Vanderbilt Cup Races

Hey Howard, Great to read this report. Les Shaffer was a good friend of mine. For decades we would speend a week together enjoying a vacation/car meet , the annual Franklin car gathering in Cazenovia, NY. Les also owned a beautiful 19332 Franklin Airman series 16A rumble seat coupe . Les liked the Tuckers ( he had two) because they used a air cooled engine made by Air Cooled motors of Liverpool , NY. That firm was run by Carl Doman a former engineer at the Franklin Company in Syracuse, NY which is just south of Liverpool, NY . The bottom of the Tucker should have a casting in it that says Franklin. Les loved his Franklin as his Tuckers and drive them often, they were never ever trailered. Les and I had some conversations (I should have taped but was still fairly young when Carl was alive) with Carl Doman who was active in the Franklin Club. Both men were very cordial and friendly, especailly Les. Carl Doman lived in Michigan as did his son Dave Doman who was a good friend of mine as well and spoke to me about his ad’s work at both Franklin and Air Cooled Motors.  and Dave was an engineer at Ford Motor Co.  Dave had a good collection of Franklins ranging from ca 1908 roadster to a 1932 club sedan. Another Franklin/Tucker friend was Bill Hamlin of California, he had two Tuckers as well and lived near the Ontario speedway in California where he would take the Tuckers as well as his Franklin sedan out on the track to see what they could do. Bill was an aerospace engineer and his “street rod” was a 1935 Reo flying cloud coupe that he put a souped up 1932 Franklin engine in and also a Columbia two speed rear end (these were most often installed in Auburns of the mid 1930s. ) Bill used to take great pride and laugh when he had his Reo at a stop light (exterior was all original did not give away it was repowered by the in line 6 Franklin air cooled engine)  and a street rodder in a heavily modified V8 Ford would pull up next to him and Bill would nod “you wanna race” the street rodder laughed until Bill out ran him and just as the Ford was thinking about pulling away Bill would engage the Columbia overdrive which gave it another set of gears and just walk his original Looking Reo coupe away by a great distance.
Anyway I have run on long enough.
Great news about your Tucker, I know you will have a great time at Pebble Beach , congratulations.

From The History of the Tucker 1044 (1948-Present) Updated: 6/18/2019

Thanks Howard for sharing the journey of 44 every Sunday.  Enjoyed reading about the progress

From The History of the Tucker 1044 (1948-Present) Updated: 6/18/2019

Definitely cool

From AACA Museum: Largest Public Gathering of Tucker Automobiles in Decades to Happen on August 26, 2018

Aerial photo facing Northeast, overlooking East Meadow, specifically the Salisbury subdivision adjacent to Westbury.

Close up photo #1 shows one of the two grandstands at the Polo Grounds.  That field would be used years later as NCC’s baseball diamond, prior to the construction of the new campus in the ‘70’s.  Ancillary equine support buildings including a circular corral for the horses can be seen behind the stands.   

Photo #2 shows the Meadow Brook (two words) Golf Club.  Nearby is the Salisbury Plains station of Alexander Stewart’s Central Railroad of LI (later acquired by the LIRR).  To the left of the station, the surviving bridge which still exists today is visible in the woods inside the transition loop leading from Eastbound Stewart Ave. to Northbound Meadowbrook (one word) Parkway. 

Beneath the bridge, Meadow Brook Club Road can easily be seen curving up to rendezvous with Merrick Ave. (Whaleneck Road).  The rail line was severed in 1955 during construction of the extension of the Parkway from the Northern to Southern State Parkways, though passenger service to Mitchel Field ended in May, 1953 (other than the nightly shuttle for Roosevelt Raceway). 

North of the rail line, running West to East, the tree lined continuance of Stewart Ave. can be seen along its original alignment through the Salisbury Golf Club, later to become Salisbury (Eisenhower) Park.  Beyond that, the LIMP can faintly be seen running parallel to Stewart Ave. 

Off in the distance, the LIMP bridge over Merrick Ave. can be seen.  In front of it, a car appears to be turning left onto the key shaped entrance road leading to the toll booth.

This is by far the most detailed photograph I’ve come across of the extreme Northeastern corner of the Mitchel Field environs.  The pathway of roads in the area is the clearest to date.  Likewise, buildings in the area adjacent to the Polo Grounds are more prominent than in any other photo from the same area.

I am particularly interested in identifying these buildings (other than the Meadow Brook Club and Salisbury Plains station) and their purpose.  Any assistance in that regard would be most welcome!

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

In Huntington, the Town Historian is a great asset often heard from through the Huntington Historical Society.  It’s great that knowledgeable people like Howard take this on.

From Newsday: Long Island historians come together to preserve region's history

A while back the fan belt on my Packard 243 wore out.  I got a new belt; however, the adjustable water pump (adjusts to fit the belt) was frozen!  I didn’t get to do the work myself, Gaslite had the pleasure!  I suppose that changing fan belts once every several decades shouldn’t get someone upset.

From Take a Test Ride In the Alco Black Beast

Wonderful story Howard.  Great. Restoration by the Ida family. I remember seeing there 409 powered Coupe at National Speedway as a kid.

From The History of the Tucker 1044 (1948-Present) Updated: 6/18/2019

-Identify the location and orientation of the photographer

View looking Northeast at Salisbury/Westbury above the Meadowbrook Polo Field

-Identify the major roads.

LIMP, Merrick Ave, Stewart Ave, Salisbury Park Dr,

-Identify the Long Island Motor Parkway structure(s)

Merrick Ave PW Bridge, “Meadowbrook” parkway bridge over Newbridge Avenue (Bellmore Road), Stewart Avenue Bridge

-Link the Mystery Foto to the Vanderbilt Cup Races.

1908, 1909, 1910 VCR races used this portion of the LIMP

-Which bridge in the aerial is still standing?

The Central RR bridge still there buried in the exit ramp of the Meadowbrook Pkwy.

-Identify the railroad track and railroad station.

Central RR- Salisbury Plains RR Station

-Identify the other significant Long Island buildings.

Meadow brook Polo Club, Clubhouse for the Salisbury Country Club

-Identify the golf courses.

Salisbury Links,  Meadow Brook Golf Club

-Which future First Lady lived on a property seen in the Mystery Foto?

Elliott Roosevelt’s 10-acre home Half Way Nirvana was located near the intersection of Valentines Road and Salisbury Park Drive (then called Newbridge Road.)

-Identify the property located on the upper right section of the aerial.

The Ladenburg Estate

-What is the date of the Mystery Foto? Provide a rationale.

Just a guess judging by vehicles, early 1930’s

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

Howard, hope every thing goes well on your way out there? just remember your nitpicker groupie me was the first to point out the cyclop headlight was not working, at the Merchant Marine Academy in King Point some time ago. Now that is fixed, hope get extra points for a working cyclop headlight when judging time comes.
Howard, general admission is $375 at the Pebble Beach Concours, any discounts for us LIMP Preservation Society members??

From On the Road to Pebble: Two Days Until a Trip to the Beach!

Dick S.
I just wanted to say Thank You from the Tucker fans across the United States for supporting this project that is now heading west. The combination of the Ida’s and Tucker’s talents are simply amazing, the partnership is pretty special in the Tucker world. We are sure there are many other talented folks that have been involved too, as the length of time of this restoration has been rather short. Howard you chose a great group, we are grateful for your support of the Tucker cause. Enjoy Pebble Beach.

From Update #2: On the Road to Pebble: Thumbs-Up to the Tucker 1044 Team!

Steve M.

Congratulations on the completion of your Tucker. Just, absolutely, fantastic!

Good luck at Pebble Beach! All your friends at Newsday are routing for you!

From Update #2: On the Road to Pebble: Thumbs-Up to the Tucker 1044 Team!

Warren H:
Hi-ho, hi-ho, it’s off to Pebble Beach #1044 goes… cravete competitorem!

More than good luck, it’s the resources, time, and effort it took to create the masterpiece which is #1044 that will win the day!

From Update #2: On the Road to Pebble: Thumbs-Up to the Tucker 1044 Team!

Speaking of eagle eyes and no portico (bravo!), I see that the “second-story bridge between the office and plant” (Curtiss) now has a first-story enclosure.  Views looking down into the old plant, such as the ‘20s and ‘28s’s above, were taken from the east end of that bridge.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: Curtiss Engineering Corporation Garden City Complex Circa 1925

Mike - Excellent observation! I missed that. NO portico. Great eagle eyes!

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: Curtiss Engineering Corporation Garden City Complex Circa 1925

Mike - Excellent observation! I missed it. NO portico!

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: Curtiss Engineering Corporation Garden City Complex Circa 1925

Looking north at Clinton Road from south of Commercial Avenue GC. Curtiss Factory is south of Stewart Avenue, Long Island Motor Parkway at the bend over Clinton with its 3 section bridge, the entranceway to LIMP and the office and Toll House. No Portico on the toll house means it was the early 1920s. Great pic it shows how hardly anything was there after WW1.

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: Curtiss Engineering Corporation Garden City Complex Circa 1925

Mystery Foto # 32….We are in the Garden City/Mineola area with the photographer looking North West. The Clinton Road Motor Parkway bridge is shown in the top, center. Tree lined Clinton Road shows in the upper left quadrant of the pic. The buildings seen at the top of Photo are Roosevelt Field airport. The Curtiss Engineering Corp buildings are seen at the bottom of the aerial. As a guess on the date I would say between 1925 and 1928.

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: Curtiss Engineering Corporation Garden City Complex Circa 1925

Mystery Foto #32… We are in the Garden City/Mineola area with the photographer looking North West. The Clinton Road Motor parkway bridge is shown in the top, center. Tree lined Clinton Road shows in the upper left quadrant of pic. The building in the top of photo is Roosevelt Field airport. The Curtiss Engineering Corp buildings are seen at the bottom of the aerial. As a guess on the date I would say between 1925 and 1928.

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: Curtiss Engineering Corporation Garden City Complex Circa 1925

They did a great job Howard! Enjoy the Pebble Beach experience. Someday I’ll get out there myself. I’m sure you’ll post some nice photos and videos. I love the green color on this car!

From On the Road to Pebble: Two Days Until a Trip to the Beach!

Congrats…
A terrific job.
Now I know where to take that ‘60 Lincoln Continental Limousine by Hess & Eisenhardt, if I ever get my hands on one worth restoring.
In any event, this has to be a “double” congrats—first, the ‘37 Chrysler and now the ‘48 Tucker, each done to perfection.

From Update #2: On the Road to Pebble: Thumbs-Up to the Tucker 1044 Team!