Vanderbilt Cup Races

Howard - two parkway posts are found in the Levittown picture just left to the white fence on the right. Enlarging the pic helps.  These are the only ones I’ve encountered on this section of the Roadway.

Also, the link on the Bethpage section mentioning Round Swamp Road isn’t working.

Very informative blog this week.  Thanks.

From A "New" Motor Parkway Map & Nassau County Historical Sites

Howard, thanks for putting the information up.  And thanks to Howard for preserving the roadway.

From The Motor Parkway in Garden City: The Russell Road Backyards

Thank you Bob for sharing and Howard for passing along.  Now I know what will be keeping me busy as we move into the colder months.

From Favorite Website: Suffolk Historic Newspapers

Great find, Howard. I blogged about it today.

http://firstsuperspeedway.com/blog/free-line-newspaper-search

From Favorite Website: Suffolk Historic Newspapers

Marty HImes told me many years ago that there were buried sections of the MP that still existed but I am not sure if they were Russell Road.

The town ought to landmark Arthur’s section, if it is the only large piece left, so that any future owner of the property will not have it dug up and carted off to the landfill.

Penny

From The Motor Parkway in Garden City: The Russell Road Backyards

From Randy H:

Hi Howard,

I was at the Vanderbilt Mansion last weekend, for the annual Jaguar Concours held there, and once again found the whole mansion display of the Cup Races and Motor Parkway fascinating. I have long been intrigued by the whole ‘birth of racing’ here on Long Island, being a resident and passionate sports car owner and aficionado.

So earlier this week I did the requisite Wikipedia and Google searches to learn more about all this history, and come across your wonderful site! I’m still exploring all the nooks and crannies but found the recent blogging on the 15 page map and all the photos of the remaining sections of the Parkway most interesting.

I have lived in Dix Hills (right off of Vanderbilt Parkway) for 10 years now, and always knew I was driving on a piece of history everyday as I went to work or passed the library and noticed the historic site sign.

To my immense surprise, I came across the photo you have of the single concrete marker still standing (the one with the United Methodist Church sign in it). Lo and behold, that marker is practically right across the street from my house!

Alas, I must inform you that the marker is no longer standing straight as in the picture. It’s now tipped over on its side, perhaps a casualty of last year’s rough winter plowing. This morning I tried moving it a bit and found it appears still grounded somehow at the bottom, perhaps with a steel post of sorts (didn’t want to pry too much underneath it).

So I did not want to mess with it anymore until I contacted you, but I would be more than happy to assist in reanchoring it or preserving it in some other manner if that’s possible and appropriate.

Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.

From A "New" Motor Parkway Map & Suffolk County Historical Sites

Correction, I confused ‘lodge’ and ‘toll booth’.  I assumed the current house was the latter.  My mistake. 

I guess there wasn’t another structure in that area then?

From Then & Now: The Ronkonkoma Lodge

Howard,
I took a ride at lunchtime today and stopped by the Ronkonkoma house at Woodlawn.  What I found really interesting was the fact that the front lawn - parallel to the current pavement yet elevated above it- was flat.  The lawns of the homes running on both sides of the house were also flat.  What I am saying is, based on the photo of the overhanging section of the original structure, the front lawn of the current house is probably the original parkway road surface.  It looks like the neighboring yards all were flat and part of that roadway too.  Today of course, the flat stretchs are broken by driveways but it was obvious that the yards all were aligned and level.

Just thought that was interesting! I wonder if you dug down in the lawn a little ways if you might find pavement!

By the way, where was the lodge in relation to the current house?  Further east?  West?  Just curious.

From Then & Now: The Ronkonkoma Lodge

This week I was going through old letters that my father had in a desk drawer and found a letter from Harry A. Clark, Jr. to my grandfather thanking hime for two old dusters my grandfather had dontated to the Museum in August of 1953.  In return for the donation, was a Patron’s Pass which was good for permanent admission to the Museum for my grandfather and one other person.  They were only given out to people who helped the Museum without personal benefit. 

My family was planning a trip to Sag Harbor in October and thought this would be an opportunity to check out some of our history. 

Sad to see the Museum was closed.

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

Thanks Howard! The photos are wonderful. We are going LIMP exploring with maps and photos in hand. Just bought your LIMP book!
Sara

From Then & Now: The Jericho Turnpike Motor Parkway Bridge and the Mineola Lodge

George Arents Jr was 5th at The 24 hours of Le Mans race 1960, on a Nart Ferrari 250 GT SWB n° 18, #1931GT, with Alan Conell Jr!
Hervé

From Driver Profile: George Arents Jr.

I visited the automotive museum with my family during a vacation in Hampton Bays in 1961, and I still recall the experience fondly. I loved the exhibits, and recall the fire engine ride through the adjoining woods. It is a shame that the facility closed.

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

From Robert Miller describing his discovery:

I crawled inside the underpass/overpass several years ago and took some prints of the abutments—you can see 1911 cast into them—somewhat lime-encrusted, but legible.  There’s also one of the tubular metal railings which adorned the top of the bridge on the side, which has tossed under when it rotted off its uprights.

From The Lost Bridges of the Motor Parkway: The Wheeler Farmway Bridge in Queens

Hi Art:

Thanks for the link!

Howard

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

Steven, my website has additional info. regarding the location of the Motor Parkway with maps and pics. Feel free to take a look and contact me for more info.

Howard, hope you don’t mind me sharing here.
http://limparkway.webs.com/

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

Jean-Yves:

Good catch! The photos are now correct.

I have received many compliments on your website banner for VanderbiltCupRaces.com. Thanks, again!

Howard

From Starting Lineup- The 8 "N" Cars of the 1908 Nassau Sweepstakes

Hi Howard,
The picture show for #N6 (Cadillac) is actually the #N5 (Mitchell).
And the second picture for #N5 looks like the Cadillac #N6…(?) not sure, hard to say…

From Starting Lineup- The 8 "N" Cars of the 1908 Nassau Sweepstakes

Hi Jim:

Thanks for the memories!

Howard

From In Search of the Nassau Boulevard Toll Booth: Part III

Hi Andy:

Here is a link to the Then and Now for the Ronkonkoma Lodge:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/wednesday_september_15_2010_then_and_now_tthe_ronkonkoma_lodge

Howard

From The Ronkonkoma Lodge in 1930

Hi Bob:

Thanks for the feedback. I will provide history on the logo this weekend.

Enjoy,

Howard

From Cradle of Aviation to Host Vanderbilt Race Centennial Exhibit in October