Vanderbilt Cup Races

Ron always had and have’s a great collection and interest of the parkway keep up the good work

From From the Ron Ridolph Collection: A Long Island Motor Parkway Fan's 70-Year Timeline

Why would someone put those posts there if not Parkway related? If it were right at the end of Caroline Street one could say maybe at one point it was a barrier or fence of sorts to prevent cars from rolling over. But it’s not. It’s basically just over a fence beyond someones backyard. I can’t see any reason why a regular guy, resident, town worker or 135 road builder would do this! Just makes no sense.

There are several types of posts here. Some square and others triangular. Some taller than others. So that is puzzling, why they would differ.

Sam and I theorized this might have been a “press box” or seating of some sort? Some type of seating overlooking the Parkway or any reason why someone would be watching at this location? Not sure if any race past this point. The posts offered protection and supported “seating”??

At what other point are the posts 190 feet away from the Parkway? None that I know of and this is why I think the Parkway is a little more west (assuming posts are legit). I’m not sure how you guys chart this vs today’s exact spots but I’m sure you are way smarter than me about this stuff. Basically if you guys are right with the exact road placement then the posts have to be fugazi (or fake - for you non Italians LOL). But again, what is the the reason for someone to do this?

And on our Second annual Vanderbilt Day we are definitely going to look for more posts in this sector as I seem to remember there were some others and that would definitely add to the debate, and we also have to stroll onto the east side of 135 and see if anything remains there. This reminds me of the area next to the Meadowbrook and behind commercial buildings on Stewart in GC, as clearly that was also “dug” out and it’s doubtful we’re going to find any road next to 135 as I’m sure it’s buried.

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure" VIX: On to Bethpage State Park Updated 1/14/16

It was a pleasure to have a vehicle in your care at the event again, Howard. I hope your group was treated well. It goes without saying the the Chrysler is a stunner, and I was honored to get to help get it in front of lots of people who clearly appreciated seeing the machine!

From Highlights from the Sunday in the Park Concours d'Elegance at Lime Rock Track

Fantastic post and keep the pics coming. Thanks Ron.

From From the Ron Ridolph Collection: A Long Island Motor Parkway Fan's 70-Year Timeline

Sure, it was a easy one this week, if you knew who the driver was, I found it right away, but I didn’t get a chance to answer, the answers were posted already. At least I know that my answers would be right. I should have done it earlier, when I was online

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Camille Jenatzy in the Historic La Jamais Contente Updated 1/5/16

Not really a mystery I guess, this one must be common knowledge for everyone.
From December 1898 until May 1899 the Comte de Chasseloup-Laubat and Camille Jenatzy fought a battle over the world speed record. The scene of this battle was a straight road stretch near Achères, a village just west of Paris. The first speed record for cars ever was set by Chasseloup-Laubat on December 18, 1898 with a rather conventional looking Jeantaud reaching almost 63 kph. Also Jenatzy would drive a conventional looking electric Kriéger during his first attempts. Early March 1899 Chasseloup-Laubat attained 94 kph with a streamlined Jeantaud. Jenatzy was not impressed and stated that he would attain 120 kph within a month. Maybe not completely that, but on April 29, 1899 he would reach over 105 kph with his electric ‘La Jamais Contente’, a streamlined torpedo-like car with aluminum body, designed and built by the engineer Auscher of the coachbuilding firm Rothschild.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Camille Jenatzy in the Historic La Jamais Contente Updated 1/5/16

Thanks for sharing.Like I’ve said there’s always something to enlighten our minds and you’re the one to do it,even though it might come from someone else

From From the Ron Ridolph Collection: A Long Island Motor Parkway Fan's 70-Year Timeline

Nice to hear your story Ron.  I’ve only been researching/documenting the Parkway since 2003, but hope to continue for some time.  I’ve decided to update my website on an ongoing basis with current photos of what’s left of the Parkway.  Unfortunately, sometimes development causes the pictures to be altered not to our liking as you know, but still there are areas worth monitoring.  Hope you are well and enjoyed the holidays.

From From the Ron Ridolph Collection: A Long Island Motor Parkway Fan's 70-Year Timeline

Looked it up, this was fun. The electric cigar car (La Jamais Contente [The Never Satisfied]) was an early attempt on aerodynamics and the first auto to reach 62mph in 1899 near Paris. Designed by Belgian driver Camille Jenatzy (The Red Devil), son of a rubber tire manufacturer, raced in the 1905/1906 VCR’s breaking three other speed records. A replica built in 1993 by French university students simulated with two electric motors outputting 50kW each, powered by 100 x 2V cells, capable of 65.8mph max speed.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Camille Jenatzy in the Historic La Jamais Contente Updated 1/5/16

it is Camille Jenatzy  
it is Jenatzys ‘‘Jamais Contente’‘
it is the first electric vehicle to exceed 100 KPH [62 MPH]  1899

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Camille Jenatzy in the Historic La Jamais Contente Updated 1/5/16

Camille Jenatzy
La Jamais Contente
significance x 2
first to exceed 100 km per hour
and electric
significant post   https://www.facebook.com/1401205086818236/photos/a.1401219106816834.1073741827.1401205086818236/1569828359955907/?type=3&theater;

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Camille Jenatzy in the Historic La Jamais Contente Updated 1/5/16

Identify the driver who participated in a Vanderbilt Cup Race:
Camille Janatzy

Identify the above racer which did not participate in a Vanderbilt Cup Race.
“Jamais Contente” (Never Content)

What is the historical significance of this racer? 1st vehicle to exceed 100 kph.  Reached a speed of 105 kph (65.8 mph) in 1899.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Camille Jenatzy in the Historic La Jamais Contente Updated 1/5/16

Hi Howard!  loved the stories by Ron Ridolph on his recollections of the LIMP.  Always “Great Stuff!”

From From the Ron Ridolph Collection: A Long Island Motor Parkway Fan's 70-Year Timeline

Thanks for sharing your memories with us Ron.                                    I doubt that the Caroline St. posts have anything to do with the Motor Parkway. The square posts used by the Parkway had thee holes in them that carried the spiral wire. The posts at Caroline Av. are probably related to the building of Route 135. With regard to the triangle shaped posts, they might have been used when the Parkway closed and the R.O.W. resurveyed when it was turned over to the various agencies. However, I have never come across any invoices for cement posts in 1937/1938 at the Vanderbilt Museum.

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure" VIX: On to Bethpage State Park Updated 1/14/16

Camille Jenatzy, “the Red Devil” and his aero car named “La Jamais Contente”—“The Never Satisfied”—from 1899.  Jenatzy became the first driver to pilot a road vehicle to speeds over 100 kph, or 62 mph.  He drove a Mercedes in the ‘05 and ‘06 Vanderbilt Cup Races.

http://rouenlesafx.blogspot.com/2014/06/early-land-speed-records-for-automobiles.html

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Camille Jenatzy in the Historic La Jamais Contente Updated 1/5/16

Howard
It was great to see the home when I opened your webpage
I was just remembering my early years and climbing the very narrow staircase and looking out the small window onto the front yard.
Received a copy of Bethpage for christmas and see you had given a big help
Thanks

From From the Ron Ridolph Collection: A Long Island Motor Parkway Fan's 70-Year Timeline

Thank you Ron Ridolph for that great presentation.  I still remember our boy scout leader taking us for hikes on a section of the Motor Parkway that started just east of Hicksville Road about a half mile(I think) north of Hempstead Turnpike(this was in the early 1950’s).  It was accessed by going into a housing development on the east side of Hicksville road and north on one of its dead end streets that ended at the parkway.  We then hiked on it in an easterly direction.

From From the Ron Ridolph Collection: A Long Island Motor Parkway Fan's 70-Year Timeline

Ron,

I’m very appreciative that you shared your memories. It is a good read. Thanks Howard for including it in this weeks newsletter….

Regards, Lou

From From the Ron Ridolph Collection: A Long Island Motor Parkway Fan's 70-Year Timeline

Happy New Year Sam, Dave, and All! Awesome adventure you guys accomplished and a nice find of the concrete posts by Caroline Street. But those posts are indeed peculiar. Had to look back at Wayne’s online map for the right-of-way and compare with mine. I recall this was a tricky section of LIMP to sketch as the roadway in this area had been removed entirely (or buried) from the construction of the expressway (135). As it turns out, the two maps are nearly identical. (sending Howard pics for comparison). Dave, I believe Wayne’s got it right, or very, very close. At Caroline Street, the LIMP ran on the southbound lanes of present day Rt 135. That would place the Caroline posts at nearly 190ft away from the right-of-way. So what are they doing there? Any ideas are welcome.
Thank you Sam and Dave for sharing the exploration. 

Art came across this site in ’07. 
http://www.freewebs.com/limparkway/bethpagesob.htm

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure" VIX: On to Bethpage State Park Updated 1/14/16

Hi Howard:

    Again and Again,  Thanks and Blessings to you always !!!!

                  Cheers !!!!  Ron Ridolph

From From the Ron Ridolph Collection: A Long Island Motor Parkway Fan's 70-Year Timeline