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.
All Content © 2026 VanderbiltCupRaces.com
Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
Are these postcards worth any money? I have a couple of them.
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From Howard Kroplick
Worth $0.50 to $1.00
From Archives: Postcards from the Long Island Automotive Museum
Hi Howard,
Was this the only race in New York/long Island 1906?
Family stories of my partner say her great grandfather traveled to America from England to work on early petrol cars, he died, as the story has it, while trialing a vehicle at ” the hill” near New York. His name was Thomas Wardle. Would this have been possible?
Simon.
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From Howard Kroplick
I believe there were many races on Long Island and New York in 1906 including hill climbs.
From A Tribute to the Mechanicians of the Vanderbilt Cup Races
I was with the Nassau County Police for 32 years and drove through that alley and passed the garage many times and never knew I was basking in the radiance of history.
Your articles are always great.
Thanks Again Howard,
Andy of The Empire Galaxie Car Club
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Long Island Motor Parkway Garage Discovered!
So I went to the garage today. Was curious as per Sam III comment. There are no inscriptions/imprints of “LIMP” or related on any beams/studs, etc. I was hopeful but no luck.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Long Island Motor Parkway Garage Discovered!
I’ve explored this section many times and cycled through the PD lot. I’ve seen the concrete posts too, but never recognized that this garage was a LIMP original! Great find and story!
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Long Island Motor Parkway Garage Discovered!
Hi Howard. I want to thank you for letting me help,it was my pleasure,I enjoyed it and it gave me something to do. I’m trying to keep up with what’s going on,I’m soo exhausted at the end of the day from unpacking the 82 boxes that have to be unpacked,we’re down to about 30 now,in 4 days,hope to finish by the end of the week. I’m nodding off now. Keep up the good job of preservation and keeping the Vanderbilt Cup Races alive. Goodnight.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Long Island Motor Parkway Garage Discovered!
(From Monterey County, California). As a fellow Rambler collector (‘59 & ‘60 Rambler Americans, & a ‘64 Rambler Classic), I especially appreciated the photo of the 3 Ramblers on display (two Metropolitans in the foreground, a beautiful tricolor 4 door sedan with a Continental Kit in the background).
From Highlights from the 50th Annual Spring Meet at Old Westbury Gardens
From John Dinkel:
Howard,
The mystery photo is way too easy.
The race was at Ebbets Field.
That’s a Dodger dog.
The driver was George Dunderbeck.
The location was the left turn close to what was normally first base.
The ensuing “incident” was the inspiration for the following song:
There was a man named Dunderbeck who invented a machine.
It ground out perfect sausages, and it was run by steam,
The pussy cats and long-tailed rats, no more they will be seen,
They’re all ground up for sausage meat in Dunderbeck’s machine.
Oh, Mr. Dunderbeck, how could ye be so mean,
To ever have invented that sausage meat machine?
The pussy cats and long-tailed rats, no more they will be seen,
They’re all ground up for sausage meat in Dunderbeck’s machine.
Now, one fine day, a little boy came walking in the store.
There was a pile of sausages lying on the floor.
While he was a-waiting, he whistled up a tune,
And all them little sausages went dancing around the room.
One night, the thing got busted, the darn thing would not go.
So, Dunderbeck, he crawled inside to find what made it so.
His wife she had a nightmare, she was a-walking in her sleep.
She gave the crank one big yank, and Dunderbeck was meat!
Oh, Mr. Dunderbeck, how could ye be so mean?
Aren’t you awful sorry now you invented that machine?
The pussy cats and long-tailed rats, no more they will be seen,
They’re all ground up for sausage meat in Dunderbeck’s machine.
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: Hubert Le Blon Avoiding a Dog at the Hairpin Turn During the 1906 Cup Race
This is a follow-up of the previous quiz: here we see Le Blon on his Thomas during the actual Vanderbilt Cup race of 1906. As can be read on this site, this photo was shot at the hairpin turn in Old Westbury and the dog as well as Le Blon got off with a fright. In the accounts I have on the race the incident remains unmentioned, so I can’t really add something to it. Le Blon would finish the race, though on 8th and last place. He ran a rather steady race with engine trouble only during the first round, but his machine just wasn’t fast enough.
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: Hubert Le Blon Avoiding a Dog at the Hairpin Turn During the 1906 Cup Race
Great discovery Howard! It also looks like there are more of those concrete posts out there yet to be discovered. Thanks for sharing the details of what was a very interesting find.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Long Island Motor Parkway Garage Discovered!
Hi everyone,I’m back,as I was making a move to Virginia and had no access to the Internet, it was in transit and was too busy making the move. Now I’m pretty settled in and found some time to to catch up on what’s going on. I’m going to miss you guys and all the things involving the preservation of LIMP,I was just getting into it too,all I can do now is read about it and not be part of it,just comment on it. That’s it for now,have to get to bed,tired from all the unpacking,we had 82 boxes to unpack,did about half in 5 days,what a job it is,never ending,but it will be well worth it when we are finished,we’ll be able to sit back and enjoy life.
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From Howard Kroplick
Ted, we will miss you at the events! Thanks for all your help!!!
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Long Island Motor Parkway Garage Discovered!
The Vanderbilt Cup Race - 1906
The driver and his racer - Hubert Le Bron, #1 Thomas (USA)
The location on the course - Hairpin Turn, Old Westbury
What happened moments after this photo was shot? - The dog made it across without getting hit!
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: Hubert Le Blon Avoiding a Dog at the Hairpin Turn During the 1906 Cup Race
Great job, fellas. Posts keep popping up! Went to the site today and found them, plus one more with just the metal rods remaining! I wanted to get closer to the 3 posts along the fence across Hicksville Road but two (maybe one) sounding dog(s) on the other side of the fence made me keep my distance. Actually they spotted me when I parked my car on their street which got me a little concerned!
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Long Island Motor Parkway Garage Discovered!
-The Vanderbilt Cup Race
1906
-The driver and his racer
Hubert le Blon - The #1 Thomas was still running when the race was called and finished in 8th place.
-The location on the course
Hairpin turn in Old Westbury
-What happened moments after this photo was shot?
The dog made it across the course without being hit.
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: Hubert Le Blon Avoiding a Dog at the Hairpin Turn During the 1906 Cup Race
Now knowing the Zinzi’s lived in the lodge from 1926, I believe the garage was built on or after this date. I was unable to locate the garage in any of the early Vanderbilt Cup Race photos.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Long Island Motor Parkway Garage Discovered!
Fantastic, another great find! Nearly impossible without Arthur’s inside information. Thank you Arthur and Howard for the pictures and keeping this wonderful history alive.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Long Island Motor Parkway Garage Discovered!
Howard, I think I told you a few years ago I have taken pictures of the Massapequa lodge Garage before they put the siding on it,I took the pictures over 20 years ago. They say the grounds crew ‘landscapers” for the parkway keep their equipment in. It looked better Years ago with Shaker Shingles on it. Keep up the good work guys. Joseph DeBono
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Long Island Motor Parkway Garage Discovered!
Hi Howard:
This last post is the gem of the year for me as it brought back so many memories and I thank you so much !!!!!
Blessings and Cheers !!!!! Ron
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Long Island Motor Parkway Garage Discovered!
I enjoyed the presentation. It brings back memories of when I was a teenager in the early fifties and walked east from Hicksville Road on the remains of Motor Parkway. For some reason it never occurred to me to walk west. Keep up the good work.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Long Island Motor Parkway Garage Discovered!
LOVE this discovery! Can’t wait to check it out.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Long Island Motor Parkway Garage Discovered!
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