Vanderbilt Cup Races

... with the palm tree - possibly Florida?
.. .is the ALCO sign a hint…
... a similar look to the Black Beast!

From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: The 1914 Alco Race Car in Santa Monica in the ​​​​​​​The 1914 American Grand Prize Race

Sadly, the police are still finding bodies along the side of the road. This victim was found just off the Clearview Expressway, near Union Tpke., which is not far from the remnant of the LIMP that goes through Alley Pond and Cunningham Parks.
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/body-found-clearview-expressway-emmanuel-moncoeur/

From Kleiner's Korner: January & February 1925 Activities Relating to the Motor Parkway

ALCO
WILLIAM TAYOR WAS THE DRIVER
THE RACE WAS THE AMERICAN GRAND PRIZE RACE, ON THE SANTA MONICA ROAD RACECOURSE, HELD ON FEBRUARY 28, 1914
TAYLOR FINISHED 3RD AFTER STARTING IN THE 5TH POSITION.
THE VANDERBILT CUP RACE WAS HELD ON FEBRUARY 26, 1914, TOW DAYS EARLIER
THEN THE AMERICAN GRAND PRIZE RACE.

From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: The 1914 Alco Race Car in Santa Monica in the ​​​​​​​The 1914 American Grand Prize Race

Let’s go with this:
Alco driven by Billy Taylor
International Grand Prix, Feb. 28, 1914, Santa Monica
Finished in second place
The car was driven two days earlier in the Vanderbilt Cup Race as #17, driven by Tony Janette as noted on the sign on the wall in the mystery photo. 

From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: The 1914 Alco Race Car in Santa Monica in the ​​​​​​​The 1914 American Grand Prize Race

Great video on the 48 Tucker Greg, very informative!

From Video of the Week: Tucker: Genius or Scam?

Beautiful work. I always enjoy seeing restoration photos.

From Restoration Update #2: 1930 Duesenberg J Murphy Convertible Sedan Berline #2448 J-399 (1/17/2025)

Informative piece of the Franklin during the 1913 Long Island Economy Run. Thank you Walt Gosden for rare historical content, and the challenge all autos were subjected to. The bridge photo appears to be Queens Plaza in LIC, with cobblestone streets I remember in the ‘70’s at the foot of the Queensboro Bridge. A few 1909 images below

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: "The 1913 Long Island Economy Run" by Walt Gosden

The building is the Newport Country Club. It still stands.

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: Willie K. Going for an Early Ride in his 1899 Locomobile Runabout

i had this alco was used in my getting married in san diego my age then was 25 i am 69 now this car was owned by jack helgren in lemon grove ca.    to make the alco able to be used the valves and valve cages needed to be rebuilt . their was 25 antique cars at my weding in san diego at organ pavilon     what made me love alco cars in the caravan after weding going to the after get to geather         the alco with 4 gears foward left all of the others way behind     im life member of Hoersless   Carrage of   San diego

From In Search of Alcos: #12 1912 Alco 4-Cylinder Touring Car Being Sold on eBay

That opened in 1946 and yes, I believe it is in the aerial, on the left side of Old Country road, across the street from the last hangar on the right side of OCR. see attached file. Enjoyed many great breakfasts there in the 60s and 70s btw.

From Friday Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Newly Discovered 1953 Drennan Aerials of Roosevelt Field

Wonderful story Walt Thanks for sharing it We wonder if this car would have passed the CAFE requirements of today?

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: "The 1913 Long Island Economy Run" by Walt Gosden

From left to right we have: Willie K. (with the alligator); Leland Sterry; Willie K.‘s wife Virginia (in the wicker rolling chair); Lawrence Waterbury; and Frederic Sterry. Waterbury was a cousin of President Teddy Roosevelt. Leland and Fred Sterry were brothers who were managers of The Breakers and Royal Poinciana hotels respectively in Palm Springs, Florida. The photo was taken during a winter 1907 vacation at The Breakers in Palm Springs.

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved: The Vanderbilts on Vacation

Bob
Yes it was a very flat route and few curves, plus the oiled pounded flat surface made a very smooth road (kind of unheard of at the time) as you mention, no stops were made. This was the lightest car Franklin had on offer chassis wise - no radiator so much lighter weight. Their factory motto at the time was ” riding like gliding”. The car is basically 2 bucket seats on the chassis, even fenders were minimal and of aluminum.
Walt

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: "The 1913 Long Island Economy Run" by Walt Gosden

83.5 miles on a gallon of gas?  Could this have been a bit of exaggeration or perhaps over promotion.  Unless the vehicle was so light, the route so flat, no stops were made, etc.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: "The 1913 Long Island Economy Run" by Walt Gosden

Is Thomas’ Ham & Eggery in the photo somewhere? When did that open?

From Friday Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Newly Discovered 1953 Drennan Aerials of Roosevelt Field

Back in December 2018 my article about the Tuckers was published by Collectible Automobile. It’s uploaded below. I believe it won some awards.

From Tucker 1013 Comes to life with help from Penn College and Ty Tucker

Courtesy of vanderbiltcupraces of May 27, 2009
Seated: Virginia “Birdie” Fair Vanderbilt, wife of Willie K.
I to r: Willie K. Vanderbilt, Jr.; Leland Sterry, Manager, The Breakers Hotel
Lawrence Waterbury, a cousin of President Teddy Roosevelt (in the driver’s seat)
Fred Sterry, Leland’s brother, manager of the Royal Poinciana Hotel
Winter, 1907
Palm Beach, FL

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved: The Vanderbilts on Vacation

Hi Greg. Maybe you can help me. I have photo dated 1908 Briarcliff Road race. It’s 22x20 inches. I know it’s authentic but some confusion as to the drivers. The writing are what I"ve seen on the internet.
I collect these type photos. Maybe you can help me

From Gregg D. Merksamer: "Remembering the 1908 Briarcliff Trophy Race"

Tom Padilla, The Motor Parkway had its own motorcycle police force. First appeared around 1925. Bt 1930 the Parkway Police had 3 motorcycles and one Ford sedan. Phased out by the late 1930’s. Regarding speed limits, when the Parkway first opened there were no speed limits. As more autos were using the Parkway, speed limits that varied from 30 to 40 MPH were introduced. Violators were escorted of the Parkway and their toll tickets confiscated.

From Kleiner's Korner: December, 1924 - Crime Scene: The Motor Parkway

Hello,
I saw these signs for sale. Was Meadowbrook raceway located where Roosevelt Raceway was built? I imagine it was a horse track.
Great website. I have spent many hours on it over the years researching Locomobile Ol’ 16.

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