Vanderbilt Cup Races

Howard..You have done a truly fabulous job of preserving the history of this famous and very much loved road.  I rode my bicycle on it from west of Lakeville Road to the underpass at Jericho turnpike east of Mineola.  The long, banked curve in Queens where Glen Oaks apartments now sits was a favorite place for my lunch.  The bridge near New Hyde Park Rd.  over the Northern State Pkwy. was still intact until the parkway was widened in the 50s.  I WISH I had taken pictures…but at age 13…history didn’t mean much.  I have an extensive collection of postcard photos…and I do not know where it was.  One card depicts the bridge, but it is obviously not the correct one.  What did the bridge go over?
Thank you SO much for all you do!  I’d like to share he photos I have with you….possibly some you haven’t seen…but I doubt this.Best to you…

From Then & Now: Deadman's Curve in Bethpage (1908-2014) Updated: April 8, 2014

Howard

So surprised to see the work in progress on that historical Chrysler. It was nessersary for that work to be performed. Not many automobiles get a chance to shine as it did for their original owners. I’m glad that you had rescued this magnificent Chrysler, and once again be apart of living history..

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle IX: Putting It Back Together

But the passenger also resembles the smaller build Glenn Ethridge (Mechanician). Not sure.

From Mystery Foto #64 Solved:George Robertson & Glenn Ethridge at the 50th Anniversary of the 1904 Race

Tough mystery but here’s my go at it. Possibly a photo of a legendary driver (and wife), reunited with his legendary racer. Mr. and Mrs. George Robertson appears at a car show on an unknown date.The driver sort of resembles an older Robertson (first time American winner in an American racer at the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race). This Old 16 racer? has wheel fenders where the VCR racer didn’t. Possibly installed later on. Sad ending to Robertson’s racing career in 1910. Where after being warned by his wife not to attend the race trials on that Friday the 13th because of a bad feeling, Robertson was attacked by a terrified news reporter doubling as a mechanician, causing Robertson to roll the racer over himself at the Massapequa turn resulting in permanent injuries to a broken arm.

From Mystery Foto #64 Solved:George Robertson & Glenn Ethridge at the 50th Anniversary of the 1904 Race

From Jan Hyde:

Caught all this at NYIAS Press bkfst on Weds.  Nice tribute in Flushing Meadow.  Must have been fun.

From Ford Mustang Returns to New York to Celebrate 50 Years

Nice ‘stangs. I hear they’re building them up to 1000hp nowadays. Also the left archway in the top photo of the ‘64 World’s Fair was moved after the fair and is now located in a Garden City South strip mall on Hemp Tpke and Cherry Valley Ave.

From Ford Mustang Returns to New York to Celebrate 50 Years

From Dr. Marilyn Kroplick:

Hi Howie,

I remember wearing an exotic Sari as part of my job, working as a hostess, in the Pakistani Pavilion’s restaurant—and also, I recall working a second job assisting a magician inside the Greek Pavilion—what a wonderful time, at the World’s Fair, it was—in 1963—for me, as a young 18 year old.

From Ford Mustang Returns to New York to Celebrate 50 Years

Looks like Peter Helck’s Locomobile. 

Roger

From Mystery Foto #64 Solved:George Robertson & Glenn Ethridge at the 50th Anniversary of the 1904 Race

Congrats, Howard! Looking forward to seeing the Chrysler up close and personal myself, though not at Pebble. Thank you once again for representing all of us automotive enthusiasts here on Long Island. The episode of “Americarna” was very enjoyable, and my smiling face got three different (brief) looks on the screen as well!

Thanks again, and Happy Holiday! —Ernie Finamore
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From Howard Kroplick

Ernie, thanks so much. You looked great at the beginning of the segment!

From Chrysler's Chrysler's Specifications

That looks like George Robertson and Glenn Ethridge, the winning team sitting in “Old 16”, the 1906 Locomobile they drove to victory in the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The photo was taken on October 9, 1954 at an event organized jointly by the L. I. Old Car Club and the Mineola Fair & Industrial Exposition to commemorate the 50th. anniversary of the first Vanderbilt Cup Race. Sadly, Robertson passed away 9 months later making this the last time he and Etheridge appeared together.

From Mystery Foto #64 Solved:George Robertson & Glenn Ethridge at the 50th Anniversary of the 1904 Race

There are 3 # 16,  Mercedes. Fiat and the Locomobile, I’m sure It’s the Locomobile. The 2 people I don’t know. I think it’s at the start-finish line Jericho Turnpike in Westbury in 1954

From Mystery Foto #64 Solved:George Robertson & Glenn Ethridge at the 50th Anniversary of the 1904 Race

Car is the “Old 16” Locomobile. 
George Robertson and Glenn Ethridge
Photo taken at the 50th Anniversary of the 1st Vanderbilt Cup Race, held on Oct. 9, 1954 in Garden City.  Significance is that this was the last time the winning team of the 1908 Cup Race, Robertson and Ethridge, appear together as Robertson passed away nine months later.  Howard - will be sending you some articles about the event separately. 

From Mystery Foto #64 Solved:George Robertson & Glenn Ethridge at the 50th Anniversary of the 1904 Race

-Identify the car (everyone should get this one!)

Old #16 Locomobile

-Identify the two people in the car

George Robertson and Glenn Ethridge

-What event was this photo taken? Provide the date.

Oct. 9 1954

-What is the significance of the photo?

It’s the 50th anniversary of the first Vanderbilt Cup Race and the last time the 1908 winning team would ever appear together. Robertson passed away shortly after.

From Mystery Foto #64 Solved:George Robertson & Glenn Ethridge at the 50th Anniversary of the 1904 Race

My Guess.  Old 16.  Joe Tracy.  50th year anniversary of the 1908 VCR.  Last time Joe Tracy sat behind the wheel of that car.

From Mystery Foto #64 Solved:George Robertson & Glenn Ethridge at the 50th Anniversary of the 1904 Race

It’s really coming together now. The rest has to be done so carefully now. It’s getting to close to finishing it. Things have been going along very smoothly and a lot has been done, even though it’s taking a little; longer than expected. A fantastic job is being done. It’s amazing what has been done to it, being so badly damaged and all the extra work that had to be done, it’s unbelievable. Enough said.

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle IX: Putting It Back Together

1950 was 12 years after 1938.
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From Howard Kroplick

John, good catch! Thanks.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series:#20 Old Searingtown Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Searingtown

Hi Howard:

  Looking good and lots of CHEERS to you on this project !!!!!

                See you soon and be well !!!!  Cordially,  Ron Ridolph

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle IX: Putting It Back Together

Brian: I checked a 1924 aerial and it showed the same. http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/mystery_foto_friday_17_identify_this_future_location_of_the_long_island_mot
Seems odd such a busy roadway to terminate so abruptly like that. Hard to imagine even eastern Queens at some point was as rural as the eastern counties

From Mystery Foto #63 Solved: The Abandoned Motor Parkway and North Hempstead Turnpike in Fresh Meadows

I was curious to know how far east N Hempstead Tpke extended originally. According to a 1947 topo (historic aerials), it terminated at Hollis Court Blvd.

From Mystery Foto #63 Solved: The Abandoned Motor Parkway and North Hempstead Turnpike in Fresh Meadows

! Mitch Kaften’s photo of the boys playing baseball, north of Holy Cow Park was taken in 1955, with the LIMP’s N Hemp Tpke bridge still erect in the background !

From Mystery Foto #63 Solved: The Abandoned Motor Parkway and North Hempstead Turnpike in Fresh Meadows