Vanderbilt Cup Races

Hi Ellen:

Thanks for the heads-up . Here’s the listing:

http://longisland.craigslist.org/pts/1640995607.html

Howard

From HBO and Kate Winslet Are Looking for Classic Cars

There was a posting on Craigslist looking also for Mildred Pierce.  You can rent directly to the production .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

From HBO and Kate Winslet Are Looking for Classic Cars

good info!

From A Family Member Seeks Information on a 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Driver Edward Hawley

My grandfather built Locomobiles and knew Barney Oldfield. The company used to test their cars on a winding road in Fairfield, CT that went uphill across the Easton, CT line. The original name of the road was Snake Hill Road.

It earned a new name because of the car testing and became known as Sport Hill Road, the name which it retains today.

One of these days I’d like to get to the Bridgeport, CT library, which has the Locomobile company records.

From The Alco "White Beast" at the 1910 Worcester Dead Horse Hill Climb

Absolutely wonderful, the sequences were almost like being there, in B&W. I particularly love the comment from Mrs.Thomas.  Thank you for sharing.  You’re right, Google is truly amazing, especially when you were brought up in the age of the enclopedia.
Dennis

From A Family Member Seeks Information on a 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Driver Edward Hawley

Hi Howard,  The A.L.A.M. car parked near the Westbury grandstand is a c. 1904 Mercedes.  Long Island Old Car Club member William Hoffman had a very similar car years ago.  I will send you a photo of the car with race driver Joe Tracy standing by it when it was found in an old carriage house.  Regards,  Walter McCarthy

From Never Before Published Vanderbilt Cup Race Photos from a 1904 A.L.A.M. Scrapbook

Howard,
I just received my copy of Long Island Motor Parkway in the mail yesterday.  Was it my purchase that put the book in the “sold out” category?  😊

That means my copy is even more valuable than the rest!  😊

From "The Long Island Motor Parkway" & "Vanderbilt Cup Races of Long Island" Sell Out

Didn’t anyone else notice the prancing horse logo of Enzo Ferrari on the hood. Great shot of Nuvolari and his motley crew. Guy

From Amazing Photos from the Archives of the Nassau County Division of Museum Services

Hi Walt:

Thanks for the email.

I don’t have any photos of Mr. Prosser or his plane, I suggest contacting Joshua Stoff, Curator of hte Cradle of Aviation Museum at 516-572-4111.

As shown in the below link, J. Roy Prosser was an original member of the Long Island Aviation Country Club (see p234). A new Stearman C4A biplane is also shown on p77:
http://books.google.com/books?id=y4g9AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA234&lpg=PA234&dq;=“J.+Roy+Prosser”&source=bl&ots=v1yniLl4Jb&sig=jl_2bdLFr4Cfdket8O10YXXLfu8&hl=en&ei=dEGuS8b1KoaBlAfsztWQAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CA4Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=“J. Roy Prosser”&f=false
.

Good luck!

Howard

From Then & Now: The Long Island Aviation Country Club on the Motor Parkway

Hi Robert and Lynne:

Thanks for sharing your family’s Vanderbilt Cup Race heritage!

Howard

From Amazing Photos from the Archives of the Nassau County Division of Museum Services

HI Mark:

I have been trying to track down Sheriff Gildersleeve’s first name for 6 years!

Howard

From Amazing Photos from the Archives of the Nassau County Division of Museum Services

THE KANSAS AVIATION MUSEUM IN WICHITA IS RESTORING A 1929 STEARMAN C-3B THAT WAS FIRST OWNED BY J. ROY PROSSER, A WEALTHY N Y STOCK BROKER. HE DEALT PRIMARILY IN AVIATION STOCKS. HE HANGARED THE PLANE AT THE LONG ISLAND AVIATION COUNTRY CLUB IN HICKSVILLE WHERE I BELIEVE HE WAS A MEMBER 1929 - 1931. IN THE MID 20’S HE OWNED A WHITE RUNABOUT AUTO. HE WAS FIRST WIFE WAS BESSIE LEARN, A SILENT MOVIE STAR.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR MORE INFO ON J. ROY PROSSER AND A PHOTO OF HIM AND HIS STEARMAN. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS WHERE I MAY RESEARCH.

THANKS FOR ANY HELP THAT YOU MAY GIVE.

WALT HOUSE
CURATOR, KANSAS AVIATION MUSEUM
(316)461-6126
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

From Then & Now: The Long Island Aviation Country Club on the Motor Parkway

Thanks for posting the photo of Krug’s Corner.  I keep an eye on your wonderful website and am so appreciative of you for sharing your passion.

From Amazing Photos from the Archives of the Nassau County Division of Museum Services

Thank you Howard for your dedication in finding and preserving this part of our family’s history.  I look forward to your weekly updates.  It is always exciting to see racing photos (and now films!) of my Grandfather.

From Amazing Photos from the Archives of the Nassau County Division of Museum Services

I remember many years ago, sometime in the late 1940s or early 1950s, walking up some street in New York, and coming upon a J2 Allard spotlighted in a showroom. It was orange, and just glowed in the dark. It was one of several events that ignited my interest in sports cars.

From New York Times Article "Cars and the City, Imperfect Together"

Jim:
The museum is located at 103rd and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan:

http://www.mcny.org/visit-the-museum/

Howard

From Vanderbilia to be Displayed at Upcoming Museum of the City of New York Exhibition

where is this museum????

From Exhibit "Cars, Culture and the City" March 25 - August 8, 2010

Frederick Gildersleeve! It is great to see first names of some of these people that seem to have only been referred to by their professional titles and last names. Neat!

From Amazing Photos from the Archives of the Nassau County Division of Museum Services

I agree.
Hillclimbs are usually on narrow roads with tight turns, little runoff area and plenty of trees,etc. just off the verge.
Not that this was so different from the early(pre-1940)road courses, witness the Nuburgring course in Germany(a frightening 33+/- mi course thru the mountains).
The Vanderbilt courses were “safe” compared to most courses pre-1940.

From The Alco "White Beast" at the 1910 Worcester Dead Horse Hill Climb

From Tim Helck:

Nice article. I just added a link to it to my Grandfather’s Wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Helck

I really enjoyed looking at your site. Keep up the good work!

From A Tribute to Peter Helck (1893-1988), the Great American Artist