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
Howard- Happy Birthday and have a great time at the concert, which you already on your way their
From Mystery Foto #67 Solved: The First East-West Transatlantic Flyers Arrive in NYC in a 1928 Chrysler
Happy Birthday Howard.
The car is a 1928 Chrysler (not an Imperial but a smaller series), photo was taken in 1928 judging by the Motor Parkway plate and the license plate. Have no idea who , or what the event, but viewing all the police and the low number on the plate it has to be a big shot .
From Mystery Foto #67 Solved: The First East-West Transatlantic Flyers Arrive in NYC in a 1928 Chrysler
Well 1928 seems to be a giveaway and it has a LIMP tag, the winged hood ornament is eluding me, but maybe it is Charles Lindbergh’s return to USA in 1927 since all the Gawkers are jockeying for position to get a look (photo possibly taken in Queens). The Motorcycles look like Indians or Harleys of the mid 20s. And happy birthday, Mike
From Mystery Foto #67 Solved: The First East-West Transatlantic Flyers Arrive in NYC in a 1928 Chrysler
I don’t have a guess on the car but if May 9, 1949 is your birthday Howard then I wish you a Happy Birthday! Keep up the great work on preserving Long Island history.
From Mystery Foto #67 Solved: The First East-West Transatlantic Flyers Arrive in NYC in a 1928 Chrysler
A lot of people should know the bonus question, I heard you mention it a couple of times, when saying you’ll be going to His Concert to celebrate His Birthday, jokingly saying, ‘They’ll BE Singing Happy Birthday To Me” it’s My Birthday
From Mystery Foto #67 Solved: The First East-West Transatlantic Flyers Arrive in NYC in a 1928 Chrysler
Nice clip. Thanks for posting.
From News 12 Long Island Hidden Past: "The Long Island Motor Parkway & the Vanderbilt Cup Races"
Bob Havlcek- Nice find and thanks for that site. Howard- That was great with News 12.
From News 12 Long Island Hidden Past: "The Long Island Motor Parkway & the Vanderbilt Cup Races"
From Michael Cedeno:
Great piece of Long Island history. Bring back the race tracks!
From News 12 Long Island Hidden Past: "The Long Island Motor Parkway & the Vanderbilt Cup Races"
From Bob Havlicek:
A 200 foot section of this road runs through my backyard. A few years ago, I found a metal wheel hub, from a Simplex, circa 1910. A tribute to the engineering of that time, this part is in such good condition, it could still be used today to hold a wheel on that car, even after being buried for almost 100 years. I currently use it as an ash tray.
The Simplex was a luxury automobile manufactured briefly in NY.
http://vintagemotoring.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-final-chapter-for-simplex.html
From News 12 Long Island Hidden Past: "The Long Island Motor Parkway & the Vanderbilt Cup Races"
Hi Howard,
I happened to have drove past though this area on Salisbury Park Drive out side of Eisenhower Park on Sunday afternoon and thought some thing was up with the area and now I see from your posting here what was going on when I drove past it. Interesting to see something finallly being done after all the talks about it I hope to see more like this take place.
From Pilot Section of the Motor Parkway Trail Is Under Construction in East Meadow(Updated:June 17, 2014)
by the way….can you get actually pictures of this location before the construction started on the parkway?
From Mystery Foto #65 Solved:The "Robert Moses" Eastern Motor Parkway Bridge Over Northern State Parkway
I just wish both of those bridges could have remained
From Mystery Foto #65 Solved:The "Robert Moses" Eastern Motor Parkway Bridge Over Northern State Parkway
You most be thrilled about this Howard. Are you thinking what I am, that maybe you’ll be able to get a Saturday or Sunday drive on it with The Beast, like we did in Queens? See you at the Great Neck Library tonight
From Pilot Section of the Motor Parkway Trail Is Under Construction in East Meadow(Updated:June 17, 2014)
Very interesting early auto design concepts going on here. With the horseless carriage in play, I can see advanced auto engineering already in process and moving forward, and it’s only 1914. Thanks Howard for clarifying with all the information!
From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype
Ha Greg, you really outdid yourself on this one, along with Simon with the website. Thanks again for trying to help me, I must have done something wrong on my search.
From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype
I’m not having any luck with this one, even with the hint that Greg gave me. The only thing I can say is that I notice the car has the same type tires and wooden rims as the Vanderbilt Cup cars do and that it a very uniquely designed car
From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype
This is the “Ricotti Alfa” It started as a 1913 40/60 HP Alfa Romeo. In 1914, it was turned into an Aerodinamica by Carrozzeria Castagna at the request of count Marco Ricotti. It was capable of 86 MPH due to its aerodynamic shape. An Alfa Romeo driven by Tazio Nuvolari won the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alfa_40-60_HP_Aerodinamica.jpg
From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype
Don’t have a clue but based on those wooden wheels, it must’ve landed on the planet early 1900’s. Possibly an early attempt of a mobile observation bus for viewing the races? There was the Thermos truck but this shape nearly matches the pods from ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’. You got me.
From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype
Hi Howard,
Mystery Photo 66 is of a car built by Alfa Romeo. The model is known as the Alfa Romeo Aerodinamica and was built in 1914. The design features are the aerodynamic shape, the use of lightweight aluminum body panels, and the use of curved glass, especially for the windshields. It is also interesting that it is a multi seat car, but it only had one door. As far as the relationship with the manufacturer and the Vanderbilt Cup races, I would note that Tazio Nuvolari won the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup race in an Alfa Romeo 12C-36.
Regards,
Steve McKelvie
From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype
Cycle & Automobile Trade Journal, Oct.1, 1906, says that Lee Frayer’s mechanic in the Elimination Race was Dick Offenberg, no mention of Eddie Rickenbacker.
In Rickenbacker’s biography he claims the engine overheated, started knocking and Frayer stopped as a piston was about to seize.
The actual report in the Cycle & Auto Journal story is that a bronze casting strut (a frame support) broke, letting the propeller shaft move out of place which broke the clutch.
The Cycle & Auto Journal story seems quite detailed and is accurate regarding all the other mechanician names.
From Another Vanderbilt Cup Race Mystery: Was Eddie Rickenbacker the Mechanician in this 1906 Photo?
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