Vanderbilt Cup Races

From John J:

Howard, love your site. I grew up in Mineola a little to the west of that house on Rudolf Road in Mineola. When we were kids we spent ton of ime in the late 50s and early 60s playing under the LILCO wires which i believe was also part of the Parkway. When you cross Jericho Tpke and head south the right of way straddles Mineola and Carle Place and takes you to Westbury Avenue and eventually to Old Country Road.

Once again great site and I have your book

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

Thank you for posting. I see the ruins of the building when I pass there. I also remember the museum when it was in operation. As of 1961 I remember :
They gave us a fire truck ride through the back lot area.
There was an unrestored Packard Roadster sitting on the open area of the yard which I sat in. I remember the “pull daily” lubricating handle on the lower left.
A set of Fifth Avenue Busses.
recently acquired 1909 Thomas Flyer
1929 Maroon Pierce Arrow roadster
1933 Silver Pierce Silver Arrow
A 1911 Brush Truck
The Camp Devens Express truck
A curved dash runabout above the front entrance
An Hispano Suiza roadster
A Stutz racer
A Mercer racer
and more..I still have the stack of post cards. We bought a model of the 1912 Packard Landaulet, and I have two post cards of it, a photo and an artist’s rendition. They also sold artists renditions of various cars. The renditions can still be acquired on Ebay, and some are reproductions which are worth having. The interest in the cars is present in those works.

This was a different age. When you entered the museum you knew it was managed by people who knew what to collect and how to display it. The time was the recent past they were displaying, so the experiences of those people were fresh, and clear and present in the museum. What can we enthusiasts do to save the old building? I would be willing to contribute.

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

Howard,
I don’t know if it’s too late, but on Sunday, Sept. 19th, there’s the Smithtown Heritage Country Fair held in the historic area of Smithtown, just east of route 111 on Middle Country Road (Route 25).
We expect antique and classic cars, as well as the antique truck club to be in attendance.
Thanks.
Roger

From News Updates and Long Island Car Shows & Events Schedule

Howard,
A few months back I took a ride to the eastern end of the current motor parkway - right up to the lake - looking for any signs of the old Ronkonkoma lodge.  Nothing jumped out at me.  Any chance you can pinpoint the exact location on a google earth map for me? Maybe some then and now pics too?

As always, thanks for providing so much interesting information and photos about the VC races and Long Island.

Will you be at the Simeone museum for the Elegance of Speed automobilia show?  Hope to see you and the Black Beast again!

Keep your speed up!
Andy

From The Ronkonkoma Lodge in 1930

Interesting that Willy K. and de Dion traveled from Beaulieu to Monte Carlo. Is this the same Beaulieu in England that has the annual auto jumble (car parts swap meet)? I was there in 2003 and purchased a pair of “pigs ears” turn signal lights for my 1955 Dellow Mk. V which has just come out of restoration.

From Willie K.'s Cars #1: The 1900 23-HP Daimler "White Ghost"

From Penny H:

Thank you so much for posting the information on the web site about the above car. Mystery solved.  Was really impressed with the wealth of photos of the car on course. Really enjoyed the posting.

Keep up the good work.

Penny

From A Tour of the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course with the #14 FIAT

Thank you Howard for the information.  Nice to see the Motor Parkway remembered.

From Then & Now: The Motor Parkway in Wheatley Hills Golf Club, East Williston

It’s the stuff of dreams for early racing car nuts!

From Willie K.'s Cars #1: The 1900 23-HP Daimler "White Ghost"

Dear Howard: Okay, okay I can take a hint. I want to subscribe to your blog. Don’t know where you’ve found the stuff but it’s thrilling.

Penny

From Willie K.'s Cars #1: The 1900 23-HP Daimler "White Ghost"

Hi Art, Allan and Sara:

Thanks for the comments and memories!

Sara, I will feature images of the LIMP near Jericho Turnpike in a post next week.

Enjoy,

Howard

From The Motor Parkway and the Wheatley Hills Golf Club in East Williston

Hi Corey:

Thanks for checking in! Please have Ray send me an email with his contact information to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Enjoy,

Howard

From In Search of Master Mechanic Charlie Kirschhoffer

I stumbled upon your website this morning and wanted to let you know that my Grandfather, Ray Kirschhoffer is Charlie’s younger son.  He has mountains of memorobilia that he can share.  Charlie died in 1978 in Winthrop Harbor, IL and Elisa died in 1998. Both are buried in Libertyville, IL.  I look forward to reading more of him and his racing days.  Thanks for sharing.

From In Search of Master Mechanic Charlie Kirschhoffer

I remember seeing a photo of the excavation of the LIMP UNDER Jericho Turnpike just south of this. Has anyone ever seen this photo? I haven’t been able to find it again.

From The Motor Parkway and the Wheatley Hills Golf Club in East Williston

I grew up in the 1040s a block away from the old Motor Pkwy where it traveled thru East Williston. I don’t have photos but do have great memories of playing at and riding our bikes thru that entire stretch….. 😊

From The Motor Parkway and the Wheatley Hills Golf Club in East Williston

Sad picture.
Back in the ‘60s my family lived in Hauppauge.
My father would take my brother and I out to watch the races at Bridghampton and to the Auto Museum once a year. I always remember those days as some of the finest ever.

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

I have a badge for the 1936 race held on Oct. 12th. It’s labled official and has a number 136 on it. It blonged to my aunt Eleanor Knapp.

From George Vanderbilt Cup Race Tickets and Passes

Hi Scott:

It was a pleasure! We really had a great time at the Cacklefest. Boy, those racers are loud!!!

Enjoy,

Howard

From Future Howard Kroplick and Black Beast Events (Updated November 6, 2010)

Howard,

On behalf of East Neck Auto Service and Pacers Auto, we want to say that having the Black Beast at the 3rd Annual Hot Rods & Race Cars Show & Cacklefest was a fantastic experience! You guys are a class act with an incredible car and we were proud to have you involved.

Scott Snizek

From Future Howard Kroplick and Black Beast Events (Updated November 6, 2010)

I am looking for information on a racing car pictured in the Westbury Turn. The handwriting on the bottom of the image says ‘Parker Fiat’  and the number on the radiator is a black large ‘14’. The picture came from a scrapbook of clippings.

Can you give me any information about this car and when it participated etc?

Thank you.

From June 2010 Highlights on VanderbiltCupRaces.com

Hi Jerry:

Always a pleasure to hear from you. Thanks for the connection!

Here is a link to the film showing the race between Old 16 and the “Breese of Paris”. A very young Jerry Helck was at the race:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/sunday_july_5_2009_film_the_last_race_for_old_16_and_joe_tracy_1946

The “Breese of Paris” is still running and owned by Michael Sperrazza of Appomattox, Virginia.

Another relative, James Breese, was a commissioner of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race. He can be seen on the course at the end of this 1904 film (gentleman on the far right wearing a cap):
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/1904_vanderbilt_cup_race_video

Enjoy,

Howard

From A Mystery Photo from the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race: The B.L.M. Racer