Vanderbilt Cup Races

Another great connection to the Motor Parkway…..Look at all of that rural splendor around it…. Thanks John for sending this to Howard….

From Film: W.C Fields Driving On the Long Island Motor Parkway in "Sally of the Sawdust"

Priceless automtive history jumping off the screen. Thanks Howard !

From Update: The 1946 VMCCA Jubilee Anniversary at the Mineola Fair Grounds

Awesome pictures Howard. If the spectators had only realized what danger they were in standing by the roadside like that. The young kid watching the race from behind the tree at the corner seems to be the wisest one. :D

From Mystery Photo Solved #3: The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on Ellison Road (Avenue) in Westbury

Man, I was way off with this one.

From Mystery Photo Solved #3: The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on Ellison Road (Avenue) in Westbury

Pretty sure I can make out the 2 steel towers that are on either side the limp in the 1938 photo. It’s still the same configuration.

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #9 Garden City Lodge

What fun! The “now” photo is on Ellison Ave and Woodcock Road just south of Jericho Tpke in Westbury. If this is the correct location it would have to be about 500 feet south of here, closer to Ellison Ave and Robin Road where the curve in the road is, as seen in the 1908 picture with George Robertson driving the #16 Locomobile. The photographer seems to have no significant location as he/she is only slightly elevated off the ground a few feet, and is on the side of the road that is not the LIMP. There are other possibilities on the course like Manetto Hill Rd in Plainview between Library Lane and Washington Ave in either north or south direction. Also Woodbury Rd between Jericho Tpke and Bristol Dr heading south. Westbury would also be my best guess for the photos location considering most spectators would crowd the western end of the course first because traveling around in those days was hard. Based on the size of the crowd and all the vehicles parked alongside Jericho Tpke to the north (the main road), Westbury sounds good to me. I look forward to see what other clues there were that I missed. Happy Motoring.

From Mystery Photo Solved #3: The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on Ellison Road (Avenue) in Westbury

As always, I really enjoyed the film and the automotive history.  It’s fascinating to realize that I was only 2 years old when all this took place, living nearby in Manhattan.  Great fun to see the Old 16, and realize that it’s still running, and still an active part of automotive history. . . . . . . . .

From Update: The 1946 VMCCA Jubilee Anniversary at the Mineola Fair Grounds

Thanks for posting.  Very enjoyable.

From Film: W.C Fields Driving On the Long Island Motor Parkway in "Sally of the Sawdust"

fascinating stuff Howard, thanks as always!  growing up in Garden City and visiting my dad’s office right there on 7th Street (it’s actually in 1 of the pics!) i never realized the history i was around until i started following your page within the last few months.  i am now obsessed!!

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #9 Garden City Lodge

Gram wants you to know that he loved these pictures and the timeline is fantastic. The information is easily cause for a nice small roadtrip today. Any thoughts on what the seemingly abandoned road or railway leading up toward the current location of the toll house is? Gram loves exploring over there!

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #9 Garden City Lodge

That was close. If not for them deciding to move it and restore it , all we would have left of it would be the old pictures.

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #9 Garden City Lodge

Fantastic story behind the Garden City Lodge and the pictures. Wish all the LIMP structures had the same result.

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #9 Garden City Lodge

Hi it would be interesting to see a yesterday / today view for comparison. Mike

From Mystery Photo Solved #3: The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on Ellison Road (Avenue) in Westbury

The width of this road is comparable to the LIMP in this time period ( 16 ft ) .  The road curves in the background. And the surrounding area looks neat, manicured. I’m only guessing once, and I think this running through Salisbury Golf Course; furthest east section. I don’t see guardrails. Guardrails and boundary posts were probably installed after the entire LIMP was constructed. There was likely a lower speed limit in the golf course areas anyway,  when the cup races stopped of course.

From Mystery Photo Solved #3: The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on Ellison Road (Avenue) in Westbury

It looks like it may be Salsbury Park Dr. in East Meadow heading east toasted the finish line in what is now Levittown.

From Mystery Photo Solved #3: The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on Ellison Road (Avenue) in Westbury

I have for sale a 1913 Crow_Elkhart Roadsteer… To my understanding it is the last one left in the world… call me if interested 845 494 8757

From Searching for a Piece of a 1921 Crow-Elkhart Sedan to Honor Her Family

This one is a challenge.  I could not find many clues.  I say it is not the motor parkway, which eliminates almost half the course.  The only bend on Northern Blvd includes a railroad crossing, so that is not it either.  At the top of Woodbury Ave the land does not seem as flat as the picture.  So I am saying it is not there either.  I suspect the picture is just north of the modern day Old Country Rd on Manetto Hill Road.

From Mystery Photo Solved #3: The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on Ellison Road (Avenue) in Westbury

Watched that film again and if I’m not mistaken I saw some from the late 1800s or early 1900s,like 01-03,am I right or wrong on that one?,don’t know what kind they are,just by looking at them and remembering seeing them one time or another elswhere.

From Update: The 1946 VMCCA Jubilee Anniversary at the Mineola Fair Grounds

As well as enjoying the film, I liked reading the article. It was written with flair.

From Update: The 1946 VMCCA Jubilee Anniversary at the Mineola Fair Grounds

That was a pleasure to watch.  Thanks for posting it.

Ken Harris

From Update: The 1946 VMCCA Jubilee Anniversary at the Mineola Fair Grounds