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
What an incredible shot (CNCPICS)! At first glance, it’s heart-stopping! Hope Howard and 1015 were going slowly (TWO hands on the wheel, Howard!). Shades of the early Motor Parkway - no divider and narrow roadway! [BTW - in RR parlance, they are “meeting” (facing), not “passing” (overtaking).] Sam, III
From Update: #3: The Five Tuckers Participating in the 2018 Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance
Lee - the W, S, and E segments of the quadrangle in Yellow appear to be stables; the rest are probably maintenance buildings for the whole huge club complex. The residence N of the Green stable is most likely the complex superintendent’s home. As the complex grew, adding stables is not at all unlikely. Necessaries (facilities) are very like to be in the three buildings at the NW corner. Sanborn valuation maps would be a great help here. Sam, III
From Update #3:Mystery Foto #33 Solved:Spectacular 1924 Aerial of Meadow Brook Hunt Club & Motor Parkway
Congratulations Howard! I’m sure you’re proud of the team that restored it in a short period of time. I can’t wait to see it back here in Long Island. Well done!
From Update #1: The 12 Tuckers at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
CNCPICS.com has posted a historic photo of Tucker 1044 and Tucker 1015 passing each other on the Tour.
From Update: #3: The Five Tuckers Participating in the 2018 Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance
I love the 1923 Salisbury Plains Station pic, one car line!!
From Update #3:Mystery Foto #33 Solved:Spectacular 1924 Aerial of Meadow Brook Hunt Club & Motor Parkway
Congratulations Howard on your second place win, but why not the first because you are not George Lucas? You do have a working cyclops headlight how about that, and why the switch to the black wall side of the tires, for the authentic factory production look ?? Hope to see you with your award winner someday.
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Howard Kroplick
Mark, for the Tour, Tucker 1044 had its formal whitewalls. For the Sunday Concours, Tucker 1044 was brought back to its original factory blackwalls design.
From Update #1: The 12 Tuckers at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Sam,
What I mean to say is, those grandstands were capable of holding upwards of 40,000 spectators for matches. Wouldn’t it seem logical that some sort of facility for food, beverage and restrooms for them be somewhere in the immediate vicinity such as in the green circle?
Also, how likely would stables be constructed so close to a private home, just a few feet away?
But for the sake of argument, let’s say the building in the green with the deep overhangs is indeed stables. Then the buildings in yellow would not also be stables. What are they? Does the resemblance to a compound have any significance?
The proximity of the corral to them led me to believe they were the stables and the building in the green was something else.
From Update #3:Mystery Foto #33 Solved:Spectacular 1924 Aerial of Meadow Brook Hunt Club & Motor Parkway
James Ryan has forwarded a photo of Tucker 1044 at the start of the Tour.
From Update: #3: The Five Tuckers Participating in the 2018 Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance
These photos are absolutely terrific! An unforgettable week at Pebble!
From Update: #3: The Five Tuckers Participating in the 2018 Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance
Howard, next time I see you at the show I will gladly translate it to you 😊
From Russian TrunkMonkeys Automobile Blog: The Mustang III Concept Car
The photographer is facing west on Jericho Turnpike in today’s Floral Park with Tulip Avenue branching off to the left (south) and Little Neck Parkway intersecting to the right. He is set up on the bridge for the LIRR’s Central Branch which crossed Jericho Turnpike at that time. Heading east in the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race is the number 18 Mercedes driven by William Luttgen. Couldn’t find definitive info about the mechanician but I’ll take a wild guess: Charles Hudson.
From Update #1: Mystery Foto #34 Solved: Floral Park During the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park, looking west from the LIRR bridge
1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Mercedes #18 driven by William Luttgen (who often was ticketed for speeding before and after this race). Mechanician unknown (at least to me).
From Update #1: Mystery Foto #34 Solved: Floral Park During the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race
This is from the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race. You are looking west in Floral Park at the junction of what is now Tulip Avenue on the left - Little Neck Parkway on the right Jericho Turnpike. The driver was William Luttgen driving a Mercedes. Don’t know mechanic - maybe Walter Gosden.
From Update #1: Mystery Foto #34 Solved: Floral Park During the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race
No clue again, but it sure LOOKS like the Jericho Turnpike at Hitchcock Lane (right/north) and Cambridge Avenue (left/south) looking west with the old fence around the Church of the Advent at far left. If so, Post Avenue would be crossing in the distance. Sam, III
From Update #1: Mystery Foto #34 Solved: Floral Park During the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race
NYET (but I sure hope someone else can)! Sam, III
From Russian TrunkMonkeys Automobile Blog: The Mustang III Concept Car
Ken’s typo, “peerformed” is actually quite apt! 5 0f 12 peers. Guess we’re ALL on tenterhooks. Break a leg! Sam, III
From Update: #3: The Five Tuckers Participating in the 2018 Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance
Lee - ??? You already have the Yellow marked as “Polo Grounds Stables”. My reason for pegging the Green as such applies to Yellow as well. Notice the extensive and deep overhangs; that feature is typical of LI (and other) stables. As to the flat-roofed rectangular building on Merrick Ave., I always (perhaps incorrectly) knew it as the former Meadow Brook Club clubhouse, with the Salisbury Plains RR station across the CRR tracks directly to its north <http://sbiii.com/lirrcrr1.html#slsbrypl> - updated with satellite view). I’d be happy to correct my page if so advised knowledgeably. Sam, III
From Update #3:Mystery Foto #33 Solved:Spectacular 1924 Aerial of Meadow Brook Hunt Club & Motor Parkway
Looking west on Jericho Tpke Floral Park in 1904 from the Creedmoor Railroad bridge,
Tulip Avenue on the left; Little Neck Parkway on right. William Luttgen in the #18 Mercedes.
Mechanician unknown.
From Update #1: Mystery Foto #34 Solved: Floral Park During the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Howard,
I’m sure you had a “blast” at Pebble Beach. Good luck!
Rog
From Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance News Release: Tucker: A Car Ahead of Its Time
The first U.S. Vanderbilt Cup Race in progress, 1904. Jericho Tpke looking west at the Tulip Ave intersection. The dirt road across from Tulip is today’s Little Neck Parkway on the north side of Jericho. Just four years after this 114-year-old photo was taken, the Centennial Hall building was constructed one block to the left on Tulip Ave., just off the photo. This building still stands today with its tall columns, and is in need of repairs. I was glad to learn it will be restored and re-used as residential apartments. The photo was taken from the former LIRR bridge embankment that once crossed over Jericho Tpke. This stretch of Jericho Tpke divided Queens and Nassau Counties when Nassau was established in 1899. Queens is on the right side (north).
From Update #1: Mystery Foto #34 Solved: Floral Park During the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race
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