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
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Recent Comments
I have no opinion about the marker, but I do have a boyhood recollection of “knowing” that it was George Robertson who drove “Lindy” to the airport that morning.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Polls (Latest Poll: April 13, 2026)
#4 Fiat driven by Vincenzo Lancia at the grandstands at the 1905 or 1906 Cup race, but that’s all I have.
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: Clearing the 1905 Course for Vincenzo Lancia's #4 FIAT
The text for the 1938 Chrysler Limosine built for Mrs. Walter Chrysler states the engine is a 324 cubic inch V-8, but I think that is an error as I think the engine is probably a flat head straight eight. Otherwise a great article and congratulations to Howard.
Joe
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Howard Kroplick
Good catch Joe!
From The Classic Car Magazine Cover Story: "A Chrysler for the Mrs."
Identify the Vanderbilt Cup Race and the location of the image: 1905 VCR, Mineola Grandstand
Identify the race car and the three people in the race car.: Fiat #4. Inside car could be driver Vincenzo Lancia, Mechanician Alissa, and Willie K?
Provide an explanation on what is happening in the photo. After an accident b
between Lancia and another car, spectators came onto the track. Probably warning people to stay off track. Another possibility is taking an injured driver or mech. to see Dr.
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: Clearing the 1905 Course for Vincenzo Lancia's #4 FIAT
In reading the article a mentioning of the engine ‘324-cid V-8’ really? an error, straight eight!
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Howard Kroplick
Good catch!
From The Classic Car Magazine Cover Story: "A Chrysler for the Mrs."
The factory pose in between 2 new Tucker cars is the real gem: a throwback to the post-war era (I was 2). Enjoyed that photo - looks like the suit my father wore to work every day at his NYC office!
From Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Program: The Birth & Legacy of the Tucker 48
Nice presentation—thanks
KJHarris
From The Classic Car Magazine Cover Story: "A Chrysler for the Mrs."
Thanks for the additional info, Gary. And great postcard! Glad the Bach blacksmith shop was restored, at least in Old Bethpage Village.
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: Louis Chevrolet's Fatal Crash in the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Wild guess time - telling spectators to stay off the g. d. course! Sam, III
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: Clearing the 1905 Course for Vincenzo Lancia's #4 FIAT
Gary Hammond has provided more details on the 1910 accident and it location.
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: Louis Chevrolet's Fatal Crash in the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race
The photo was taken during the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race near the grandstand and start/finish line on Jericho Turnpike in Mineola. In the #4 Fiat we see driver Vincenzo Lancia, mechanician Alissa (sitting on the spare tire), and announcer Peter Prunty using a megaphone to try to clear the course of spectators before the fast approaching Locomobile (driven by Joe Tracy) arrives on the scene.
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: Clearing the 1905 Course for Vincenzo Lancia's #4 FIAT
*ID VCR and Image Location: After a fair amount of looking/thinking, I’ll say this is the 1905 VCR ( Oct. 14 ). The photographer likely snapped this image from up high ( Krug’s Hotel ). View is southeast across Jericho Tpke. Mineola, towards the grandstand. Both 1905 and 1906 courses were counter clockwise, and the car is positioned eastward.
*ID race car and 3 occupants: #4 Fiat ( Italy ). The driver is Vincenzo Lancia, the temporary passenger is Peter Prunty, Track Announcer Extraordinare with his yard long megaphone, and the Mechanician Battista Ajassa or Alissa is temporarily sitting in the rear.
*Scene explanation: Want to say this image was taken before the race commenced. Being that Mr. Lancia was a “crowd favorite”, perhaps Mr. Prunty was formally introducing him to all. The spectators on the left ( along with the automobile ) are quite far out onto Jericho Tpke for this scene to be capturing the race’s finish. And I don’t believe spectators would be permitted to stand just in front of the grandstand while cars are whizzing through.
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: Clearing the 1905 Course for Vincenzo Lancia's #4 FIAT
This time I’m answering right away, though it might be wrong. the location of this event, Jericho Turnpike in area of Westbury, Old Westbury Gardens and it’s an announcement on the bull horn at the start-finish line. Here goes another guess, the race#16, Old16, I mean. That’s all The time I have right now.
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: Clearing the 1905 Course for Vincenzo Lancia's #4 FIAT
Meet at Cunningham Park at 8AM! Would be great to see Old 16 and the Black Beast side-by-side towards the lake. Keeping my fingers crossed.
From Celebrate the 110th Anniversary of the Long Island Motor Parkway on Sunday, October 7, 2018
My earlier post should have read ” . . . we gather at Cunningham Park around 8AM” NOT 8PM!
From Celebrate the 110th Anniversary of the Long Island Motor Parkway on Sunday, October 7, 2018
As part of the special event ham radio operation this Sunday commemorating the Motor Parkway’s 110th Anniversary, LIMARC (Long Island Mobile Amateur Radion Cluib) will have a mobile ham radio station in one car participating in the drive, and another car equipped with real-time tracking capabilities. In order to track the vehicle as it makes its way to Ronkonkoma you just need to go to http://www.aprs.fi and search for either W2V-5 or W2V-9. This will bring up the location of the tracking car real-time.
These stations are in addition to ones on the air starting Friday, Oct. 5 and one to be located on Oct. 7 at the finish of the drive in Ronkonkoma.
From Celebrate the 110th Anniversary of the Long Island Motor Parkway on Sunday, October 7, 2018
Ed, Tom, All - All cars regardless of age can participate in the drive (antique cars lead the pack, others follow behind). We gather in Cunningham Park around 8pm (Union Turnpike and 196th Place, just west of Francis Lewis Blvd). See you there.
From Celebrate the 110th Anniversary of the Long Island Motor Parkway on Sunday, October 7, 2018
What are the cut off years for the attending cars?
From Celebrate the 110th Anniversary of the Long Island Motor Parkway on Sunday, October 7, 2018
Interesting, Art Kleiner’s posting of the NY Times Oct. 1 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races listing of entrant, listed Louis Chevrolet brother Arthur also in a Marquette-Buick that was in this race, wonder how he did in the race?
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Howard Kroplick
Arthur Chevrolet finished 19th:
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/cars/car/marquett-buick_29_1910
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: Louis Chevrolet's Fatal Crash in the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race
I would like to participate in the drive.
From Celebrate the 110th Anniversary of the Long Island Motor Parkway on Sunday, October 7, 2018
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