Vanderbilt Cup Races

I truly had no idea racing was going on there! Odd since as well as that puppet show the area was known to me since it was right near the Aurora toy factory where I would bike to and dumpster dive for slot car parts and car bodies for my Aurora Thunderjet Racing Set.
And… YES… that World’s Fair Arch is still there and even visible from Aerial Google Map.
Mario Andretti was a childhood hero to me! Had no idea he raced there!

From Update: InstaGRAM Report: From the Marty Himes Family Collection- The History of Indoor Three-Quarter Midget Racing at Island Garden Arena

Also, at the “Garden Island Arena” in West Hempstead the the Pole sign outside, in the shape of an arch, came from the 1964-65 “Worlds Fair” and is still there today
There were a few of them throughout the “Fair”

From Update: InstaGRAM Report: From the Marty Himes Family Collection- The History of Indoor Three-Quarter Midget Racing at Island Garden Arena

That’s the Newbridge Avenue (Bellmore Road) bridge also known as the Meadowbrook Bridge with the #2 Lozier racer driven by Ralph Mulford on October 1, 1910, during the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race. During that race, Harold Stone lost control of his #12 Columbia racer, crashed through the guard rail and ran off the road. The accident resulted in the death of his mechanician William Bacon (some reports have his name as Matthew Bacon), which essentially brought to an end public road racing on Long Island.

From Update: Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: The Dangerous Newbridge Avenue Bridge

Automodello did a 1/24 scale model of the Delage Aerodynamic Coupe and limited to 299 pieces.

From Update-InstaGRAM report: The Sam Mann Collection Auction

Way to go Howard!  Bringing the Vanderbilt Cup Races and the Motor Parkway to the world!  Enjoy and safe travels.  Interestingly I found the attached photo of a board game relating to automobiling in Belguim, circa 1937.  It was a way to promote the industry to the general public.  It appears that most automobiles shown are numbered, now I just need to find more about what the numbers relate to (driver, make of car, etc.).  Any suggestions out there?

From Update 8/9/26:Howard Kroplick to be a featured speaker at the Fifth FIVA Pan-European Conference for Automotive History in Lillehammer, Norway

Although I missed the presentation I’m happy that you have persisted in renewing focus on this important preservation effort Howard. Hopefully the Village will act on getting the area restored. Those school children knew better than village officials!

From Garden City News: Village urged to restore historic Motor Parkway remnants

Those are the hangar and clubhouse for the Aviation Country Club airfield in Hicksville (now Levittown). The road is our beloved Long Island Motor Parkway. Since there is no evidence of an apron in front of the hangar nor a pool or tennis court, this photo was probably taken in 1929 or 1930, soon after it was built. The photo was probably taken from the Goodyear blimp NC 10-A “Mayflower” although some claim it may have been a different Goodyear blimp “Vigilant”.

From Mystery Friday Foto #31 Solved: The Long Island Aviation Country Club From Above

These two structures are part of the Long Island Aviation Country club in what is now Levittown. The structure on the left is the hangar, the one on the right is the clubhouse.
The club sits just north of the Motor Parkway. The date is around 1929 because the pool and tennis courts are not up yet.

From Mystery Friday Foto #31 Solved: The Long Island Aviation Country Club From Above

Auto enthusiast opportunity of a lifetime. Thanks so much for this detailed share.

From Update-InstaGRAM report: The Sam Mann Collection Auction

I commend the positive attitude but strongly suggest the Garden City powers that be take a look at what has been accomplished in Queens in order to comprehend the reasons for preserving such a rich part of our collective Long Island past.

From Garden City News: Village urged to restore historic Motor Parkway remnants

I’m glad your presentation was well received and that some preservation efforts may still be undertaken.  Thanks for your efforts Howard and know that we are all behind you.  It’s been a while since I’ve been there but hoping one day to be able to walk some part of what once was a beautiful reminder of the Parkway’s history.

From Garden City News: Village urged to restore historic Motor Parkway remnants

What an amazing collection! Thanks for sharing it in this excellent article. It felt like I was right there, seeing the cars in person.

From Update-InstaGRAM report: The Sam Mann Collection Auction

Greg, Eddie Rickenbacker went on to become an automobile race driver and has a connection of sorts with this website. First, he drove in one of the Vanderbilt Cup Races, drove at least once in an Indy 500 race and won at least one race in a Duesenberg around 1914.

From Mystery Friday Foto #30 Solved: Lee Frayer in the 1906 Frayer-Miller

A well deserved win.

From The 1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Sedan Convertible Berline Wins Best of Show at the Misselwood Concours d"Elegance

Lee Frayer, driving the Frayer-Miller #8 110hp at the 1906 American Elimination Trial on Sept 22, 1906. Photo is looking west down Jericho Tpke, just west of Powells Lane in Westbury. Racer is heading east and broke down on lap 1 finishing 12th place. WWI Flying Ace Eddie Rickenbacker, standing 6’2” matches the height of mechanician but the nose appears different. Willie K is standing by the mechanician looking down at the clipboard.

From Mystery Friday Foto #30 Solved: Lee Frayer in the 1906 Frayer-Miller

The car is a Frayer Miller and the driver is Lee Frayer. The race is the American Trials Elimination for the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The young mechanician is Eddie Rickenbacker of WW I fame.  At the time of the photo he was 16 years old. The car did not even finish the first lap of the Elimination Race suffering both a broken clutch and a failed radius rod.

From Mystery Friday Foto #30 Solved: Lee Frayer in the 1906 Frayer-Miller

I thought I would attach this September 21, 1906, Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper page which posted the American Elimination Trial lineup of drivers, cars and mechanicians.  Check out the Lee Frayer information.  I do think that Eddie Rickenbacker is in the photo with Frayer.

From Mystery Friday Foto #30 Solved: Lee Frayer in the 1906 Frayer-Miller

That’s a 110HP Frayer-Miller being driven by Lee Frayer at the 1906 American Elimination Trial on September 22, 1906. The mechanician is yet-to-be world famous Eddie Rickenbacker. Frayer finished 12th. after breaking a radius on lap #1. I think I see Peter Prunty with his megaphone and possibly Fred Wagner to the left of Prunty. Willie K. might be just to the right of the left front wheel.

From Mystery Friday Foto #30 Solved: Lee Frayer in the 1906 Frayer-Miller

Congratulations Howard and crew Always the best in show in our minds JeRita

From The 1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Sedan Convertible Berline Wins Best of Show at the Misselwood Concours d"Elegance

Congratulations on such an impressive win. That was some serious competition you were up against.

From The 1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Sedan Convertible Berline Wins Best of Show at the Misselwood Concours d"Elegance