Vanderbilt Cup Races

the area where the rings would fit you can put your pinky finger in and it is about the same thickness! Can you imagine what it was like to have those heavy pistons flying up and down in a cylinder with the car going 80 mph?
to actually see and touch some of these century old parts is just amazing. other parts - brass hubcaps that weight 3 lbs, (keep in mind modern cars do not have 3 lbs. of brass in the entire car) brass lights that burn a flammable fuel tires whose tread pattern spell out non skid…....

From Kleiner's Korner: Willie K's Simplex Test Driver

WOW, thanks for the comparison photo, Walt! Had no idea how these early automobile parts differ from today.

From Kleiner's Korner: Willie K's Simplex Test Driver

forgot to mention next to the smaller piston is a quarter to give you some idea of size

From Kleiner's Korner: Willie K's Simplex Test Driver

the pistons in the Simplex were cast iron - very very heavy! Here is a photo of two SImple3x pistons, the larger is the 75 hp and the smaller the 50 hp, the piston and rod with them is for comparison is from a modern 350 hp engine.

From Kleiner's Korner: Willie K's Simplex Test Driver

OOOPF!!!!!!

From Update-InstaGRAM report: The Sam Mann Collection Auction

That’s the Woodbury Turn with the photographer looking approximately south-east and the Woodbury School at the top of the hill. The date is October 24, 1908 during the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The #8 Thomas racer, driven by Joe Seymour, is about to turn west onto Jericho Turnpike with Mr. Peterday as his mechanician. Seymour finished in 8th. position.

From Mystery Friday Foto #33 Solved: The Well-Known 'Woodbury Turn'

This is the “Woodbury turn” at Jericho tpke.  The photographer is looking in a southeasterly direction.  The race is the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race held on October 24th.  The building in question is the Woodbury school.  The car is a 1908 Thomas driven by Joe Seymour and finished 8th in the race during the 9th lap when the race was called.

From Mystery Friday Foto #33 Solved: The Well-Known 'Woodbury Turn'

Many thanks to Howard Kroplick and Al Velocci for keeping Long Island Motor Parkway history alive. Garden City has its own personal stretch of the historic roadway still intact, alongside the Parkway Manager’s House on Vanderbilt Court, also intact. I would proudly display the rare stretch of 0.3 mile (1600 feet) roadway for the community to observe, use, and learn from.

From Garden City News: Village urged to restore historic Motor Parkway remnants

I remember Del Insko. He was a great driver! https://sports.nyhistory.org/category/harness-racing/

Enjoy,

Howard Kroplick

From Memories of Roosevelt Raceway (1936-1988)

My uncle is Del Insko (one of my mother’s younger brothers) and he us now 94 years old and in a nursing home in Clinton, WI and, according to him, being held against his will! Actually, he lived by himself for the last 10 years after his wife died and his children had hospice check on him everyday. Several weeks ago hospice walked in on him as he was having a grand mall seizure and he was rushed to the hospital but was not allowed to go home. He had fell several months ago while crossing the road at his farm near So Beloit, IL and had broken his hip. He hospitalized and had surgery but signed himself out after 2days and 2 nights in the hospital,
He is wheelchair bound now but still wants to go home to his farm he bought in 1957.
Who knows, he might just “get-‘er-done”! He is one tough guy!!

From Memories of Roosevelt Raceway (1936-1988)

I have a set new in box{green} also with the original invoice, from mnpls. Grandpa had an order for a tucker but ended up with a 1950 stude bullet nose conver, when tucker became unavailable.

From Tucker 1044 gets Brand New Tucker Seat Covers

When I was a lid, maybe 12(?) my dad took me to the midget car racing one night. It was a good show. Very loud, I loved it.

From Update: InstaGRAM Report: From the Marty Himes Family Collection- The History of Indoor Three-Quarter Midget Racing at Island Garden Arena

There’s your connection, Gram.  Always interesting to find things like that.

From Update: InstaGRAM Report: From the Marty Himes Family Collection- The History of Indoor Three-Quarter Midget Racing at Island Garden Arena

Art,

Thank you so much for the additional research! It’s quite fitting that Arnold Carlson was a Floral Park resident, because that’s the town where I live!

From Update: InstaGRAM Report: From the Marty Himes Family Collection- The History of Indoor Three-Quarter Midget Racing at Island Garden Arena

Great post, Gram, thanks for sharing.  I lived in Valley Stream in the 60s and 70s and often went to West Hempstead - I remember passing the Island Garden Arena many times.  I don’t believe I attended any events there but always wondered what was presented.  Here’s some background material pertaining to its origin, the last ad (Feb. 13, 1965) I’ve been able to find promoting midget racing (notice the other ad promoting the Roslyn at the Clock Tower movie theater and the movie) and rock bands that performed there.

From Update: InstaGRAM Report: From the Marty Himes Family Collection- The History of Indoor Three-Quarter Midget Racing at Island Garden Arena

Great article and pictures of past Racing history on Long Island, I recall going to see the Midget Racers as a youngster after my parents moved out here in 1966. Wonderful pictures and writeup.Thank you for sharing this wonderful part of automotive history with us all.

From Update: InstaGRAM Report: From the Marty Himes Family Collection- The History of Indoor Three-Quarter Midget Racing at Island Garden Arena

Great article and photos. A long time fixture on Hempstead Tpke. Long Island loved the Nets, Rick Barry and Dr. J.! While I never attended any events there, I still think of the arena every time I pass that arch. Can’t even imagine what it was like to see indoor racing there!

From Update: InstaGRAM Report: From the Marty Himes Family Collection- The History of Indoor Three-Quarter Midget Racing at Island Garden Arena

Thank you… fond memories resurfaced

From Update: InstaGRAM Report: From the Marty Himes Family Collection- The History of Indoor Three-Quarter Midget Racing at Island Garden Arena

I truly had no idea racing was going on there! Odd since as well as that puppet show the area was known to me since it was right near the Aurora toy factory where I would bike to and dumpster dive for slot car parts and car bodies for my Aurora Thunderjet Racing Set.
And… YES… that World’s Fair Arch is still there and even visible from Aerial Google Map.
Mario Andretti was a childhood hero to me! Had no idea he raced there!

From Update: InstaGRAM Report: From the Marty Himes Family Collection- The History of Indoor Three-Quarter Midget Racing at Island Garden Arena

Also, at the “Garden Island Arena” in West Hempstead the the Pole sign outside, in the shape of an arch, came from the 1964-65 “Worlds Fair” and is still there today
There were a few of them throughout the “Fair”

From Update: InstaGRAM Report: From the Marty Himes Family Collection- The History of Indoor Three-Quarter Midget Racing at Island Garden Arena