Vanderbilt Cup Races

Identify the location of the photo:  Levittown Grandstands
Identify the race and its date: Vanderbilt Cup Race, Oct. 24, 1908
Identify the two race cars and their drivers. Provide a rationale.: George Robertson in the lead (actually #16, Locomobile) followed by Herb Lytle (#6, Isotta).  Why not?

From The Natural & Mystery Foto #20 Solved:#18 Mercedes and #6 Isotta During the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

That’s the grandstands for the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on Oct. 24, 1908.
The car in front is #18 Mercedes driven by Foxhall Keene. The rear car is the #6 Isotta driven by Herb Lytle -has the recognizable fenders.

From The Natural & Mystery Foto #20 Solved:#18 Mercedes and #6 Isotta During the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Another fun rememberance of the LIMP, Thankyou David & Cassie. With enough of these memoirs, another book can be created about the parkway.

From My Motor Parkway Series #2- David Lamm: Introduction and Chapter One

Assuming the number 18 is accurate, I think this might be a photo of Foxhall Keane driving the #18 Mercedes past the grandstands on the LIMP in Hempstead Plains (now Levittown) during the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on October 24, 1908. If I’m right so far, then based on the shape of the front fenders, the car in the background could be the #6 Isotta driven by Herb Lytle.

From The Natural & Mystery Foto #20 Solved:#18 Mercedes and #6 Isotta During the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I had a similar experience with my father when we went under the bridge on Springfield Blvd when returning home from visiting family who had moved to Floral Park.  It continually nagged at me and probably when a bit older began writing for info from the Historical Society which referenced other sources.  Our family then also moved to Floral Park and I began poking around in earnest and around 1960, I took my 8 yr old brother and we walked from Winchester Blvd westward crossing a then under construction Clearview XWay and continued southbound roughly where the road would have run down to the LIE.  Continuing the “search” in later years,  I’ve scoped out (where I could see) some sections and walked others in Bethpage Park and Melville. There’s no explaining to others what holds out interest for so long about this piece of our youth and history.

From My Motor Parkway Series #2- David Lamm: Introduction and Chapter One

David,  thanks for your recollections.  I get the same kind of excitement when uncovering a new portion or relic of the Parkway, even though its much harder now a days to find some new path or post (but the excitement grows each time).  But also much easier with the internet andGPS technology.  Guess you have to blend the old with the new.  By the way I’ve gotten a number of friends interested enough to hear me talk about the Parkway and give a tour of what remains.  Thanks again!

From My Motor Parkway Series #2- David Lamm: Introduction and Chapter One

Looking forward to more in the series.  It takes me back to the fifties, when our Boy Scout leader took us on hikes on the motor parkway on the section that was just east of Hicksville Road and north of Hempstead Turnpike.  We reached it from a dead end street in a housing development in that area.

From My Motor Parkway Series #2- David Lamm: Introduction and Chapter One

Looks like the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup race at the Levittown grandstand.
In the forefront is Foxhall Keene’s Mercedes (18), and coming up behind is Herb Lytle in the
Isotta (6).

From The Natural & Mystery Foto #20 Solved:#18 Mercedes and #6 Isotta During the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Hi Howard,
I’ve enjoyed this series David & Cassie Lamm have contributed. I feel David’s excitement as a boy who set out to learn more about the mysterious closed roadway. I hope there will be more of this series….

Thanks, L.M.K.

From My Motor Parkway Series #2- David Lamm: Introduction and Chapter One

I grew up in Bethpage, playing in the woods where the old motor Parkway ran through. I lived between Hixville Road in Stewart Avenue and played on the old motor Parkway through the 60s

From My Motor Parkway Series #2- David Lamm: Introduction and Chapter One

Well, I’m apparently some 17-18 years older than David but I, too, had that shock of recognition when I first traversed the LIMP as an adult.  I believe I rode it with my father as a little boy but, after being formally introduced to the LIMP by one of Bob Miller’s early lectures (the first?), actually walking and bicycling on it ca. 1960-70 was quite a thrill.  Driving on it, however briefly, was wildly exciting!  I’ll let David spin his tale and then chime in.  Thanks so much, Cassie and David.  Sam, III

From My Motor Parkway Series #2- David Lamm: Introduction and Chapter One

Great story so far. I can’t wait to hear more! Very similar to my own story a few years earlier.

From My Motor Parkway Series #2- David Lamm: Introduction and Chapter One

This reminds me to ask here, rather than privately, about the quarter-panel windows on your ‘63 III.  Are they curved as they appear to be and, if so, are they glass?  I assume they are fixed.  Sam, III (no, I was NOT named after the car!)

From Mac's Motor City Garage: Mustang Two-Seaters That Never Were

Thanx for the cool Colon video montage!

From The Natural & Mystery Foto #20 Solved:#18 Mercedes and #6 Isotta During the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I will be there. It’s my duty as a real life version of Link. I haven’t explored this area yet. Do I need to bring bags for the waste? And who transports them for disposal? I can’t do it since I don’t drive. What time do we start? I’ll be using an S59 bus, train, and N22 and N25 buses. I do not have any tools except my hands, feet and my smarts. I used to do tons of yardwork with my uncles. I wish I could put a Triforce mark on the bridge. It makes me laugh that PSE&G thinks they own our road. They’re not paying us tolls and they only have power; whereas we have power, wisdom and courage.

From Help Clean-Up the Historic Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge on Saturday, May 21, 2016

I don’t plan on digging into this mystery photo, but what a great tribute to Bartolo Colon. After reading about his upbringing and various injuries/complications during his career; hitting his first home run was inspiring to say the least.

From The Natural & Mystery Foto #20 Solved:#18 Mercedes and #6 Isotta During the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I just picked up a 1994 5.0 convertible and it has many of those sleek lines and door scoop in the top picture. It may as well be a 2 seater anyway because the back seat is big enough for maybe a bag of groceries. But it has a great double cockpit reminiscent of the early corvettes and thunderbirds.

From Mac's Motor City Garage: Mustang Two-Seaters That Never Were

Boy they really experimented with the styling of mustangs, didn’t they? the only one I don’t like is the 64 coupe, roof line is too high, really like the 66 fastback and then of course the 63 concept

From Mac's Motor City Garage: Mustang Two-Seaters That Never Were

I knew G right away,F I knew was greenhouses,B I kinda thought that was the race course.

From Mystery Fotos #19 Amost Solved : Eight Amazing 1928 Aerials from the Cradle of Aviation Archives

Didn’t have research time this weekend, so off the top of my head I can only get 2 or 3.

Mystery Photo E.
  Curtiss Engineering on Clinton Rd in Garden City. Motor Parkway can be seen on this photo, background left.
Mystery Photo G
  One of my favorites! A great shot of Clarence Mackay’a Harbor Hill in Roslyn. Can’t miss those beautiful Horse Tamer statues!
Mystery Photo H
  The newly finished at that time Lido Beach Hotel in Lido/Long Beach.

From Mystery Fotos #19 Amost Solved : Eight Amazing 1928 Aerials from the Cradle of Aviation Archives