Vanderbilt Cup Races

This is the Newbridge Rd (Parkway) Bridge in what is now Levittown. We are looking north toward Hicksville. We can identify this bridge because of the Central Branch railroad immediately in front (south) of it. This would be around August 1908, as I think the bridge was completed in September, for the upcoming Vanderbilt Cup in October.

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

Jerusalem Ave.  Due to the train tracks in front of the LIMP crossing.  Means we are looking north.

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

Newbridge Road. Rationale: The LIMP was parallel to and next to the old Central Rail Road in this area. The photographer is looking north. July-September 1908.

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

This is the Newbridge Road Parkway Bridge in today’s Levittown.  The Central RR tracks ran directly south of the bridge.  Photographer is looking north. 
Sept., 1908.

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

I’m well familiar with this spot as I live less than a mile from there.

This is the overpass for Newbridge Road. It is easily identified due to it’s proximity to the railroad tracks, part of the Stewart Line taken over and later abandoned by the LIRR. Photographer is looking north as the tracks were on the south side of the overpass.

This section was part of the first phase of the construction so this is summer of 1908.

I have no idea who the big wigs are in the car.

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

I work with soil, aggregates, paving ect. on a daily basis. I appreciate how hard those men worked with limited equipment back in early 1900’s. Hard labor.

From Kleiner's Korner: Constructing Three Motor Parkway Extensions

Howard, you continue to be a leader in our Tucker world and your generosity is overwhelming! The Savoy is an instant destination and you are a hero. With the 75th Anniversary of Tucker coming up I hope to visit and celebrate with you both soon!
John Tucker Jr

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

Fascinating!

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

Since it’s a “parkway bridge” very close to railroad tracks, I think it’s the LIMP going over Newbridge Road. We are looking north with the Central Branch LIRR in the foreground. Probably around September, 1908. Just a wild guess but could the car be a De Dietrich touring?

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

This is the Newbridge rd bridge that carried the Motor Parkway over it.  The photographer is facing north because we know that the Central Railroad tracks were just south of the Motor Parkway.  This picture was taken in August of 1908.  Now onto the hard part.  That car.  I have finally settled on thinking that this car might very well be a 1908 Thomas Flyer model F.  I didn’t attach a supporting photo but through my research enough points of comparison match up.  The way the front and rear fenders curve.  How the headlights sit between the grill and the fenders.  The strapped on spare tire on the passenger side.  And the way the front edge of the curved dashboard lines up with the curve of the hood of the car.  Of course I could be wrong and this is just a Buick model 10 that’s missing it’s front emblem.

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

The car is the Hotchkiss belonging to Jefferson deMont Thompson, chairman of the Vanderbilt Cup Commission. Thompson was apparently a Hotchkiss addict, as he is shown in several Hotchkiss cars on a series of photos available in the Detroit Public Library archive. On the mystery photo he is probably inspecting the 1908 race course. A slightly better photo of the same car was published in The Automobile of October 22, 1908 (a week before the race), showing Thompson at the wheel of his Hotchkiss with Major Crowley of the Irish Brigade, in charge of the protection of the Vanderbilt Cup race course.
The Hotchkiss is clearly ‘americanized’ with its roadster-type fenders and what looks like a toy-tonneau body.

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

Mark, East Northport post office, but Commack SD, FD, AD.  Not quite as confusing.

In regards to the pavement, when I think about most roads back then, I get that this was an improvement over them - added to the fact you could soon go quite a distance.

From Kleiner's Korner: Constructing Three Motor Parkway Extensions

Bethpage
Stewart Ave Bridge w/ Central RR Branch in foreground
Looking North
August 1908

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

Art- I heard from two guys at a vintage car club meet debating of similar crazy situation of Floral Park, School district, Post Office, Police force, property tax, etc. etc. depending on where you live could be a sticky situation. The other evening one of gent I saw who had that debate telling me the other gent was not living in Floral Park as he claimed, closer to Elmont! OH! Something new I learned.

From Kleiner's Korner: Constructing Three Motor Parkway Extensions

Sorry Mark but even though moving away recently I did spend 38 years in the area.  Substation and FD Company 3 are both in Levittown as their addresses show. 

My home (a few blocks north) had a Levittown zip code (but not a Levitt home)but my kids went to East Meadow schools (some actually were in Westbury), paid taxes to East Meadow and water supplied by Hicksville Water District. 
Kind of mixed up but that’s LI!  Lol

From Kleiner's Korner: Constructing Three Motor Parkway Extensions

The photo shows the Locomobile stand at the Chicago National Motor Show, held between 6 and 13 February 1909. On the left of course the winner of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup, which is visible next to the car. The cup on the right was won by George Robertson in the Fairmount Park races on 26 September 1908, just a month before the Vanderbilt Cup. At which event and by whom the smaller cup in the middle was won, is not known to me.

From Mystery Friday Foto #14 Solved: Old 16 at the 1909 Chicago National Motor Show

Hey Art, you forgot where your old neighborhood located? That old Borrow Pit now a electrical substation is in East Meadow! Note the East Meadow Fire Department 3 in the middle of the picture. Levittown located way east of this location.

From Kleiner's Korner: Constructing Three Motor Parkway Extensions

As an avid F1 fan, I’ve always admired Ferrari’s F1 cars. They’re not just machines, they’re works of art on wheels.

From Video of the Week: Ferrari F1 Pit Stop Perfection

I was at the library this past Friday April 7, I was very impressed with the two display cases, it was so professionally presented! I’m glad to know the Tucker Lady as we’re both members of the GNYR/AACA club.

From Greg O's Garage: A New Tucker Display at the Huntington Public Library by Dr. Meredith Jaffe

Great find and information, Art. Think those of us familiar with the LIMP realize that the location of the former Borrow Pit became a Electric Substation for Lilco and now PSEG LI. Below is the definition of Apposite, seems relevant : )

From Kleiner's Korner: Constructing Three Motor Parkway Extensions