Vanderbilt Cup Races

Here’s a race in 1896 in RI…...I’m starting to guess there may have been more than 4 before the LI race…...perhaps only 4 road races?  The Times did not recognize stadium racing?  A debate for others.  http://amhistory.si.edu/onthemove/collection/object_363.html

From The First Automobile Race Held on Long Island (April 14, 1900) Updated: 7/3/15

The “first 50 mile automobile race” claim by the NY paper may be inaccurate.  The first ever automobile race in the US was run on a 54 mile course in 1895.  No doubt the LI race was faster than 7.3 miles per hour. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/duryea.htm

From The First Automobile Race Held on Long Island (April 14, 1900) Updated: 7/3/15

Bethpage State Park in Old Bethpage (formerly Bethpage), NY, circa 1938.  The L.I. Motor Parkway can be seen on the left side of the frame.

From Mystery Foto #27 Solved:Model of the Proposed Golf Courses of Bethpage State Park Golf (Circa 1933)

I’m away for the weekend and can only give this a quick view and guess…

This looks to be a map of the Bethpage golf course with the LIMP on the left side of the photo pre-1959 when rt 135 construction started, likely in the 30’s.

From Mystery Foto #27 Solved:Model of the Proposed Golf Courses of Bethpage State Park Golf (Circa 1933)

Bethpage State Park.  LIMP runs from lower left to upper left.

From Mystery Foto #27 Solved:Model of the Proposed Golf Courses of Bethpage State Park Golf (Circa 1933)

In addition to the link above pertaining to the Belmont Driving Park I also found this….the taxi which arrives regardless, it wouldn’t happen today.  http://www.yesterdaystopstory.com/cabbie-dies-way-station/

From The First Automobile Race Held on Long Island (April 14, 1900) Updated: 7/3/15

July 28, 1899 was one of the prior races in America in Narberth PA.  The track was built for horse racing outside Philadelphia PA for the nations Centennial celebration in 1876 and continued for many years…....but car racing waited a couple decades.  http://phillyhistoryphotos.com/tag/narberth/  I came across this link when researching a couple photos from the Belmont Driving Park in 1912.

From The First Automobile Race Held on Long Island (April 14, 1900) Updated: 7/3/15

A very much different car than all the other Vanderbilt Cars I would say,that’s in body style I mean,the shape and size,shorter and it served it’s purpose as well as could be.I have more time for myself now,finally,things are going much smoother now,almost back to normal

From The Renault Vanderbilt Racer in Germany

A little late, but had to take a quick look to see what’s going on. Wow, I don’t think you ever mentioned this race did you? and if you did I don’t remember, just learned something again from you, it’s unbelievable.

From The First Automobile Race Held on Long Island (April 14, 1900) Updated: 7/3/15

How can I get ahold of the Sanborn map for Mineola?  I live a few blocks north of the old Krug’s Hotel location and would love to see what the area looked like then.
Thanks!
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From Howard Kroplick

What streets are you looking for?
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From Howard Kroplick

Sanborn maps dating from 1908 and 1907 are typically available online from your local library

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: Nassau County Gildersleeve Inspecting the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

V in photo stands for USN lighter than air, aircraft ( non blimp ). F designates bomber not fighter, may have been mapping from Mitchell Field

From Then & Now: The Motor Parkway Office in Garden City

All did well on this one.I think if I had more time ,I would have given better answers,I just did a rush job and answered what I saw.it’s three weeks already,have about 5 more boxes to unpack..Hopefully by the end of the week we’ll be finished and I’ll be able to find out about car shows here.I’ve seen a few classic cars in my travels There are two in our complex,but don’t know where,I just see them pass our apartment.Bedtime now,have to go to DMV today to make all the changes,very detailed,wish me luck,I need it on this one

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: Nassau County Gildersleeve Inspecting the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

From Davide Grappolo:

Hi Howard,

maybe I can answer to some questions related to Mystery Friday Foto #26.

I found the same image on ‘the Automobile’ vol.XV n.12 (Sept 20, 1906) - that is captioned ‘Sheriff Gildersleeve takes a Corbin official car ride’.

About Sheriff Gildersleeve at the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup I have found that:
- ‘During the hours between 5 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon, Sheriff Gildersleeve will see that the crossings are guarded and that the public is well protected’ - Motor (Sept, 1906)
- ‘To prevent speeding on the course by non-contestants, Chairman Thompson has given out that Sheriff Gilderslave of Nassau country, will have constables posted along inviting looking stretches and woe betide the lukyless chauffeur who is tempted to advance his spark to the limit’
- The Motor World vol.XIII n.14 (Sept 6, 1906)

So some answers are:
- Identify the automobile : Corbin
- Identify the man in the back seat : Sheriff Gildersleeve
- What was his role in relation to the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race? : Security
- When was this photo likely taken? : late October

Cheers,
Davide Grappolo

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: Nassau County Gildersleeve Inspecting the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

Howard, hope all is well. Looking for Kenwood Road, Washington Ave area.
Thanks

James

From Then & Now: The Motor Parkway Office in Garden City

On the photo we see sheriff Frederick E. Gildersleeve of the town of Hempstead in the back of a Corbin on Jericho Turnpike ‘on his way to the Vanderbilt Cup race’. He is not very far away though and in fact he is even heading the wrong direction, because Krug’s corner is about 100 yards behind him, and the race course was leading exactly into the opposite direction. The buildings behind the car are the Krug’s East Williston Hotel Sheds & Auto Stables Garage and were located directly behind the hotel. The sheds were used as headquarters by several participants during both the American Eliminations and the Vanderbilt Cup race, such as Haynes, Thomas and probably De Dietrich.
Sheriff Gildersleeve was responsible for the safety around the race course. As stated in MoToR (September 1906): “[..] Sheriff Gildersleeve will see that the crossings are guarded and that the public is well protected [..]”. He also asked for 25 extra deputies to watch for pickpockets.
It seems unlikely to me that the photo was taken on the day of the race itself, but rather on one of days before while checking the course to see if everything was ready for the event.

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: Nassau County Gildersleeve Inspecting the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

Identify the road in which this photo was taken.: Willis Avenue, Jericho Turnpike
 
What was the building in the background?: Krug’s Garage

Identify the automobile: Corbin

Identify the man in the back seat.: Nassau County Sheriff Frederick E. Gildersleeve

What was his role in relation to the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race?:  Oversaw safety of the race in terms of policing, crowd control, etc.  Requested and received approval from Nassau County to enlist additional police for the race, also Pinkerton detectives “to warn crooks and gamblers off”. 

When was this photo likely taken?  On or shortly before the Oct. 6, 1906 Race.  Documentation in Kleiner’s Korner shows the Sheriff taking a drive on Oct. 4, inspecting tire stations, private spectator stands and the points “where the crowds are to collect and which are dangerous to spectators”.  And with the crowds around Krug’s Corner on the day of the race (Oct. 6), that might not be the day the picture was taken. 

What was the likely reason for this automobile trip?:  As mentioned before to inspect the course.

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: Nassau County Gildersleeve Inspecting the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

Great interview, Howard!

Marilyn Kroplick, MD

From The Mustang III and the Ford Custom Car Caravan: An Interview with the King of Kustoms Gene Winfield

It’s getting late so it’s time for some un-researched guesses: Looks like it might be Jericho Turnpike with the barn/stable/garage of Krug’s Hotel in the background. It could be Dr. Louis Lanehart in the back seat who was the Chief Surgeon for the Vanderbilt Cup Race. Photo was probably taken October 5th. or 6th. of 1906 during a survey or test run of the race course. Car might be a Buick.

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: Nassau County Gildersleeve Inspecting the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

A time in the Phantom’s history that seems unmentioned is in the early 1940s when it was living in Kenilworth IL about a mile from my high school.  My car nut friends and I saw it every once in a while.

From Mystery Foto #27 Solved: Rust Heinz' 1938 Phantom Corsair

From Jerry Rokoff:
Interesting. Good interview.

From The Mustang III and the Ford Custom Car Caravan: An Interview with the King of Kustoms Gene Winfield