Vanderbilt Cup Races

From Lou K:

Thank you for the excellent documentative and jam packed with exciting historical informative weekly emails. The amount of time it must take you to assemble this information must be enormous. I enjoy looking through it all . I just had to write you and thank you for the enjoyment I get from seeing it all.

From The Bethpage Challenge Part IV: A Few More Gems From Deadman's Curve

From Tyrpaul:
“I remember the museum, my Uncle Lou had 2 homes out there and we would visit the museum when ever we were out there. Austin gave us a ride in a fire engine he had. Good times then, sorry it is gone. “

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

wow…that is a rare photo of Joe Tracy & Al Poole, my grandfather.  I have never seen it before. He looks pretty young.  Wonder if he had a driver’s license.

Thanks for sending, Howard.  These are really quite remarkable.

From New Series- Rare Images #1: Vanderbilt Cup Race Drivers and Mechanicians

Nice to hear that the effort was made to preserve the bridge.  It is ironic to me that a group dedicated to a somewhat contrived historical preservation failed to see the value in preserving this genuine but more recent historical artifact. Kudos too to the Model A Club leadership for being ready to jump right in. Finally i’m curious to what kind of car’s “remains” are still under the bridge lo these last 35 years???

From Old Bethpage Restoration Motor Parkway Bridge to Receive a Cleaning

Hello Howard, I know where the 1908 Oldsmobile is and will do some digging for you.  Al W.

From A Research Challenge: The 1902 Curved Dash Oldsmobile on Austin Clark's Roof

Guess I should have finished the entire series as you mention the cemetery here again.

From The Bethpage Challenge Part IV: A Few More Gems From Deadman's Curve

Hi Howard,

In your DRIVERS category, I think you might wish to include the colorful Lewis Strang, who drove the ill-fated Renault in 1908.  Despite the poor showing on Long Island, due to mechanical difficulties in the Vanderboilt Cup Race and the Parkway Sweepstakes, he had a very interesting career, including winning at Indianapolis in 1909 and being the pole sitter at the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911.

A nice writeup can be found at http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/tag/lewis-strang/

From New Series- Rare Images #1: Vanderbilt Cup Race Drivers and Mechanicians

Howard, great pics once again.  The cemetery you mention in the last pic is still there, on the west side of the access road to the current Tennis Club that sits just north of the railroad and Central Avenue, at the point where the bridge crossed over.  I have some pics and commentary on the computer somewhere - when found, I’ll e-mail to you.

From The Bethpage Challenge Part II: Building the Central Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge

Howard:  Another terrific find.  Thanks again for sharing with us.  Hope all is well with you.
Happy Holidays,
Tom

From New Series- Rare Images #1: Vanderbilt Cup Race Drivers and Mechanicians

Hi Joe:

Thanks for the Motor Parkway story!

Howard

From The Bethpage Challenge Part II: Building the Central Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge

Awesome Job Howard.  Thank you so much for all your work.  These pictures are priceless. 

Back in 1990 or so I knew a guy who worked for the MTA Transportation Planning Department.  He had many old hand written surveys.  He had one from the exact spot where the LIRR crossed.  A small arrow pointed to the bridge.  It said, “Removed, 1950.” 

Your fan,
Joe Oesterle

From The Bethpage Challenge Part II: Building the Central Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge

Hi Howard. After viewing the PDF maps of the LIMP, I guess the left turn into Horace Harding Blvd on the Fresh Meadows,Queens PDF is the ROW that was the Central RR. I went to Arrts Archives to check out that area. When the LIMP was built in that location, the tracks were gone; but the path existed (between Peck and Underhill Ave.) I’d like to get a hold of old hagstroms,etc. Guess I’ll look on ebay or something. Your doing nice work here, Howard.

Sincerely,

Brian D McCarthy

From A Map of the Long Island Motor Parkway & Queens Historical Sites

Awesome shot of the Black Beast in speed blur. Glad to know she’s here at home where she belongs.

From Images of the Six Vanderbilt Cup Race Finishes

And Bill’s picture of the railroad I believe is facing NE not NW

From Aerial Views of the Motor Parkway in Bethpage

Hi Howard
I always thought there was only ONE dead mans curve that was located south of what is pictured here. My recollection was that deadmans curve was running just north of the Central RR which fragments of it still exists today. I would never have been able to route the exact LIMP ROW (although I’ve tried) going north towards bethpage park (central park) without these aerials. This is awesome!! Keep it up!

From Aerial Views of the Motor Parkway in Bethpage

Hi Bill:

You are 100% correct. I have one too many Centrals at that intersection!! The Central Line was located south of the Motor Parkway.

Howard

From Aerial Views of the Motor Parkway in Bethpage

Regarding the Motor Parkway in Bethpage:
Is it not true that the straight diagonal line is the LIRR Main Line (not the Central Railroad) and the photo showing the track and bridge is facing northwest, also showing the Main Line? I think the Central Railroad is the horizontal line at the bottom of the map.

From Aerial Views of the Motor Parkway in Bethpage

Does anyone know what happened or the wherabouts
of Austin Clarkes fire engines?? I remember riding on it as well, as a youngster.  I remember that he had more
than one.

  (also searching for early American LaFrance headlights.  Thanks 4 the memories

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

Are these post cards or cards with pictures on one side and information on the other side.  This is what I have.  Do you have a value on them?

From Postcards from the Long Island Automotive Museum (#1-6)

Hi Charlie:

I am forwarding your comment to Bruce Adams and the Ford Model A Club which help clean up the bridge.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/map_template_2

Howard

From Then & Now: Potential Nassau Historical Markers on the Motor Parkway Trail