Vanderbilt Cup Races

Hi Dave. I’ve wanted to explore this toughest section of the LIMP ever You and Sammy have.And I kept in mind to locate the concrete structures you pointed out. I saw 3 structures total within a well worn drainage bed that continues south on the east side of the LIMP. This bed eventually turns west beneath the LIMP embankment ( thru a pipe ) where we witnessed the guard rail type posts. Frank may have taken a photo of the concrete structures, I’ll ask him. I’m not sure what their purpose is but it appears that they were formed there in a specific way. Could help for drainage but still scratching my head.

Hi Art. I remember reading about your trek thru here. And you witnessed the guard rail type posts back then along with concrete posts we didn’t see. That’s what’s good about all doing these explorings, more eyes the better.

From Updated: Femenias Findings- Exploring the Rustic Bagatelle Section of the Long Island Motor Parkway

Karters of the world unite!  You haven’t lived until you’ve seen famed automotive cartoonist Stan Mott’s around-the-world kart trip (really):  http://sbiii.com/cyclops/stmott-2.html#gokart!  Sam, III

From The Last Race: Film documents the beauty & intensity of racing at the last track on Long Island

Frank, Brian - nice exploration.  Been there (east and west of Bagatelle) and I know what you mean about the poison ivy, thorns, etc.  I usually start my trip by crossing Bagatelle where the Parkway would have and venturing northward.  Found the posts years ago but haven’t since so glad you did.  Probably will venture out there again soon thanks to your post!

From my website:
https://www.freewebs.com/limparkway/bagatelleroadwest.htm

https://www.freewebs.com/limparkway/bagatelleroadeast.htm

From Updated: Femenias Findings- Exploring the Rustic Bagatelle Section of the Long Island Motor Parkway

Thanks for the laughs, Howard.  And Happy Thanksgiving to everyone out there!

From The Twelfth Annual Thanksgiving "Turkeys on the Road"

Hi Howard:

    Wishing you, Roz and your girls a very happy family wishes for a great day!!!
All my best and a salute to you for great moments with best wishes to all our
VCR people out there !!!!
                Cordially and fraternally,  Ron Ridolph and Family

From The Twelfth Annual Thanksgiving "Turkeys on the Road"

Spent quite few nights as a spectator at Freeport, Islip, and later Riverhead Raceway.  Did hundreds of laps myself at Riverhead during the 2000-2001 race seasons racing karts with the Eastern Kart Racing Association.

From The Last Race: Film documents the beauty & intensity of racing at the last track on Long Island

Thanks Denis, I didn’t know that Huntington was pushing for a trail in the past. This actually happening would be excellent. We didn’t really examine the ROW south of the school to rear of Holmes Farm, but will soon. Maybe there’s not much to see, but just to make sure

From Updated: Femenias Findings- Exploring the Rustic Bagatelle Section of the Long Island Motor Parkway

Great work guys! Brings back memories! You did some nice clean up work too! I love the spots you dug out. Excellent work.

Your spot #1 pic - looking over shelf - that is usually much more visible LIMP there - you can blame the fall leaves for hiding it but that is a cool spot.

In between your points #2 and #3—before you go over Bagatelle Rd - if you go down and dig at any point you will find the LIMP in tact, we dug randomly throughout and it was always right under us. Hidden history. Awesome. The entire road is under you the whole time.

Nice posts finds. We didn’t find those. Must have been too busy getting poison ivy!

In between points 5 and 6 did you find that location that was speculated about? Could have been a drain run off? There was a lot of LIMP debris in one location there and we had good back and forth about what it was.might be, I’m wondering if you saw it yourself now?

And you started too far north! Should have started down by the VFW and witnessed the bridge remnants and the pavement behind the VFW and then proceed through the farmland. Next time!

From Updated: Femenias Findings- Exploring the Rustic Bagatelle Section of the Long Island Motor Parkway

I’ve explored all of this really nice segment. Sadly most of it is not public or LIPA owned here and subject to development. Some just south of the school already is owned by private homes although I was able to sneak through the yards back around 2000 or so. The town of Huntington tried to get a trail easement on the LI Motor Parkway segment owned by Madonna Heights but they totally rejected any attempts to restrict future development of the old roadbed. Which is sad since the banked downhill curve in there is awesome!

From Updated: Femenias Findings- Exploring the Rustic Bagatelle Section of the Long Island Motor Parkway

As a member of the Studebaker Drivers Club LI chapter,  I had heard that a Studebaker was “disguised” as a Tucker, for, I think,  I shot of a car rolling over. Just wondering if anyone else ever heard that info.  Bob Andreocci
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Howard Kroplick

Bob, you are correct! Three cars were used to film the crash scene, a “before” version, with a fiberglass body, the car used to do the actual rollover was a Studebaker modified to look like a Tucker.

From Searching for the 22 Stars of Francis Ford Coppola's 1988 Film-Tucker: The Man and His Dream

Good one, Sam III !

From The Last Race: Film documents the beauty & intensity of racing at the last track on Long Island

Here to say this is William Kissam Vanderbilt 1, father to William Kissam Vanderbilt 2.

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: Mid-Week Pictorial Announces the Death of William K. Vanderbilt in 1920

The hair may have given it away. This could be William Kissam Vanderbilt II, a.k.a. Willie K, in his fifties, around 1940s. Guessing the portrait was used to display the founding member of a university

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: Mid-Week Pictorial Announces the Death of William K. Vanderbilt in 1920

Mystery Foto #46… The person in the rendering is none other than William K Vanderbilt II. He, of course, was the founder of the Vanderbilt Cup races as well as the builder the L.I. Motor Parkway.
Not sure when and why this pic was published in the “Mid-Week Pictorial”. My research turned up nothing.  I will guess it was at the time of his death in January 1944.

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: Mid-Week Pictorial Announces the Death of William K. Vanderbilt in 1920

Freeport closed in the late ‘80s (when?) and the “Bridge” closed in 1998.  I remember midgets racing at Cedarhurst Stadium (now Lawrence High School); that’s where Bill Schindler quite literally lost his head - my Mom saw that horror.  Brian - how’d you ever get a racing license that young?  Sam, III

From The Last Race: Film documents the beauty & intensity of racing at the last track on Long Island

That last looks like the Main Line in Mineola; the Oyster Bay Branch bridge, between Albertson north of the LIMP RoW and Williston Park to the south west of the tracks and Roslyn to the east, is in a cut.  It’s probably facing east, towards Carle Place and Westbury, or you’d see the Mineola Junction appurtenances (Mineola Road bridge, station, village, etc.).  Sam, III

From Updated: Clinton Robertson Photo Album: Central Park Avenue/LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge in Bethpage

To hell with all those Tuckers - love !hat ‘46-48 Ford woodie!  Seriously, though, what’s the black rectangle off-center in front of the Tucker ‘way back at the curb?  Sam, III
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Howard Kroplick

My best guess is that it is a road sign.

From Searching for the 22 Stars of Francis Ford Coppola's 1988 Film-Tucker: The Man and His Dream

well, he may not have been a car of steel but my fellow musician, now deceased, was in the courtroom scene in Tucker. His name was Rudy Cipolla(1900-2000) and he taught and inspired mandolinist David Grisman. Cipolla is a celebrity in the world of mandolins!

From Searching for the 22 Stars of Francis Ford Coppola's 1988 Film-Tucker: The Man and His Dream

Update: Added photo of four-year old Brian McCarthy at Riverhead Raceway.

From The Last Race: Film documents the beauty & intensity of racing at the last track on Long Island

I look forward for your rare photos—keep up the good work.

From Updated: Clinton Robertson Photo Album: Central Park Avenue/LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge in Bethpage