Vanderbilt Cup Races

Thanks Gordon for the interesting challenge. Likely facing S (sharp angle of sunlight under the bridge). If facing E, the wall would’ve lit up more. At about 2PM in the afternoon, they’re wearing long sleeves (likely not summertime), not in Levittown (missing the flat plains), bridge slightly off perpendicular to the roadway below (about 95 deg), power lines present, likely a highway/farmway bridge.

Definitely not Mayan Ruins (though it could’ve been), not Nibbe’s (missing Deadman’s Curve #2 just after, the infamous 135 jog). I’ll go with Powell Ave highway bridge on this one, with Central (Bethpage) Park to the left. The power lines are in the approx correct location as today. What fun! Hope I’m right, can’t wait for the answer. Let’s go Howard, speed it up!

From Mystery Foto #21 Maybe Solved: The Clinton Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1909?

Broad Hollow Road ~ Route 110 looking North, with space on East side for Cross Island Railroad tracks.

From Mystery Foto #21 Maybe Solved: The Clinton Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1909?

First try is: NY Route 110 looking North as there is a second opening which might be
for the Trolley Line.
Second try is Clinton Road, Garden City, again with a second lane opening.
No much else to go on for identification.      CHEERS,    Ron

From Mystery Foto #21 Maybe Solved: The Clinton Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1909?

I am going with Westbury Ave.
Why you ask?

The LIMP built three bridges in the original build that were larger and wider than standard highway bridges.  These bridges had trestle type support beams in the center supporting the structure.  One of these bridges was over Broadhollow Rd in Melville, sporting an opening for the trolley line that ran from Amityville to Huntington.  But you say this picture is from 1909, and that bridge was built in 1910.  At least that is what I know.

This leaves Westbury Ave and Clinton Rd in Garden City.  How did I narrow this down?  (1) I do not believe the telephone pole and wires we see in this picture were along Clinton Rd.  I have no evidence to support this either way at Westbury Ave.  (2) As I closely examine the picture, I am not convinced it is Clinton Rd.  The support wall on the right side of the picture looks more narrow.  (3)  I just feel it is way more likely a picture of the Westbury Rd bridge would have stayed hidden and unpublished than the one in Garden City.

Final Answer.  The 1909 Built out of the Westbury Ave bridge of the LIMP.

Once again thanks to everyone who supplies this pictures.  This is fun.

From Mystery Foto #21 Maybe Solved: The Clinton Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1909?

Identify the Motor Parkway bridge. Provide a rationale.
-Clinton Rd bridge; notable for it’s additional center supports which are unique even to other LIMP bridges with additional supports.

What is the likely orientation of the photographer? Provide a rationale.
-Utility poles on the East side; looking Northward up Clinton.

From Mystery Foto #21 Maybe Solved: The Clinton Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1909?

REGARDING TUCKER #1007 MY FATHER WAS A TUCKER FRANCHISE OWNER AND I HAVE MANY UNTOLD STORIES ABOUT HIS TUCKER#1007 AND THE TUCKER FRANCHISE

From Profile Series: Tucker 1007- The Metallic Blue Tucker at the LeMay Collections in Tacoma

MY FATHER DAVID GRAVER WAS THE OWNER OF TUCKER # 1007 WHICH HE PURCHASED AT THE BANKRUPTCY AUCTION FOR $1,700 TO SHOW SOMETHING FOR HIS LOSS OF $50,000.00 THE COST PAID TO PRESTON TUCKER FOR HIS AREA FRANCHISE IN NEW JERSEY.

AT THE UNVEILING OF THE CARS TO THE PUBLIC ALL DEPOSITS TAKEN FOR DELIVERY WERE NOT RETURNED AS THE MONEY WAS SENT TO PRESTON TUCKER AND SUPPOSEDLY PUT INTO ESCROW ACCOUNTS. ALL MY FATHER EVER RECEIVED AS A FRANCHISE OWNER WERE RADIOS, SLIPCOVERS AND LUGGAGE THAT WAS SOLD ALONG WITH THE CARS AS AN INCENTIVE TO BE FIRST IN LINE FOR DELIVERY. THIS ALL HAPPENED WHEN I WAS TEN OR ELEVEN I WILL BE SEVENTY NINE SHORTLY.

From Profile Series: Tucker 1007- The Metallic Blue Tucker at the LeMay Collections in Tacoma

Gordon, I’ll ask you the sam question I asked Thomas that’s become sort of a personal infatuation 😊

You say you spent the 50’s in a house in bethpage right next to the LIMP. The late 50’s is when construction on 135 began. I’m wondering if you know or if you have pictures that would be amazing, but can you tell us where, starting at Central Ave and heading north, where exactly the the LIMP run in relation to the newly constructed seafood/oyster bay?? We have to figure this out one day! I hope you can help. Thank you.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: From the Lodgekeeper's Family Archives-The Garden City Lodge

Thanks for sharing Gordon’s memories of growing up near the LIMP, Greg. Very neat that he experienced the pkwy at different locales. Very nice photo of Mr. Ernst and daughter Emma. Is Emma your mom, Gordon?

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: From the Lodgekeeper's Family Archives-The Garden City Lodge

Ken Curtis Jr.
Relative to your post concerning identifying the Chrysler serial number badge find above copy of 1934 and prior models serial and production information along with the Fedco code system explained. This style badge and the Fedco system was employed on Chrysler cars at least from 1924-29.

From Mystery Foto #20 Solved: A Fedco Vehicle Number Plate for a 1926 Chrysler Model G70-6

Before Chrysler became involved in the automotive business, he was a railroad man. My guess is that this badge is more railroad than automobile, pre 1920.

From Mystery Foto #20 Solved: A Fedco Vehicle Number Plate for a 1926 Chrysler Model G70-6

...love those Tucker photos and stories!

From Profile Series: Tucker 1007- The Metallic Blue Tucker at the LeMay Collections in Tacoma

Have to give Dee credit for this one. I had given up, but she noticed the FEDCO copy (before the additional hint) which lead me to the answer.

-This badge was used by which automobile manufacturer?
Chrysler

-What is the exact copy on the badge?
WD044R/FEDCO SYSTEM

-What was the purpose of the badge? Hint: There is copy on the badge that provides a clue.
VIN number of the vehicle. After letter conversion, this particular VIN is; 090444

-What is the estimated date when the badge was produced? Provide a rationale.
From 1926 to 1930, Chrysler used the FEDCO system, which had numbers and letters. The letters were actually numbers

From Mystery Foto #20 Solved: A Fedco Vehicle Number Plate for a 1926 Chrysler Model G70-6

Thanks so much for coming to the opening and for loaning us your car for a few months.  It was a fun night with lots of interesting stories.  See you in June at The Elegance!

From Updated: 1963 Mustang III Concept Show Car a Big Hit at the AACA Museum Exhibit Opening Reception

Obviously it was used by Chrysler Corp. I believe these badges were attached to the dashboard of Chrysler and Plymouth models from about 1926 to July, 1931 when they switched to another system. They utilized the FEDCO system of assigning serial numbers to each individual car that was built; an ancestor of today’s VIN numbers. They were used to identify when the car was built. This badge reads WWW DDD ZERO FOUR FOUR RRR. Using the code WPCHRYSLED for the numbers 0123456789, the serial number in today’s photo would be 090444. By cross referencing that number in FEDCO charts, you could determine the month and year the car was built.

From Mystery Foto #20 Solved: A Fedco Vehicle Number Plate for a 1926 Chrysler Model G70-6

It’s obvious that it was used by Chrysler - Chrysler logo on the left, and Walter P. Chrysler’s signature. To figure out the rest, I had to enlarge it. The bottom reads “FEDCO SYSTEM”. Now I had enough information to Google it, and this is what I found:

The serial number WD-044-R using Chrysler’s translation table (0123456789/WPCHRYSLED) maps to 090444. This format was used in the ‘20’s and it was a vehicle identification number. The plate would self-destruct if tampered with, and so was an anti-theft device.

From Mystery Foto #20 Solved: A Fedco Vehicle Number Plate for a 1926 Chrysler Model G70-6

This badge was used by which automobile manufacturer?  Chrysler (others also used similar badges)

What is the exact copy on the badge? WWW DDD Zero Four Four RRR which translates to WD044R (see following answer).  Also Chrysler and Walter P. Chrysler.  Copy at bottom (the hint) reads FEDCO SYSTEM.

What was the purpose of the badge? Hint: There is copy on the badge that provides a clue.
Used as an anti-theft number plate installed in Chrysler vehicles as a joint effort between Chrysler, the Federated Engineers Development Corporate (FEDCO) and the Williams J. Burns International Detective Agency starting around 1925/1926.  The plate was designed to disintegrate upon attempted tampering/removal and was made of nickel and copper and attached to the instrument panel.
 
Used by other manufactures as well.  Developed to stem the rise in stolen automobiles (12,000 cars were stolen in NY in 1925, in Chicago stolen cars increased between 1924 and 1925 52% to 8,141).

What is the estimated date when the badge was produced? Provide a rationale.
This badge was used in the 1925/1926 Chrysler Model 70-6, Model G as evidenced by the number that the text and copy equals (based on the FEDCO attaching a number to the letters in the name WPChrysled - the last “d” was used instead of “r” since “r” was already used.)  Based on documentation being sent to Howard showing this numerical code and the numbers assigned to Chrysler autos the code of WD044R equates to #090444.  This code # falls between FEDCO codes WY580W and WD999D which equals #055800 and #09999.  Documentation shows this range was assigned to the prior mentioned Chrysler model and years.

From Mystery Foto #20 Solved: A Fedco Vehicle Number Plate for a 1926 Chrysler Model G70-6

Please tell us about the bare chassis on the lead trailer.  Sam, III

From Profile Series: Tucker 1007- The Metallic Blue Tucker at the LeMay Collections in Tacoma

Gary C:

SCCA footage from 1981
Pro-FFord event at the Bridge, wreck at start

Thanks for posting!
Gary C

From Video/Film of the Week: Classic Bridgehampton Racing

Terry Stafford:

Howard, I was at the race pictured in your Bridgehampton Video.  I don’t remember the year, but it was the first year the V8 powered Triumph TR8 was racing in SCCA Pro Racing competition.  So I believe it to be 1979. (I think there was a question as to weather they had made enough cars in 78’ to be properly homologated.)

I went to watch Paul Newman in the Bob Sharp, Budweiser, Datson Z car.  It was his last Regional race for the season and he needed the points from 1 more win to qualify for the National Runoffs that year.  (I remember the 25’ tall inflatable Budweiser can in his Pitt.)  The TR8 was pulling ahead of Newman about 50 to 75 feet with every passing lap.  Toward the end of the race he was behind about 600-800 feet and I had to leave with a few laps to go, for a family obligation.  He did not make the runoffs that year.

Two Bridgehampton notes from that race day.
It was the last SCCA Pro Series race ever to run at The Bridge.

And, (after I left,) there was the biggest accident ever at The Bridge, (I don’t think there were any serious injuries.)

As described to me by my friend Guy Frost who watched it…. the Formula Vs, (or Formula Fords,) were the last scheduled race on the card that day.  A Chevelle had blown a big V8 engine on the Pit Out lane earlier that day and oiled it down.

Everyone was cautious the rest of the day as they came thru and tried to avoid the dusted oil patch just before the merge onto the main track.  And with all races being 1/2 hour Sprints that day, (not 3 hr Enduros with pit stops,) no one was roaring out of the pit at full speed after a tire change or something.

As the Formula cars came down the straight at speed and took the green flag, an adventurist driver from the 2nd row was just executing his plan to slingshot into the lead by accelerating early and swinging around everyone thru the Pit Out lane to take the lead.  He did, but jerked the wheel to pull back onto the main track just as he went through the oil.  Even with the Speedy Dry on the oil, not enough cars had driven right thru it.  He lost control and skidded sideways in front of the entire grid as they all stepped fully into the throttle to begin the race.  Only 4 or 5 cars out of more than 30 that started, made it thru the ensuring mess finishing 1 lap, to a Black Flag .  Some of the 29 or so cars involved in the accident might have been able to pound out this or replace that or tape up this, and get ready to restart the race that day.  But they couldn’t get the track cleared and cleaned up before the race was called because of darkness.

Regards,
Terry Stafford

From Video/Film of the Week: Classic Bridgehampton Racing