Vanderbilt Cup Races

Jul 30 2010
Updates: Mystery Photo Contest # 5, News and Local Car Shows & Automotive Events

Mystery Photo Contest #5 Can you identify the year of this Vanderbilt Cup Race scoreboard and the glaring error on the map? Place your answer in the Comments section in the Blog. (0 comments)

Jul 29 2010
The Long Island Motor Parkway Survey Bookmap: Fresh Meadows- The Western Terminus

One of the treasures of my original Motor Parkway survey collection and a key to to the survey maps is a 22-page 1910 "Bookmap" documenting the right-of way, the original property owners, and the corresponding survey plan #s.This Atlas includes the entire 44-mile right-of-way with surveyor notes added in 1929 and 1930. Starting from west (Fresh Meadows) going east (Lake Ronkonkoma), here is the first page of the Atlas with an accompanying aerial and photos (click to enlarge). (0 comments)

Jul 28 2010
Starting Lineup - The 1908 Meadow Brook 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. (0 comments)

Jul 27 2010
Inside the Long Island Automotive Museum

Tom commented: "Does anyone actually have any interior shots of the L.I. Auto museum? I have never had the chance to visit when it was open and I have not ever seen any interior shots. Perhaps no inside photos were allowed. But would be interesting to see if some interior shots exist." Tom, Walter McCarthy has forwarded these additional interior photos of the museum: (3 comments)

Jul 26 2010
“Black Beast” Returns to the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum

As described in the Huntington Patch, The Alco "Black Beast" returned to the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum last Sunday. Despite the heat and the approaching thunderstorm, a great time was had by all. Here are some highlights: (0 comments)

Jul 24 2010
1931 Bugatti Type 51 George Vanderbilt Cup Racer To Be Auctioned at Monterey

A few days ago the car in our Mystery Photo Contest #4 was identified as "Halley's Comet", a Mercedes-Miller owned by McClure Halley. The car was entered in the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race but replaced by Halley with a Bugatti Type 51. Looking for information on McClure Halley, I surprisingly discovered that this Bugatti will be auctioned by RM Auctions on Saturday, August 14, 2010. (0 comments)

Jul 23 2010
Updates: News Articles, Local Car Shows and Automotive Events

News Articles The Exhibit "Cars, Culture and the City" was selected as a best bet by Bloomberg.com this week. (0 comments)

Jul 22 2010
The 1911 Alco Dealership Photos

To promote their 1911 Alco product line, American Locomotive Company provided four large photos to all their dealerships of their Vanderbilt Cup Race winner. In this dealership photo, the #18 Alco was making the Westbury Turn from Old Country Road to Ellison Road during the 1910 race. Click on the photos to enlarge them. (1 comments)

Jul 21 2010
Austin Clark Jr’s Sandy Hollow Fire Department Badges

Here's a guest post from Walter McCarthy, a Long Island vintage car collector and a friend of Henry Austin Clark, Jr.: (5 comments)

Jul 20 2010
From the George McKesson Scrapbook: Preparing the #7 Mercedes for the 1906 Race

As posted last week, pharmacuetical magnate George McKesson purchased a Mercedes racer just ten days before the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race. Brown immediately commissioned photographers Spooner & Wells to document his car before and during the race. The following photos show driver William Luttgen and his mechanican Marx preparing the car prior to the race. (0 comments)