Recent Comments

Mar 17 2009 jan Hyde 9:54 PM

I’d like to discuss video startegy, production re a website I co-founded and manage.

http://www.registryofcorvetteracecars.xom

I’m off to 57th Sebring 12 hr race tomorrow, back next week.

Jan Hyde (via Terry Dunne)
718-802-1104

From Video: Mission to Cuba

Mar 15 2009 Howard Kroplick 11:08 PM

Thanks for the comments and input!

It was truly amazing to see these cars being used on the streets. At any given time, you could see 3 or 4 of these cars at any busy Havana intersection.

Among the best kept classic cars are owned by the government and used as taxi cabs for tourists. They can be identified by the blue license plates and the “Grancar” logo on it side.

The classic cars with yellow license plates are privately-owned, passed by the owner’s family. There is great pride in caring for these cars, since they are considered a symbol of the city, similar to the San Franciso cable cars.

Other American 1950s cars, usually in poor condition, are used as boteros, livery cabs for the people. Off-limits to tourists, these cabs usually pick up 3 or 4 fares at a time.

Enjoy,

Howard

From Havana: World's Largest Living Museum of American Cars

Mar 15 2009 robert blake 7:18 PM

Looks like a 56 Imperial with AC from the rear quarter vents. 55 buick twin-pak,  55 caddy and 56 ford as well as 53 chevy and 59 chevy.  57 Poncho is neat.

From Havana: World's Largest Living Museum of American Cars

Mar 15 2009 Richard Motycka 6:33 PM

Howard—

I was there a couple of years ago.  It was interesting to note that the cars were taken care of a lot better than the buildings.  But then again, the State owns the buildings.

Nice pix and your video brings back some good memories.

—Richard

From Havana: World's Largest Living Museum of American Cars

Mar 15 2009 guy 1:35 PM

Great stories and comments. I was racing at The Bridge when I first met Austie as the Commendatore (bartender, too) of the Circuit Club and later as the fun one at Chowder for many years after the raacetrack’s agonizing demise. It’s about time for someone to do his biography. He was truly a man for all seasons who led a richly diverse life and was always a wonderful mix of joy and grumpiness. I recommend Wade Hoyt.

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

Mar 15 2009 Robert E. Richer 1:26 PM

Great!

Is that a 300-C Chrysler?

Sad to think that under the present impoverished management, we’ll see no more of those grand buildings constructed.  Having gone to school with one of Baptista’s sons, it’s safe to say that the “good old days” truly are but a memory.

My son visited Cuba about 18 months ago.  As a professional photographer, he was in heaven, that the people were wonderful, but that he was watched very carefully.
http://www.richerimages.com.

Thanks, Howard.

ROBERT

From Havana: World's Largest Living Museum of American Cars

Mar 15 2009 Larry Vigneaux 1:07 PM

Amazing - they’re pristine!  As if if right out of the factory—beautiful!

From Havana: World's Largest Living Museum of American Cars

Mar 12 2009 Rich Rosenblum 9:40 AM

Wonderful photos that really go a long way in telling the story of your amazing trip. 
P.S.  Was that the first-ever meeting of Chiquita Banana and Mr. Met? (MEET the Mets!)

From Video: Mission to Cuba

Mar 10 2009 Mark Dill 2:26 PM

Cool stuff, Howard. This confirms Havana’s rep as a haven for 1950’s American cars!

From Havana: World's Largest Living Museum of American Cars

Mar 08 2009 Linda Jones 10:11 AM

Howard - great Blog - I want to talk with you about how we can work together on the 2011 event -If you email me your address, I’ll send you small prints of the Wasp and Lozier from original samples that got us the exclusive job for the 1911 Indy 500 Movie, along with a portfolio of other GA Automotive events and press etc.

Linda Jones The Gilbert Art Group

From The Magnificent 1910 Lozier

Mar 06 2009 Jimmy Adames 6:33 PM

Hi Howard:

I’m glad to see you are exposing your passion to the masses.

I was wondering when I was going to see a blog by you. I Google you all the time.

I’m happy to see you have one!

With Warm Regards,
Jimmy Adames
http://jimmyadames.com

From Approaching the Merrick Avenue Bridge during the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Mar 02 2009 Howard Kroplick 6:56 PM

Jack:

It was a pleasure speaking with you. Best of luck developing this event.I will help as much as possible.

Enjoy,

Howard

From The Restored Alco-6 Racer Returning to Long Island!

Mar 02 2009 Denis Byrne 10:10 AM

I got a little excited but was hoping to read $4 million to resurface the abandoned portion as a walking/biking trail! I guess I need to keep working on that idea a while longer…

From The Stimulus Bill and the Motor Parkway

Mar 02 2009 jim barnes 9:19 AM

ask Roosvelt field if you can do it again
call GUY it would be a better venue

From Cars from the October 2008 Gymkhana

Feb 28 2009 Jack Wegman 10:17 AM

Howard:

Congratulations on your purchase of Alco #6.

You have renewed my interest in holding the Dead Horse Hill Climb again. If I can pull it off, I would love to see your car there. I would like to talk to you about it personally. I would appreciate your phone number. Mine is 508-888-3103 Thanks. Jack Wegman Cape Cod

From The Restored Alco-6 Racer Returning to Long Island!

Feb 22 2009 Howard Kroplick 7:09 PM

Tim:

Thanks for the comment and background on the Bethpage Lodge. I have several photos of the Massapequa Lodge that I will post later this week.

Enjoy,

Howard

From The Bethpage Lodge (1910-1960s): A Classic Repost from 2009

Feb 18 2009 Howard Kroplick 10:52 PM

Hi Mitch:

I have tracked down the dates of the aerials. The large aerial on top and the two subsequent thumbnails were taken on June 24, 1938- about two months after the closing of the Motor Parkway.

The third thumbnail(click on the image for a larger view) was taken almost a year later on June 2, 1939. It does appear a section off Horace Harding Boulevard was made into a parking area. Excellent find!!

Enjoy,

Howard

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

Feb 17 2009 Howard Kroplick 10:05 AM

Hi Mitch:

Thanks for the comments and the suggestions for the Queens research. I will track down the dates for the images later tonight.

Enjoy,

Howard

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

Feb 16 2009 Mitch Kaften 10:52 AM

I should’ve said “the two aerial thumbnails on this page”. The topographical map thumbnail is also terrific, and is truly the “eureka” moment! Another thing that this shows me is that there was really no Peck Avenue at that time, and Francis Lewis Boulevard (or Cross Island Boulevard) was barely a dirt-covered country road that didn’t even extend to Union Turnpike.

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

Feb 16 2009 Mitch Kaften 9:19 AM

Super sleuthing, Howard! You’ve basically put this mystery to rest. A question about the two thumbnail photos on this page (both spectacular shots by the way). The lower one appears to show a rectangular cleared area to the left of the LIMP entrance…almost what I would imagine to be a parking lot. The upper one does not appear to have that structure. Is it possible that they were taken at different times—perhaps years apart?

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

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