Vanderbilt Cup Races

Some bits and pieces from that stretch grace our Floral Park backyard, saved by my son Gram during our years exploring the roadway.

From Kleiner's Korner: A Return to the Long Island Motor Parkway (Part 1)

I think your line of the ROW through Eisenhower Park is about 100 yards more south than it should be. The entrance of the Meadowbrook Lodge would have been more north of this line and matches more closely to the path running through the present-day golf course.

From Kleiner's Korner: A Return to the Long Island Motor Parkway (Part 1)

The idea of the side “wings” could have been taken from the 1924 Sport version of the German Grand Prix “Tropfenwagen” RH Benz of 1924 (see photo). The car was built for the 1923 Italian Grand Prix and was unusual due to the rear (middle) engine and the aerodynamic shape. Aerodynamics as was known at the time.
The “wings” on the Forostvosky car don’t provide any downforce effect even though they have an inverted wing profile.

From Greg O's Garage; A New Series From the Helck Family Collection: Strange and Unusual Cars #1: 1925 Forostovsky-Bignan

Could be Aero inspired like the Voisin.

From Greg O's Garage; A New Series From the Helck Family Collection: Strange and Unusual Cars #1: 1925 Forostovsky-Bignan

There is no accounting for taste. Forostovsky misunderstood both the function of fenders and aerodynamics, not to mention aesthetics. This misunderstanding is recurrent, witness the blob in the breeze treatments of the late thirties and their resurgence with the aid and abetttment of Jack Telnack at the Ford school of colon flow styling in the 1990s.

From Greg O's Garage; A New Series From the Helck Family Collection: Strange and Unusual Cars #1: 1925 Forostovsky-Bignan

So good to see the “relics” saved and not just thought of as debris. thanks guys!

From Kleiner's Korner: A Return to the Long Island Motor Parkway (Part 1)

My best guess is that the photographer is on the north side of the Motor Parkway facing east, just west of the Wantagh avenue bridge that is in the distance.  The kid in the picture is looking west to what I would assume would be oncoming racers.  We also just barely might be able to make out the top of the Massapequa lodge in the distance to the left of the bridge.  This is probably the 1908 VCR held on October 24th but I’m not really sure about that.  I’m mostly curious about where this picture was taken.

From Mystery Friday Foto #16 likely solved: A section of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race course near Wantagh Avenue

Even the modified Levitt homes of today are much different than these new homes. What’s done is done, but these newer homes along this stretch won’t ever look right here. One thing is for sure, the photos on the signs aren’t William Levitt. Must be someone of note.

From Kleiner's Korner: A Return to the Long Island Motor Parkway (Part 1)

Great going, David!  I was hoping someone would make a home for the relics and I’m so glad they have special meaning to you.  I have part of a post and a piece of roadway down here in NC.  And I strategically placed more roadway behind the shed at the rear of my previous house in Levittown. I need to go back there at some point and see if they still remain.

From Kleiner's Korner: A Return to the Long Island Motor Parkway (Part 1)

I managed to save some of the remnants of the Motor Parkway at the end of Heron Court in Levittown.  It was still right where Art left it.  Back in the 1980’s along this stretch of the Motor Parkway when I was a kid we had set up a small bike path with jumps and obstacles for us to play.  It was closer to the Skimmer lane side which was where these pieces were when I found them today.  Literal touchstones for me.  When I recovered these pieces it looked like the end of Heron Court was in the process of undergoing some new planting and landscaping.  These pieces of the Motor Parkway very soon would’ve been swallowed up or destroyed to make way for further landscaping.  They are now on the side of my house.  I think in one of my pictures you can see the rebar imbedded in the traprock.  I was glad to have been able to save these 115 year old relics.

From Kleiner's Korner: A Return to the Long Island Motor Parkway (Part 1)

My mistake. I owned Tucker #9 from mid 1962 through the middle of the 1960’s (probably around 1967) when I sold it to Bill Hamill.

From Profile Series: Tucker 1009- The Award-Winning Grey Tucker Owned By George Lucas

There is part of this history that is wrong. I owned Tucker #1009 from 1961 to approx 1966 when I sold it to William Hamlin in Onterio California. This car was for sale in the antiques and classics of the Loa Angeles Times and was in the hands of a private owner at the time of purchase. I purchased it for $2500. Or should I say my parents bought it for me for by 16 birthday pesent.

From Profile Series: Tucker 1009- The Award-Winning Grey Tucker Owned By George Lucas

Walt - we obtained some material from the Henry Ford Museum relating to the LIAM auction which I’ll be reviewing with Greg and if applicable will include in future posts.  Here is one example showing the profit made on each car auctioned.  And two 1972 invoices (one revised showing Austin’s signature), showing the purchase of some vehicles by Bernard Zipkin. More to come!

From Greg O's Garage; Henry Austin Clark Jr.'s 1955 Automobile Auction Part 1

Thanks for the great history.

From Greg O’s Garage; Henry Austin Clark Jr.‘s 1955 Automobile Auction Part 2

Can anyone looking at this tell us where the cars mentioned that were auctioned off are now?  Austin kept a folder /file on every car he owned - told of who he bought it from, and any history plus also noted if he sold it and to whom. When I was his librarian 50 years ago at his library in Glen Cove, there were occasions to look at that file drawer to get information for then current owners of the cars he had at one time. All of these folders are to the Henry Ford Museum /Library which is where Austin donated his library to.

From Greg O's Garage; Henry Austin Clark Jr.'s 1955 Automobile Auction Part 1

David, thanks. I found the lost Comments! Howard

From Mystery Friday Foto #15 Solved: The Newbridge Road Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1908

Since there were only 2 comments posted over the weekend about this mystery photo I’m thinking maybe I’m not the only one whose comment didn’t register for some reason.  I guess the internet glitched on me or the website when I submitted my guess.  I knew what bridge it was but through out a guess that the car was a 1908 Thomas Flyer model F.

From Mystery Friday Foto #15 Solved: The Newbridge Road Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1908

John, thanks so much for the positive comment. Much appreciated! Howard

From Hemmings: How to Attract 100,000 Visitors During a Car Museum's First Year

Newbridge Rd Parkway bridge (1908-1948) looking N at Newbridge Rd in today’s Levittown, under construction nearing its completion, likely Sept 1908. The CRR grade crossing is at the bottom. RR crossing sign missing in the photo. The Newbridge Hotel is hidden behind the east embankment on the right, a favorite spot for viewing the Vanderbilt Cup Races from the rooftop. Sorry, do not know either car :(

From Mystery Friday Foto #15 Solved: The Newbridge Road Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1908

Weren’t original restorations of all Challenger Falcons begun by Kim Haynes of Gastonia, North Carolina?  I believe I have pictures of them in his shop, from years ago.  Does anyone know where Kim is these days?

From Restoration Update #1: The 1962 Holman-Moody Challenger III