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.
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Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
Well done Greg! Very interesting project and I love the comparative photos of then and now along the route.
From Greg O's Garage: Then & Now: The 1906 Course (Update 1/18/23)
Outstanding work! Loved this! Kudos to Greg and Gram!
From Greg O's Garage: Then & Now: The 1906 Course (Update 1/18/23)
Frank-
The course now has about 4 or 5 school zones on it. During lap 2, it was around 2:30pm as schools were letting out which slowed us down a bit. Most of the course isn’t too badly affected by rush hour.
From Greg O's Garage: Then & Now: The 1906 Course (Update 1/18/23)
How interesting!! Fun to follow!
From Greg O's Garage: Then & Now: The 1906 Course (Update 1/18/23)
Great post - thanks Greg and Gram!!! Sounds like an interesting day. Attached is a postcard in my collection that was sent from a person named “Arthur” (no, not me) who attended the race “and had a fine time”. Wonder if anyone attended your running of the course and will be sending a postcard! Also attaching a map of LI estates around that time showing the hairpin turn and the E.D. Morgan estate.
From Greg O's Garage: Then & Now: The 1906 Course (Update 1/18/23)
The remains of the Motor Parkway looking west towards Willis Avenue along the entrance to the Williston Park Pool Complex.
Parkway bridge over the Oyster Bay branch of the LIRR and Roslyn Road Bridge (and Roslyn Lodge) were just east of the complex. Willis Avenue bridge just west.
On May 18, 2003 Sam Berliner III and Walt Godsen presented a Motor Parkway historical marker at the site.
1926, 1950 and current photos of the area.
From Mystery Friday Foto #2 Solved: A surviving section of the Motor Parkway off Willis Avenue in Williston Park
This photo is looking west at Lakeville Road in distance. Photographer standing on Great Neck School south service road
From Mystery Friday Foto #2 Solved: A surviving section of the Motor Parkway off Willis Avenue in Williston Park
Great concept for a story! Thanks for sharing your excellent adventure.
From Greg O's Garage: Then & Now: The 1906 Course (Update 1/18/23)
I love this website.
From Mystery Friday Foto #1 Solved: A 1956 aerial over the Meadowbrook Parkway Extension
Metal is always best for plates!
From Greg O's Garage: Chrysler's Chrysler Gets New Plates
Looks like the section next to the VFW building in Williston Park, north of Willis Ave on the Albertson border.
From Mystery Friday Foto #2 Solved: A surviving section of the Motor Parkway off Willis Avenue in Williston Park
And here’s another tidbit about the LIE that holds special meaning to my family and I especially my 33 year-old daughter who began her life in the fast lane. Read on . . . And here’s a “Now” picture of the site, unfortunately I didn’t have a camera to take a “Then” picture back on the eventful day. By the way, I still haven’t gotten the NYSDOT to erect the plaque I wanted.
From LongIsland.com: Crazy Facts About the Long Island Expressway
Additional details about the proposed upper deck.
From LongIsland.com: Crazy Facts About the Long Island Expressway
Very interesting bits of LIE knowledge. Thanks for sharing, Howard.
Here’s some information about the second deck from a Newsday article from October 4, 1963. The idea was part of Traffic Commissioner Henry Barnes’ 4 step “far-reaching plan to plan to help clear up the Long Island Expressway’s chronic jam”.
From LongIsland.com: Crazy Facts About the Long Island Expressway
Never tried this test before but great post Greg. Those numbers seem about right in 2023, but not during rush hour. More to come on this soon
From Greg O's Garage: Then & Now: The 1906 Course (Update 1/18/23)
Williston Park facing east. Near the former Willis Ave Bridge. Not sure of the ceremonies though.
From Mystery Friday Foto #2 Solved: A surviving section of the Motor Parkway off Willis Avenue in Williston Park
Entryway at Great Neck South High School?
From Mystery Friday Foto #2 Solved: A surviving section of the Motor Parkway off Willis Avenue in Williston Park
Gram’s GPS tracking for the day
From Greg O's Garage: Then & Now: The 1906 Course (Update 1/18/23)
The photographer is in Williston Park, standing on some of the last remaining drivable parts of the Motor Parkway in Nassau County. The photographer is facing west and is just west of the town pool (not shown). We are about 600 or 700 feet east of where the Willis ave LIMP bridge was. The Motor Parkway straightaway here and some of the marked parking spaces shown on the sides in this picture seem to corroborate my guess. On May 18th, 2003 the town of Williston Park placed a historical marker on the east side of Willis ave and held a dedication ceremony on that day.
From Mystery Friday Foto #2 Solved: A surviving section of the Motor Parkway off Willis Avenue in Williston Park
thanks for sharing us and in future I hope you will write more like that ones
From Video of the Week: Ferrari F1 Pit Stop Perfection
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