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
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Recent Comments
Just a guess. Little Neck Parkway? (I grew up in Fresh Meadows in the 50s, so the potholes on what otherwise appears to be a paved road are consistent with roads that were in far out Queens.) Year built. 1924? Orientation of first photo. Looking north?
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: The 73rd Street Motor Parkway Bridge in 1927 Looking East
This photo is a view of Black Stump Road (later 73rd. Avenue) In Fresh Meadows looking east as it goes under the Long Island Motor Parkway. The bridge was built in 1926 during the last phase of the parkway expansion. As to when it was taken down: TRICK QUESTION—it’s still there.
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: The 73rd Street Motor Parkway Bridge in 1927 Looking East
The time lapse footage is really amazing, and look at the crowd around your Chrysler for the entire time. There was a huge crowd of people in attendance, and it had to be a great treat for all those who just read the story of the Chrysler in the September issue of Hemmings Classic Car.
From Hemmings.com: Mrs. Chrysler’s Chrysler Takes Best in Show at Hemmings Concours
Great aerial hint photo! -from June 24, 1938
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: The 73rd Street Motor Parkway Bridge in 1927 Looking East
-Identify the Motor Parkway Bridge
Parkway bridge in Fresh Meadows, Queens, over 73rd Avenue (named Black Stump Road in 1926)
-What is the orientation of the photo?
Looking East
-What year was this bridge built?
Built in 1926
-When was this bridge taken down?
Still standing.
Unless that was a horrible paving job in the photo, the road appears to still be dirt. Bridge built in ‘26, road paved in ‘27, bare trees, so it would seem that narrows down the date of the photo to late winter of1926/1927.
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: The 73rd Street Motor Parkway Bridge in 1927 Looking East
Model T race cars like this did run at Indy in 1924. Al Moss, father of Sterling drove one. They were in a class known as big cars, not midgets. In a way they were the beginning of the ‘kit’ car industry. Many were built as speedsters and never raced. There is an interesting web-site N.W. Vintage Speedsters that has lots of photos and a link to the Smith’s Speedway Museum in Lincoln NE. Many people involved in the engineering of these cars go back to the Vanderbilt days.
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936
Love discussing the road. It is great to have a forum like this with so many enthusiasts and people with obvious long term knowledge of the Motor Parkway. We did meet so many great people along the way. So lets start a little discussion:
1. Why is there no date on the bridge over the train track in Roslyn?
2. Is there a date on the unfinished bridge at the “Mayan Ruins?” Does the entire remainder of the unfinished bridge remain under ground? I read somewhere that it was thought to be all there? How did the ground get built up so high around it? And how on earth did all of those homeowners leave that there? I’m so glad they did but it’s just hard to believe it remains!
3. Is there any knowledge of who currently lives in the Managers House in GC? I wonder if there are any great items in there? There has to be! I might have to ring the bell next time over there.
4. Arthur Jasper was very nice. He not only showed us the road in his backyard, and confirmed the $175 purchase story that was offered to everyone with road in their backyard, and confirmed he is the only one with remaining road that he is aware of, but he is an avid collector in general with some great Civil War artifacts in his home. Thanks for the tour Arthur!
5. There are some very decent road patches north Westbury Ave. Very easily accessible and worth a look.
6. The Clinton Road bridge remnants with Managers house still there is a screaming landmark location. Original posts with wire as you see in the cover picture is awesome. The road is great there. This is also very easily accessible via car - just park on Raymond Court and start exploring. A new house has been built right next to the parkway and they took down about 5-6 original posts while in construction. From Raymond Ct walk west back towards the bridge only - there’s nothing really to see to the east. This, along with the Roslyn Road section are the two best places to bring first timers to get them an introduction in my opinion. It’s a great location.
Sammy’s favorite location is still pending…......
From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” VI: Garden City
It took me a little while to settle upon my answer. 73rd Avenue. Queens NY. The hint eventually helped put me over. I was stuck because the look of the bridge was different from the standard parkway bridge build in the 1908-1911 era. Eventually it hit me. This is the 1926 bridge (date imprinted into the concrete), the 2nd to last most westerly bridge, over 73rd Avenue. Which means your question about when it was torn down…. well, last time I was by there it was still there. Great photo. I love this stuff.
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: The 73rd Street Motor Parkway Bridge in 1927 Looking East
Deer Park Avenue and limp.?
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: The 73rd Street Motor Parkway Bridge in 1927 Looking East
Great photos Dave and Sam! I like that Mr. Jasper seal coated his preserved section. I look forward to the next series!
From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” VI: Garden City
Too easy because i was just there in Fresh Meadows last May .... 73rd avenue bridge facing east….built 1926 and still standing. Now that fall is here i can’t wait to bring my bicycle and go exploring thru the parks. I believe on the other side of the bridge is the parking lot and entrance to get onto the roadway.
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: The 73rd Street Motor Parkway Bridge in 1927 Looking East
Black Stump Road aka 73rd Avenue, looking east, the bridge was built in 1926 and is still standing
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: The 73rd Street Motor Parkway Bridge in 1927 Looking East
Awesome opportunity to stand on Arthur Jasper’s real piece of the Motor Parkway in his quiet backyard, ~when then in the distance a gas powered chugga can be heard, slowly approaching and getting louder and louder, then whizzes by with a hand wave and smile towards the horizon. Nice job Sam and Dave, and thanks for sharing the adventure. Looking forward for more of the road ahead and hope you’ve encountered friendly and hospitable locals as Mr. Jasper. Keep on ridin’ guys.
From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” VI: Garden City
From Chet:
I look forward to the arrival of the Vanderbilt Cup Races each week, maybe its being a native Long Islander and maybe it is my first job after college and the War with a surveyor (Holzmacker) in Bethpage where we came a across vestige’s of the Motor Parkway.
My father drove the Motor Parkway, although I did not. I looked upon it as a faded lady of the night, with it’s very steep banked curves, narrow pavement and it’s constant encroaching overgrowth.
From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” VI: Garden City
Congratulations once again Howard. I can’t say I’m surprised. Due to the car’s historical importance and it’s fabulous restoration it’s hard to beat. Although I couldn’t stay for the awards presentation I can attest to the strong competition on the show field. It was a great show. It was nice to see you in Saratoga Springs. Hope to see you at the Americana Concours with the Mustang.
From Hemmings.com: Mrs. Chrysler’s Chrysler Takes Best in Show at Hemmings Concours
Man! I was really wrong!!
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936
Howard,
It appears that above the word “SPECIAL” on the side of the car is someone’s signature, as in the “John Doe” Special, also note the V8 logo on the hood. Yes, there was a LAU MOTORS located in Brooklyn in 1937 (the earliest date I could find), which would become a Nash dealership located in Freeport “Nash LAU Motors”.
See http://nashparts.com/dealership/nashdealersny.htm for a great listing of NYS Nash dealers through time.
The Nassau Daily Review-Star (Weds., 10/24/1945, p. 2) reported that Joseph A. Lau took over the former Columbian Bronze building at 14 Brooklyn Ave., north of LIRR, Freeport, for the Nash Lau Motors agency. Lau was a resident of Floral Park, and had an agency in Brooklyn until August 1942 when auto production was halted due to WWII. He was listed as being experienced in the auto business since 1921.
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936
Lau Motors was a dealership located in Brooklyn during this time period - might it be connected to the car in the photo? Especially if it was a press event?
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936
This was a very good one this weekend,not that they aren’t every week.Hugh gave a very good answer.Need more research on that cool car.It looks like an oversized midget racer
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936
Laurel was a speed equipment company that built OHV heads for Model T Ford engines circa 1930. Morton Brett offered a radiator much like the one on this car.
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936
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