Vanderbilt Cup Races

Wow, Leo was a real credit to the automobile hobby…. Another great blast from the past Howard…..
When did Leo pass ?

From 1947 Brochure "Horseless Carriages: Collection of Leo Peters

I realized I only read the photo captions and never read through Ariejan’s comments in regard to the fenders, so excuse and my repetative comments!

From Mystery Foto #36 Solved: Joe Seymour Driving the #8 Thomas During the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I did notice there were fenders on the Mercedes in other photos, (even during the same race?) but the Mercedes fenders do look a bit smaller and shaped differently.

From Mystery Foto #36 Solved: Joe Seymour Driving the #8 Thomas During the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

In regards to the 4th photo from the top, I’m inclined to go with Ariejan on that car being the Isotta. While it’s not clear enough to see grill detail, it’s possible to make out that the car has fenders which the #3 Mercedes does not have.

From Mystery Foto #36 Solved: Joe Seymour Driving the #8 Thomas During the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Looking west through the bridge appears to be the scoreboard in the 1909 or 1910 race situated on the northside of the LIMP with its opposite facing grandstand on the south. Looks similar to the 1908 scoreboard but I believe that year had a single grandstand under the scoreboard. http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/the_vanderbilt_cup_race_scoreboards
If this is in Hempstead Plains/Levittown/Island Trees, the LIMP Parkway bridge may be carrying Jerusalem Ave with the raceway passing straight under it. I’m betting 3 bushels of hay on 1910. Is that the no.8 Black Beast in the picture?

From Mystery Foto #36 Solved: Joe Seymour Driving the #8 Thomas During the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

These drivers were, perhaps, “The Dukes of Hazzard’s grandfathers.

From 1920s Promotional Film "Oilfield Dodge"

I remember Leo well. I remember going to Time Square in NY at 6:30 on a Sunday morning to see him off for a drive in his model T depot hack..his distinction was California which took him a while but he & the group made it..Leo was a good man and ready to help anyone with there cars or any part of the hobby…spent many hours at his house in Smithtown in the 50’s and 60’s .

From 1947 Brochure "Horseless Carriages: Collection of Leo Peters

This film reminds me of the Hell Drivers, Barney Oldfield, Master Driver of the World and America’s Legendary Speed King and Billy Arnold Indianapolis winner who drove demos in commercials to promote Chrysler automobiles for Walter Chrysler and the Chrysler Corporation.
Best Regards,
Wayne Carroll Petersen
Barney Oldfield Great Great Nephew

From 1920s Promotional Film "Oilfield Dodge"

-Identify the race

  1908 Cup Race

-Identify the race car and its driver

  #8 Thomas driven by Joe Seymour

-Identify the bridge in the background

  Jerusalem Ave. highway bridge

A fairly easy one. Could have been a little more difficult by asking for the name of the photographer, his age and what he had for breakfast that morning! 😉

From Mystery Foto #36 Solved: Joe Seymour Driving the #8 Thomas During the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

The race must be the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup. The car with the distinctive 8 is Joe Seymour on a 60hp Thomas. The bridge I have to guess, it could be Jerusalem Avenue Bridge (do I see the Grandstand behind the bridge in the distance?). The second photo (though not very clear, the 6 looks like a 3) could be Herb Lytle on Isotta. He is the only one with this type of fenders. The last photo must be Stricker on Mercedes with nr.3. He started with two fenders, but there is a photo were he already lost one. On this photo he seems to have lost them both (you can still see a spare tire hanging by the side of the car).

From Mystery Foto #36 Solved: Joe Seymour Driving the #8 Thomas During the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

A little miswording,I ment to say and method they used to do it

From 1920s Promotional Film "Oilfield Dodge"

Howard:
    Thanks for all You do, it is appreciated! 
      Stay Well. Paul.

From An Evening With Marty Himes- Stock Car Driver, Museum Owner and Auto Racing Historian

You’re certainly right about that Greg and the cars must be pretty light to flip back over that easy and then they did it.

From 1920s Promotional Film "Oilfield Dodge"

Jerusalem Ave Bridge, you can see the grandstand in the background.  1909 or 1910.  The Black Beast #8.

From Mystery Foto #36 Solved: Joe Seymour Driving the #8 Thomas During the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

You certainly made a big hit at this show,especially giving those rides.and amazing all the adults about The Beast,when they did take the ride of their lives,something that they would never expect

From Smiles and Thumbs Up from the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society Fall Country Fair

Thanks for the Oilfield Dodge film.  I agree that this was probably a promotional film and it sure impressed me.  If I was living in a rural area during the 1920’s, I would have put the Dodge on my next car to buy list.  I guess light weight, manual transmission and good ground clearance did the job without the sophisticated engineering found in modern off the road vehicles.

Ken

From 1920s Promotional Film "Oilfield Dodge"

It’s amazing what the early, frail-looking cars were able to drive through!

Thanks to Gary for providing that. He’s a L.I. car customizing legend and a great guy! I had the pleasure of installing the remote start in his BMW for him at his shop. It’s a candy store to us car nuts, a museum to some of the greatest custom cars of all time…and of course that’s his artistry on the Beast and trailer!

From 1920s Promotional Film "Oilfield Dodge"

Always nice to see everybody getting in the Black Beast and letting their imagine run!

From Smiles and Thumbs Up from the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society Fall Country Fair

I checked out the link that Howard posted for the digital collections. The aerial photo is amazingly clear, even when you zoom in. I’ll have to figure how to “pan” east or west,etc. George….you don’t happen to live off of Holbrook Rd in Lake Ronkonkoma?  I’ve noticed a LIMPish looking post at the end of a driveway on Holbrook Rd. I live nearby as well.

From Mystery Foto #35 Solved:Williston Park/East Williston/Albertson Section of the Motor Parkway in 1938

Joe- click on the link Howard posted to see the full aerial. It was large enough to provide a few mystery photos!  It’s a unique time period seeing a fresh, new Northern State coming in, and a still fully intact LIMP just going out…with the size of the aerial there’s also some great views of the surrounding Nassau county as well.

From Mystery Foto #35 Solved:Williston Park/East Williston/Albertson Section of the Motor Parkway in 1938