Vanderbilt Cup Races

May 20 2010
Favorite Website: HistoricLongIsland.com

Yesterday, a new website HistoricLongIsland.com was officially launched. The website focuses on the historic museums and mansions of Long Island, including the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum. To celebrate the website launch and "Long Island History Month", a reception was held on Thursday afternoon at Oheka Castle in Huntington. (0 comments)

May 19 2010
Rare 1930s Photos of Two Motor Parkway Bridge Accidents

The Motor Parkway bridges in Nassau County were built from 1908 to 1911. The significant growth of traffic in the 1920s and 1930s was not anticipated in the design of the bridges and the openings for roads below were very narrow, typically only 22 feet wide. As a result, multiple car accidents occurred at the Motor Parkway bridges. Photos of two of these accidents in the 1930s were documented by the omnipresent photographer John Drennan and were discovered in the archives of Nassau County… (2 comments)

May 18 2010
Then & Now: Potential Nassau Historical Markers on the Motor Parkway Trail

Nassau County is currently developing a master plan for a continuous multi-use Motor Parkway Trail. Part of the plan calls for the placement of markers "at the location of historical remnants and will serve as a way to educate the public on the history of the corridor as the original Long Island Motor Parkway..". These are my recommendations for 21 historic markers: (2 comments)

May 17 2010
Aerials of the Motor Parkway in Hollis Hills, Queens

Steve, this 1941 aerial shows the Motor Parkway in Hollis Hills looking east. The photo is courtesy of the Fairchild Collection at the Benjamin and Gladys Thomas Air Photo Archives located in the UCLA Department of Geography. (0 comments)

May 15 2010
The “Black Beast” at the Nassau County Police Department’s Family Day

Police members and their families had a wonderful time at the Nassau County Police Department's Family Day yesterday in Mineola. The Alco "Black Beast" was just one of many activities featured at the event celebrating the 85th anniversary of the police department. Remember to click on the photo to enlarge it. (0 comments)

May 14 2010
William K. Vanderbilt Jr- “Un Millionaire Recordman” and Auto Race Driver

From 1902 to 1903, William K. Vanderbilt Jr. traveled throughout Europe. Here he found magnificent open roads to drive as fast as he dared and an education in the new sport of automobile racing. On May 2, 1902, he set the world’s kilometer record in a 40-horsepower Mercedes, averaging 110 kilometers per hour or 68.4 mph. He was hailed in the French magazine La Vie Au Grand Air as “Un Millionaire Recordman.” (0 comments)

May 13 2010
Vanderbilt Cup Race Pennants Sold for $1,743 on Ebay

Two "vintage 1909 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race pennants" were auctioned on Ebay last week. The two pennants were sold together for $1,743 with 16 bidders participating. This was the description of the items by the seller: (0 comments)

May 11 2010
From the Drennan Collection: The Roosevelt Raceway Bar & Restaurant

For the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races, a former huge hangar for Roosevelt Field was converted into the Administration Building for the new Roosevelt Racway. As shown in this 1936 aerial, the buidling was located south of Old Country Road and behind two grandstands. Glass negatives from the Drennan Collection provide insight into one use of the building. (0 comments)

May 10 2010
In Search of Master Mechanic Charlie Kirschhoffer

Jim Scott has emailed me the following request for information on mechanic Charlie Kirschhoffer: (4 comments)

May 08 2010
The Dagradas and the 1960 Cornelius Vanderbilt Cup Race at Roosevelt Raceway

Roger, thanks for the question all the way from the land of the Kiwi. In June 1960, an attempt was made to revive the Vanderbilt Cup Races with Formula Junior racers on a course created in the parking lot of Roosevelt Raceway harness race track in Westbury, New York. The donor the trophy was Cornelius Vanderbilt, a nephew of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. (6 comments)