Kleiner’s Korner: A Newspaperman’s Memorable Adventure On and Above the Motor Parkway in the 1920s
Sometime around 1920, newspaperman Thornton Fisher of The New York Evening World spent an exhilarating day in the air and on the ground racing on the Motor Parkway. Here is his illustrated account which appeared in the Evening World on March 23, 1921.
Art Kleiner
Thornton Fisher (1888-1975) was a noted sports journalist and cartoonist for several publications in the early to mid-1900s and even operated a short-lived cartooning school. (wnyc.org)
Popular Mechanics, Nov., 1923
Never one to miss a story, he was invited by Lt. Lloyd Bertaud to fly above the Hempstead Plains and experience several aerial tricks.
Bertaud (1895 - 1927) was a pilot who often flew out of Mineola and who was selected to be the copilot in the WB-2 Columbia attempting the transatlantic crossing for the Orteig Prize in 1927. Aircraft owner Charles Albert Levine wanted to fly in his place, and an injunction by Bertaud against Levine prevented the flight. The prize was eventually won by Charles Lindbergh. (wikipedia.org)
Little did Fisher know that his trip in the air would be followed by his participation in a race pitting the plane against a car (in which he drove in) on the Motor Parkway.
Fisher's account of one of the aerial tricks in which he participated.
Upon landing, Bertaud was challenged by Ray Howard to race his plane against Howard's Peugeot racer along a stretch of the Motor Parkway.
Ray Howard (1891 - 1957) was a race car driver who raced in local events including Sheepshead Bay in primarily his own Peugeot. (oldracingcars.com)
The excitement of racing in the car was even greater than soaring in the clouds!
Along the Motor Parkway!
Quite hair-raising!
For nearly 15 miles the race continued with the 150 mph plane outpacing the 110 mph Peugeot. Fisher tried his best to perform as mechanician, at times questioning ability.
Unfortunately the Peugeot couldn't match the speed of the plane!
Fisher's depiction of Bertaud's view of the race on the Motor Parkway.
And the Peugeot going beneath a Motor Parkway bridge! Any guesses as to which one using the location of where they started and the wording on the bridge as a clue?
In the end, Fisher experienced a day in which he had plenty to write about. But did this actually happen? In the mind of a newspaperman, it certainly did.
Comments
Art, I don’t think Fisher participated in a automobile/airplane involving the Motor Parkway. According to the article he leaves the plane and a short while later gets into an automobile and races down the Motor Parkway. Did he call Kienzle first and ask him to shut down the Parkway ? , or did Ray Howard beep his way around others on the Parkway shouting “move over, coming thru, thank you, ta ta.” Also, around the time frame you described, I don’t think cars were still using hand pumps to increased oil pressure. Last also, did they buy a toll ticket ?
Al, I wasn’t there so I can’t say for sure! Possibly just an account of a chance meeting between a plane and an auto. And I’m sure Kienzle didn’t know half of what was happening on the Parkway day to day.
Art, Kienzle was very hands on managing the Parkway’s affairs. Prior to the creation of the Motorcycle Police Force, he personally visited every toll lodge on Monday mornings to collect the previous weeks toll revenues and discuss relevant issues. (Each lodge was equipped with a safe.) This also gave him the opportunity to personally check out conditions of the ROW. He was also able to keep on top of things because every lodge had a telephone installed when service was available in a given area. Plus, thought Vanderbilt rarely visited Kienzle at the office, Vanderbilt would by phone and correspondence, point out situations on the Parkway he was unhappy with. A misplaced sign, missing directional arrows, toll collector not properly dressed, lanterns not in place, road surface conditions etc., etc.
Sounds good Al. Thanks.
I only report what’s published.
Wow, great Motor Parkway history Al!
Art, your Motor Pkwy searches continue to fill the missing gaps. Great stuff!