Kleiner’s Korner: Long Island’s Other Proposed Motor Speedways
Several attempts were made to develop motor speedways on Long Island before and after the creation of the Motor Parkway. Here are a few.
Were these speedways meant to satisfy the desire of the general population or were the promoters hoping to cash in on this new mode of transportation? You be the judge.
Art Kleiner
1901: Syosset
An organization "secured" property in 1901 in Syosset for the purpose of building "an automobile track for racing purposes". (Brooklyn Daily Eagle Oct. 11, 1901)
Part of its rationale was the growing popularity of the sport in France and here in the United States.
Grandstands were to be erected, tracks for various types of contests were to be built and prizes were to be awarded to amateurs and professionals including some well known racers. Prominent "chauffers" including William Vanderbilt Jr. and Colonel John Jacob Astor offered their support.
It was estimated the speedway would be completed in the fall of 1902 and was to consist of separate tracks for speeding, rough riding tests and hill climbing and coasting. (South Side Signal Oct. 26, 1901)
A two mile banked track was planned as was a club house and storage and repair stations.
This article states that wealthy owners of automobiles were also looking to purchase property in Syosset to build a 7 mile circular speedway for their machines. But neither of these speedways appear to have been built. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle Oct. 19, 1901)
1904: The Hempstead Plains - "Horses Barred Out".
A few years later another speedway was planned on the Hempstead Plains, including the land owned by the A.J. Stewart estate. (The Automobile Jun. 11, 1904)
From Floral Park to Hicksville, the speedway would be 10-12 miles long and be 200' wide including 40' for autos, 30' on each side for shrubs and trees, and 50' on each side of that for horses and carriages.
The Garden City Hotel, Stewart Avenue and the avoidance of intersections with trolleys would be central to the speedway's construction.
The speedway's western portion from Floral Park to Mineola would run on property of the Garden City Company "controlled" by the A.T. Stewart Estate. Operating on private property (but available to the public) state automobile laws such as speed limits would not apply.
The Garden City Company had a vested interest in the speedway as noted here. "We are looking for people to buy plots of from one to five acres or more, and build handsome homes on them."
The speedway would be "the longest motor racing course in the world" and be used for the Vanderbilt Cup Race and other races as well as for trying out racing and touring cars. (The Motor Car Jan., 1905)
1913: The New York Motor Speedway Association
Another speedway, this being a two-mile track, was promoted in 1913. (Motor World Jan. 2, 1913)
After failing in an attempt to construct a speedway in NJ, a new organization comprised of the same promoters was established to do the same on Long Island; The New York Motor Speedway Association was capitalized with $1,000,000.
650 acres of airfield property located on the Hempstead Plains in Garden City was leased for 10 years. Note Old Orchard Road refers to Old Country Road.
The building of a grandstand to seat up to 100,000 people would necessitate removing the hangers on the property which were under control of the assocation. In addition to automobile races, motorcycle contests, aviation exhibitions and other athletic meets were envisioned.
The promoters were disclosed in late January, 1913 who indicated $200,000 would be needed to build the track and the grandstand along with parking space for 15,000 to 20,000 cars. (The Automobile Journal Jan. 25, 1913)
Unfortunately the plans for this speedway did not get very far as a few months after incorporating it was not to be. This was the second time this organization failed. (The New York Times Apr. 3, 1913)
An organization comprised of Long Island auto dealers, the Motor Dealers Contest Organization which was expected to supply cars for the speedway races did not agree on how the speedway was being managed and withdrew their support. The location was not the problem but the personnel.
So instead, this dealer association proceeded with plans on its own to build a speedway, taking the place of the organization that previously had failed in its attempt to build the Newark NJ speedway.
Was this next speedway by the Motor Dealers Contest Association ever built? I think not.
Comments
I’ve seen this “proposed loop” motor speedway map before. I know its in the Hempstead plains, (present day Levittown), between Newbridge rd and Wantagh ave. However, south of the constructed Motor Parkway, (just south of the grandstand) but north of the Central extension Stewart railroad is an out of place east/west road or right of way that did not make any sense to me. I’m now assuming based on the further information included in this post that this was part of the 10 mile straight away track that was also proposed with the loop track.
An additional article that appeared in “Broadway” Magazine of November, 1903 discussing a proposed above ground speedway with no cross-roads by millionaires (including Vanderbilt) to avoid the “stringent restrictions” being imposed on “lovers of the sport”.
One more report of a new automobile race course to be established on the Hempstead Plains. This one in “The Automobile” of October 3, 1907.