Vanderbilt Cup Races

Howard—
  We have spoken a few times and met once or twice.  Not sure what I can offer but would certainly like to sit with other folks interested in the Parkway and see what might be done.
            Elliot Zolin
            516-551-8987

From A CALL TO ACTION: The Old Bethpage Village Restoration Motor Parkway Bridge

On page 29 of the`1952 Bridgehampton Road race program me and Austie Clark are in the 1911 mercer race car.We had that car over 85 mph in that run around the track.Not bad for a old car huh?? I worked for Austie before he opened the museum. He was truly a great guy and very knowledgeable of old cars and had a very extensive collection of reference mags. The cars he had were all actioned off.The place now is really run down and the main building is rusting out.If you need any info I have email me. I worked for him in !948 to 1951

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

I am the first employee of Austie Clark.I worked for him before he opened the museum.Me and Norris Hopping moved the cars to the museum from many locations.If anyone wants info contact me at email. As far as I kmow the museum is still in the Clark family.

From More on the Long Island Automotive Museum

Thanks Hugh and Robert:

The fenders on the Lincoln were custom made out of leather to reduce the noise from stones and pebbles.

Howard

From Vanderbilt Museum Announces New Automobile Addition to Its Exhibit

HI Seth & Michael:

Corrections made and new images added. Thanks for your assistance.

Howard

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Starting Lineup for the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Jean-Yves:

Good job! You are 100% correct.

Howard

From Drivers Who Raced in the 1911 Indy 500 and the Vanderbilt Cup Races (1904-1910)

Hi Howard,
Great stuff… as usual!

May I suggest two things I note…
- Hughie Hughes run the Meadow Brook Sweepstakes in 1908. (no “Meadow Brook” race in 1909)
- William Knipper also run the Massepequa Sweeptakes in 1910. Driving a Lancia (#54), he was seriously injured during an accident in the eighth lap while leading the class. His mechanic and a spectator were also hurt.

Friendly

From Drivers Who Raced in the 1911 Indy 500 and the Vanderbilt Cup Races (1904-1910)

From Robert R:

Wonderful piece on the 1st Indy, Howard.

I must say that I still love the looks of the Wasp.

From Drivers Who Raced in the 1911 Indy 500 and the Vanderbilt Cup Races (1904-1910)

Happy 2011 Howard,
I noticed on the ‘35 aerial on this page where the Bethpage toll house is located. Today there is a structure that is located exactly where the Bethpage toll house was (40*45’44.69"N, 73*27’15.76"W). Not only is this structure approx the same size as the original, but it is positioned just like the original toll house that was destroyed in the ‘60s. It is totally surrounded by trees and can be easily missed. Perhaps they built a new house over the old foundation. Have a safe and happy new year.

From Then & Now: The Botto Farmway Bridge in Bethpage State Park

The last block of the old Motor Parkway is named Lake Drive.  Cross Rosevale Avenue and continue to the end of Lake Drive. The Petit Trainon was about 200 feet past the end of Lake Drive.

From From the Ron Ridolph Collection: The Annex to the Petit Trianon Inn

Hi.
The postcard view of the reading room is, I believe the north wing, not the south wing.  The door at the upper right hane side of the photo opens on to the piazza(?), the door on the lower left hand side of the photo led past a service bar, a dumbwaiter which was connected to a lower level kitchen then on to the main ballroom.  The food was carried up on the dumbwaiter.

From Then & Now: Petit Trianon

went there many times in the 60s and 70s,remember the Wicker Fiat and Bugatti.Also the crates of old Ford part-model t?-in the back barn.

From Classic Memories of The Long Island Automotive Museum Part I

incredible stuff.grew up in Northport,went to Dowling a bit,miss it all.

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

Great website!! How come there are no vintage photos of the parkway in Suffolk County, specificly around the Bagatelle Road area, south of the present day L.I.Expressway. I have hiked along the old roadway here as it winds north from Colonial Springs Road. There is still alot of road buried in the woods to discover.Any photos would be great, Thank You

From Archives: Long Island Motor Parkway- Nassau County

I am married to Carolin Kelley (Wagner) who is also a grandaughter of William Luttgen. If there is any way to get copies of the movie files I would love to get them and pay whatever the cost is. We are attending a Wagner family meeting in Seattle this month where I would love to show some of these pictures.

Jim Noel

From Driver Profile: William Luttgen Part IV -The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I am the owner of the 1920’s bus that was in the museum. It’s actually a 1912 Autocar chasis with a bus body made by W T Smith, in Cortland, NY. IF any one would like to share memories of this bus, please contact me. It was also used at Hershey in the early 1980’s.
Thanks.

Eric Gibson
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

Hi Michael:

I am very impressed!

I will change the captions based on your comments.

Howard

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Starting Lineup for the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Picture #22 actually shows the first five and a half rows of the starting grid,
picture #16 shows cars #28 (Halley-Bugatti), #65 (De Palma/Miller) and #59 (Duesenberg/Miller),
picture #26 shows the first corner after the start with Brivio (#9) leading from Winn(#&),
picture #46 shows Fairfield (#46) leading from Tomei (#53) and Snowberger (#23),
picture #52 shows a programme cover with a mirror-reversed 1933 picture of #4 Snowberger/Studebaker (not entered in the Vanderbilt races) leading #5 Boyle Miller (#2 in both Vanderbilt races),
picture #57 shows an Alfa Romeo leading Winn (#7), and
picture #62 shows the entire grid minus row 1.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Starting Lineup for the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race

#66 is actually Gus Zarka in the “right-hand exhaust” Ambler - Roy Lake drove #67 with a left-hand exhaust and slightly different frame, visible in the foreground of this picture. Both cars were built in 1935, each with one bank of a V8 Hispano-Suiza aircraft engine, hence the different exhaust layouts. In the background is #62, the Milt Marion/Miller.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Starting Lineup for the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race

#32 is, in fact, the #4 “Burd Piston Ring Special” of Emil Andres - same sponsor, different teams!

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Starting Lineup for the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race