Vanderbilt Cup Races

I visited the Petit Trianon many times in the 1940s and 1950s…inside and out.  The stairs shown are not from this…and there were never any cement blocks used .  The concrete walkway went directly from the rear of the Inn ...right into the lake when the water level was high…..no steps ever..and the trees shown are not on the site of the inn, near the beach. 
  I am very involved in not only the history of Lake Ronkonkoma but am also very active in the Lake Ronkonkoma Improvement Group which has been revitalizing and cleaning the shores of the lake.  The homeowners that own the land where the Petit Trianon once stood have destroyed what was left of the original walkway..and dumped it into the lake.  We have removed some of it…still have more to do.  These people also claimed to own the beach..but we have proven them to be wrong and are proceeding with our clean up all around the lake.  To avoid any confusion..there are SOME properties that DO go into the lake…nine in total…and those people have been cooperating with us fully.  It was a very sad loss when that beautiful inn was burned…it could have been a wonderful treasure from the Golden era of Lake Ronkonkoma…Thank you, Howard…please don’t take this as criticism…I enjoy all the information you put out and know you try to be as accurate as possible ...and I again thank you for it…

From Femenias' Findings:Finding Petit Trianon, the Annex & the Petit Trianon's Lake Stairway Updated 3/12

Cool!  You’re going to need another garage soon!

From From Scottsdale to Roslyn: The Journey of Tucker 1044

Well,another car to your collection of the best you can get. Can’t pick which one is the best out of the 4,I would have to see the Tucker live,which I’m sorry to say probably won’t happen,unless for some reason I have to come to N.Y.or you come to Florida,somewhere nearby me to a show. I guess time will tell.Anyhow enjoy it.Hope you enjoyed the pics I sent.

From From Scottsdale to Roslyn: The Journey of Tucker 1044

My family and I visited the museum in 1953, as it was in process of closing to go to Florida—Model Trains, mostly standards, along with a Connecticut Company open car were part of the exhibits.  Memorable, especially to a 9 year old.

From The Melton Museum of Norwalk, Connecticut (1948-1953)

Glad the trip went well Howard! Following any work you want to do on it maybe you could take it to the Greenwich Concours. I can’t recall ever seeing a Tucker there. Something to think about. Enjoy the car!

From From Scottsdale to Roslyn: The Journey of Tucker 1044

You are the fortunate caretaker to another amazing piece of history!  It is an absolute beauty.  Enjoy!

From From Scottsdale to Roslyn: The Journey of Tucker 1044

I gather that this rare auto will take its place among the Black Beast, the first Mustang and Chrysler’s Chrysler which if accurate is most fortunate for Long Island. You are a collector of very high quality cars but the way you take the time to share them with the public so selflessly is to be commended.  BIGLY.

From Images of the Tucker 1044

That is one clean engine! Good luck with her. That must’ve been a nerve racking few days while en route home.

From From Scottsdale to Roslyn: The Journey of Tucker 1044

Correction…. The mound that Frank pointed out could be the capped off landfill between Claremont St and Winding Rd, which is N/O the then Nassau County Brickworks. There’s also a recycling center E/O Winding Rd, just N/O of a Horse Stable. But I think this recycling center is a newer facility.

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: A View of #54 Lancia Crashing at the Massapequa-Hicksville Road Turn in 1910

Good mystery, but I just wasn’t up for it.

Frank….the mound that’s NE could be the landfill that is now capped off W/O Claremont St, just S/O the tower line. Or maybe the then Nassau County Brickworks between Round Swamp Rd and Winding Rd, both locations in Old Bethpage.

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: A View of #54 Lancia Crashing at the Massapequa-Hicksville Road Turn in 1910

There’s a Curved Dash Olds at the Suffolk County Historical Society Museum in Riverhead, but I’m not sure it’s the same one:

http://www.suffolkcountyhistoricalsociety.org/museum.html
__________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Daniel, here is a link to information on the 1905 Oldsmobile at the Suffolk County Historical Society.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/can_you_identify_the_long_island_location_of_this_unrestored_1905_oldsmobil

From Helck Family Collection: Old 16 at the Opening of the Bridgehampton Race Circuit in 1957

Great job again Sam and Dave. The house with the posts (28 Lake Drive) was Bob DeStefani’s childhood home in 1937, built in 1928 and bought by his Uncle before Bob and family moved in. The LIMP closed one year after Bob moved in. He must know about those posts if he can be reached. They sure look like LIMP posts.
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/new_series_an_inside_look_of_the_petit_trianon_in_lake_ronkonkoma

Dave - Working on an overlay in the area but no aerials are available it seems. The aerial at the Stony Brook website is poor quality but may have to do. With the Petit Trianon in its right place, it’ll be easier to see what those stairs and the wrap around walls with corner adornments are all about. Also sending Howard a photo of the Petit with similar walls that you guys found.

Keep exploring!

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure IV: The Eastern Terminus of the Motor Parkway

Those posts are definitely affiliated with the LIMP, Dave & Sam. Their the “guardrail” type that was on both sides of the roadway. I’ve seen them in Queens and Nassau. The rectangular cut outs had 2” x 6” planks running thru them likely.j

I remember from past blogs regarding the Ronkonkoma lodge being relocated west and a bit north from it’s original location ( straddling the LIMP ). I agree, let Frank do his magic.

Did you guys notice that the land just N/O of the LIMP has a steady uprise just before Rosevale Ave? Don’t know if that’s a natural land formation, but I do know that there was to be a Parkway bridge over Rosevale Ave., but never built because of financial constraints.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure IV: The Eastern Terminus of the Motor Parkway

This is about the crash of William Knipper with mechanician August Disher in their Lancia during the 1910 Massapequa Sweepstakes on October 1, 1910. For seven laps he was far in the lead driving well over 1 mile a minute, when “he met his Waterloo”. As reported further in Motor Age of October 6: “He swung into the Massepequa lodge turn at a terrific clip, failed to hold it, and went into the sand pile that was the graveyard of so may hopes. This accident stopped the car.” Apparently neither driver nor mechanician were seriously hurt. The race was won by Endicott in a Cole.

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: A View of #54 Lancia Crashing at the Massapequa-Hicksville Road Turn in 1910

I should have taken more pictures. Those steps really lead right to the lake. It seems certain that was from the petit.

I’m thinking the concrete wall was a driveway wall of sorts leading up to the petit. The wall pretty much continues from that little house to the point where it makes the turn, I’m guessing that was the official runway/driveway wall leading up to the petit. All of the old estates have entries like this. Maybe someone has some old pics?

I realize that house I took the pic of is not old, but the posts in there have to be LIMP related.

One question going back to ronkonkoma lodge pic, it is evident from the old picture the lodge was right on the LIMP. Today the lodge is at least 100 feet away. I’m wondering if the original LIMP was buried? Could the lodge have been moved? This is a question right up Franks alley. Topographical King Frank!

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure IV: The Eastern Terminus of the Motor Parkway

Old Number 16 was brought to the first FIVA Rally held in the States, Jerry brought the car to a gathering in Lenox Mass. It was great to see it in action, Jerry gave a ride to Bunty Scott Moncrieff who was my guest from the U.K. I think the year was 1983…

From Helck Family Collection: Old 16 at the Opening of the Bridgehampton Race Circuit in 1957

So interesting….Thanks for sharing your effort & discoveries !

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure IV: The Eastern Terminus of the Motor Parkway

Congrats Howard. Looking forward to seeing the Tucker and you sometime soon.

Best regards,
David

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale

Sorry i just saw the trunk pictures great shots as my friend wont have to take the photos.

From Images of the Tucker 1044

biggest lower control arm bushing i ever seen! and held together with bolts that are of the allen type. it looks like the two big end ones have a adjustable setting for proper alignment of the front end.  strong as a TANK!

From Images of the Tucker 1044