th. Damaged steering gear during Lap 3 after hitting telegraph pole in Lakeville.
#X Mercedes (Germany) driven by Albert Campbell, 120 HP. Finished 18th. "Unlucky" 13th car to start race. Gasoline tank fell off during Lap #2. Only car to run in Vanderbilt Cup Races without a number.
#14 Panhard (France) driven by George Heath. 120 HP. Driver was 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race winner. Finished 2nd. Lost by 3 minutes and 32 seconds. Averaged 60.7 mph.
#15 Pope-Toledo (USA) driven by Herb Lytle. 90 HP. Finished 14th. Broke cylinder, made repairs and was running in Lap 6 when race was stopped.
#16 Fiat (Italy) driven by Louis Chevrolet. 90 HP. Finished 10th. Ran into telegraph pole at the S curve at Willis Avenue and broke front wheel and bent front axle during Lap 7.
#18 Darracq (France) driven by Victor Hemery. 80 HP. Finished 1st. Hemery received $12,000 from Darracq and tire manufacturers for winning. Averaged 61.5 mph.
#19 White Steamer (USA) driven by Walter White. 40 HP. Finished 13th. Tire and engine problems during Lap 5 when race was called. Running without front left tire which came off at Guinea Woods Turn. This steam car was the only non-gasoline-powered car to ever compete in the Vanderbilt Cup Races.
#20 Fiat (Italy) driven by Paul Sartori. 90 HP. Finished 7th.Broke crankshaft during Lap 9 .
Vanderbilt Cup Race Starting Lineups
-1905 American Elimination Trial
-1906 American Elimination Race
Saturday, December 19, 2009: 16 Photos of Motor Parkway Lodges, Gates, Kiosks and Entrances/Exits
As a follow-up to my 10/10/08 toll lodge post, here are photos of 14 of the 20 toll collection structures and 2 entrances/exits of the Long Island Motor Parkway (Updated: December 21, 2009):
Toll Lodges with living quarters for the toll-takers designed by John Russell Pope (6)
Meadow Brook Lodge (1908-1938) - Toll lodge (Destroyed1950s)
Bethpage Lodge (1908-1938)-Toll lodge (Destroyed 1960s)
Massapequa Lodge (1908-1938)–Toll lodge ( Destroyed 1960s)
Great Neck Lodge (1909-1938)-Toll lodge (Partially extant as the kitchen of a private home)
Roslyn Lodge (1909-1938) - Toll lodge (Extant as a private home)
Garden City Lodge (1911-1938) - Toll lodge (Extant as Garden City Chamber of Commerce Office, restored and moved to 7th Avenue, Garden City)
Toll Lodge/Shanties with living quarters for the toll-takers (4)
Mineola Lodge (1921-1938) - Toll lodge/shanty 100 feet south of Jericho Turnpike Kiosk. (Partially extant as private home)
Ronkonkoma Lodge (1923-1934)- Toll lodge/shanty with gate stationed across Long Island Motor Parkway, same location as last Ronkonkoma Lodge ticket booth (1914) (Extant as private home, moved 100 feet west and north off right-of way)
Huntington Lodge (1924-1938) - Toll lodge/ shanty- same location as Huntington Lodge kiosk (1910-1924) (Destroyed 1960s)
Brentwood Lodge at Commack Road (1923-1928) - Toll lodge/shanty, different location from the Brentwood Lodge (1911-1921) (Destroyed 1920s; only photo of roof exists)
Ticket Kiosks/Gates/Booths/Shanties (8)-Revised 2/7/2009
Jericho Turnpike Lodge (Kiosk) (1910-1921) - Ticket booth kiosk (Destroyed 1922)
Huntington Lodge (Kiosk) (1910-1924)- Ticket booth kiosk (Destroyed 1924)
Brentwood Lodge (1911-1921)- Ticket booth kiosk at Washington Avenue (Destroyed 1921)
Brentwood Lodge at Commack Road (1922-1923)- Ticket booth kiosk (Destroyed 1923)
Great Neck Lodge (1912-1938)- Ticket booth kiosk, south of Great Neck Lodge (Destroyed 1939)
Hillside Avenue Lodge (1921-1928)–Ticket booth (Destroyed 1928)
Ronkonkoma Lodge (1911-1914)- Ticket booth(s)/toll gate with tolls collected east of Brentwood (Destroyed 1914)
Nassau Boulevard Lodge (1928-1938, never manned) - Kiosk with a wood barricade across the Long Island Motor Parkway at the western terminus- No living quarters. Also known as Horace Harding Boulevard Lodge from 1936 to 1938. (Destroyed early 1940s)
Toll Gates (2)
Rocky Hill Road Lodge (1928-1938) Toll gate across the Long Island Motor Parkway- No living quarters but accomodations built near the building. From 1912 to 1921, the Rocky Hill Road entrance was known as the Hillside Avenue Lodge. However, no toll collection structures were built during this period at this location. Same location as Hillside Lodge (1921-1928) (Destoyed early 1940s)
Brentwood Lodge at the Spur Road (1928-1934) - Toll gate near the Spur Road (Harned Road) to Jericho Turnpike- No living quarters. Also known as the Smithtown Lodge or the Smithtown Gate. (Destroyed 1930s)
Entrances/Exits with No Toll Collection Structures (2)
73rd Avenue Entrance/Exit, Fresh Meadows - There was an entrance/exit road to the Motor Parkway at Black Stump Road (73rd Avenue) in Fresh Meadows
December 23, 2009 Update: Al Velocci has confirmed that this "temporary entrance" was built by the Motor Parkway in early 1928 when Nassau Boulevard was being built and paved. The entrance remained open until the Motor Parkway closed in 1938.
Deer Park Avenue Entrance/Exit, Dix Hills - Despite appearing on publicity brochures and maps, the Deer Park Avenue Lodge or Deer Park Gate was an entrance to the parkway with no toll collecting structures at the location.
For More Toll Lodge Information
If you wish to obtain a copy of Al Velocci’s excellent book, Al can be reached at umvel@aol.com. Only a few copies of the book remain for sale.
Wanted: Images of the six undocumented toll collection structures; especially the elusive Huntington Lodge and the Brentwood Lodge at Commack Road. Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Friday, December 18, 2009: The Mystery of the “Deer Park Lodge”
As seen here, most maps issued by the PR department of the Motor Parkway indicated the route and the location of the toll lodges including the Deer Park Lodge. However, as documented by Al Velocci's excellent book "The Toll Lodges of the Long Island Motor Parkway, and Their Gatekeepers' Lives" and my 10/10/08 toll lodge post, the Deer Park Lodge never existed. Here is further proof.
This 1929 Motor Parkway survey map shows the Dix Hills area around Deer Park Avenue (now Deer Park Road). Note the survey includes the last bridge built in Suffolk County and the location for the "Proposed Deer Park Lodge".
This 1950 aerial shows the area after the Deer Park Avenue Parkway Bridge had been removed. Note, the entrances and exits to the Motor Parkway on both the west and east side of Deer Park Road. As Al Velocci noted;" Parkway maps and brochures distributed over the years featured a lodge or a tollgate at Deer Park Avenue. Yes, there was in fact an entrance to the Parkway that opened in 1910, but it was never more than that- merely an entrance"."
These Motor Parkway entrances and exits in Dix Hills can also be seen in this 1947 aerial from the New York State Archives Fairchild Survey Suffolk County Collection.
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . For example, I am still looking for a photo of the Motor Parkway bridge that went over Deer Park Avenue. Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Thursday, 12/17/09: “The Vanderbilt Cup Races” to be Presented at 74th Annual Meeting of AACA
Howard Kroplick will be presenting "The Vanderbilt Cup Races of Long Island" at the 74th Annual Meeting of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) on Friday, February 12, 2010. The seminar will be held at 3:00 PM in the Freedom Ballroom at the Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel.
The Alco-6 Black Beast will be on display on the main floor of the AACA Trade Show on Friday, February 12th and Saturday, February 13th. I look forward to meeting you there!
Off-Topic: Met fans will enjoy highlights of this exclusive film of the Mets MVP Reception held last night at Citi Field. Check out the fan wearing the Mets hat with Jeff Francoeur.
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Wednesday, December 16, 2009: Starting Lineup: The 1905 American Elimination Trial
Twelve cars were scheduled to compete in the 1905 American Elimination Trial. The race was held on September 23, 1905 to help determine the five American entrants for the Vanderbilt Cup Race:
The Ten Starters
#1 Haynes driven by Frank Nutt, 50 HP. Finished 4th. Averaged 45.4 mph. Not selected for the American ream.
#2 Pope-Toledo driven by Bert Dingley, 60 HP. Finished 1st. Averaged 56.2 mph. Selected for American team.
#3 Matheson driven by Ralph Mongini, 40 HP. Finished 10th. Oiling device failed in Jericho during Lap 1. Not selected for the American team.
#4 White Steamer driven by Walter White, 40 HP. Finished 7th. Selected for American team.
#5 Locomobile driven by Joe Tracy, 90 HP. Finished 2nd. Averaged 55.8 mph. Selected for American team.
#6 Christie driven by George Robertson, 60 HP. Finished 6th. Selected for American team.
#7 Royal Tourist driven Robert Jardine, 40 HP. Finished 3rd. Averaged 48.8 mph. Not selected for American team.
#8 Thomas driven by Montague Roberts, 60 HP. Finished 5th. Averaged 45.4 mph. Not selected for American team.
#9 Franklin driven by Willie Winchester, 60 HP. Finished 8th. Broke universal joint and fuel tank at Greenvale during Lap 2. Not selected for the American team.
#12 Pope-Toledo driven by Herb Lytle, 60 HP. Finished 9th. Broke universal joint on North Hempstead Turnpike. Selected for American team.
The Two Cars That Did Not Race
#10 Matheson to be driven by Tom Cooper, 45 HP. Did not start.
#11 Premier to be driven by Carl Fisher, 60 HP. Overweight did not appear at course.
Vanderbilt Cup Race Starting Lineups
-1905 American Elimination Trial
-1906 American Elimination Race
Tuesday, December 15, 2009: Driver Profile: George Heath- The First Vanderbilt Cup Race Winner
Born on Long Island, New York in 1862 George Heath became an American living in Paris during the 1890’s. Drawn by the lure of France’s blossoming automobile industry he soon secured a job at the Panhard & Levassor factory. He first appeared as a driver of one of the company’s race cars in 1898, finishing 13th in the grueling, 889-mile Paris to Amsterdam to Pau Race.
The following year, in 1899, Heath demonstrated promise with a fourth place finish in the Paris to St. Malo Race, and a sixth at an auto race called the Tour de France. Aside from another sixth-place finish at Belgium’s Circuit Des Ardennes in 1902, Heath enjoyed little success until the greatest year of his driving career in 1904. That year he scored two major victories, the first at Circuit Des Ardennes and what proved to be the crowning achievement of his career, a win at the inaugural Vanderbilt Cup Race in his native Long Island, New York.
The First International Race for the William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. Cup held on October 8, 1904 boiled down to a good old-fashioned shoot-out of two men on opposite ends of their careers. The seasoned veteran, George Heath, a 42-year-old American expatriate, found himself pitted against a driver half his age in the form of Albert Clement Jr., driving a Clement-Bayard from his father's company.
Heath drove one of three Panhard entries in the 284.44 mile, 5 hour, 26 minute and 15 second ordeal over torturous terrain. The strongest of all teams, the Panhards led all but two laps of the race as teammate George Teste grabbed the top spot at the start, cut the race’s fastest lap (70.9 miles per hour) and maintained his advantage for the first three laps.
In contrast, Heath chose a measured strategy instead of constantly pressing his finely tuned French machine to its limits. Early on, he battled with Edward Hawley in a Mercedes before working his way into position to inherit the lead when Teste’s clutch failed on lap 4. Heath held this position until he suffered his second tire failure on lap 8 allowing Albert Clement in a Clement-Bayard to take the lead. The 21-year-old Frenchman gained further advantage when Heath was mistakenly told he was still leading when, in fact, he was not.Thinking he was leading, Heath “nursed” his car to mitigate any chance of further problems. It was not until Heath reached the Hicksville control on the ninth lap did he realize he was trailing.
The final two laps were the stuff of any great auto race from any era. Heath, in the faster car, knew he had to make up time and the only way to do so was to drive as fast as possible and to avoid a breakdown. Clement’s job was to drive just as hard as he could to keep the faster car at bay. While there was a burst of applause as Heath crossed the finish line at about 1:18 p.m., 5 hours, 26 minutes and 15 seconds after his pre-dawn start, the full force of excitement was reserved for the decisive appearance of Clement. It all boiled down to simple arithmetic. Clement started 10 minutes behind Heath, and to win he needed to arrive sometime within that margin.
Everyone at Westbury craned their heads in the direction of Queens listening for the first inkling of the smoking Clement-Bayard car. Just 1 minute, 28 seconds behind Heath’s total elapsed net time, Clement crossed the start-finish line, a tick past 1:29 in the afternoon. It was the closest finish in international road racing history up to that time. After winning Heath reflected on his driving skills:
“My control of my machine is instinctive. I know at all times just what speed I am making. Constant practice enables me to do these things. I like to travel fast, and I like to handle my car at great speed.”
As shown in this classic sports film, George Heath had earned his place in history.
Heath returned to Long Island in 1905, and again the Vanderbilt Cup Race and Circuit Des Ardennes were the high points of his season. He finished second at the Vanderbilt Cup Race driving the #14 Panhard and fifth in the Belgian contest.
After 1905, Heath’s racing career was in decline, his most notable accomplishment was a sixth place finish in the first French Grand Prix on an intensely hot day where several drivers quit due to eye irritation from chemicals in the steaming hot tar that coated a portion of the course. That race, staged in 1906, was the first auto racing Grand Prix held anywhere in the world. Heath returned to run the 1908 French Grand Prix and managed an eighth place finish. His career wound down from there ending the following year in 1909. Throughout his racing years he never drove any race car other than a Panhard.
Not much is known about the rest of Heath’s life, except that he returned to America just prior to the fall of France to Germany in World War II. New York’s Catskill Mountains provided the backdrop for Heath’s final home in what writer John Leathers described as a “hermit-like existence” in an October 1950 article published in The Bulb Horn. Heath died in obscurity during the 1940’s before the article was published.
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Sunday, December 13, 2009: Article “Schenectady’s Contributions to the History of Automobiles”
Don Rittner, author and historian, has written an excellent article in the Times Union serving the New York State Capital Region entitled "Schenectady’s Contributions to the History of Automobiles".
The article provides a review of the American Locomotive Company's role in the automobile industry, its racing history, trucks, the historic first transcontinental trip by a truck and the "Black Beast".
Mr. Rittner includes several Alco photos which I have never seen before, including a unique 1913 Alco chapel on wheels.
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Saturday, 12/12/09: The Fairchild Collection of the NY State Archives-North Hempstead
The latest favorite website on VanderbiltCupRaces.com The Fairchild Aerial Survey Collection in the New York State Archives,forwarded by Bill Bellmer, provides hundreds of historic aerial photos of New York. Last Thursday's post highlighted several Motor Parkway aerial surveys in Queens. A few more Motor Parkway treasures can be found in the North Hempstead Collection:
North Hempstead Collection
This 12/27/1951 aerial of Lake Success is filled with Vanderbilt, Motor Parkway and UN history. Enlarge the image on the website, move to the left and you can find the still standing Northern State Parkway Motor Parkway Bridge, Willie K's former Deepdale Estate, the State Police Headquarters, the embankment for the Lakeville Road Bridge, the Great Neck Lodge (a private home in 1951). Move to the right and you will discover the huge Sperry plant, the site of the first UN Headquarters .
This July 7, 1951 aerial of Roosevelt Field shows how the Motor Parkway surrounded this historic airfield which closed only 37 days before this aerial was taken.
Enlarge this aerial and move to the left and you will find still standing two Motor Parkway bridges in Mineola in 1951. Note the Motor Parkway went under Old County Road and over the Long Island Rail Road. Also note the line of trees on the border of the Motor Parkway in this area.
This October 15, 1951 aerial of Glen Cove Road and the LIRR in Mineola shows a different view of the Motor Parkway Bridge over the railroad tracks.
The Motor Parkway right-of-way from Mineola to East Meadow can be seen in this 1951 aerial. Can you find the Garden City Lodge and the Meadow Brook Lodge?
Friday, December 11, 2009: Great Crowd at the Southold Historical Society Presentation and 3 Updates
It was a great crowd last Tuesday at the Southold Historical Society with 67 people in attendance to discuss "The Long Island Motor Parkway at the Peconic Landing in Southold.
The $425 raised at the presentation will be donated to Child Abuse Prevention Services.
Blog Updates
December 10, 2009: TL Thousand reports the December 4, 2008 mystery photo has been solved
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Thursday, 12/10/2009: A Favorite Website: The Fairchild Collection of the NY State Archives-Queens
Bill Bellmer has discovered a website gem for all LIMPers who enjoy the historic Fairchild aerial surveys of Long Island: The Fairchild Aerial Survey Collection in the New York State Archives. Hundreds of aerials from the 1940s and 1950s can be enlarged and printed out. Of course the real challenge is finding the Motor Parkway.
Here are links to a few of the Motor Parkway treasures found in the Queens collections:
Fresh Meadows Collection (12 Photos 9/5/1951)
The Motor Parkway right-of-way can be found near the top of this aerial.
Move to the left corner and enlarge the photo to see the Motor Parkway's Western Terminus at Horace Harding Boulevard.
Move to the right and you will find the North Hempstead Turnpike Motor Parkway Bridge before it was torn down.
Enlarging this aerial shows the 73rd Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge.
Creedmoor Collection (17 photos 11/21/1951)
The Motor Parkway right-of-way between Alley Pond Park and Glen Oaks.
Move to the middle of the aerial you will find Creedmoor State Hospital. Move to the left and enlarge the aerial and you can clearly see the outline of the Motor Parkway 13 years after it was closed.
The Motor Parkway right-of-way between Commonwealth Boulevard and Little Neck Parkway.
Move to the bottom right corner and enlarge the aerial to see the embankment of the Commonwealth Boulevard Motor Parkway Bridge.
Move towards the middle of the aerial to see the western remnants of the Little Neck Parkway Motor Parkway Bridge.
Check back soon on VanderbiltCupRaces.com to see the Nassau County aerials including sections of the Motor Parkway in Lake Success, Mineola, Garden City and Levittown. Thanks again Bill for forwarding this excellent resource!
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Wednesday, December 9, 2009: Driver Profile: Victor Hemery- The 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race Winner
Victor (August) Hemery was born in 1876 in Brest, France. He became a seaman as a young man, but was drawn to auto racing and first appeared in a Darracq in the voiturette class of the 1902 Circuit des Ardennes Race. He was promoted to big cars in 1904 and was part of a disappointing Darracq team.
Entered in the British elimination race for the Gordon Bennett Cup, he drove a Darracq constructed in England. The car performed poorly and failed to qualify for the biggest race of the year. During the British elimination trial Hemery displayed what became his trademark irascible temperament, refusing to slow for controls. Despite the failure in the elimination race, Hemery found success in voiturette cars, winning class honors at the Coppa Florio road race (Italy) and second place behind George Heath at the Circuit des Ardennes (Belgium) in 1904.
Although Hemery failed again in 1905 to qualify for the Gordon Bennett Cup Race, that season proved to be his greatest year at the wheel of a race car. He won both the Circuit des Ardennes Race and the Vanderbilt Cup Race in October. The 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race was Fiat driver Vincenzo Lancia’s to lose. Lancia’s first four laps were successively faster, all in excess of 70 miles per hour – a speed no other driver could touch throughout the entire race.
Hemery got off to a slow start, lapping at the back of the field before moving into third by lap 3. His closest competitor was the race’s defending champion, George Heath. Neither could come near the speed of Lancia, who lapped the entire field by lap 8. Heath on the Panhard ran in second place over Hemery in the Darracq with a margin of 3 minutes and 30 seconds separating them. Truly Lancia’s race to lose, he paid the consequences for an impetuous decision after stopping for fuel and tires at a Fiat repair station near Albertson. After a 16-minute delay the Italian was apparently impatient to return to the fray. Allowing his enthusiasm to overcome his judgment, he pulled onto the course in the face of a fast approaching Walter Christie. The inevitable collision destroyed the front-wheel drive Christie and damaged the Fiat so severely that Lancia was forced to stop again for repairs, ruining his chances for victory.
With Lancia delayed, the race centered on the previous year’s winner, Heath’s Panhard and Hemery’s Darracq. Heath continued to lose ground to Hemery, with one report indicating that his Panhard’s brakes began to malfunction on lap 8. Heath also stopped for gas, oil and water at the Panhard repair station in Albertson.
During this stop Hemery soared by Heath, which proved to be the most crucial pass of the race. Heath carved better than a minute off Hemery’s lead by the start of lap 10, making for high drama among the spectators. The two drivers were so close Heath could see Hemery’s Darracq in the distance. Telephoned reports from the 15 observation locations around the course came with updates in rapid succession, building anticipation in the frenzied grandstand crowd.
But Hemery’s Darracq delivered speed when he needed it most and he was the fastest of the drivers still running that final lap. At 10:52:08 a.m., Hemery won the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race. Heath’s Panhard finally came across the start-finish line 32 seconds later, giving Hemery, who started his Darracq 3 minutes after Heath, a 3 minute, 32 second margin at the finish. It proved to be Hemery’s only appearance in the Vanderbilt Cup Race.Hemery demonstrated some of his surly behavior during the weigh-out after the Vanderbilt Cup Race. He pushed past some photographers who surrounded him after climbing from his car and one of the Darracq crew reportedly hit a Collier’s Weekly photographer. Two days later, on Monday, October 16th he learned that the Automobile Club of Italy had suspended him for a year due to “impertinence” directed at timing officials after the Florio Cup Race ran earlier in the year. Another cable the following day declared that the Automobile Club of France (ACF) supported the suspension as well. Because of their affiliation with the ACF, the Automobile Club of America followed suit. When asked what he had done to offend the officials, Hemery said bluntly that he had told them to, “Go to hell.”
On December 30, 1905 Hemery pushed a 200 horsepower Darracq to the fastest kilometer on record at 109.650 miles per hour at Arles-Salon in France. Less than a month later, in January 1906 at the Florida Speed Tournament, Hemery became embroiled in arguments with officials and was disqualified from the meet. His car was assigned to Louis Chevrolet, whom he mentored during this time.
Hemery drove for the Benz team in 1907, his only notable finish a second at the Coppa Florio Race. His next significant accomplishment came in 1908 when he drove a Benz to victory at the St. Petersburg-to-Moscow race. A second place finish in the French Grand Prix was followed by another second in the American Grand Prize in Savannah. There was little racing in 1909, but Hemery made headlines with a 125.95 mile per hour run at Brooklands in a giant 21.5 liter Benz.
After a victory driving a Fiat in the 1911 French Grand Prix, Hemery’s racing career trailed off. Attempting a comeback in 1922 and 1923, he drove for the Rollands-Pilains team in the French Grand Prix in both years. Off the pace, the performance of the Rollands-Pilains was lacking and no amount of Hemery bravado could make a difference. Hemery ran a garage later in life, but even away from the stress of racing’s risks and competition his volatile nature prevailed to the end. On September 9, 1950, he took his own life just two months short of his 74th birthday.
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
________________________________________________
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Indexes
-The Long Island Motor Parkway
Blog Highlights
Favorite Websites (Latest addition: December 1, 2009)
-17 Links to Vanderbilt Cup Races, Motor Parkway, racing and Long Island websites
Blog Updates
December 2, 2009: Current views of the Roslyn Road Motor Parkway Bridge area
December 1, 2009: A description of the 1908 course from Auto Topics
November 30, 2009: Correct description of the Premier Racer at the Indy Hall of Fame Museum
Tuesday, December 8, 2009: The Vanderbilt Cup Race Bridges
A unique feature of the last three Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island were the new Motor Parkway bridges. For the 1908 race, the course included 16 new bridges over a 9-mile parkway section from East Meadow to Bethpage. For the 1909 and 1910 races, the shorter course included the first10 bridges over the 5-mile parkway section from East Meadow to Wantagh Avenue in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown). For the first time, here are photos of the Vanderbilt Cup Race bridges:
The first seven bridges were located in East Meadow and the Hempstead Plains (Levittown).
The first bridge (#1) went over Merrick Avenue. Note the Meadow Brook Lodge in the background on the south side of the Motor Parkway.
The second bridge of the race was a real challenge, curving to the east over Newbridge Avenue (#2), often confused with the Newbridge Road Bridge.
Immediately after going over Newbridge Road, drivers needed to navigate under the Stewart Avenue Bridge (#3).
The Motor Parkway went under the fourth East Madow bridge (#4) at Carman Avenue. The distinctive water tower of the Ladenburg Estate can seen through the bridge to the right.
After the Motor Parkway curved back to the east, the drivers went over the Westbury Avenue Bridge (#5).
Next came another curved bridge (#6) over Newbridge Road. Note the spectators watching the races on top of the Newbridge Road Hotel.
After passing the Start-Finish Line, the drivers went under the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge (#7). This was one of the most popular locations to view the action. If you look carefully, the grandstand on the south side of the Motor Parkway can be seen through the bridge in the background.
Here is a map showing the location of the next eight Motor Parkway bridges primarily going over the major roads of Bethpage (then called Central Park).
Note the crowds on this farmway bridge (#8) near Bloomingdale Road.
Here the cars can be seen after navigating the Wantagh Avenue Bridge (#9) and approaching the Massapequa Lodge. This would be the last bridge for the 1909/1910 courses. The 1908 course continued on the Motor Parkway and included six more bridges.
For the 1908 race the drivers did not turn off and went over the Massapequa-Hicksville Road Bridge (#10). Note the Massapequa Lodge to the right of Old 16 , the eventual winner of the 1908 race.
Near the location of the June 6,1908 ground-breaking ceremonies for the Motor Parkway, the cars went over Jerusalem Road Bridge (#11). A Motor Parkway workmen's shed can be seen in the background on the left. To avoid confusrion with Jersalem Avenue, the name of the road was changed to Stewart Avenue. Of course, this name is very often confused with other Stewart Avenues located in Nassau County!
After passing the first Deadman's Curve, the racers drove on the bridge over Central Avenue and the Long Island Rail Road (#12). The steel trestle construction, rather than concrete, was mandated by the railroad.
This is a rarely seen view of the farmway bridge (#13) conecting the west and east sections of the Nibbe Farm in Bethpage.
This photo was taken from the Powell Avenue Bridge (#14) with a view of the crowds watching the race on the Plainview Road Bridge to the right.
This is a closer look of Old 16 challenging the #12 Thomas after passing through the Plainview Road Bridge (#15).
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The last bridge for the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race was another farmway bridge (#16) connecting the Botto farm in Bethpage... now part of Bethpage State Park, the home of the 2002 and 2009 US Open.
Although there is no known record of this farmway bridge taken during the 1908 race, I believe this is one of the few photos of the Botto Bridge (#16). Soon after this point, the race course ended on the Motor Parkway and continued on to Round Swamp Road.
Unfortunately none of these 16 bridges are standing today.
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Sunday, December 6, 2009: Film “The 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course”
The course for the first Vanderbilt Cup Race in 1904 covered 30.24 miles of public roads in the center of Long Island. This 10-minute film documents the course using some of my favorite photos and clips from the American Biograph & Mutoscope film of the race.
Triangular in shape, Jericho Turnpike, Massapequa-Hicksville Road, and the new Hempstead-Bethpage Turnpike formed the sides of the course. Running clockwise, the course began on Jericho Turnpike in Westbury. Here, aproximately 5,000 spectators gathered at the grandstand, press box and Start/Finish line.
The three long stretches of roads were connected by major turns in Jericho, Plainedge, and Queens.
The plan called for a 10-lap race with drivers stopping in two “controls” on each tour of the course. The controls were in the towns of Hicksville and Hempstead, the largest population centers in Nassau County. At the controls, the cars were stopped, inspected, and allowed to proceed slowly over railroad tracks led by officials on bicycles. Deducting the length of the two controls, one lap of the course was 28.44 miles making the race 284.4 miles.
Spectactors standing near the grandstand could not resist strolling on the course during the 1904 race. The absence of crowd control would remain a problem for all Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island.
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Saturday, December 5, 2009: An Exclusive Rare View of a Vanderbilt Cup Race
As a follow-up to our recent discussion of the public roads of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race, I recently acquired a copy of this rare photo of a Vanderbilt Cup Race... which came with no captions or notes. I have seen thousands of photos of my favorite races, but never from this location. It was my task to identify the action for the copyright holder. Here goes:
The first clue was obvious: The signs on the trees. Wow, a close-up view proved to be very exciting.The lower sign reads "Long Island Motor Parkway Lodge Entrance." This meant the time frame of the photo was between 1908 to 1910 when the Motor Parkway was part of the course. Moreover, there were only three lodges on the course; the Meadowbrook Lodge (off Merrick Avenue), the Massapequa Lodge (off Massapequa-Hicksville Road and the Bethpage Road (off Round Swamp Road). A closer look of the two mileage signs above the Lodge sign indicates the location was 4 miles from Hicksville and 4 miles from Jericho....about the right distance from Bethpage.
The second clue was the telephone poles. Clearly, this section of the course was a turn on to a public road. Other clues were the trees and hills in the photo. The Meadowbrook Lodge and Massapequa Lodge were very much in the flat Hempstead Plains with barely a tree or hill in sight.
Accordingly, I believe this photo is a very rare view of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race from Round Swamp Road in Bethpage, the eastern terminus of the Motor Parkway in October 1908.
As indicated by the direction the flagman, police officer and crowd are looking, the racers were coming from the right and making the left turn on to Round Swamp Road. Also note the cars parked on the slope in the background.
The owners of these cars likely saw the signs hanging on the road: "Store Your Automobile Here On Day of Race. Tickets on Sale Opposite."
Enjoy Your Weekend,
Howard Kroplick
Upcoming Howard Kroplick Presentation
-Tuesday, December 8, 2009: Southold Historical Society: "The Long Island Motor Parkway"
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Indexes
-The Long Island Motor Parkway
Blog Highlights
Favorite Websites (Latest addition: December 1, 2009)
-17 Links to Vanderbilt Cup Races, Motor Parkway, racing and Long Island websites
Blog Updates
December 2, 2009: Current views of the Roslyn Road Motor Parkway Bridge area
December 1, 2009: A description of the 1908 course from Auto Topics
November 30, 2009: Correct description of the Premier Racer at the Indy Hall of Fame Museum
Friday, December 4, 2009: The Planned Fresh Meadows Motor Parkway Western Terminus in 1912
As noted in earlier posts, the final western terminus of the Long Island Motor Parkway was located at the Nassau Boulevard intersection in Fresh Meadows. However, a review of original Motor Parkway survey maps indicate that this was not the original plan.
One of the treasures of my original Motor Parkway survey collection and a key to to the survey maps is a 48-page 1928 "Index" documenting the right-of way, the original property owners, and the corresponding survey plan #s.The index includes the entire 44-mile right-of-way from Fresh Meadows to Lake Ronkonkoma with surveyor notes added in 1929 and 1930.
This is the Fresh Meadows page of the Atlas. I have added captions for the key Motor Parkway structures including the Nassau Boulevard terminus and kiosk, the North Hempstead Turnpike Bridge and the 73rd Avenue Bridge (then called Black Stump Road). Note the two Motor Parkway curves at the bottom of the page. At first, I thought the curve on the left was an entrance and exit at 73rd Avenue that was never built. Wrong!
As documented in a 1912 survey map, this was going to be the planned western terminus ending at 73rd Avenue. I would assume that the Long Island Motor Parkway, Inc was unable to acquire the land north of this site needed to connect to Nassau Boulevard. They decided to abandon the 73rd Avenue entrance and built the parkway further to the east with the entrance/exit at the busier Nassau Boulevard.
December 8, 2009 Update: Al Velocci has informed me that 73rd Avenue was going to be one of the major Queens roads in 1912. However, when the Motor Parkway finally became building this Queens section in the 1920s, Nassau Boulevard was the most heavily traveled public road...resulting in the change of the route.
________________________________________________________December 10, 2009 Update:
This 1912 Queens map shows the Motor Parkway ending at Rocky Hill Road (Springfield Boulevard).
In this 1939 aerial of Fresh Meadows, there is no evidence that the first planned terminus entrance at 73rd Avenue was ever built. Note: a smaller entrance was created near the 73rd Avenue Bridge.
December 23, 2009 Update: Al Velocci has confirmed that this "temporary entrance" was built by the Motor Parkway around 1927 when Nassau Boulevard was being built and paved. The entrance remained open until the Motor Parkway closed in 1938.
Mitch Kaften has provided the following maps of the area:
This map indicated that the initially planned Western Terminus to 73rd Avenue ran diagonally to 194th Street.
This undated Belcher Hyde map shows the two alternative western termini. Note the second terminus ended at North Hempstead Turnpike.
This 1930 Dolph & Stewart map is a good example of why you can not trust maps. This map incorrectly shows the the never built first terminus and not the actual location of the Motor Parkway. Mitch Kaften also notes the "Anaconda" and "Busby" service roads on the map that surround the "Motor Parkway" but also were never built.
Thanks Mitch for your contributions!
Thursday, December 3, 2009: November 2009 Highlights on VanderbiltCupRaces.com
VanderbiltCupRaces.com recorded it third highest monthly in its two-year history with 2,851 unique viewers in November, an average of 95 daily viewers. For the first 11 months of 2009, a total of 28,644 viewers have visited VanderbiltCupRaces.com, a 83% increase over 2008.
The website retained its #1 (and even #2) rankings among the 1.76 million websites that appear for a Google search on "Vanderbilt Cup Races" and a #1 ranking among 846,000 websites that appear on a similar Bing.com search. Below are highlights of the posts that were appeared during November 2009:
_______________________________________Vanderbilt Cup Races
Louis Chevrolet and the End of the Long Island Vanderbilt Cup Races
Recent Photos from the Indy 500 Hall of Fame Museum
Trucks, the Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Races
The Public Roads of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course
The 16 Cars of the 1906 American Elimination Race
The 1906 Air-Cooled Frayer-Millers
Links to Favorite Websites on the Vanderbilt Cup Races and Motor Parkway
Driver Profile: Vincenzo Lancia
John Walter Christie: Front-Wheel Drive Pioneer
The Christie Returns to the 1906 Races
The Christie Front-Wheel Drive Car in the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Driver Profile: William Luttgen-The 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race
_______________________________________Long Island Motor Parkway
Trucks, the Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Races
Links to Favorite Websites on the Vanderbilt Cup Races and Motor Parkway
A Postcard from a Motor Parkway Worker
Opportunity to Provide Input on the Motor Parkway Trailway
_______________________________________Alco-6 Black Beast Racer
“Black Beast” a Hit on Broadway
“The Incredible Vanderbilt Cup Races” at Chowder Today
Howard Kroplick and the “Black Beast” Invited to the Chowder Society
_______________________________________Presentations
“The Incredible Vanderbilt Cup Races” at Chowder Today
Howard Kroplick and the “Black Beast” Invited to the Chowder Society
_______________________________________Favorite Websites
Links to Favorite Websites on the Vanderbilt Cup Races and Motor Parkway
A Favorite Website: Art’s Long Island Motor Parkway Site
_______________________________________Videos and Films
The Public Roads of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course
________________________________Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Upcoming Howard Kroplick Presentation
-Tuesday, December 8, 2009: Southold Historical Society: "The Long Island Motor Parkway"
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Indexes
-The Long Island Motor Parkway
Blog Highlights
Favorite Websites (Latest addition: December 1, 2009)
-17 Links to Vanderbilt Cup Races, Motor Parkway, racing and Long Island websites
Blog Updates
December 2, 2009: Current views of the Roslyn Road Motor Parkway Bridge area
December 1, 2009: A description of the 1908 course from Auto Topics
November 30, 2009: Correct description of the Premier Racer at the Indy Hall of Fame Museum
Wednesday, December 2, 2009: A New Website Favorite- Horseless Carriage Foundation
If you research automobiles or auto racing history from 1895 to 1922, you should consider becoming a member of the Horseless Carriage Foundation.
For modest fees starting at $35 a year, a Foundation member has access to a searchable online library totaling over 300,000 pdf pages.
My favorite early trade journals are available in the library including:
Auto Topics
Automobile Industries
Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal
Horseless Age
Motor
Motor World
The Automobile
The Motor Age
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Tuesday, December 1, 2009: Starting Lineup: The 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Continuing the documentation of the cars that participated in Vanderbilt Cup Races and its associated races, these are the 18 cars that raced in the first Vanderbilt Cup Race held on October 8, 1904. Each photo was taken during the race. Remember to click on the photos to enlarge the image:
#1 Mercedes (Germany) driven by Albert Campbell, 60 HP. Finished 5th- Running in Hicksville when race was called. Averaged 35 mph.
#2 De Dietrich (France) by Fernand Gabriel, 80 HP. Finished 8th-Retired in Hicksville with broken pump and frozen carburetor during lap 7.
#3 Royal Tourist (USA) driven by Joe Tracy, 35 HP. Finished 13th. Crack cylinder and crankcase on Bethpage Road during lap 2.
#4 Pope-Toledo (USA) driven by A.C.Webb, 60 HP. Finished 10th. Broke steering knuckle near Westbury grandstand duing lap 6.
#5 Mercedes (Germany) driven by George Arents, Jr., 60 HP. Finished 14th. Overturned in Elmont killing mechanician Carl Mensel during lap 2.
#6 Pope-Toledo (USA) driven by Herb Lytle, 24 HP. Finished 3rd. Running in Jericho when race called. Averaged 40 mph.
#7 Panhard (France) by George Heath, 90 HP. Finished 1st. Won by 1 minute and 28 seconds. Averaged 52.2 mph.
#8 Mercedes (Germany) driven by Edward Hawley, 90 HP. Finished 11th. Broke both front springs near Westbury grandstand during lap 5.
#9 Mercedes (Germany) driven by Wilhelm Werner, 90 HP. Finished 15th. Broke cylinder at Mineola RR crossing on Jericho Turnpike during lap 2.
#10 Fiat (Italy) driven by Paul Sartori, 90 HP. Finished 16th. Car arrived late and penalized over 2 hours. Defective clutch in Hempstead during lap 2.
#11 Renault (France) driven by Maurice Bernin, 60 HP. Finished 17th. Twisted shaft at Bethpage Road during lap 2.
#12 Clement-Bayard (France) driven by Albert Clement, Jr. 80 HP. Finished 2nd. Unsuccessfully protested race. Averaged 52 mph.
#14 Panhard (France) driven by Henri Tart, 90 HP. Finished 6th. Fixing tire near grandstand when race was called during his 9th lap. Averaged 41.9 mph.
#15 Panhard (France) driven by George Teste. 90 HP. Finished 12th. Led race after first 3 laps. Ignition problems on Bethpage Road during lap 4.
#16 Packard "Gray Wolf" (USA) to be driven by Charles Schmidt. 30 HP. Finished 4th. Running in Westbury when race called. Averaged 39.0 mph.
#17 Simplex (USA) driven by Frank Crocker. Finished 9th. 75 HP. Running in Queens when race was stopped. Averaged 29.9 mph.
#18 Mercedes (Germany) driven by William Luttgen. 60 HP. Finished 7th. Running in near grandstand when race was stopped. Averaged 39.1mph.
#19 Fiat (Italy) driven by William Wallace. 90 HP. Finished 18th. Defective clutch in Hicksville during lap 1.
Many of these cars can be seen in the American Mutoscope & Biograph film of the 1904 race.
Vanderbilt Cup Race Starting Lineups
-1905 American Elimination Trial
-1906 American Elimination Race
Sunday, November 29, 2009: Louis Chevrolet and the End of the Long Island Vanderbilt Cup Races
Chevrolet’s steely-eyed focus shown in 1905 and 1908 was noted by William Durant, chairman of General Motors, who wanted to promote Buicks through auto racing. By 1909 Durant hired both Louis and younger brother Arthur. Both worked on the cars, but Louis joined Lewis Strang and Bob Burman, men with all-out driving styles similar to Chevrolet, as teammates.
All three drivers won their share of races at dirt ovals and hill climbs. Chevrolet's most significant win of the year was in the #10 Buick at Indiana’s Cobe Trophy Race at Crown Point, a 396-mile road race.
Notable, too, was Chevrolet’s participation in the first auto races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway August 19-21, 1909. Chevrolet led a Buick 1-2-3 sweep of a 10-miler while setting the world’s track record for the distance at 67.114 miles per hour. Later that day he was ready to earn greater honors when he stormed into the lead in the 250-mile Prest-O-Lite Trophy Race. Teammates Strang and Burman were immediately behind him for another Buick sweep. It unraveled at 125 miles when a stone shattered his goggles and scattered shards of glass into Chevrolet’s eyes. He was treated at the infield hospital.
Chevrolet found more misfortune at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race on October 30th. Here he can be seen at the official weigh-in for his #15 Buick prior to the race.
After challenging Spencer Wishart's Mercedes, he seized the lead for 60 miles of the 279-mile race. He set the fastest lap with a 76.3 miles per hour tour of the 12.64 mile course, but a broken connecting rod cracked a cylinder on lap 5. Chevrolet finished 11th of the 15 entries.
Chevrolet was back with Buick in 1910 but it was a frustrating and tragic year. His most important races were the May and July race meets at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the October running of the Vanderbilt Cup Race. In May at Indianapolis, Chevrolet got off to a great start with a victory in the first race of the meet, a five miler. He only entered three of 22 races, winning a 10 miler on the third day, Monday, May 30. The other race was the 200-mile Wheeler-Schebler Trophy Race where engine problems ended his day early.
The July race meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway originally appeared to be a success for the Buick team. Chevrolet and Burman picked off seven of 23 events, with five 1-2 sweeps and 26 speed records during three days of competition. All this was nullified on July 29 when the AAA determined that the cars, called Marquette-Buicks, actually did not conform to rules established for stock equipment. Not enough of the models had been manufactured. Unfortunately, the worst was yet to come.
For the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race, Chevrolet drove the #29 Marquette-Buick shown here at the Long Island Motor Parkway grandstand just before the start.
Chevrolet dominated early until a faulty magneto forced him to pit. He fell well back from new leader Joe Dawson’s Marmon, but began a relentless push forward. Slicing his way through the field, he again seized first place on lap 14.
Suddenly, one of the Buick’s wheels became wedged in a rut and snapped the steering mechanism. The car slammed into a parked street car in Hicksville, crashed through a fence and into a tree before landing upside down in front of a farm house. Chevrolet was thrown from the car, wrenching his shoulder. His riding mechanician, Charles Miller, was pinned and died on the spot. The tragic end placed Chevrolet 19th of the 30 entries.
In addition to Miller's death, Matthew Bacon, the mechanician for driver Harold Stone, was killed in a first-lap accident when their Columbia car leaped over the Newbridge Avenue Bridge in East Meadow. The two deaths, accidents and continuing poor crowd control put an end to road racing on Long Island.
For more information on Chevrolet's life and racing career, read a summary of his racing stats and this excellent profile by Dr. Mark DeSantis.
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
________________________________Upcoming Howard Kroplick Presentations
-Tuesday, December 8, 2009: Southold Historical Society: "The Long Island Motor Parkway"
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Indexes
-The Long Island Motor Parkway
Blog Highlights
Favorite Websites (Latest addition: November 23, 2009)
-16 Links to Vanderbilt Cup Races, Motor Parkway, racing and Long Island websites
Blog Updates
-November 26, 2009: Photos from the Antique Truck Historical Society Meeting
-November 25, 2009: Film "1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course" slightly revised to reflect Woodbury Turn
-November 24, 2009: Art's Motor Parkway Site views of Trailway locations
Saturday, November 28, 2009: Louis Chevrolet and the Vanderbilt Cup Races- Part II
After his tenth place finish in the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race, Chevrolet was mentored by two larger-than-life personalities: French champion Victor Hemery and front-wheel drive pioneer J. Walter Christie.
Although Chevrolet (right) was contracted to work for Christie at the Ormond-Daytona automobile tournament in January 1906, he replaced the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race winner Victor Hemery on the powerful 200-hp, 8-cylinder Darracq racer when the Frenchman angered officials with his belligerent behavior.
Christie permitted Chevrolet to take the opportunity and he made the most of it, setting fast time for gasoline powered cars at 30.6 seconds or 117.65 miles per hour. Only Frank Marriott in the Stanley Steamer race car was faster at 127.66 miles per hour. The automobile trade magazine The Motor Way reported:
"Next to Marriott's great performance was the mile in 30.6 seconds made by Louis Chevrolet, with the 200-horsepower Darracq that he has driven only once or twice. The French driver who scored so well at track racing last summer, drove the eight-cylinder machine to its limit, and the new mark is the world's record for gasoline machines, being a big cut in the form of figures of 34.4 seconds, credited to MacDonald. Chevrolet took the honors in the kilometer trials as well, scoring 19.4 seconds, a record for gasoline cars..."
While much of the next two years were spent as a mechanic and not a driver, Chevrolet (left) returned to Long Island as the driver of one of the two Mathesons entered for the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
In this photo, Louis Chevrolet (wearing overalls) can be seen in the middle of the Matheson Team prior to the race.
After the first lap of the race Chevrolet was holdng his own in fifth place. But, he soon cracked a cylinder in the hamlet of Jericho and was done for the day. He finished 16th of the 17 entries. Chevrolet's 1908 run was so short, this image of the #15 Matheson preparing at the starting line (far right) was the only documentation of his 1908 race.
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Friday, November 27, 2009: Louis-Joseph Chevrolet and the Vanderbilt Cup Races- Part I
Only four drivers particpated in half of the six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island; Herb Lytle (1904, 1905, and 1908), William Luttgen (1904, 1906,and 1908), Joe Tracy (1904, 1905, and 1906) and a driver whose name would become one of the most famous brands in American car history- Louis Chevrolet. Known for his daring, fearless and, sometimes. reckless racing style, Chevrolet's driving would also be one of the reasons the races would leave Long Island. But, let's start at the beginning.
Born Christmas day 1878 in La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland, the son of watch maker Joseph Félicien Chevrolet, he learned the intricacies of machinery at a young age. When he was nine, the family moved to Beaune, France. In the 1890’s Chevrolet jumped into the burgeoning bicycle market. He raced and built the popular mechanized vehicles. This proved good training for his progression into the new market for automobiles. France was the hotbed of automobile companies and Louis worked for Mors, Darracq, Hotchkiss and de Dion Bouton as a mechanical engineer.
In 1900 Chevrolet immigrated to Montreal to ply his skills in the North American automobile industry. After a stint as a chauffeur, he moved to New York to work for de Dion. By 1902 he began working at New York Fiat importer Hollander and Tangeman. Chevrolet impressed and was given a racing opportunity. He quickly rose to fame by defeating Barney Oldfield in his very first race held at Morris Park, New York on May 20, 1905. For the previous three years Oldfield had been crowned by the press as the king of American track racing.To Oldfield it must have seemed this brutish-looking 26-year-old parachuted out of nowhere and into the seat of Major Charles Miller’s 90-HP Fiat. This development shocked railbirds as Oldfield was established as the nonpareil of horse track venues.
When Hollander and Tangeman offered him a 110-horsepower Fiat for a crack at the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race, Chevrolet was eager to see how fast it could go. Too eager, as the machine was reduced to a heap of twisted metal by the Monday morning before the Saturday, October 14th race during a practice run. His enthusiasm frequently exceeded his judgment and despite a blinding fog, he had rocketed full tilt over the crushed stone roads to clobber a telegraph pole lining the course. A photographer capture the gloom Chevrolet after the crash.
The New-York Tribune published the photo on its front page and declared "Chevrolet Near Death". Miraculously, he emerged with hardly a bruise.
Undaunted, Chevrolet returned with 90-HP backup car in the Vanderbilt Cup Race. Here, he can be seen battling George Heath's Panhard at the New Hyde Park Turn on to Jericho Turnpike.
During lap 4 at the railroad crossing in Mineola, Chevrolet was running in fourth place. However, during lap 7 Chevrolet slammed into another telegraph pole on Willis Avenue in Albertson ending his run. He would finish 10th of the 18 entrants.
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Thanksgiving, November 26, 2009: Recent Photos from the Indy 500 Hall of Fame Museum
Rich Edwards of Arnold, Missouri has submitted several photos of his recent trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum including the #32 Marmon, winner of the Inaugural Indy 500 race.
Rich also found Carl Fisher's 1903 Premier Racer that was designed for the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race but never raced.
This is the Hall of Fame description of the car. Can you spot the mistake?
Rich, thanks for your contributions to VanderbiltCupRaces.com.
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Wednesday, November 25, 2009: Trucks, the Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Races
On Wednesday night, I will be presenting "The Vanderbilt Cup Races, the Motor Parkway and Trucks" at the Long Island Chapter of the American Truck Historical Society. The presentation will be held at the Sound Beach Fire Department beginning at 7:30 PM. For more information contact Dennis Ryan at 1-631-821-4845.
Trucks?? As shown in the above sign, the Long Island Motor Parkway was only for passenger cars. Due to the low ceilings of the bridges, all trucks were banned from the roadway. However, trucks were ever present in building the Motor Parkway and servicing the races. Here are some examples:
This photo is Al Velocci's favorite in the "Building"section of our book. The transition from the horse-powered age to the 20th century mechanical era was never more evident here. The steam-powered tractor is removing topsoil while the horse-drawn wagon is replenishing the tractor's supply as needed.
This truck from the Maxwell-Briscoe Motor Company brought excited fans to the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
Warm coffee was served at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race in Thermos bottles from a truck designed especially for the American Thermos Bottle Company. Insulated Thermos bottles were first manufactured in the United States in Brooklyn in 1907.
November 26, 2009 Update: It was a fun pre-Thanksgiving celebration last night with over 30 members of the Long Island Chapter of the Antique Truck Historical Society discussing the Vanderbilt Cup Races, the Motor Parkway and trucks with me.
Denis Ryan (left) , President of the Long Island Chapter of ATHS, and Howard Kroplick
The certificate presented by Denis to me.Over $450 for Child Abuse Prevention Services (CAPS) was raised during the evening.
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
-Recent comments on the potential Motor Parkway TrailwayTuesday, November 24, 2009: A Favorite Website: Art’s Long Island Motor Parkway Site
A link to Art's Long Island Motor Parkway Site has been added to the Favorite Websites page of VanderbiltCupRaces.com .
This marvelous Motor Parkway website is broken down into 27 sections focusing on a specific area of the road (5 in Queens, 19 in Nassau and 3 in Suffolk). Each section includes maps, current photos and Art's Motor Parkway discoveries.
Here's a sampling:
-The concrete posts and pavement near Creedmore Hospital
-Cunningham Park Bridge and concrete posts
-Aerial views and concrete posts in Manhasset Hills and North Hills
-The Williston Park Historical Marker
-The concrete posts near Old Country Road in Carle Place
- Site of the Garden City Lodge
-The Broadway section of Bethpage
-New concrete posts discovered in Bethpage?
-The farmway bridge in Old Bethpage Restoration Village
-The farmway bridge near Maxess Road in Melville and historical marker
Art, great job!
Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Sunday, November 22, 2009: The Public Roads of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course
Howard Kroplick Replies:
J, you are correct, the 1908 course ended at the then western terminus of the Motor Parkway near the Bethpage Lodge at Round Swamp Road. The drivers made a left turn and went about 200 feet on Round Swamp Road before turning on to Manetto Hill Road (now called Old Bethpage Road).
Despite the American Automobile Association's October 1906 goal of never again using public roads for the Vanderbilt Cup Races, the 1908 course was made up of 9 miles of the Long Island Motor Parkway and 14.46 miles of public roads including; Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage Road, Manetto Hill Road, Planview Road, Jericho Turnpike, and Ellison Road.
This survey from my collection shows how the Motor Parkway ended at Round Swamp Road in June 1908.The Bethpage Lodge was located in the red section north of the parkway.
This is an August 1908 view of the Motor Parway looking west from Round Swamp Road.
You can take a lap of the 23.46 mile course for the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race in this 10-minute film. Most recent film update: 11/25/2009
December 1, 2009 Update: This is a pdf description of the 23.46 mile course as published in the August 8, 1908 issue of Auto Topics
.Feedback and contributions are much appreciated on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send an email to me at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Saturday: November 21, 2009: Starting Lineup: The 1906 American Elimination Race
Howard Kroplick Replies:
Lee, as in 1905, an American Elimination Trial determined the five racers to represent the United States in the Vanderbilt Cup Race. Of 16 entries, 12 cars survived the practice runs to race on Saturday, September 22, 1906. Here are photos and profiles of all 16 cars. (Remember to click on the photos to enlarge):
#1 Oldsmobile driven by Ernest Keeler, 40-45 HP. Finished 10th- Broke front axle during lap 2. Lee Stohr notes the mechanician in the photo was Harry Miller, who would become one of the great designers of racing cars.
#2 Pope-Toledo driven by Herb Lytle, 120 HP. Finished 4th but disqualified for being towed to restart during lap 8.
#3 Matheson driven by Ralph Mongini, 60-65 HP. Finished 11th. Touring car ditched in Manhasset and collided with telegraph pole during lap 1.
The Three Identical Thomas Racers
#4 Thomas driven by Gustave Caillois, 115 HP. Finished 7th. Retired with magneto problems on lap 6.
#6 Thomas driven by Hubert Le Blon, 115 HP. Finished 2nd. Qualified for American Team.
#7 Thomas driven by Montague Roberts, 115 HP. Finished 9th. Roberts would later win the 1908 New York-Paris Race.
The Three Identical Frayer-Miller Racers
#8 Frayer-Miller driven by Lee Frayer, 110 HP. Finished 12th. Broke radius during lap 1. Eddie Rickenbacker was the mechanician.
#11 Frayer-Miller driven by Frank Lawwell, 115 HP. Finished 6th. Replaced disqualified Pope-Toledo and selected for American Team.
#16 Frayer-Miller driven by Richard Belden, 115 HP. Finished 8th. Broke wheel at East Norwich during lap 5.
#9 Christie driven by Walter Christie, 50 HP. Finished 5th. Selected for American Team. Replaced larger Christie which crashed in practice.
#12 Locomobile driven by Joe Tracy, 90 HP. Finished 1st. Selected for American Team. Averaged 54.4 miles per hour
#14 Haynes driven by E.N. Harding, 55 HP. Finished 3rd. Selected for American Team.
Four Racers that Did Not Appear at the Start Line
#5 Maxwell to be driven by Owen Wallace,80-HP, 8-cylinders. Did not appear due to damaged crankcase prior to race.
Maxwell to be driven by J. Fred Betz, 180 HP, 12-cylinders. Did not appear due to insufficent time for testing. Never ran in competition.
#15 BLM (Breese, Moulton and Lawrence) to be driven by Dolbeau. Did not appear due to blowing out cylinder on way to course from New York City.
#10 Apperson to be driven by George Robertson. Did not appear. Crashed in practice.
Vanderbilt Cup Race Starting Lineups
-1905 American Elimination Trial
-1906 American Elimination Race
Friday, November 20, 2009:The 1906 Air-Cooled Frayer-Millers
An innovative machine showcased in the 1906 American Elimination Trial was the unique, air-cooled Frayer-Miller entry with designer Lee Frayer at the wheel. The only car to place the driver on the left side, this entry (one of three Frayer-Millers entered in the American Elimination Trial) broke a radius rod on the first lap and finished last.
Frayer’s riding mechanician for the 1906 American Elimination Race was 16-year-old Eddie Rickenbacker (left). He was arguably the most significant historical figure present that day. Rickenbacker later drove in both the 1915 and the 1916 Vanderbilt Cup Races and five Indianapolis 500 Races. Eddie's greatest moments came from his career in aviation, where he became America’s World War I flying ace and, later in life, rose to President and General Manager of Eastern Airlines. Rickenbacker's incredible life was reviewed in an earlier VanderbiltCupRaces.com post.
One of the three Frayer-Miller cars did qualify for the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race and can be seen at the very beginning of the 1906 film. More information on the Frayer-Miller cars can be found on this blog by Scott Noteboom, Lee-Frayer's grandson.
Comments, feedback and contributions are much appreciated. Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send me an email at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Links to Favorite Websites on the Vanderbilt Cup Races and Motor Parkway: Latest Addition 2/01/10
These are links to my favorite websites related to the Long Island Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Races
_____________________________Vanderbilt Cup Races
George Eastman House: A collection of 871 Nathan Lazarnick images including the 1904, 1908 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races
TazioNuvolari.com: Features information on the winner of the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race winner
______________________________
Long Island Motor Parkway
Sam Berliner III's grand tour of the Long Island Motor Parkway:The grandfather of Motor Parkway websites
Art's Long Island Motor Parkway Site: Maps, photos , lots of concrete posts and Art's discoveries
Historic Hempstead Plains: Views of the Motor Parkway today in Nassau County
Lost Long Island: Views of the Motor Parkway today in Queens
Bridge and Tunnel Club: Views of the Motor Parkway today in Oakland Gardens, Queens
_____________________________Racing History
First Super Speedway: Mark Dill's collection of pre-World War I American auto racing research
TheGreatAutoRace.com: Details the New York-Paris Race of 1908
Champcarstats.com: Driver and Race Stats (1905-2009)
TeamDan.com: Darren Galpin has compiled the results of historic races and drivers
Americangrandprize.com: The First U.S. Grand Prix, Savannah 1908
____________________________________________Bridgehampton Race Circuit
Bridgehampton Memories: The official website of the Bridgehampton Racing Heritage Group
Tribute to Bridgehampton: Ash Automobilia provides links to Bridgehampton photos, films, articles, books and websites.
_____________________________Automobile History and Newspaer Articles
Automobile Chronology: Lists automobile firsts, records, races and trivia.
Horseless Carriage Foundation Library: Become a member for $35 a year and search 300,000 pdf pages from 1895-1922.
Chronicling America: Access to pdfs of historical newspaer articles dating back to 1690.
_________________________________Racing Websites
Wheels of Speed: Racing Websites
__________________________
The Vanderbilt Family
Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum: Willie K's Museum
__________________________Car Clubs
Long Island Classic Cars: Listing of local car clubs
_______________________________
Aerial Surveys of Long Island
New York State Archives-Fairchild Aerial Survey Collection: Includes aerials of the Motor Parkway in Queens, North Hempstead, and Suffolk
Historic Aerials: Aerials of Long Island dating back to 1954
Wikimapia-An online map and satellite imaging resource that combines Google Maps with a wiki system
_______________________________
Long Island History
OldLongIsland.com: Photos and details on over 175 Long Island estates including several mansions related to Vanderbilt Cup Race personalities.
This website airportappraisals.com features four amazing videos of Lindbergh's flight from Roosevelt Field to Paris. Part 3 shows a spectacular film of the takeoff. Watch Lindbergh barely make it over the telephone wires on Merrick Avenue.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009: Driver Profile: Vincenzo Lancia
A natural mechanical engineering genius, Vincenzo Lancia was born in Fobello, Italy August 21, 1881, the son of a wealthy country squire and soup canner. He received his formal education at the Turin Technical School studying bookkeeping. That background proved a poor predictor of his life’s direction.
Life, as it frequently does, opened a world of unexpected possibilities for the young man when his family rented a portion of their winter estate to Matteo Ceirano who owned a mechanical shop and would eventually produce automobiles under the Itala brand. Vincenzo was fascinated by Ceirano’s work and convinced his father to let him take a job as the shop’s bookkeeper. Immediately, Lancia set about absorbing everything his eyes could take in about the craft of mechanics and the art of design. Only a teenager, his aptitude for engineering astonished Ceirano and his chief engineer, Faccioli. His relentless work ethic earned him opportunities with mechanical design projects far afield from bookkeeping. When Ceirano’s firm was acquired in 1899 by Fiat the 18-year old Lancia’s reputation was so well established that he was appointed chief inspector at Fiat’s new factory.
Lancia was also invited to join the Fiat race team as one of four drivers that included Felice Nazzaro, Alessandro Cagno and Luigi Storero. Almost immediately he took a victory at a race meet at Padua. Lancia’s greatest moment at the wheel came in his brilliant victory in the 1904 Florio Cup. He stormed across the finish line of the 230-mile race with the then-astounding speed average of 71.88 miles per hour.
Unfortunately, this would not be the norm in a driving career that spanned 10 years. During that time he was frequently very fast but would almost as frequently fail to finish through mechanical breakdowns or accidents. Few better examples of his dominance and failure exist than Lancia’s drive for the first seven laps of the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
Lancia’s first lap at 71.3 miles per hour proved to be faster than any other driver would record in the entire race. Still, he bettered that mark in each of the next three successive laps, setting a race-high speed of 72.9 miles per hour on the fourth circuit. Other competitors wilted as Lancia continued his onslaught. By lap 7 only 9 cars were still in the running. Just as it appeared Lancia was untouchable, the unthinkable happened on lap 8. In a precautionary move Lancia had decided to take advantage of his huge lead – at that point a lap on the entire field – by stopping for new tires at his Fiat station just east of Albertson.
His tiremen were efficient and Lancia was ready to return to the course in about 16 minutes. With Walter Christie fast approaching, flagmen shouted, “Car Coming!” and frantically waved their flags. Taking an impossible risk the impatient Italian pulled out into the path of the oncoming American racer. Christie swerved, but the road was not wide and his wheels partially slipped into a ditch in his evasive effort. The two cars hooked rear wheels, and the Christie swung 180 degrees around, throwing the driver and his mechanician, Nicholas Leightner, out of the machine. Christie was up and about immediately, but Leightner was taken by ambulance to Mineola Hospital. Their car was a mess, the rear wheels crushed. While Lancia continued on after his crew affected repairs, his race was lost. He finished fourth behind Victor Hemery, George Heath and Joe Tracy in the Locomobile.The crash was captured in this wonderful Peter Helck painting.
Lancia returned with Fiat to again vie for the Vanderbilt Cup in 1906 but could not match Louis Wagner and his dominant Darracq. Wagner led from start to finish, with Lancia in second most of the way. Lancia finished a strong, but disappointing, second place and would never again drive for the Vanderbilt Cup. Lancia can be seen driving his #4 Fiat in this film of the 1906 race. As seen in this photo, the camerman for the film was standing to the left of the car.
Lancia’s greatest accolade from Fiat might have been when he left the firm to establish his own company in 1907 but was retained by his former employer as a driver on their racing team. Even though the new company was named after Lancia, he created it with a partner, Claudio Fogolin, a colleague from his Fiat days. As might be expected, a hallmark of the company was engineering excellence, an attribute that remains a part of the brand that still exists today. Even the car’s names were distinctive, borrowing from the Greek alphabet for the Alpha, Beta, Didelta, Gamma and Epsilon models.
Like with all car companies, Lancia was confronted with the challenges of World War I weapons production. Following that conflict, the company found its bearings. With the rollout of the Lambda in 1923, Lancia won acclaim among the elite of automotive designers as he introduced the concept of independent front suspension for what was widely regarded as the most precise steering available anywhere. Lancia continued to pursue automotive perfection until his untimely death at age 55, the victim of a heart attack on February 15, 1937. His son Gianni ran the firm until 1955 when he sold his interest to investor Carlo Pesenti after a brush with bankruptcy. Fiat acquired Lancia in 1969 and the company remains a part of that automotive group today. More photos on Vincenzo Lancia can be found on this VanderbiltCupRaces.com search.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009: A Postcard from a Motor Parkway Worker
The initial building of the Long Island Motor Parkway was conducted by over 600 workers who spent weeks and months away from their families to complete the work. One of the workers, T. Griffin, sent this postcard to his sister C.A. Griffin of 262 Bridge Street in Northampton, Massachusetts:
This is what Grfiin wrote to his sister on August 11,1908:
Dear Sis, Am working in Central Park L.I. on an automobile speedway T .
The front of the postcard showed the "Motor Parkway through Nibbe's Hollow, Central Park, L.I.". Griffin added the following note:
This is part of the course where auto races will be held in Oct.
The section of the Motor Parkway in the postcard was in Central Park (now Bethpage) north of Central Avenue. It crossed over property purchased from the Stymus and Nibbe families.
Here the workers can be seen excavating the topsoil at this curve. The movement of soil and excavating material was a slow and tedious process. Many two-horse wagons were required, as they had a capacity of only three cubic yeards.
This is what the curve looked like in October 1908, completed in time for the 1908 race. The Stymus Farm can be seen in the distance.
Finally, I was curious what happened to the Griffin family who lived at 262 Bridge Street. Although I could not find a direct link to T. Griffin, in 1981 his sister's house received a historic preservation award by the Northampton Historical Commission.
Comments, feedback and contributions are much appreciated. Please leave your comments at the end of a post on the Blog or send me an email at Howard@Kroplick.com .
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Upcoming Howard Kroplick Presentations
-Tuesday, December 8, 2009: Southold Historical Society: "The Long Island Motor Parkway"
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Indexes
-The Long Island Motor Parkway
Blog Highlights
Updates: (Latest addition: November 15, 2009) Favorite Links
Sunday, November 15, 2009: Opportunity to Provide Input on the Motor Parkway Trailway
As reported on November 6, 2009, the contract for developing a master plan for a Motor Parkway Trailway in Nassau County has been awarded to VHB Engineering, Surveying and Landscape Architecture, P.C. Here is an opportunity to provide your input on the master plan.
The project description for the Trailway as issued by Nassau County is as follow:
This project entails the preparation of a master plan for the preservation of the entire route of the Long Island Motor Parkway (Vanderbilt Parkway), a historic roadway that could become a valuable greenbelt and recreational trail. This project also includes the installation of route and historic signs, and construction of the initial phase of the master plan. Nassau County will fund cleaning of greenways.
It is anticipated that a small section of the Motor Parkway right-of-way will be developed. The big question is; Where should this pilot be located?
Please provide your input in a comment in the Blog or by sending an email to Howard@Kroplick.com on where you suggest the section of the Motor Parkway should be initially developed. I will forward your feedback to VHB Engineering.
Here are possible pilot locations moving from west to east. Please feel free to add other suggested areas:
-Lake Success: On the property of Great Neck South High School
November 24, 2009 Update: Art's Motor Parkway Site's views of Lake Success
-Manhasset Hills: Includes the existing Old Courthouse Road Bridge over the Motor Parkway
November 24, 2009 Update: Art's Motor Parkway Site's views of Old Courthouse Road
-Garden City : Former site of the Clinton Road Bridge, the original Garden City Lodge and the General Manager's Home
November 24, 2009 Update: Art's Motor Parkway Site's views of Clinton Road #1
November 24, 2009 Update: Art's Motor Parkway Site's views of Clinton Road #2
November 24, 2009 Update: Art's Motor Parkway Site's views of Clinton Road #3
-Levittown: Former site of the Vanderbilt Cup Race grandstand and press box near Orchid Road and Skimmer Road
November 24, 2009 Update: Art's Motor Parkway Site's views of the grandstand area
-Bethpage: Site of Deadman's Curve at N.Hermann Road and Sofia Road
November 24, 2009 Update: Art's Motor Parkway Site's views of Deadman's Curve #1
November 24, 2009 Update: Art's Motor Parkway Site's 2009 views of Deadman's Curve
November 24, 2009 Update: Art's Motor Parkway Site's views of Sophia Street's posts
November 24, 2009 Update: Art's Motor Parkway Site's views of Deadman's Curve #4
