Vanderbilt Cup Races

The 1902 event was the 500 Mile Reliability Run from New York to Boston and return. The six day run was sponsored by the Automobile Club of America and started on Thursday October 9th. 
The start was at 58th Street before the Vanderbilt Mansion, actually lying along 5th Avenue and stretching between 57th and 58th Street. The Mansion, built as a chateau in Renaissance-style, was commissioned by Alice Claypoole Gwynne Vanderbilt, the wife of Cornelius Vanderbilt II (brother of William K. Vanderbilt), and was designed by George Browne Post. It was built between 1886 and 1893. The gates have survived and are now located at the The Conservatory Garden in Manhattan.
On the photo we see the start of the event and in the background the gate and fence of the Mansion on 58th Street. The cars B60 and B61 are both Grout steamers, entered by the Grout Brothers. The car behind them is the Apperson model A tonneau with number C23, driven by H.K. Browning. Obvious from the photo is that this Apperson model had a rather European appearance.

From Mystery Foto #90 Solved (Updated 10/21/14): The 1902 ACA New York to Boston Reliability Run

The gates also resemble the ones near the Planting Fields Aboretum in Oyster Bay… Howard, I sent more attachments

From Mystery Foto #90 Solved (Updated 10/21/14): The 1902 ACA New York to Boston Reliability Run

Looks like NYC. Possibly Cornelius Vanderbilt House 1882 – demolished 1927, 1 W 57st. If so, cars are parked on 5th Avenue facing south, photo is facing nw, just to the left of photo is W57 Street. This ‘house’ remains the largest private residence ever in Manhattan, Architects: George Post, Richard Hunt. The fence may be near the Central Park Zoo. Willie K was great grandson of Cornelius. The reliability run may be the Automobile Club of America 500mi., NY to Boston, Sept 28 – Oct 15 1902. If so, there was a 14mph limit, with 72 cars entered: 54 gas, 17 steam, 1 electric. Front cars possibly Stearns steamers.

From Mystery Foto #90 Solved (Updated 10/21/14): The 1902 ACA New York to Boston Reliability Run

Due to the comparing of metric vs hydroforce levels. Started in 1922 at the Hanz field down the road.

From Historic Views of Roosevelt Field, the Motor Parkway and Lindbergh's Takeoff

From the looks of things, it must have been a pretty wild race, the speeds were all about the same, I think it was a pretty close race, for the ones who finished the 38 laps

From Starting Lineup: The 1912 Vanderbilt Cup Race Held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I still can’t get over the magnificence of the Chrysler, I’m telling people all about it and trying to get them to come and see it or even check out the website, that you have to see this car. Thanks for posting my pictures, I knew you would like them, especially the one with the mirror shine.

From Chrysler's Chrysler Awarded "Best in Show" at 10th Annual Americana Manhasset Concours d'Elegance

Congratulations Howard! It was good to see you and the Chrysler at the show. It’s no surprise that you won Best of Show despite the fabulous competition. The car is spectacular! I really like the interior features which are restored to perfection. It was my first time at this event and the Chrysler made the hour drive worth the trip.

From Chrysler's Chrysler Awarded "Best in Show" at 10th Annual Americana Manhasset Concours d'Elegance

Congratulations on winning Best in Show Howard for your car the 1937 Chrysler Sedanca de Ville( Chrysler’s Chrysler ) at the10th Americana Manhasset Concours d’Elegance 2014 Award Ceremony this past Sunday. What a great way to celebrate the Chrysler’s Chrysler debut on Long Island by winning its 1st showing here. Congratulations again on the win.

From Chrysler's Chrysler Awarded "Best in Show" at 10th Annual Americana Manhasset Concours d'Elegance

From Miatasportscar on http://ferrarichat.com/forum/new-york-tri-state-sponsored-bradan/457683-americana-concours-4.html

Although most gearheads will love the exotica, my favorite car of all which was entered is the 1937 Chrysler Sedanca de Ville. It seems Walter P. Chrysler had this car custom built as a present to his wife. If one carefully studied the very, very meticulous restoration he would recognize the soft foot pillows, the deco treatment of the styling, flip down picnic trays, places for a woman’s vanities, etc, etc. All done tastefully in the Sedanca de Ville configuration. Certainly it was a hard car to beat…..kudos to whoever restored this one…it was the star of the show…
Gerry

From Chrysler's Chrysler Awarded "Best in Show" at 10th Annual Americana Manhasset Concours d'Elegance

Great show yesterday, especially you getting best in show and me being there to see it. I’ll e-mail you pictures that I took, that I think you’ll like.
_____________________________________________

From Howard Kroplick:

Ted, thanks for helping out. Much appreciated!

From Video of the Week "Willie K. in an Auto Boat Race on the Hudson"

-Who lived in this mansion which was located off Front Street in East Meadow?
This mansion, Brookholt, was built in 1897 for and to be lived in by Alva Vanderbilt and Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont.  Alva tried to use Brookholt in 1911 as a school of agriculture for women, however it failed. The estate was sold to Alex Smith Cochran in 1915 who in turn sold it in 1923 to the Cold Stream Golf Club.  The mansion was destroyed by fire in 1934.

-How were the mansion’s owners associated with the Vanderbilt Cup Races?  Alva was Willie K. Vanderbilt, Jr.‘s mother and she and Belmont often watched the races from their box at the grandstand.

-What event occurred in this mansion that had an impact on the ground-breaking ceremony for the Long Island Motor Parkway?  O.H.P. Belmont was stricken with a serious illness (at least it turned out to be) and was at Brookholt, the days immediately preceding the ground-breaking ceremony (June 6, 1908).  Originally planning to give the ground-breaking speech, Willie K. stayed behind at Brookholt and as a substitute, A.R. Pardington, delivered the speech.  Belmont, a few days, later succumbed to his illness after a series of operations. 

Kleiner’s Korner documentation to follow to Howard.

From Mystery Foto #89 Solved: The Brookholt Mansion Built by Alva Vanderbilt Belmont and O.H.P. Belmont

Congrats and very well deserved! Great to see you, Roz and to finally get to see the Chrysler in person today!

From Video of the Week "Willie K. in an Auto Boat Race on the Hudson"

The mansion is the Brookholt home of Alva Vanderbilt Belmont. She was the divorced from William K. Vanderbilt founder of the Motor Parkway. She married Oliver Hazzard Belmont and they built the house on Front St in East Meadow. Oliver Hazzard Belmont became ill and the Ground Breaking Ceremonies for the opening of the Motor Parkway was postponed

From Mystery Foto #89 Solved: The Brookholt Mansion Built by Alva Vanderbilt Belmont and O.H.P. Belmont

This is what I found. This mansion stood for more than 3 decades and now it’s long gone. It was called The Brook in Brookholt, was Meadowbrook, which ran where the parkway is now. Alva Vanderbilt Bellmont and her husband Oliva built it in 1897.    I just want to mention about a comment that Phil asked about there being another gear shift in the Chrysler, there isn’t one, I saw the car today. This might sound stupid, it does look like one. but looking at it now, it’s a shadow, it got us both fooled.  Howard- You can tell John, I questioned him about it

From Mystery Foto #89 Solved: The Brookholt Mansion Built by Alva Vanderbilt Belmont and O.H.P. Belmont

One last link; Zach’s blog at ‘Old Long Island’ has some very good information on “Brookholt’.

http://www.oldlongisland.com/search?q=Brookholt

From Mystery Foto #89 Solved: The Brookholt Mansion Built by Alva Vanderbilt Belmont and O.H.P. Belmont

Congratulations on the reward of all your hard work to restore this lovely beauty.  The pride you feel must be immense.

From Video: American Classic Closed Class Awards Ceremony at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

The house is Brookholt Mansion in East Meadow, Hempstead, LI and was built by Alva Vanderbilt-Belmont. After she had divorced William K. Vanderbilt, she remarried Oliver Belmont in 1896 and built this house in 1897. Shortly before the Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the Motor Parkway on June 6, 1908 Oliver Belmont fell ill from acute appendicitis. Because of this William Vanderbilt was unable to be present at the ceremony and to make his speech, which was now read by A.R. Pardington. On June 10, 1908, Oliver Belmont died due to complications after surgical treatment. Alva Belmont sold the house in 1915. The house burnt down in 1934.

From Mystery Foto #89 Solved: The Brookholt Mansion Built by Alva Vanderbilt Belmont and O.H.P. Belmont

This mansion was named Brookholt.It was built in 1897 for the newly wed Oliver and Alva Belmont. Alva was previously married to Willy K. Willy K could’nt be present for the LIMP ground breaking ceremony 6/6/1908 because of Olivers illness, Oliver passed away 4 days later from complications following an Appendicitis operation. Since he passed at the mansion, I’m assuming this was the event that impacted the ground breaking ceremony.According to a 1914 E Belcher Hyde map, the mansion was sort of at the N/W corner of Merrick Ave and Fulton St. Even with these handdrawn maps, it looked like such a pretty area with the Meadowbrook Pond and all. GoldCoastMansions.com has good info and photos.

From Mystery Foto #89 Solved: The Brookholt Mansion Built by Alva Vanderbilt Belmont and O.H.P. Belmont

Interesting NY Times article about the illness of OHP Belmont. It appears that Dr. Louis Lanehart, Chief Surgeon for the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race, was also one of his doctors.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9406EED7143EE233A25756C0A9609C946997D6CF

From Mystery Foto #89 Solved: The Brookholt Mansion Built by Alva Vanderbilt Belmont and O.H.P. Belmont

The Brookholt mansion (Meadow BROOK which flowed nearby, )located on the current Meadowbrook Pkwy path.
Original owners Alva and Willie K. Vanderbilt

From Mystery Foto #89 Solved: The Brookholt Mansion Built by Alva Vanderbilt Belmont and O.H.P. Belmont