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
I have a copy of his booklet “Horseless Carriages” Collection of Leo Peters from 1947. Is anyone interested in it?
From 1947 Brochure "Horseless Carriages: Collection of Leo Peters
Bob, book is available on ebay, maybe also locally at used book stores
From InstaGRAM Report: Highlights from the Summer 2026 Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society Meeting
Can I buy Al’s book at Barnes & noble? If not where? Sorry I missed the lecture. That road is a big part of my life! Bob
From InstaGRAM Report: Highlights from the Summer 2026 Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society Meeting
I think we’re looking east in Lake Success during the construction of a bridge that would allow the LIMP to go over the Northern State Parkway. The existing road with the white guardrails should be Lakeville Road. The year is probably around 1931.
From Mystery Friday Foto #27 Solved: The Motor Parkway Bridge over the Northern State Pkwy Under Construction
Interesting! Growing up in Farmingdale and studied American History/Revolutionary War - I always felt denied that much information was not provided on the effects of the war on Long Island. Thanks!
From Roslyn News Times: North Hempstead's Revolutionary War history by Howard Kroplick
Dana sure sounds good to me!
From Song of the Week: Lyric Video “Square One” by Dana Kyle Kroplick
Couldn’t be there in person but happy for this recap. Looking forward to the videos.
From InstaGRAM Report: Highlights from the Summer 2026 Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society Meeting
Revised answer: Roadways - Northern State Parkway with the Motor Parkway in the background.
From Mystery Friday Foto #27 Solved: The Motor Parkway Bridge over the Northern State Pkwy Under Construction
Lakeville Road Motor Parkway Bridge - the circular structure was used to form the curvature of the bridge. A crane was used to lift material into place.
The photo is the bridge west of Lakeville Road.
Lakeville Road
1931
From Mystery Friday Foto #27 Solved: The Motor Parkway Bridge over the Northern State Pkwy Under Construction
Robert Moses at work during the Great Depression in the early 1930s. Construction for Lakeville Road’s stone-arch bridge is underway. In the distance is Motor Parkway at grade level just 230 ft to the west. Motor Pkwy will get its own bridge as well. Northern State Parkway will be paved below grade after completion of the bridges. The photo year is just before 1933.
From Mystery Friday Foto #27 Solved: The Motor Parkway Bridge over the Northern State Pkwy Under Construction
Dear Howard
Regarding the Challenger.
I forwarded your story to a great Ford enthusiast.
He responded as follows
“Fascinating stuff. One reservation is the claim that they had a heavily-modified 289 in a car and ready to race by November 1962, when the 289 wasn’t out until 1964 - maybe it was a pre-production development.”
Can you confirm this?
Regards
Robert
From The Howard & Roz Kroplick Collection: Updated January 9, 2025
We are looking northeast in Greenvale as Felice Nazzaro makes a left turn from Northern Blvd. onto Glen Cove Road heading south in the #8 Fiat. This was during the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup race with the Bulls Head Inn in the background. Nazzaro, along with his mechanician, Antonio Forgnano (or possibly Fagnano), finished 6th. in this race.
From Mystery Friday Foto #26: Nazzaro Takes the Turn
Looks like Powell’s Hotel at Jericho corners! Hard to see on my phone. Will check again on my computer in a few days.
From Mystery Friday Foto #26: Nazzaro Takes the Turn
I’ll be 78 soon. I remember well when I was taken for a drive in what was a brand new 1964 and1/2 Mustang convertible with the 289 V-8. Wow!
From Autoevolution.com: Holman-Moody Challenger III: The Race-Bred Ford That Fought Ferrari Before the GT40
Marvin Panch drove in the NASCAR races at Bridgehampton in the mid ‘60s and I remember seeing his car, which had “Pancho” written above the driver’s door instead of his name.
From Autoevolution.com: Holman-Moody Challenger III: The Race-Bred Ford That Fought Ferrari Before the GT40
A wonderful story of some very special cars that deserves wider circulation.
Many thanks.
From Autoevolution.com: Holman-Moody Challenger III: The Race-Bred Ford That Fought Ferrari Before the GT40
Regarding Bill Bellmer’s recent passing, I never had the opportunity to meet him. His contributions in early advanced technology, and later, historic preservation of his hometown on Long Island has laid an educational path for future generations to experience and learn from. I would have called him friend. My condolences to the Bellmer family
From Sad News: Garden City News 6/18/26: William A. Bellmer: The Engineer Who Preserved a Village’s Memory
Regarding Bill Bellmer’s recent passing, I never had the opportunity to meet him. His contributions in early advanced technology, and later, historic preservation of his hometown on Long Island has laid an educational path for future generations to experience. I would have called him friend. It’s a sad time indeed, my condolences to the Bellmer family
From Historical Exhibits Featured at the Garden City Toll Lodge on Friday and Saturday
1. Harriet Quimby
2. Matilde Moisant
Moisant Aviation School, Garden City, about 1911. The Garden City Lodge was built in 1911. Not sure if it was built yet to appear in this sketch, or purposely left out.
https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/first-american-women-flight
From Mystery Friday Foto #25 Solved: The Planned Moisant School for Aviators Near Clinton Road, Garden City
Wow Brian! Great memory you’ve got there! It was my Grandfather who did indeed work for Sperry as a gyroscope engineer. I wondered the same thing when I read that, but sadly, there’s no way to confirm it now as both are gone.
I’ve met Bill a few times, most recently, about 4 years ago when he came to the waterfront to meet up with Howard and myself when we had uncovered some Camp Mills blueprints we wanted to give him. A nicer guy you would not meet! He will be missed. R.I.P. Bill.
https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/greg_os_garage_newly_discovered_blueprints_of_camp_mills
From Sad News: Garden City News 6/18/26: William A. Bellmer: The Engineer Who Preserved a Village’s Memory
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