Vanderbilt Cup Races

Loved reading this article and seeing the photos and artwork. Quite a lesson into how much work went into putting together a successful advertising campaign.

From InstaGRAM Report: Peter Helck: Advertising and Art Part 2 — Chevrolet Trucks

The depth of research here is stunning and the clarity of a storyline makes me equally proud of you my dear son Gram.

From InstaGRAM Report: Peter Helck: Advertising and Art Part 2 — Chevrolet Trucks

Twin Oldsmobiles - driven by Harry M. Stillman and Joe Nelson
1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race (Stillman #20, Nelson #5)
Photo taken in front of Hotel Downey, Lansing MI
Stillman came in 11th place when the race was stopped, Nelson did not race due to a faulty starter.

From Mystery Friday Foto #26 Solved; A Pair of Oldsmobile Vanderbilt Racers in 1910

David, you are correct! Enjoy, Howard

From Mystery Foto #25: The Botto Farmway Bridge in Old Bethpage documented at the 150 Motor Parkway Building.

This photo shows the twin Oldsmobile racers that were entered in the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The #20 car was driven by Harry Stillman and finished at #11 in the race. The #5 car was to be driven by Joe Nelson but did not start due to a defective starter motor. The photo was taken in front of the Downey House Hotel in Lansing, Michigan.

From Mystery Friday Foto #26 Solved; A Pair of Oldsmobile Vanderbilt Racers in 1910

We have lived in the area for a few months now, still so much to see! We’re getting our carpets cleaned this weekend, so we will be looking to get out of the house while the carpets dry. Thanks for this amazing list of things to do!

From The Melton Museum of Norwalk, Connecticut (1948-1953)

Gina Wouters will be attending the June 30 event.

From Save the Date-Rain or Shine: Waterfront at Roslyn Garage Pizza Party hosted by the Roslyn Landmark Society this Sunday, June 30, 2024

I still say the 3rd picture down from the top is the Bloomingdale rd bridge.  It shows the number 8 Alco Black Beast just passing through it in 1909.  A reference for this picture was in a past VCR post here from Nov. 30th 2013.

From Mystery Foto #25: The Botto Farmway Bridge in Old Bethpage documented at the 150 Motor Parkway Building.

Art, The info from my post didn’t come from the Daily News, didn’t even know it was available on line. My notes indicate Long Island Studies at Hofstra U, was the primary source along with the Westbury Historical Society. Mixed in was some scribbles about the routing of the Vanderbilt Cup Race that year. The route chosen was not the original thought. It appears the race organizers first wanted to come down Post Ave. but the LIRR didn’t want to get involved regarding their crossing and suggested using Ellison Ave. instead. That worked and then the course was to turn left on Old Country Rd. and then right on Whalebone Ave, (Merrick Ave,) and then under the Parkway with a left hand turn. I think that routing would have been more exciting and meant large crowds at the three turns. I think I have some info
some where on why that didn’t happen. Will post if I find.

From Kleiner's Korner: Another Hotel Near the Vanderbilt Cup Races

Glad the family that lived on the property reached out to her grandson. She at least was being cared for in the Hospital, instead of just cooped up in the Hotel; deteriorating

From Kleiner's Korner: Another Hotel Near the Vanderbilt Cup Races

Thanks Al for the additional info. on Mary Luessen - here’s a Daily News article from April 28, 1939 from which you probably found the info. if anybody wants to read the actual account. 

And thanks Steven for another avenue to investigate - Apple Annie’s and its cars.

From Kleiner's Korner: Another Hotel Near the Vanderbilt Cup Races

and who remembers Apple Annie’s around the corner in Westbury? It had several funny cars on the front lawn and I think one was an MG and the other was a baloonish like yellow fiberglass Taxi. It had little holes in the fiberglass windshield so the driver could see the road. It must have been used in parades. I once saw it abandoned along the RR tracks in Farmingdale when I was landing a plane there. Then years later I saw it again abandoned in Atlantic Beach. It has to be out there some where as a corny prop. It would have looked good next to the Jeep in roslyn.

From Kleiner's Korner: Another Hotel Near the Vanderbilt Cup Races

Going to say this a photo of embankments that were in Bethpage State Park ( Botto Farmway Bridge over the LIMP ) the view is mostly South. Not certain if the image was originally in color, then developed black & white to match the others. Similar to the photo from the LIMP Tours done 1958 thru 1967, by the mystery couple. See the utility pole to the right, I know there’s a pole line in the park near this location.

My second choice is the embankments just East of Maxess Rd. Melville. That was a Farmway or Pedestrian Bridge over the LIMP, too. Again, not sure if this was a color photo, made black & white. Any images on the site here are in color, from like year 2000 until now.

Screenshot images below to compare.

From Mystery Foto #25: The Botto Farmway Bridge in Old Bethpage documented at the 150 Motor Parkway Building.

Hey Art, Your post about Luessen’s hotel rang a bell for me. About 20 years ago a friend of mine planned to publish a book about historic, unusual and notable Long island restaurants. Nino’s Restaurant was one of them, I helped him with some of the research which included Nino’s. Mary Laussen Bannister closed the hotel in 1923. and lived in the boarded up hotel as a recluse until 1939. Years previously she allowed a Black family to occupy the stable/garage at no cost who would do her shopping and look after her. In early 1939 it was this family that notified authorities that she was very ill. They also told the authorities that some where in the long closed hotel there was a lot of money and other valuables A search was conducted and discovered were vintage bank books, cash and gold coins. She died later that year and Nino’s would open shortly thereafter. The book was never published.

From Kleiner's Korner: Another Hotel Near the Vanderbilt Cup Races

Ruland Road Bridge in Melville. Apartments stand there today. The embankment still stands today

From Mystery Foto #25: The Botto Farmway Bridge in Old Bethpage documented at the 150 Motor Parkway Building.

Ruland Road Bridge. Apartments are on that site and the embankments still stand today.

From Mystery Foto #25: The Botto Farmway Bridge in Old Bethpage documented at the 150 Motor Parkway Building.

I was at that sale, my parents took me as there3 was some interesting non car items as well. The Duesenberg shown was bought by Hans Dieter Holderbosch who lived near by, the Duesenberg model J Beverly sedan was the first of that body style built on the model J chassis and was at a NY Auto show. I have a phot0o of it when it was new posed in Central Par. That car still exists in mostly original condition and resides in a collection of a friend in western NJ , I saw it again in person last October. Austin Clark bought a type 35 Bugatti race car that Wallis Bird raced at Roosevelt race way before it became a horse race track. I have a photo copy of the auction catalog that Austin Clark used and his notes as to prices and who bought what…......The Tunick brothers were very very disruptive during the auction to try top distract people so they could buy cars cheaply.

From Road & Track August 1962; The Wallis Bird Auction

Never-before-seen remnants of the Bloomingdale Road Highway bridge in Levittown (Island Trees). Designated as a Highway bridge although a farm was once located just to the north bordering Farmedge Rd. Bridge was removed in 1948. Group photos are looking NW

From Mystery Foto #25: The Botto Farmway Bridge in Old Bethpage documented at the 150 Motor Parkway Building.

I’m not real confident in my answer but I’ll guess it’s the Ezekiel Smith / John Baker farmway bridge in Melville near Maxess Road.

From Mystery Foto #25: The Botto Farmway Bridge in Old Bethpage documented at the 150 Motor Parkway Building.

This is the Bloomingdale rd “highway” bridge since the Motor Parkway went under the bridge.  Although, it has also been referenced as a “farmway” bridge at times because when it was built Bloomingdale rd had yet to be extended from the north.  It was interesting that this was built in anticipation on Bloomingdale rd being extended and yet Division ave did not get a bridge to connect itself.  Records indicate that Levitt and Sons acquired the bridge along with nearby LIMP property in a trade with Nassau County leaving Levitt responsible for demolishing the bridge.  My question is, what did Levitt give to the county in this “trade”, (other than assuming the task of demolishing the bridge?)  My only guess is that Levitt gave up some other property it acquired to the county to be used as sumps.

From Mystery Foto #25: The Botto Farmway Bridge in Old Bethpage documented at the 150 Motor Parkway Building.