Vanderbilt Cup Races

Jan 19 2011
From the Ridolph Collection: The Motor Parkway Bridge in the Melville Sand Pits

As posted last November, only eight of the 60 bridges built from 1908 to 1926 for the Long Island Motor Parkway are still intact (five in Queens, two in Nassau County and one in Suffolk County). My hesitation is that the lone surviving intact Suffolk County Motor Parkway bridge is located in very private property in Melville and has not been seen by the public in over 15 years. But, let's start at the beginning before crossing that bridge. (3 comments)

Jan 18 2011
LI News Tonight Film “The 1909 Reo Gentleman’s Roadster”

Chris Collora of LI News Tonight has produced a 4-minute film on the 1909 Reo Gentleman's Roadster currently on display at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum. (0 comments)

Jan 17 2011
A Family Remembers a Vanderbilt Cup Race Driver- William Luttgen

From Lisa Conley: "Howard, I finally can answer your question about what my grandfather William Luttgen did after he quit racing. I got a lot of stories from several family members over the past year and have compiled them. Thanks for all the fun and sharing!" (4 comments)

Jan 15 2011
Life Magazine Automobile Cartoon Series #1: 1901 to 1908

From 1883 to 1936, Life was a humor and general interest magazine of drawings capturing the American scene. As a major phenomenon in the early 1900s, the automobile came in for its fair share of Life's fun, satire and sentiment. This portfolio of six cartoons from 1901 to 1908 questioned whether automobiles would be replaced by air travel, the reliability and safety of the automobile and the never-ending struggle between wealthy and poor: (1 comments)

Jan 14 2011
The American Mercedes Manufactured in Astoria Queens

Most car enthusiasts do not realize that an American Mercedes automobile was manufactured by the Daimler Manufacturing Company in Astoria, Queens from 1905 to 1907. (6 comments)

Jan 13 2011
Film “The 1909 Reo Roadster Exhibit” at the Vanderbilt Museum

Chris Collora of LI News Tonight has produced this 6-minute film on the new automobile exhibit at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum: (0 comments)

Jan 12 2011
Update: The Alco Black Beast Racing History

Alco-6 Black Beast's major races included two Vanderbilt Cup Races, the first Indianapolis 500, two Elgin Trophy Races, and one American Grand Prize Race. Here's the updated racing record with new images: (12 comments)

Jan 11 2011
A CALL TO ACTION: The Old Bethpage Village Restoration Motor Parkway Bridge

As a follow-up to the December 15th post concerning the deterioration of the Old Bethpage Village Restoration Motor Parkway Bridge and its surrounding area, Joe E. has submitted the following report with photos: (9 comments)

Jan 11 2011
Driver Profile: Harry Grant -Winner of the 1909 & 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races

This is an updated profile of Harry Grant including several never before published photos: (10 comments)

Jan 08 2011
Drivers Who Raced in the 1911 Indy 500 and the Vanderbilt Cup Races (1904-1910)

The decision of the Indianapolis Speedway to hold one major 500-mile race in 1911 with an unheard purse of $25,100 (equal to $571,000 today) attracted the best racing teams and drivers. Not surprisingly, many of the drivers who participated in the Vanderbilt Cup Races and its associated races also drove in the Inaugural Indy 500. (6 comments)