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
Carmen Ave
From Mystery Foto #100 Solved:The Jerusalem Avenue Bridge in Hempstead Plains Under Construction in 1908
Howard, That game looks like it would be a lot of fun. I’ve always loved board games and wonder if it would be popular if it were reproduced.
Actually, it would probably only be popular with people of our age. Young people are married to their electonic devices. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Roger
From The 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race Board Game
Its possible that the photo might have been taken after the Parkway closed. The sign board that listed the rates to use the Parkway is missing in the photo, it was usually attached to the brick column behind the couple. Also missing is the Bethpage Lodge sign, usually located in the peak area above the porte-cochere . Al
From Rare View of the Bethpage Lodge and Its Lodgekeepers
Ok I think its looking west at the Wantagh Avenue Bridge because it is being built over a street and it is a straightaway so that is my guess.
From Mystery Foto #100 Solved:The Jerusalem Avenue Bridge in Hempstead Plains Under Construction in 1908
Jerusalem Ave. bridge looking east in Levittown.
Flat terrain and straightaway road.
From Mystery Foto #100 Solved:The Jerusalem Avenue Bridge in Hempstead Plains Under Construction in 1908
I hope all of you had a Merry Christmas. This weeks mystery is a tricky one and I see why you need help with it. Thanks for the hint, it’s going to help alot
From Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2015!
Check out my memories of flying out of the Aviation Country Club, Hicksville, Long Island in the 1940s.
http://www.targetmarketingmag.com/article/flying-metaphor-business-39350/1
From Then & Now: The Long Island Aviation Country Club on the Motor Parkway
Nice job on the bridge guys! It may be used someday enroute towards Lake Ronkonkoma. Who knows? This ought to be good!
From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #52: The Old Bethpage Motor Parkway Bridge
Check out those old utility poles, that really looks like an old country road. I’d give 10 schillings just to spend a day there with my modern auto and a fully charged camera.
From Mystery Foto #99: The Wright Flying Field in Mineola Circa 1916/1917
This was a very good one this week and thanks for all the extra info Frank and Art, the photos were great. What guess work Greg, expecting to be wrong with no research and me expecting to be right with no research was wrong
From Mystery Foto #99: The Wright Flying Field in Mineola Circa 1916/1917
Looks like I’m getting this one wrong since I didn’t have time this week to research and figure this one out, so I’ll just give some quick off the cuff guesses…
- Where was this Motor Parkway sign located?
Old Country Road. (although closer to the Nassau Boulevard airfield in Garden City wouldn’t be a bad guess either)
-Where was the arrow on the sign pointing to?
Clinton Rd towards the Garden City Lodge
-What is the likely year of the photo?
The toll on the LIMP was $1 from 1917-1932. My guess is the early 1920’s.
-What was the Wright Flying Field and who owned it?
Curtiss-Wright
-What automobile company was owned by the parent company of the flying field?
-How was this automobile company linked to the Vanderbilt Cup Races?
Looking forward to the correct answers!
From Mystery Foto #99: The Wright Flying Field in Mineola Circa 1916/1917
I have seen only 1 or 2 vague references to this ever having been called ‘Wright’ Field. It was certainly never official. We have a letter from an army pilot dated 1917 that refers to the ‘Old Wright hangers’ there, so I suspect it was only called that sometime during the 1912 - 1917 period.
From Mystery Foto #99: The Wright Flying Field in Mineola Circa 1916/1917
Fabulous game! I would buy one!
From The 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race Board Game
Yes, they should reproduce this nostalgic historic event, it’s a popular thing now and would be good for this generation of people
From The 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race Board Game
This is fantastic! Sure wish someone would reproduce it. I have tiny lead race cars slightly similar to this handed down to me from my dad. I’ve always wondered what “game” they might have come from.
There was a company called Shackmann’s back in the 70s that reproduced old games and cards and paper toys. they would have been perfect for a reproduction of THIS sort of wonderful play nostalgia.
From The 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race Board Game
Thanks Jeff Payne. I enjoyed those photos and watching those races at the Bridgehampton Raceway. I never had the chance to go to their, so it was really something to see, even though it wasn’t live
From Summary of Saturday Searches
My guess is Old Country Road at Clinton Road. Curtiss/Wright Field later renamed Roosevelt Field. About 1918. A portion of the LIMP was used for testing of a “flying bomb” atop a Marmon automobile.
From Mystery Foto #99: The Wright Flying Field in Mineola Circa 1916/1917
Kleiner’s Korner documentation to be sent to Howard separately.
- Where was this Motor Parkway sign located?
I believe it was near Clinton Road and/or Old Country Road in Garden City adjacent to the Hempstead Plains Aviation Field (i.e., Moisant Field, Curtiss Field, Hazelhurst Field, Roosevelt Field).
-Where was the arrow on the sign pointing to?
The Garden City Toll Lodge and the Motor Parkway entrance.
-What is the likely year of the photo?
The toll was reduced to $1 in 1917 so anywhere around that time. Probably no later than 1920.
-What was the Wright Flying Field and who owned it?
The Wright Flying Field was 665 acres of the Hempstead Plains leased from I believe the above mentioned Hempstead Plains Avaition Field. Among other users, the US Govt. used it for training of aviators and testing of Army machines. It was originally owned by the Wright Company (i.e., Wright Brothers) of Dayton, Ohio but when that company merged with The Glenn L. Martin Company it fell under new leadership. The connection (at least one I’ve found) between the Wright Company and the Motor Parkway/Vanderbilt Cup Race is found with Harry Payne Whitney being a director of the Wright Company (and later the merged company), a 1st VP of the Motor Parkway and a judge of the 1909 Cup Race.
-What automobile company was owned by the parent company of the flying field?
The Wright Company bought the Simplex Automobile Company in order to control the manufacture of a high quality aeronautic motor, which it believes was similarly accomplished in the Simplex’ manufacture of automobile engines.
-How was this automobile company linked to the Vanderbilt Cup Races?
Simplex autos raced in the 1904, 1909 and 1910 races (two in 1910). Unfortunately none finished high in the results.
From Mystery Foto #99: The Wright Flying Field in Mineola Circa 1916/1917
1920, intersection of Clinton Rd and Old Country Road looking SE, pre Curtiss Flying Field, Motor Pkwy sign is pointing south at Clinton Rd, towards the Garden City Lodge entrance on Vanderbilt Court. God bless us all, everyone!
From Mystery Foto #99: The Wright Flying Field in Mineola Circa 1916/1917
There was indeed a tunnel of sorts under the main straight. I posted a photo of my wife and brother exiting the infield side of the tunnel during the Double 500 race in the early 1960s. Go to http://www.bridgehamptonraceway.com and check the old photos section where you will find a link to several photos of the track I had taken in the 60s
From Summary of Saturday Searches
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