About
The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
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Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
it was great to meet you,very cool man you are,it was my pleasure….......
From Tucker 1044 Open House Draws a Great Crowd at Ida Automotive in New Jersey
Art - “The Automobile” image would be a tricky mystery foto minus the lodge building.
From Mystery Foto #43 Solved:#7 Chalmers at the Hicksville Road Turn During the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Queens was where the FIRST (rigid) transatlantic flight originated?
Alcort & Brown in their Vickers, June 15, 1919, flying from Newfoundland to Galway might differ.
The May, 1919 Curtis NC-4 ATTEMPT was disqualified as more than one aircraft was used in the attempt, taking 23 days and making SIX STOPS.
From Wednesday Meeting of the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society on November 7, 2018
1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race looking west in Massapequa. The #7 Chalmers-Detroit driven by William Knipper (USA) with mechanician Robert Muller, has just left the Motor Parkway and is heading onto the temporary detour road towards Rt 107 North (Hicksville Road). The detour was put in just west of the Hicksville Rd parkway bridge. It was also used in 1910. Massapequa lodge in the background, future home of Motor Parkway police motorcyclist Thomas Zinzi, wife, and grandson Arthur Mauriello. I believe the banner was used to alert racers of the detour. Amazing this photo has survived 109 years!
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1396j0_672hYkvbcNFJInbc1mXNJspD9f&ll=40.73262291140392,-73.49346893466145&z=19
From Mystery Foto #43 Solved:#7 Chalmers at the Hicksville Road Turn During the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race
The “unique” building pictured above with Glenn Ethridge was the Mammoth Garage, in White Plains, NY on Mamaroneck Ave. Three large woolly mammoth heads adorned the front of the large garage. Later, it became a Cadillac dealer and they were taken down. This garage was home to George Jacob Grossman’s GJG’s built between 1909 and 1915.
From Exclusive: Glenn Ethridge in the Isotta Fraschini that Won the 1908 Briarcliff Trophy Stock Car Race
The race and date of the photo. 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race, October 30, 1930
The race car, driver and mechanician. #7 Chalmers-Detroit driven by Bill Knipper, mechanian, Robert Muller
The location of the race car. Massapequa-Hicksville Curve - Intersection of Massapequa-Hicksville Road and the Motor Parkway.
The building on the right. Massapequa Lodge
What was the purpose of the sign on the left? To notify the race drivers to exit onto the Motor Parkway via a temporary road after finishing their laps and go to the Bethpage Lodge to be inspected.
From Mystery Foto #43 Solved:#7 Chalmers at the Hicksville Road Turn During the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Hi I am very interested in your research in this article, if you can contact me I have some questions that maybe you can answer. Thank You!
From Hammond's History: A 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race Parking Space Ticket at Pratt's Farm in Westbury
Thank you sooo much for letting all us Tucker people come and see the best Tucker of all Tucker #1044 it was truly an amazing time and hopefully I get to do it again.
From Tucker 1044 Open House Draws a Great Crowd at Ida Automotive in New Jersey
For starters, that magnificent Victoria in the 6th pic down is NOT a restored version of any car shown above it. I was at the Bird Auction (see 30 Jun Mystery Foto #74 and 01 and 14 Jul 2104 blogs); absolutely incredible event. Most of us there were simply over-awed by the panoply of cars. Long story about how I got home to Mineola via the old Frank Buck Zoo site <http://sbiii.com/fbuckzoo.html> in Massapequa (partially posted but needs expansion - will advise). Walt Gosden - might you have pix of the 1931 Chrysler Imperial 8 CG sedan in the Farnsworh parking lot (that’s how I ended up at the Zoo site)? That 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix #4487 was listed by Goodings two years ago at $2,600,000-$3,200,000 and sold for $3.300,000! Sam, III
From Exclusive: Photos from the Wallis C. Bird and Marjorie Winifred Kendall Bird Family Album
Fabulous.
From Exclusive: Photos from the Wallis C. Bird and Marjorie Winifred Kendall Bird Family Album
This photo shows the #7 Chalmers-Detroit with driver Billy Knipper and mechanician Robert Muller on October 30, 1909 during that year’s running of the Vanderbilt Cup Race. They are on the temporary road built to connect the LIMP with the northbound Massapequa-Hicksville Road with the Massapequa Lodge on the right. The sign reads “Exit for Contestants” and told the drivers they must leave the paved LIMP and take the temporary road to continue on the course.
From Mystery Foto #43 Solved:#7 Chalmers at the Hicksville Road Turn During the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Chuck R.
Just wanted to take a moment to thank you for inviting us car folk to see your jewel like masterpiece of a car. It was fabulous to get even a little closer than one can get at Hershey and actually see inside. Thanks for directing me to Sean, I did get the answer on the lack of rain gutters as for aerodynamics he showed where the rain gutter was integrated under the bulkhead door and it used the smallest of gaskets for when it was closed. A well engineered piece, and also it dawned on me no doghouse, or driveshaft tunnel in the back seat just like today’s FWD and AWD cars. Interesting all the stuff he did which showed up later.
From Tucker 1044 Open House Draws a Great Crowd at Ida Automotive in New Jersey
Looks like the October 30th 1909 race at the Hicksville Road turn (Massapequa Lodge) in today’s Plainedge/Bethpage with William Knipper driving and Robert Muller mechanician .
The building is the lodge at that location and the turn was at the turn off from the concrete Motor Parkway to the northbound gravel Hicksville Road. The race was shortened in the 1909 and 1910 contests. The banner (sign) indicated an exit for contestants.
From Mystery Foto #43 Solved:#7 Chalmers at the Hicksville Road Turn During the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Great Event! Happy to have attended. The people, shop, and of course the cars are all awesome!
Wow!
Hank
From Tucker 1044 Open House Draws a Great Crowd at Ida Automotive in New Jersey
from your archives…
1909 VC race, Oct.30, 1909
car #7 Chalmers-Detroit driven by William Knipper
love the challenges!
Gary C
From Mystery Foto #43 Solved:#7 Chalmers at the Hicksville Road Turn During the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Where is Farnsworth?, another Long Island gold coast estate?, sounds familiar?
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Howard Kroplick
Answer is above. The gates are still standing.
From Exclusive: Photos from the Wallis C. Bird and Marjorie Winifred Kendall Bird Family Album
The gates are the only thing left of the entire estate. It’s a residential neighborhood now. The gates are on the corner of Chicken Valley Road & Oyster Bay Road in Oyster Bay.
From Exclusive: Photos from the Wallis C. Bird and Marjorie Winifred Kendall Bird Family Album
ADVERTISED IN THE NYT I BEGGED MY FATHER TO GO TO THE AUCTION ,1962 I THINK .THE DUSIE ROADSTER BROUGHT 10K
From Exclusive: Photos from the Wallis C. Bird and Marjorie Winifred Kendall Bird Family Album
The Auburn 12 is more likely a 1933 or a left over one. Auburn came out with a completely new body in 1934.
From Exclusive: Photos from the Wallis C. Bird and Marjorie Winifred Kendall Bird Family Album
Howard, that first pic is obviously the entrance to an estate. Any idea where this is? I’ll gladly go fetch some NOW pics of it if it’s still around.
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Howard Kroplick
Dave, it was the entrance to Farnesworth, the Wallis Bird estate.
From Exclusive: Photos from the Wallis C. Bird and Marjorie Winifred Kendall Bird Family Album
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