About
The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
All Content © 2026 VanderbiltCupRaces.com
Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
Interesting stuff, Greg. Thanks for posting. And thank you Pat for providing the documentation. Here’s a Feb., 1978 about the Williston Park Bridge removal, possibly from Newsday. Last paragraph - “The bridge has not apparent historical or practical value”. I beg to differ!
From Greg O's Garage: Plans and aerials that document the removal of the Motor Parkway railroad bridges in Nassau County
Race results.
From Mystery Friday Foto #13 Solved: #J13 Maxwell and #G28 Sharp-Arrow competing in the 1908 Sweepstakes at the Bloomingdale Road Motor Parkway Bridge
Sept 10, 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes. J-13 Maxwell driven by Charles See, finished 4th for the Jericho team. The other racer’s radiator resembles a Mercedes-Simplex (bottom photo below), so possibly the P-43 Simplex driven by Frank Lescault, finished 4th for Motor Parkway team. Radiator does not resemble the winning P-42 Isotta driven by Herbert Lytle (middle photo below).
Racers just passed under the Bloomingdale Road highway bridge (1908-1948) in today’s Levittown.
From Mystery Friday Foto #13 Solved: #J13 Maxwell and #G28 Sharp-Arrow competing in the 1908 Sweepstakes at the Bloomingdale Road Motor Parkway Bridge
Great post Greg. Special thanks to Ron Ridolph for the 1983 captures. Sad day in Motor Parkway history.
From Greg O's Garage: Plans and aerials that document the removal of the Motor Parkway railroad bridges in Nassau County
Ok, I believe that this is the 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes held on October 10th. The car on the left is a Maxwell driven by Charles See. The vehicle finished 4th (only completed 3 laps) in the “Jericho” sweepstakes race of the day. The “J” on the front of the car helped identify this race, car and driver here. As for the other car on the right, this was a little more difficult for me to solve. I’m going to say its the Sharp Arrow driven by H.W. Sharp as part of the “Garden City” sweepstakes race. It finished first here in 1908 but was disqualified the following year. So now my best guess on the bridge in the background is the Station #80 highway bridge (Bloomingdale rd bridge). The photographer is pretty much facing west. The curve immediately after the bridge, the scene of flat plains absent of trees seem to corroborate my guess. Also, I believe in the background of the overpass just to the right of the gathered crowd we might be able to see the water pump tower that was situated to the northwest of the bloomingdale rd bridge.
From Mystery Friday Foto #13 Solved: #J13 Maxwell and #G28 Sharp-Arrow competing in the 1908 Sweepstakes at the Bloomingdale Road Motor Parkway Bridge
Bloomingdale road?
From Mystery Friday Foto #13 Solved: #J13 Maxwell and #G28 Sharp-Arrow competing in the 1908 Sweepstakes at the Bloomingdale Road Motor Parkway Bridge
Great recent shots Dave Russo! Yes it is an incredible stretch of Motor Parkway that still exists today. I’ve been there. It’s amazing that it’s still there untouched!
Fabulous photo collection from Ron Ridolph documenting the Motor Parkway’s status in 1983, including removal of the LIMP RR bridges and of the Eastern Terminus at the Petit Trianon. Amazing work by all!
From Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved; The Oyster Bay LIRR Bridge Williston Park & East Williston Abutment
Tesla has autonomous driving nationwide but not in taxi form. Autonomous travel is the way towards the future and safest means of automobile travel today, but it’s not perfect (still some bugs that need sorting out.) Travel would be even safer if all cars were autonomous. Unnerving experience at first while sitting in one of these cars. This technology is just a stepping stone towards the future of auto travel that will eventually become obsolete.
From I have seen the future: Take a ride in the Waymo
Cynthia, thanks so much for the comment and photo. Much appreciated!
From Mystery Friday Foto #49 Solved:The 1958 Airplane/Three Car Crash on the Southern State Parkway
There’s weird and odd…and then there’s this! Great Post Art!
From Kleiner's Korner: Arthur R. Pardington's Queensboro Bridge Celebration Match Race
These pics are from last year….June 2022.
From Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved; The Oyster Bay LIRR Bridge Williston Park & East Williston Abutment
Pics from 2019—- the last pic is once you cross the tracks and start heading east towards Roslyn Road, one of the most beautiful LIMP remnant locations.
From Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved; The Oyster Bay LIRR Bridge Williston Park & East Williston Abutment
Then continuing east from that point, you get to this:
https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/sam_daves_excellent_motor_parkway_hike_ix_the_finish_line_half_hollows_hill
From Exploring the Motor Parkway in Wheatley Heights
Pics from our 2017 Vanderbilt Day in this zone:
https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/sam_daves_excellent_motor_parkway_hike_viii_wheatley_hills_half_hollows_hil
From Exploring the Motor Parkway in Wheatley Heights
Thanks for continuing to explore, Eric.
Frank - here’s my web page for the area west of Bagatelle (probably did that exploration around 15 years ago). Not sure what’s still there.
https://limparkway.webs.com/bagatelle-road-west
From Exploring the Motor Parkway in Wheatley Heights
Nice photo of you and your dad, Cynthia : )
From Mystery Friday Foto #49 Solved:The 1958 Airplane/Three Car Crash on the Southern State Parkway
Nice going, Eric. This area of the LIMP say from Colonial Springs Rd then northerly to the LIE is interesting because of the original roadway being more and less hidden. Some of us have braved the ROW that’s east of Bagatelle, then north to the LIE. Like you said, the pavement is just below the soil.
Don’t know if anyone has been able to explore the ROW that is north of Butterfly Park, up to Threepence Dr. Realize this would require permission, about 1/2 of it is rear property of Bagatelle, other 1/2 curves to rear property of Farmington. Maybe it has been demolished, perhaps not. It would be interesting to investigate.
Maps below are 1984 and Current. Kind of hard to see, but the LIMP is visible in 1984 through the rear properties.
From Exploring the Motor Parkway in Wheatley Heights
Could be the Oyster Bay- LIRR parkway bridge in Williston Park. Taken down in 1983
From Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved; The Oyster Bay LIRR Bridge Williston Park & East Williston Abutment
mayan ruins.
Bridge was never built.
2018
From Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved; The Oyster Bay LIRR Bridge Williston Park & East Williston Abutment
I don’t know the pics from the early 1900s, but I know all of the current ones!
This is the remaining bridge abutment on the railroad tracks between Willis Ave and Roslyn Rd.
The stretch from this abutment to Roslyn Road is a great LIMP location.
From Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved; The Oyster Bay LIRR Bridge Williston Park & East Williston Abutment
Page 152 of 1029 pages ‹ First < 150 151 152 153 154 > Last ›