The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
Recent Comments
Hi,
Found this in a 1957/1958 NY Daily News Almanac and Guide to NYC in the “Scientific Museums Outstanding Exhibits” section:
Long Island Automotive Museum.
“Rt. 39, Southampton, SO 1-1880. Open Daily, June-Sept., week ends late May, Oct., 9-5. Adults 50 cents, children 25 cents. Largest museum in world devoted exclusively to history of the automobile. Henry Austin Clark, Jr. collection of 100 antique cars, trucks, fire engines, including steam, electric and gasoline models dating from 1896.
From More on the Long Island Automotive Museum
Erratum #5: “the reconstruction of the overpasses at 73rd Avenue, Hollis Hills Terrace, Francis Lewis Boulevard and Springfield Boulevard”
Motor Parkway Fact: The original bridge over Francis Lewis Boulevard was built after the Motor Parkway closed in 1938.
From The New NYC Parks & Recreation Motor Parkway Historical Marker in Queens
Hi Bob:
Thanks for the information!
Many of Joseph Burt’s photos were taken in Mineola:
http://www.queenslibrary.org/ext/central/longisland/manuscripts/index.asp?f=burt+finding+aid.xml&tt=Joseph+Burt,+Sr.+Photographic+Collection+
The ACCA presentation was lots of fun:
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/saturday_february_13_2010
Howard
From Starting Lineup: 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes
Erratum #4: ” “Willie K.” Vanderbilt, great-grandson of the noted railroad developer Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877)”
Motor Parkway Fact: Wiliam K. Vanderbilt, Jr. is often confused in writing with his father William K. Vanderbilt. The Jr. or II is frequently left off Willie K’s last name.
From The New NYC Parks & Recreation Motor Parkway Historical Marker in Queens
Jeremy:
Thanks for the info!
Howard
From New photos of the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race Discovered
Pretty neat. BTW, Hayden is still alive in 2010 and is living contently in CT with his wife Lois.
JCA
From New photos of the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race Discovered
For more information on steam cars check out The Steam Car Club of Great Britain web site at http://www.steamcar.net regards, Jeff.
From Jay Leno & the 1906 Stanley Steamer Vanderbilt Racers
Hi Ryan:
Here is a link to information on your cup:
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/sunday_january_17_2010_the_elusive_locomobile_vanderbilt_cup_paperweight
Howard
From The 20 Toll Collection Structures of the Long Island Motor Parkway-Updated 3/17/2018
Sandrine:
Good question. I will try to find out.
Howard
From Driver Profile: Harry Grant -Winner of the 1909 & 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races
Terrence:
I totally agree!
Howard
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: 1910 Plans for the Ronkonkoma Motor Speedway
Hi Bob:
I try to have a focus on the Vanderbilt Cup Races and Long Island. Here is one reference to the Fairmont on this website:
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/monday_march_23_2009_1908_locomobile_trophy_purchased_for_128700
I can also recommend a book “The Fairmont Motor Races (1908-1911)” by Michael Seneca.
Enjoy,
Howard
From Favorite Website: Team Dan Race Archives
Erratum #3: “The races continued there until 1910, when three spectators were killed and twenty others injured.”
Motor Parkway Fact: No spectators were killed during the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race. Two mechanicians died while participating in the race:
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/question_of_the_day_march_24_2008_how_many_fatalities_were_there_in_the_lon
From The New NYC Parks & Recreation Motor Parkway Historical Marker in Queens
Hi A:
Thanks for the feedback. I have posted a close-up of the car’s entrant banner of its radiator. It is definitely #42.
Checking out the axles, it appears that all three cars are from the same manufacturer.
Howard
From A Visit to the Amazing Simeone Foundation Museum
Hi Steve:
Thanks for the feedback!
Here’s a link to information on David Wasserman’s amazing tin art.
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/friday_april_17_2009_old_16_tin_art_by_david_wasserman
Enjoy,
Howard
From The Checkered Flags of the Vanderbilt Cup Races
Hi Steven:
Thanks for the comment. Your father’s art is amazing.
Please contact me when you are on Long Island and we can go for a ride in the “Black Beast”.
Howard
From "Old 16" Tin Can Art by David Wasserman
I’m greatly enjoying Howard K.‘s stream of info on the Vanderbilt Cup races in New York. You can see an interesting artistic rendition of the 1908 winner (the #16 Locomobile) by artist David Wasserman (now deceased) by going to TinCanMan99 on AOL (or googling Mr. Wasserman’s name) and reviewing his very interesting metal art.
From The Checkered Flags of the Vanderbilt Cup Races
The picture captioned as Mercers at Wheatley Sweepstakes is very interesting, but the three cars in the picture are definitely NOT Mercers. Not sure what they are.
From A Visit to the Amazing Simeone Foundation Museum
Long Island in recent years missed an opportunity to bring back motorsports at the EPCAL site in Calverton, opting for a less popular theme park with a ski mountain. It seems our rich motorsports history is being kept just that by our politicians, History. There is much history laying in fields and yards rusting away because of no place to house it.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: 1910 Plans for the Ronkonkoma Motor Speedway
Erratum #2: “also known as the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway”
Motor Parkway Fact: When the Long Island Motor Parkway was active from 1908 to 1938, the road was never referred to as the “Vanderbilt Motor Parkway” by either newspapers, automobile trade media or William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.
Adding to the confusion, today a section of the existing parkway in Suffolk County was named the Vanderbilt Parkway. However, true LIMPers never use the term “Vanderbilt Motor Parkway”.
From The New NYC Parks & Recreation Motor Parkway Historical Marker in Queens
Erratum #1: “12 toll lodges designed by John Russell Pope”.
Motor Parkway Fact: John Russell Pope designed only the first six toll lodges. There were 20 toll collection structures associated with the Motor Parkway.
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/toll_lodges_of_the_long_island_motor_parkway
Howard
From The New NYC Parks & Recreation Motor Parkway Historical Marker in Queens
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