Highlights of the Vanderbilt Cup Race Centennial Celebrations
Over the last two weeks, there have been several wonderful centennial celebrations for the historic Long Island Motor Parkway and the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race. Here are highlights:
Exhibit "Treasures of the Vanderbilt Cup Races"at the Nassau County Museum of Art
Over the weekend over 750 attended this special exhibit that included; Peter Helck oil paintings, race memorabilia, and the bronze Tiffany plaque given to driver George Robertson for winning the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race. Among the special attendees were George Robertson's grandson Peter Shriver and great-grandson William Shriver. From left to right in the above image, Howard Kroplick, William Shriver and Peter Shriver.
Click here for a pdf of the exhibit.
5th Vanderbilt Centennial Celebration, Nassau County Museum of Art, Sunday, October 19,2008
This year's Centennial Celebration was celebrated with timed demostration runs of over 50 cars with a racing heritage and a Concours de Provenance for vehicles with unusual history or significance. An estimated crowd of over 1,500 people enjoyed this wonderful event.Thanks again to the Nassau County Museum of Art for the beautiful location and the 2008 sponsors; Rallye Auto Group, L'Italiano Trattoria, Porsche of Roslyn and the Metropolitan.
Click here for a pdf of the event.
Suffolk County Long Island Motor Parkway Celebration, Bonwit Inn, October 22, 2008
The trustees of Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy hosted a celebration of the Long Island Motor Parkway at the Bonwit Inn on the Vanderbilt Parkway and Commack Road. Over 70 cars and 200 people from Long Island's auto clubs participated in the event. Hats off to the Bonwit Inn for providing a complimentary lunch to participants.
Media was well-represented including News12 and Newsday.
Newsday.com also posted a one-minute video of the event with interviews of Carol Hart, Bruce Adams and Howard Kroplick.
Click here for a pdf of the celebration.
Ongoing Events
-Exhibit "Garden City's Auto Racing History,Garden City Public Library, September 29-October 29, 2008
-Exhibit "1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race", Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum
Upcoming Events
-Book Revue of Huntington will be hosting a book signing and presentation on "The Long Island Motor Parkway on Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 7:00 PM. Complimentary wine and cheese will be served.
-Presentation "America's First Automobile Parkway" at the Suffolk County Historical Society:Saturday, November 8, 2008
-Presentation "America's First Automobile Parkway" at Long Island Motor Car Touring Club on Thursday, November 13, 2008.
-Presentation “Bethpage and Farmingdale’s Auto Racing History” at the Farmingdale Public Library, Sunday, November 16, 2008.
Happy 100th to the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Friday marks the centennial anniversary of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race won by American George Robertson in a Locomobile. it was the first American car to win a Vanderbilt Cup Race.
To celebrate this historic day, below are relevant links to the 1908 race:
-George Robertson: Winner of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
-Old 16: The winning car of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
-Old 16 Rides again in Dearborn, Michigan
-The Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup mascot and paperweight
____________________________________For new viewers, this website is your resource for information on the historic Vanderbilt Cup Races of Long Island and the Long Island Motor Parkway- America's first automobile parkway.
Sampling of Recent Posts:
- Newsday publishes a special pullout section on the Long Island Motor Parkway, Sunday, October 19, 2008.
- New York Times' Automobiles Section's front-page article "First Auto Parkway: From Road to Ruin"
-Arcadia Publishing Issues a press release on "The Long Island Motor Parkway".
-Happy 100th Birthday to the Long Island Motor Parkway
-Eddie Rickenbacker:America's Ace of Aces and Vanderbilt Cup Race Participant
-Roslyn News: “More History on Long Island’s Roadways”- October 2, 2008
-Can you identify this unique 1911 Vanderbilia?
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