Vanderbilt Cup Races

Interesting as always - are there any more photos of the Lincoln. As it has non-factory fenders, It must be a one-off custom. Thanks again Hugh

From Vanderbilt Museum Announces New Automobile Addition to Its Exhibit

This is the update from our efforts

http://libn.com/blog/2010/11/19/left-turns/

  Please join and remember spread the word & stay united…
  http://www.limotorsports.org

From LI Business News "LI Votes for a Race Track" & Film "LI Drag Racing"

Hi Howard,
What a big surprise to see the erroneous first name engraved on the cup for Hémery! It’s a funny point of the history that I didn’t know! Thanks a lot!

From Upclose: The Vanderbilt Cup Trophy in 2002

Kathryn W:

Hi I am writing to you from England UK.
I have been tracing my family tree and Herb Lytle married my 3x great aunt Gertrude Fanny Harbord. I see that her son is still alive, please could you pass on my e mail to her son and ask if he would contact me.
Kind Regards

From A Request from the Son of the Winner of the First Motor Parkway Race: Herb Lytle

The rich heritage of Long Island and motorsport is now all but forgotten. The idea to REV UP the East End again would be amazing!
I saw my first race ever at Bridgehampton and IT was the root of my current fascination and fixation for CARS.

From LI Business News "LI Votes for a Race Track" & Film "LI Drag Racing"

Howard, thank you for the Newsletter - What a great idea! It’s the perfect place because of Long Island’s extensive Motorsports history -

Our company Gilbert Art has been involved in three Concours d’Elegance in Bridghampton and created the original art for the last Event Program Cover in 2007 - we have always hoped for a revival of premier car racing in LI -

Of course the track should be built to host F1, Indy, Nascar, Concour’s and Vintage road races - this will attract the largest possible fan base from New England to FLorida -

Plus it would need to host winter events, such as Arts & Culture programs beyond sports - and it should become an active and interested entity in the concerns and aspirations of the local communities

Finally, it will need to attract the diversity of urban demographics - including people of color women, seniors, and the digital natives - 

FYI - In 2011, the city of Baltimore will host an IZOD Indycar race - a good start in attracting an east coast urban population -

I’m sure the planners will consider the expertise of the preeminent racetrack designer - Architect,Paxton Waters in Carmel, Indiana - 317 566 8332 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Thanks again Howard - keep me in the loop -

Linda Jones
President, The Gilbert Art Group, Inc.

From LI Business News "LI Votes for a Race Track" & Film "LI Drag Racing"

Hi Ken:

Great observation!

A condition of competing in the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race was as follows:

“That no car shall be allowed to compete for the cup whose weight shall exceed 2,204 pounds, or under 881 pounds. Each car must carry two persons seated side by side, whose weight must be at least 132 lbs. each.”

Howard

From Old 16 Fun Facts from the Henry Ford Museum

Reading about the Old 16 notice its weight of 2204 lbs. Wonder if there was a 1000 kilo maximum weight as that weight is exactly equal to 1000 kilos or is it just a coincidence?

From Old 16 Fun Facts from the Henry Ford Museum

From Annette P: Thank you for this newsletter, I read it along with my husband.

I would be in favor of a motorsports complex. My husband was one of the last groups to take the Skip Barber racing course at Bridgehampton. So much history there!  Whenever he races it’s such a schlep.

Our favorite racetrack is Lime Rock..I think those making this decision should look to that racetrack and see how well they work with the community and it IS beautiful up there. The revenue alone would help Long Island economy and perhaps help out local merchants ( restaurants, hotels, tanger, etc).

I sincerely hope the decision for this property is something unique and not another stupid mall.

best wishes

From LI Business News "LI Votes for a Race Track" & Film "LI Drag Racing"

Hi Howard, I was at both auctions and what I often found worthwhile and amusing where Austin’s descriptions of the various vehicles in the auction catalogs.  I will look up a few humorous ones and send them to you.

From Classic Memories of The Long Island Automotive Museum II The 1963 & 1980 Auctions

Your question as to the Melville lodge in respect of the foto.  Don’t know, because if this building is off Baylis or Duryea Roads, it might be the little old school house in Melville, that is if there is also a full set of windows on the far side of the buildidng from those which are partially covered—like two school rooms?.
Any other fotos of the LIMP going East or of the immediate area?  There was an orphanage for girls on Ruland Rd, St. Rose Industrial School, and the nuns used to take the trolley to Farmingdale, and we had a small farm just South of Ruland Rd on West side of Broad Hollow Rd. 
Edith

From From the Ron Ridolph Collection- Then & Now: Motor Parkway Lodges

Hi Rick:

Here are some links to information on the two “999"s:

http://www.mshf.com/museum/999.htm

http://www.diecast.org/diecast98/html/asp/list_reviews/xq/ASP/id.EX88040/qx/reviewpix.htm

Howard

From Detroit Road Trip: Old 16, the Ford Quadricyle, 999, Ford Factories and the Jets!

Great to see these pictures, hope more will keep coming.

From Memories of Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

I was so glad to see these pictures, Mr. Henry Austin Clark was a man way ahead of his time! His forethought for the preservation of early automobilia, should have kept going. I wish the L.I. Automobile Museum never closed, but had gotten larger and and more people could have had the vision the that he had. There is so much interest and so many people on Long Island have embraced the hoby of antique car, hot rods, and specialty vehicles that this would have ben a perfect place to gather and learn. There is barely a weekend now on Long Island when there are not Car Shows of some kind all over the Island. I was fortunate to have met Henry many times in the mid 1970’s, and listened to many stories of unique cars, and a bygone era over a drink in Locust Valley. Thank you for posting those pictures, it brought back a lot of fond memories.

From Memories of Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

From Paul E:

Howard;Your emails are Fantastic. I would think this is a lot of work, but I would think, you think it is worth it or you would not do it.  I am sure You have gotten THANKS from anyone who gets the emails.  Please keep up the great work.
Stay well and THANKS.

From 1997 Exhibit and Film "Old 16- An American Legend"

Hi Andy:
A Motor Parkway bridge at Commack Road was planned but never built.

I believe the last Motor Parkway bridge in Suffolk County was at Deer Park Avenue. Does anyone have a photo of the bridge?

Howard

From Demolition of the Williston Park/East Williston LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge

I remember two things about the museum as a kid.There was a (yellow ?) W.W.One water wagon that was just a huge conglamoration of cast iron. My father, he was 45 when I came along, was inducted at Ft. Dix during W.W. I and learned to drive on just such a truck. He later went on to become a chauffer and drove some of the finest cars ever made, including a Rolls Phantom Two American town car (body by Brewster).

The other memory is of a Waverly electric car which appeared to be a china closet on wheels.The remarkable thing is, as I remember, is that it was complete with the original charging board. I lived just up the hill from Les Cutting ,as a young driver, and sold/ gave him my ‘38 Buick six wheeler after the clutch “froze ” together after sitting for a while . My father, the chauffer said they used to put a stick between the seat and clutch peddle to keep the clutch faces apart.I said to my father ” Why didn’t you tell me that in the first place?”.

As a kid I remember riding up New York Ave from the American Legion Hall toward Huntington in the Rolls. I must have asked something like how fast are we going?, because in my mind’s ear (as in mind’s eye ) I can still hear my father saying” This ais what it is like to go 50 miles an hour.” There was less traffic and no stop lights in those days.( I was born June 19,1940 in Huntington Hospital)

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

Andy:

You are correct at the location of Petit Trianon. The about survey shows the relationship of the Motor Parkway, Petit Trianon and the Annex.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/vcrsys/Images/Alco/Scan7231.jpg

Howard

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

Hello Howard,
  I believe I read somewhere that Barney Oldfield purchased one of the “999” vehicles and raced it independently for a time. One of our members sent us a photo from his family collection that showed the “999” being repaired after an accident. About 1909???
Sincerely,
Rick A. Jorgensen
Golden Era Automobile Association

From Detroit Road Trip: Old 16, the Ford Quadricyle, 999, Ford Factories and the Jets!

Was there a bridge over Commack Road, south of the expressway, that was taken down a few years ago?

From Demolition of the Williston Park/East Williston LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge