Vanderbilt Cup Races

I’m lovin’ it! Not McDonalds. I’m lovin’ it, rightfully so. Thanks to SamIII too.

From Newsday Article and Video: "Rebuilding a Bridge"

Stand by Ted. I believe the fireworks are about to begin. I hope I’m wrong.

From Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission Recommends Landmarking of a Motor Parkway Bridge

That’s a 1933 “DYMAXION” 4D Transport designed by Richard Buckminster Fuller, who was also known as an architect, inventor, and author. He was also famous for developing the design of the Geodesic Dome. I managed to discover 2 links to Vanderbilt Cup Races: first- Fuller rented the former Locomobile factory in Bridgeport, CT for building the “DYMAXION”, the same factory that produced “Old Number 16”, the first American car to win a Vanderbilt Cup Race in 1908; second- the co-designer of the “DYMAXION” was William Starling Burgess, who also designed William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.‘s brother Harold Stirling Vanderbilt’s two Americas Cup winning yachts, “Enterprise” and “Ranger”. Interestingly, Fuller never thought of his vehicle as a car. He called it “the land-taxiing phase of a wingless, twin-orientable, jet-stilts flying device”.

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: Buckminister Fuller's Dymaxion #3 Built at the Former Locomobile Factory

You had us all stumped (and cursing!) last week Art, so thanks for giving us an easier one this week!
I already knew a bit about it and Fuller, but mostly learned about the actual car while researching Mystery Foto #66 of the similar looking, (but much earlier) A.L.F.A. Aerodinamica in May last year.

Identify the automobile-
1933 Dymaxion car
From Wikipedia;
“The word Dymaxion is a brand name that Fuller gave to several of his inventions, to emphasize that he considered them part of a more general project to improve humanity’s living conditions.”

Who was the automobile’s famous designer?
The brilliant ‘father’ of the geodesic dome and the second president of Mensa from 1974 to 1983, Buckminster Fuller.

Provide one or more links between this automobile and the Vanderbilt Cup Races
The only link I can see would be that of the 3 original Dymaxion cars, car #2 ended up in Bill Harrah’s collection along with the Alco Black Beast.

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: Buckminister Fuller's Dymaxion #3 Built at the Former Locomobile Factory

Great write up in Newsday today. Thought a lot we’re going to oppose it, surprisingly you were wrong.

From Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission Recommends Landmarking of a Motor Parkway Bridge

Identify the automobile:

• The 1934 Dymaxion car #3.

Who was the automobile’s famous designer?

• American neo-futuristic architect, systems theorist, author, designer and inventor, R. Buckminster Fuller.

Provide a link between this automobile and the Vanderbilt Cup Races:

• R. Buckminster Fuller used the Dymaxion name as a brand for several of his designs and innovations.  One of those other designs was the Dymaxion house, which is on display at the Henry Ford Museum.  The Henry Ford Museum is also home to the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race-winning Locomobile racecar, “old 16”.

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: Buckminister Fuller's Dymaxion #3 Built at the Former Locomobile Factory

This seems like a closer connection: The co-designer of the Dymaxion car was William Starling Burgess (yacht and airplane designer). Burgess also built Harold Stirling Vanderbilt’s America’s Cup defender Enterprise. In 1928, Harold Stirling Vanderbilt endowed the Vanderbilt Cup.

(If this confuses you it’s because HS Vanderbilt was an avid card player. The Vanderbilt Cup he endowed in 1928 was for contact bridge.)

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: Buckminister Fuller's Dymaxion #3 Built at the Former Locomobile Factory

OK—I’ll give it a try. The car is the Dymaxion, designed by architect Buckminster Fuller. Fuller is also well known for his geodesic domes. One of his domes is now the aviary in the Queens Zoo (Flushing Meadows).

Late last year there was a walk in support of a greenway along Motor Parkway East. The walk, August 10th, went from Flushing Meadows - Corona Park to the Long Island Motor Parkway. (Close enough?)

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: Buckminister Fuller's Dymaxion #3 Built at the Former Locomobile Factory

I know this one! It’s Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion car - a great car far too ahead of it’s time. Amazing turning radius. But got a bad rep when one was involved in a crash. Don’t know the connection to VCR though.

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: Buckminister Fuller's Dymaxion #3 Built at the Former Locomobile Factory

No clue on this one. Know who would probable know something about this automobile,I’d bet Mr.Jaffey,the automobile designer.I wonder what the Crystal House is? I can’t make out what the rest of it says,something to do with cars. I’ll leave this one for the experts

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: Buckminister Fuller's Dymaxion #3 Built at the Former Locomobile Factory

Hats off to all involved here.

From Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission Recommends Landmarking of a Motor Parkway Bridge

Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion Car

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: Buckminister Fuller's Dymaxion #3 Built at the Former Locomobile Factory

Thank you all for voicing your comments during the public hearings comment to ensure the permanent Landmark Status.  Bravo

Andrew Ward, Mineola

From Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission Recommends Landmarking of a Motor Parkway Bridge

Nice work gentlemen! I missed the blog post on this so unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to send you an email of support Howard. I’m very happy that you prevailed and since you were probably very articulate in presenting the case the outcome was a good one.

From Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission Recommends Landmarking of a Motor Parkway Bridge

Thank you so much for these amazing, historical photos.  I truly enjoyed reading through them and sharing with my hometown, New Hyde Park.

From Then & Now: New Hyde Park Turn

Great job guys,well done,putting the point across to them,why it should be a landmark.

From Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission Recommends Landmarking of a Motor Parkway Bridge

Congratulations Howard! A very well deserved award. I’m sure you did well at Amelia Island too and I fully expect that the Chrysler will do very well at the Greenwich Concours this year. I’m looking forward to seeing it there during the last weekend in May. The car is simply spectacular!

From Chrysler's Chrysler Captures a First Place Award at the Annual Meeting of the CCCA in Savannah

Hi Howard:

  What a beautiful day and event for you and Roz!!!  Just SUPER !!!!!

            Cheers and Best !!!!  Ron Ridolph

From Chrysler's Chrysler Captures a First Place Award at the Annual Meeting of the CCCA in Savannah

What else can be said but woooow,fabulous and congratulations. Probably be saying the same for the Florida show too. Good luck. Your a sure win at any show. Chryslers Chrysler is the best of the best and can go on and on about it. See you tonight . Hope it’s a good turn out. Looking forward to seeing you and a lot of other familiar people.

From Chrysler's Chrysler Captures a First Place Award at the Annual Meeting of the CCCA in Savannah

Howard or Art…..I just found a website about “The Lannin Walk”. JJ Lannins hotel was somewhere in Garden City (not the building I originally thought it was, which is The Salisbury Country Club; as you corrected) . Even though he’s not part of this mystery photo, his lifestory is interesting. The 1927 map that Art posted shows “Lannin Realty Co.” all around this area of the solved mystery.

From Mystery Foto #11 Revealed & Updated: Barbot's Flying Flivver Over Merrick Avenue in 1923