Vanderbilt Cup Races

Greg H.
Congratulations on your win at Pebble Beach. To do that well on a car put together under a time crunch is remarkable. The restorers have to be great craftsman. It took me 9 years ( working mostly afternoons) to complete our Packard, so you can see why I’m impressed.

From Tucker 1044 Receiving its 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Award

Lee - Fantastic zooms! Still not sure the name of unknown roadway but it does line up directly with still existing Chestnut Street on the west end of Mitchel Field

From A Chambers Profile: The Meadow Brook Polo Fields

Sam,

I think Howard meant to post the overlay photo on this page.  It can be seen here however:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/images/blog/Base_Reconfiguration_House_Construction_1932.jpg

Same shot without the overlay is found here:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/images/blog/2018-01-04_12-28-49_edited-1-1.jpg

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection

“Photo with road overlay”???  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection

The photo of the hangers at Mitchel Field is significant in that in coincides with the culmination of the Base Reconfiguration between 1927 - 1932 in which virtually all of the brick buildings (many of which are still standing and in use today) were constructed.

Of particular interest is just to the North of the hangers where the Parade Grounds / Quadrangle (the focal point of the new Base layout) had not yet been established.  The foundations of much older wooden buildings left over from the WW1 Camp Mills era are still visible, in some cases, literally feet away from the new brick structures.  These wooden structures were torn down to make way for the Officers’ reviewing area of troops. 

For example, although the houses in a semi-circle have been erected, notice how Rice Circle (and the back alley behind the houses) have not yet been built.  From this shot I can not only see the Commanding Officer’s Quarters that I grew up in, but actually see my side bedroom window! 

Also missing is Hazelhurst Avenue running North towards Stewart Ave., this despite the lone house at the intersection of what would become Hazelhurst and Miller Avenues is already standing (it became 359 Hazelhurst).  In the ‘70’s, that house was used by NCC as the Faculty Club for a while. 

More significantly, and speaking of Miller Ave., a long gone road from the Camp Mills era which I have never been able to locate a name for is seen cutting laterally across what will become the Quad, parallel to Miller leading in a straight line into my house at 363 Rice Circle.  This road also ran parallel to Davis Ave. and ran as far East as the edge of the property, bordering the Westernmost fringe of the Polo Grounds at East Avenue.

Does anyone know of the name of this ‘Unknown Road’ outlined in yellow? 

Photo with road overlay attached.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection

Frank - you’re right, the original grandstands were not large enough to support 40K patrons.  But the newer, larger ones were.  Those two antennas in the rear of the white roofs in 1924 might have been flag poles. 

Sam, you are are also correct.  Later photos beyond Frank’s 1926 aerial shot show additional buildings behind the easternmost grandstand.

Zoom in on the artwork for the Plymouth ad though.  The caption says, ‘The Plymouth Savoy, shown at the Meadow Brook Polo Club, Long Island, New York’.  I suspect the artist took a few liberties in re-creating the building. 

From Update #3:Mystery Foto #33 Solved:Spectacular 1924 Aerial of Meadow Brook Hunt Club & Motor Parkway

Fascinating pictures from ‘29, ‘32 and ‘35.  Fill up with Ethyl !!

From Update #1: Mystery Foto #34 Solved: Floral Park During the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Too funny!  I was about to correct my reply; I didn’t remember ever seeing the Meteor with a top, and certainly not up, but bethought me of the nose looking familiar as one of Ab Jenkins’ Mormon Meteors.  They are covered in his book, “Salt of the Earth”, which I either have somewhere or gave to Howard.  As I recall fairly certainly, there never were ACD factory designations SJ or SSJ; all such cars were Js and the S and SS prefixes were added much later by aficionadoes (much as production Tuckers were never Torpedoes).  At least I knew the garage door was Austie’s eastern rear entrance.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #35 Solved:Two Record-Breaking Duesenbergs at the Long Island Automotive Museum in 1949

Bob S.
Very cool.  Congrats to Howard!  Bob

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Historic Tucker d'Elegance in Big Sur

Robert Richer
Partial:

Ab Jenkins’ Marmon.
Austie Clark’s Museum.

From Mystery Foto #35 Solved:Two Record-Breaking Duesenbergs at the Long Island Automotive Museum in 1949

Thanks Howard. How’s John doing?Say hi to him for me,thanks again.
______________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

John doing fine! Thanks.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Historic Tucker d'Elegance in Big Sur

Mystery Foto# 35….The 1935 Duesenberg Mormon Meteor Speedster is on the left Possible owner at that time Ab Jenkins. The 1936 Duesenberg SSJ La Grande Sports Roadster is on the right. Clark Gable (or Alfred Ferrera) may have been the owner at that time. Photo taken at Long Island Automotive Museum in Southampton. I cannot determine the date of the photo. Both cars were class winners at Pebble Beach Concours in years past. The Mormon Meteor was best of show in 2007 at Pebble. Ab Jenkins with the Mormon Meteror set a one-hour record of 153.97 mph (247.79 km/h) and a twenty-four-hour record of 135.57 mph (218.18 km/h) at a circuit on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The 24-hour record would be held until 1961. Can’t find speed records on the LaGrand Roadster but it had a top speed of 160mph.

From Mystery Foto #35 Solved:Two Record-Breaking Duesenbergs at the Long Island Automotive Museum in 1949

Sorry, folks; it won’t fadge!  Rank revisionism.  The abutments predate all the Mills bit.  Al, where are you when we need you?  To David’s query, the abutments, which are quite close together, appear perfectly normal for the usual LIMP plate girder bridge, not any special trestle.  When I was first in there and the abutments were more visible, I saw nothing out of the ordinary about them.  If the base hospital had progressed further, a bridge certainly might have been considered but that’s pure speculation so far.  Sam, III

From Femenias Findings: Exploring the Link Between Camp Mills and the "Mayan Ruins" Motor Parkway Bridge

One more comment and then on to the beach to celebrate Labor Day!  I’m now putting date in the late 40s or early 50s. 
And while probably not directly related to the photo, I found a Newsday clipping from 1971 about a Joseph Weider who rented an 8 car garage to antique auto/truck collectors and noted that Gary Cooper once housed his Duselberg there (complete with an autograph).  Sending the full article to Howard.

From Mystery Foto #35 Solved:Two Record-Breaking Duesenbergs at the Long Island Automotive Museum in 1949

On the left; 1935 Duesenberg Special/Mormon Meteor
From Wiki;
Financing for the Duesenberg Special came from sponsorship solicited by Ab Jenkins from oil companies and accessory manufacturers and distributors. Jenkins guaranteed his sponsors that he would break established speed records with the car. He delivered on his guarantee in October 1935, when he set a one-hour record of 153.97 mph (247.79 km/h) and a twenty-four-hour record of 135.57 mph (218.18 km/h) at a circuit on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The 24-hour record would be held until 1961.
Recently restored to its 1935 racing condition and entered in the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, which it won.

On the right;  1935 Duesenberg Special Speedster Model J (SSJ) owned by Gary Cooper.
In 2018, this Duesenberg SSJ was sold at Pebble Beach for $22 million. This made it the most expensive American car ever sold.

This looks to be at Henry Austin Clark, Jr’s Long Island Automotive Museum in Southampton

From Mystery Foto #35 Solved:Two Record-Breaking Duesenbergs at the Long Island Automotive Museum in 1949

Now that I read the headline of the mystery photo the photo was taken on LI so i’ll say the location is the LI Auto Museum in Southampton.

From Mystery Foto #35 Solved:Two Record-Breaking Duesenbergs at the Long Island Automotive Museum in 1949

Andy Ward - Please send any photos of the new Mayan Ruins and nearby location to Howard at - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Those photos would be most interesting. Thanks!

From Femenias Findings: Exploring the Link Between Camp Mills and the "Mayan Ruins" Motor Parkway Bridge

Actually the reference noting the Bob Robert’s car dealership refers to both SSJs made and not the Mormon Meteor photographed there.

From Mystery Foto #35 Solved:Two Record-Breaking Duesenbergs at the Long Island Automotive Museum in 1949

Identify the two automobiles and their owners when the photo was taken.
Right - Duselberg SSJ (Special Sportser J).  Gary Cooper
Left - Mormon Meteor;  AB Jenkins

Where was the photo taken and when?  First thought LI Auto Musuem but found a reference stating the two cars were seen photographed at the Bob Robert’s car dealership in Hollywood (corner of Ivers and Selma).  Late 1930s

What records were set by the two automobiles?
SSJ - average speed record in 1935 of 135.47 mph in 24 hours.
Mormon - Average speed of 158.822 mph in 24 hours and 148.641 mph in 48 hours.
 
Associate the two automobiles with Pebble Beach.
The SSJ was just auctioned at the Pebble Beach for a record $22 million.
Mormon auctioned at Pebble Beachin 2004 for $4.45 million.

From Mystery Foto #35 Solved:Two Record-Breaking Duesenbergs at the Long Island Automotive Museum in 1949

Congratulations to you Howard, your family and the and entire restoration and support team. You all deserve the highest accolades for the preservation and restoration of this historic automobile and Tucker legacy! Fantastic!

From Tucker 1044 Receiving its 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Award