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
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
The 60’s had lots of “M’s defining the decade:
* the M&M boys
* Murray the Kay
* Martha & the Vandellas
* Mustangs
Great video, thanks.
Rich
From The 1965 Mustang Assembly Plant, Martha & the Vandellas and Murray the K
I enjoyed the event immensely to learn more about Mr. Clark from family and friends. While I frequently went to the track in Bridgehampton in the mid-60’s, I missed the opportunity to explore the Museum in its heyday. I never knew the connection between the track and Mr. Clark (he was a founding board member) so let’s hope Mr. Kroplick’s next history will focus on the race track.
Is there any source to identify all the cars that passed through the Museum and their current whereabouts?
From A Very Special Hamptons Evening and Tribute to Henry Austin Clark, Jr.
Thank you to Howard for making this a Mystery Foto and Ariejan for the verification and extended background information on what was a difficult foto. It took the balcony of the S/F tower for me to start putting the puzzle together or I might still be scratching my head.
From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: The #31 Falcar Driven by Hughie Hughes at the 1910 Savannah Challenge Race
From Ariejan Bos (Netherlands)
The scene shows the Falcar #31 of the English driver Hugh ‘Hughie’ Hughes with mechanician Armsburger during the 1910 Savannah Challenge Trophy. This race for cars with piston displacements between 231 and 300 ci was held on November 11,1910 the day before the American Grand Prize, and was run on the same course. The race was run concurrently with the Tiedeman Trophy (for cars with piston displacements between 161 and 230 ci), but started an hour earlier due to the difference in racing distance. Hughes would finish on third place.
The race was won by Joe Dawson in a Marmon. The link with the Vanderbilt Cup is that Hughes would compete in the 1912 Vanderbilt Cup, in which he ended on 2nd place. He also started in the 1915 Vanderbilt Cup, finishing on 9th place.
From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: The #31 Falcar Driven by Hughie Hughes at the 1910 Savannah Challenge Race
Howard,
I’m so sorry I couldn’t attend the event in honor of Austin Clark last Thursday due to a previous commitment. Looking at those terrific photos brought back a number of memories of him. I used to make numerous trips to his museum. I never got tired of seeing all those wonderful autos, the NY to Paris Thomas Flyer in particular.
Roger
From Walter McCarthy Collection: A Tribute to Henry Austin Clark, Jr.
I’m not sure this is Hamline. Photos of the stands taken at that time show a different roof line. Oldfield & Soules raced the two Stearns all over the midwest during 1908 - this may have been taken at one of those venues. By December, the 45/90 had been painted a dark color, so this photo would have been taken some time between July and then.
From Mystery Foto #20 Solved: Barney Oldfield Driving a Stearns Racer in St. Paul on July 15, 1908
Was able to attend your tribute to HAC back in 2014, in Bethpage, and was going to attend last Thursday too, but I completely forgot! Sorry I missed it! I bet it was great! Looks like a nice size turnout too!
My pics from the Bethpage presentation are on-line here:
https://ashautophotos.smugmug.com/Cars/Museums-and-Shows/Henry-Austin-Clark-Tribute/
From A Very Special Hamptons Evening and Tribute to Henry Austin Clark, Jr.
Mark, I don’t mind being wrong but you misread me; I’m talking about the car in the distance in the B&W pic, in front of the bridge, making a left turn, across Willis (to our right). ‘39 Chrysler (or possibly Dodge or DeSoto) for sure - had one - very unique (if unfortunate) shape <http://sbiii.com/chryslr5.html#39-41CHR>. Sam, III
From My Motor Parkway Story #3: Bob Valentine and the Williston Park Historic Marker
Sure wish I could attend; I’ll be out of state (NY and MA). WhiIe I can’t claim we were close friends, Austie was very kind to me on several occasions, both in Glen Cove and Tuckhoe, and we hoisted a few together. I miss him. Sam, III
From Walter McCarthy Collection: A Tribute to Henry Austin Clark, Jr.
Neat photos. The Meadowbrook Lodge entrance ramp appears to still have the expanded entryway at the bottom, and Merrick Ave’s expansion appears to have been eastward into Eisenhower park. And at the Mineola Lodge, there appears to be a white overhead highway sign for an upcoming exit? Or a full width barricade to prevent entry into the underpass? Great rare images!
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From Howard Kroplick
Good eye! I believe it was a concrete barricade keeping automobiles from using the abandoned Motor Parkway.
From 1950 Aerials of the Meadow Brook Lodge and the Mineola Lodge
The parking lot scene is incredible, especially when you consider that the auto was barely 10 years old at that point. Note the very modern looking license plate at lower right. The snoozing gentleman looks no more comfortable than he would in the back seat of my FIAT 500. The Jericho Turnpike always having been such, “parked on Jericho Road” might better be translated as “on the Jericho road” or as “on the road at Jericho”. I’ve watched the race film again and again and, after just reading the first-hand account, the crowd surging onto the track becomes more terrifying with each viewing. Sam III
From Translation: December 1906 Les Sports Modernes: The Vanderbilt Cup in America
someone with the means should have Marcels clone this gorgeous car ,wonder if Ghia still has the body buck ? . . .
From The 1956 Chrysler Norseman Concept Car Lost at Sea Updated 1/13/16
From Jerry Rokoff:
Great newsletter and format!
My guess: 1908 year opened as a toll road.
Roslyn road south of Barnard lane. Site of toll entrance guessed Roslyn cause you live there
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A Rare View of the Massapequa Lodge on the Motor Parkway
The White truck is RHD so a 1910 to 1912
From The 1914 Goodrich Long Island Route Book & the Goodrich Road Markers Updated: 6/13/16
Great stuff Howard. Thanks so much
Interesting to see Shinnicock before the hurricane opened up the beach and canal
From The 1914 Goodrich Long Island Route Book & the Goodrich Road Markers Updated: 6/13/16
Bethpage Lodge looking east around 1915 because the parkway was not extended that far east until then.
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A Rare View of the Massapequa Lodge on the Motor Parkway
Great find and post (pun), but you’d better run those maps by us again (and please make the images BIG and LEGIBLE). Sam, III
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From Howard Kroplick I
Good suggestion. Done!
From The 1914 Goodrich Long Island Route Book & the Goodrich Road Markers Updated: 6/13/16
Mais oui, M. Kroplick - but ONLY if you send legible copy. Aussi, c’est “Les” Sports Modernes - pluraL. Votre vieil ami, Sam, III
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From Howard Kroplick I
Merci beaucoup!
From Translation: December 1906 Les Sports Modernes: The Vanderbilt Cup in America
LIMP? You sure? Looks more like the Lake Placid ski jump! Seriously, no clue but I note the chicken wire fencing - that’s a new one on me. Sam, III
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A Rare View of the Massapequa Lodge on the Motor Parkway
Looking east at the Massapequa Lodge on the left behind the shrubbery and the bridge over Hicksville Road (Route 107) about the year 1911.
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A Rare View of the Massapequa Lodge on the Motor Parkway
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