Vanderbilt Cup Races

Hi,

About James’ children:
- Sidney will be the “B” of B.L.M. Motor Car Co. (Charles Lawrance and Andrew Moulton).
- James Jr will be the chief engineer of the Curtiss NC4, the first plane to cross the Atlantic Ocean with stopovers in 1919.
- Robert will be in 1911 the builder of the roadster ” Breese Paris “, realized in France with a french engine Ballot.
- and a daughter Frances. (and I think this is her on the picture at Ormond, not her mother)

James always raced on Mercedes (18 hp, 35 hp, and 40 hp). He also owned a 60 hp which he lent to Henri Dolbeau, driver of the B.L.M. engaged in the Elimination Trial of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup. On September 10th, Dolbeau destroys the Mercedes during recognitions of the Long Island course… And what happened then to the B.L.M. in this race is well known…

Best regards

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

From Mark Sink (Great-grandson of James Breese):

“Thank you Howard .. a few years ago it was very very exciting to come across this film and see him walking along the road there. It was like seeing a ghost.
Thank you for thinking of me.

best

Mark”

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

Hi All

When I saw the name Breese the first thing I thought about were the Breese Carburetors of some years back. Maybe James or Sidney had something to do with the development of these carburetors. Any comments?

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

From Jeff B:

“Thank you for this.  Living in Southampton and not too far from this house, it was quite interesting to read the history of its owner.”

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

Earl, I believe that was James’ brother Sidney who was part of the BLM (Breese-Lawrence- Moulton) car:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/wednesday_august_25_2010/

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

Howard, love studying the photos, keep them coming!

From Central Park Historical Society Marker: The 1908 Motor Parkway Ground-Breaking Ceremony

Vince, please send the jpegs to me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Thanks!

From Bikeway Construction Uncovers the Motor Parkway in Bethpage State Park Buried for Over 50 Years

I recently noticed some old asphalt adjacent to the parking lot on the “grandstand side”  of the polo field. I wonder if this could also be part of motor parkway also? It is very close to the area of ongoing construction. Its very visible between the trees and the newer asphalt patking lot. I can photograph it if anyone is interested?

From Bikeway Construction Uncovers the Motor Parkway in Bethpage State Park Buried for Over 50 Years

Walter,
Is this the same Breese who built the very small race car, pictures of which the Bridgehampton Historical Society has on file?  From about 1920, I think.  That car showed up at the Bridgehampton Rally about 5 years ago; don’t know who owns it.
Cheers,  Earl

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

And it’s very possible the sign was double sided for viewing from both directions with the low wall.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Signs Updated 2/13/2016

Howard, hats off to csi with their investigation however, two things. 
1.  I bike through there often and couldn’t resist to check out the corner. I believe the sign was up against the 5 foot high adjacent wall that faces south. There too is a vertical seam about 9 feet from the corner. I believe this is correct because there is no wall behind the sign in the picture with the pretty ladies The circular object is high up on the bridge. The other wall parallel to Rocky Road is higher with a 45 degree cut that would have been revealed in the photo. Also in this location, the arrow in the sign would’ve pointed directly towards the entrance ramp.
2. Wasn’t there a fourth LIMP entrance in the Fresh Meadows area off of Union Tpke and 199st pre Francis Lewis Blvd time? here->http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/friday_december_4_2009_the_planned_fresh_meadows_western_terminus/
Thanks, happy motoring:)

From CSI Report: Two Women and A Motor Parkway Sign

From Todd McIntrye:

“Just read the fantastic story that you posted about Will Dick and my grandfather - and the photos are great!

Thank you very much for your help and taking the time to put such a thorough and professional story on your site. I appreciate it very much!”

From Six degrees of Separation: A Mystery Car, Motor Parkway, the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race & the Titanic

Robert R:
“Will Dick is not the happiest looking guy I’ve ever seen.”

From Six degrees of Separation: A Mystery Car, Motor Parkway, the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race & the Titanic

From Florence O.:

“Enjoyed the film. A little before my time but Brooklyn is my hometown and this was another little bit of history I didn’t know about. “

From Film: The 1917 Match Races Among Oldfield, Chevrolet and De Palma in Sheepshead Bay Speedway

I spent my childhood in Brooklyn just two miles from the Sheepshead Bay track site.  I never heard a mention of it.  I was only introduced to its fascinating history when I picked up an old copy of Automobile Quarterly in a used bookstore.

From Film: The 1917 Match Races Among Oldfield, Chevrolet and De Palma in Sheepshead Bay Speedway

I can’t believe the tires could do those speeds!  And then there are the brakes…  Of course, if I read right, the Packard won, and Packard has long been my favorite classic car (mine is from 1926).

From Film: The 1917 Match Races Among Oldfield, Chevrolet and De Palma in Sheepshead Bay Speedway

Ann B.
“Hi Howard!  Thank you for mentioning our marker in your blog, and for all the additional information you gave us.  It is all appreciated.”

From Central Park Historical Society Marker: The 1908 Motor Parkway Ground-Breaking Ceremony

You are doing excellent work.  Might there be more information in the archives of the New York State Archives in Albany, perhaps dealing with incorporation, land purchases (I don’t know if these are archived in Albany or in the archives of the towns through which the road would pass).\, and other aspects of the road.  These papers may only have dry details, but they would anchor, with times and places, the purchases and locations of the road and provide a solid historical foundation for a study of the parkway.

From The Planned Long Island Motor Parkway from Floral Park to Riverhead

From George H:

“K-Can’t believe those cars could do 120mph!! “

From Film: The 1917 Match Races Among Oldfield, Chevrolet and De Palma in Sheepshead Bay Speedway

From Robert R:

“Midgets at Vanderbilt…sir, you are a fountain of terrific knowledge.”

From The Two Midget Racers in the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race