Vanderbilt Cup Races

Hi Howard,
The car you need identified is a circa 1904 - 05 Franklin. Now referred to by current enthusiasts as the “cross engine”, as the engine sat across the chassis, not in line with it. Franklin had an ash wood frame chassis thru 1928 and were always air cooled. They were built in Syracuse , N.Y.
Walt G.

From The Lakeville Hotel In Lake Success

Great research! Fun reading.

From Then & Now: Maple Cottage- The Locomobile Headquarters for the 1905 and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races

I have a medallion exactly like the one illustrated that a friend found at an antique show in Indianapolis last year.

From Seven Upcoming Automotive Events (August 12-13, 2012) & A Mystery Medallion

Thanks for the great article and photos. I was able to zoom in on them with the macbook and see every detail. The number 5 car was getting a gearbox overhaul. On a ground cloth to keep parts clean I can make out from the left, the output shaft with bevel gear and large flywheel. Then there is the countershaft with possibly only two forward gears. Then I see the two wooden horses under the front axle and one has “Loco” written on it. Next is the left fender and strut that was removed for access. Then there is a wooden toolbox and a drain bucket is behind that. Next comes what I imagine is a large circular brake shoe the same size as the flywheel. Then there are some tools and rags, another bevel gear on a shaft and a large wooden box of spare parts with a shiny oil can in front of it. The last item to catch my eye is the wooden step ladder. It is fun to speculate and I like to imagine the chief engineer on the right is showing the owner a broken fastener and asking him to get a supply of new ones. Thanks Howard

From Then & Now: Maple Cottage- The Locomobile Headquarters for the 1905 and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races

I’m guessing it is a depiction of Orville Wright (of the Wright brothers) in a Ford race car with the medallion showing the connection and the friendship between Orville and Henry Ford.  Perhaps the medallion was issued to honor an anniversary of the first flight?

From Seven Upcoming Automotive Events (August 12-13, 2012) & A Mystery Medallion

Mac, since history is very much in the eye of the beholder, a look at the criteria for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places might be helpful:

To be considered eligible, a property must meet the National Register Criteria for Evaluation. This involves examining the property’s age, integrity, and significance.

• Age and Integrity. Is the property old enough to be considered historic (generally at least 50 years old) and does it still look much the way it did in the past?

• Significance. Is the property associated with events, activities, or developments that were important in the past? With the lives of people who were important in the past? With significant architectural history, landscape history, or engineering achievements? Does it have the potential to yield information through archeological investigation about our past?

http://www.nps.gov/nr/national_register_fundamentals.htm

In my opinion, based on these criteria, the start/finish grandstand site of the first American victory in a major automobile race, on the first road built exclusively for automobiles, on a property virtually unchanged from 104 years ago, would easily qualify as a state and national historic place.

From Hold the Date 10/3/2012: Public Hearing on Rezoning the Site of the Levittown Grandstand & Press Box

From Mac:

“I think the idea this is some historic site is nonsense to keep the developer from building. Why wouldnt where the initial groundbreaking be historic? It’s like saying Levittown itself is historic and in reality it is so we shouldn’t build. The last race was held there one hundred years ago and what has been done since? Can someone tell me what the historical significance is? With that said spot zoning cannot be allowed a development in that area could destroy the fabric and history of Levittown. This is not what levittown represents are what should be built.”

From Hold the Date 10/3/2012: Public Hearing on Rezoning the Site of the Levittown Grandstand & Press Box

Jerome,

The Queens Greenway built over the Motor Parkway is still in use and considered a treasure by the community:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/tag/tag/queens+greenway

From Original Survey Maps of the Long Island Motor Parkway Discovered!

From Henry:

“Why has preservation of this piece of American History with a park, celebrating the Long Island Motor Parkway, never been discussed? The historic site should not be compromised.

Open common green spaces in William Levitt’s original plan should be preserved. He had the foresight to build around this historic site, as well as other areas that all play an important role in feeding our water supply.  Legally, while the owner is obligated to invite concerned residents to a “public hearing” to express their views regarding the development of the property, there’s nothing truly “public” about a Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. meeting: It’s like winning the lottery for the lot owner and their lawyers. A fair representation of public concern is inhibited by the meeting time and place. The concerned citizens who are affected by the proposal and would like to participate, may not be able to take time off to attend. Also, the location may be restrictive to the disabled and seniors in the area.

It is the property developer’s responsibility to ‘Be a good neighbor’ and create a plan that adheres to the LRPD zoning ordinance, along with respecting the Long Island Motor Parkway historic site and the neighborhood. This rezoning meeting will affect our community’s future. Please attend the Hempstead Town Hall meeting to voice our opposition to this proposal.”

From Hold the Date 10/3/2012: Public Hearing on Rezoning the Site of the Levittown Grandstand & Press Box

Remember long hill at Springfield Blvd. Bridge over same. Alley pond.

From Original Survey Maps of the Long Island Motor Parkway Discovered!

Springfield Blvd. ,Queens County going into Ally Pond Park.Is it still there and had been used by Bikes and walking? west to east.

From Original Survey Maps of the Long Island Motor Parkway Discovered!

Paul,

1. The property was purchased by a developer Josato, Inc for over 20 years ago.
2. The property has never been landmarked.
3. It has been vacant because under the current Hempstead zoning laws it was too small to build any houses.Josato will petitioning to rezone the property to allow a 50-unit condo complex.
4. After the last Vanderbilt Cup Race was held in 1910, the grandstand and press box in the “Hempstead Plains” was taken down in 1912.

One of the first private country club airfield in the United States was adjacent to this property until sold to William Levitt in 1948:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/the_long_island_aviation_county_club_and_the_motor_parkway/

From Hold the Date 10/3/2012: Public Hearing on Rezoning the Site of the Levittown Grandstand & Press Box

From Paul:

Interesting story.
I for one love historical sites…
First - Who owns the land now?
Second - Does it have landmark status?
Third - Why did it sit vacant so long?
Fourth - When was the grandstand etc knocked down and was anything else on that site since it was a racetrack?
****

From Hold the Date 10/3/2012: Public Hearing on Rezoning the Site of the Levittown Grandstand & Press Box

I see now that the Horsefield bridge was basically for farmway access to IU Willets Rd. Looks like there was quite a bit of woods before getting to the farmland.

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

From Cecelia Summers:

“Hundreds of people must show up to protest against this or the birthday cards that have been going to the town of Hempstead will be granted and the people in our town will not have a say ever again about our land and our Levittown”

From Hold the Date 10/3/2012: Public Hearing on Rezoning the Site of the Levittown Grandstand & Press Box

I really enjoy this series.  Thanks to you and everyone who contributes to it!

Ken

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series:#21 Willis Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge in Williston Park

From Kaga1310:

“what beauties they are! i am absolutely amazed about this era of motor racing. “

From The Black Beast and the Red White Featured in the New History Channel Mini-Series

I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to talk with you much. I thought you were coming down to the exhibit. Well I guess I will see you next time.

Take care,
Maria Hansson

From Stony Brook Mega-Exhibit "America's Love Affair with the Automobile"

Hi Howard. A sign stating “church property” is in the area of the “rectangled spot” near the N Service Rd on the bing map. I driven by there many times, and it seemed like there used to be something in that fenced property.

From The Lakeville Hotel In Lake Success

From Joshua Stoff (Curator, Cradle of Aviation):

“FYI, James Breese’s brother Sydney, produced basic training aircraft for the Air Service during World War One (also in Southampton0. we have the only surviving example in our collection. best, josh”

From Southampton's James L. Breese and the Vanderbilt Cup Races