Vanderbilt Cup Races

Aug 28 2010
The Motor Parkway and the Wheatley Hills Golf Club in East Williston

The Long Island Motor Parkway changed directions in East Williston from Roslyn Road (East/West) towards East Williston Road (North/South). As seen in this 1940 map, the parkway split the Wheatley Hills Golf Club in half. Several questions immediately come to mind in looking at this section: Which came first the parkway or the golf club? How did members enter the club from the Motor Parkway? Are there any parts of the parkway still existing today? Here are some answers: (4 comments)

Aug 27 2010
Mystery Mascot Contest #1 and Update of Local Automotive Events & Car Shows

John Torani of Saratoga Springs asks for your help to identify this hood mascot. It appears to be a ram or goat figurine. Be the first to win our Mystery Mascot Contest by placing your answer in the Comments section! (0 comments)

Aug 26 2010
Times Union Blog: “Serendipity and the Black Beast”

Author and Schenectady County historian Don Rittner has written an article on his timesunion.com blog on his experiences last week with the Black Beast. Here are some highlights: (0 comments)

Aug 25 2010
The Maserati V8RI Vanderbilt Cup Racer at the Saratoga Automobile Museum

Four racing cars were built by Maserati of Modena in 1935 to compete with the German racers. Designed by Ernesto Maserati, the Maserati V8RI had a supercharged V8 engine and an independent suspension. Last Saturday, I spotted one of four Maseratis on display in the "Racing in New York" exhibit at the Saratoga Automobile Museum. (3 comments)

Aug 24 2010
A Mystery Photo from the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race: The B.L.M. Racer

One of the many nice people that I met last Friday at the Saratoga Automobile Museum was Marie Foster of Champlain Canal Tour Boats. Marie brought along this photo with the caption "1906 Vanderbilt Racer, NYC." One of her favorite vintage car photos for years, no one had ever been able to identify the car. Since I always enjoy a Vanderbilt Cup Race challenge, here is my attempt to solve the mystery: (4 comments)

Aug 23 2010
Nunley’s Carousel and the Vanderbilt Cup Races

For several generations of children on Long Island, a fond memory was riding Nunley's Carousel on Sunrise Highway in Baldwin. Closed in 1995, Nunley's Carousel was restored and relocated to the Cradle of Aviation in East Garden City in 2009. While attending a Thursday cruise night at the museum, Bruce Latten checked out the carousel and noticed a link to the Vanderbilt Cup Races. Click on the photos to enlarge them. (0 comments)

Aug 21 2010
The Black Beast Returns to Schenectady and Saratoga Springs

It has been a wonderful two days in the Schenectady and Saratoga Springs area... great shows, friendly people, beautful weather, newspaper coverage and great fun! (2 comments)

Aug 20 2010
Update of Local Automotive Events and Car Shows

Greetings from Schenectady- the parent headquarters for the American Locomotive Company from 1901 to 1969. After visiting the former Alco facilities (seen here), the Black Beast was exhibited in front of City Hall as part of Art Night Schenectady. Great crowd and great fun! A full-report with details and photos will be posted on Sunday. Greetings from Schenectady- the parent headquarters for the American Locomotive Company from 1901 to 1969. After visiting the former Alco facilities (seen… (0 comments)

Aug 19 2010
The Black Beast returns to the former Alco Headquarters in Schenectady Today

The Alco "Black Beast" racer returns to the Schenectady area for a series of events on Friday and Saturday. Although the racer was manufactured in Providence, Rhode Island, the headquarters for American Locomotive Company was in Schenectady, New York. Here are several articles describing the events: (0 comments)

Aug 18 2010
Film “The Black Beast’s Four-Mile Cruise to the Show”

This seven-minute film documents the four- mile ride of the Alco "Black Beast" at the Nassau County Executive's 1st Annual Cruise to the Show Parade held on August 15, 2010. The "Black Beast" was the lead car of over 500 vintage and classic cars that participated. It covered the four-mile course from Garden City to East Meadow in less than 8 minutes, an average over 30 mph in first and second gear. (2 comments)