Vanderbilt Cup Races

So neat to see something like this that people didn’t know about.

From Exclusive from the Garden City Archives: Old 16 Locomobile taking a turn in the hamlet of Jericho during the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

The driver in this picture looks like Harry Grant.  The winner of the 1909 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races.  The car is a 1911 Locomobile Runabout.  It was manufactured by the Everitt-Metzger-Flanders (E-M-F) Company built in Bridgeport Connecticut.  The car has a 1912 Massachusetts license plate on it indicating that this might be his personal vehicle.  He may be taking advantage of the closed course to make an informal speed run.  The location here is Old Orchard Beach in Maine.  And the event is probably the 10 mile loop race held on July 5th 1912.

From Mystery Friday Foto #36 Solved: Harry Grant in an Alco at the 1912 Old Orchard Beach Meet in Maine

That Model A is fully dressed!

From A Walt Gosden Special: Signs of the Times Part III

In case someone doesn’t know, Heath: an area of uncultivated land. I realize this was fictional, but he describes the Hempstead Heath being 100 miles long ( Long Island is about 120 miles long ) Remember Mad Max ( Mel Gibson )? Maybe this publication was referred to for the movie. : )

From Kleiner's Korner: A Very Imaginative (and Horrific) Tale of a 1902 Auto Race on Long Island

Dave- Did you know Lattingtown had an actual town center?
The best story about the wealthy buying up property for their estates is ‘Meudon’, the palatial estate of William Guthrie, and ‘Ormston’, the estate of John Aldred. Guthrie and Aldred got together and bought the entire town of Lattingtown and leveled some 60 houses and businesses for their two neighboring estates.

Look up ‘Meudon’, designed by my favorite architect, C.P.H. Gilbert…
http://www.oldlongisland.com/search/label/Meudon

From Greg O's Garage; The Country Estates of the Motor Parkway/Vanderbilt Cup Race Officials and Directors

Got it thanks Greg. Cool pic of the tree line. I was aware of the still existing tree line on the southern state. Very cool that it’s still there. I was also aware that was not the original house, but thanks for clarifying that was Sr and not Jr. Usually families bought properties near each other in those times…see the Pratts or Phipps families who basically bought entire towns! Any Gold Coast mansion info you have or need let me know. I’m into that stuff.

From Greg O's Garage; The Country Estates of the Motor Parkway/Vanderbilt Cup Race Officials and Directors

Greg O. There was a major change at that intersection the day before you snapped your photo. The wooden utility poles were replaced by those made of metal.

From Mystery Friday Foto #35 Solved: Bert Dingley taking the Hicksville Turn in a Pope-Hartford at the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Greg - Great “after” shot of the 1910 intersection. Nah, I don’t see any significant changes through the years, except that everything has been transformed here! :D

From Mystery Friday Foto #35 Solved: Bert Dingley taking the Hicksville Turn in a Pope-Hartford at the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Stopped by the turn this afternoon. Difficult to spot the changes, but it has changed slightly.

From Mystery Friday Foto #35 Solved: Bert Dingley taking the Hicksville Turn in a Pope-Hartford at the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Dave- a few notations about Belmont lake/park. That estate was that of his father, August Belmont SENIOR. The building there is not the original mansion and was the mansions replacement for Robert Moses. Also, the line of trees along the Southern State flanked the original driveway for the estate. It was stipulated they stay when the estate was taken over by Moses. The photo below are the trees when the driveway ran in between them

From Greg O's Garage; The Country Estates of the Motor Parkway/Vanderbilt Cup Race Officials and Directors

And the cool part is finding parts of the original estates that are forgotten—the Applegreen walled garden - common for the Gold Coast mansions to have magnificent gardens - always have to impress your guests!

From Greg O's Garage; The Country Estates of the Motor Parkway/Vanderbilt Cup Race Officials and Directors

Applegreen - much of this is still standing.

1. Main House #1

2. Main House #2

3. Stables

From Greg O's Garage; The Country Estates of the Motor Parkway/Vanderbilt Cup Race Officials and Directors

Continuing current pics:

1. Harbor Hill water tower

2. Harbor Hill gate house - a view from what was up until recently remnants of the Country Estates Tennis Club.

From Greg O's Garage; The Country Estates of the Motor Parkway/Vanderbilt Cup Race Officials and Directors

It’s been a while, Hello Motor Parkway Posse! This post got my attention, I am a bit of a Gold Coast enthusiast and love to explore remaining mansions or find ruins of old sites, so here you go with current pics of some of these sites:

1. DEEPDALE

2. August Belmont 1

3. August Belmont 2—this existing site is off the Southern State which is now the Belmont Lake State Park so I’m confused—this must be the father of Belmont Jr?

From Greg O's Garage; The Country Estates of the Motor Parkway/Vanderbilt Cup Race Officials and Directors

Brian- I hadn’t noticed that, but that sounds logical!

Great Idle Hour map as well. The tunnel is news to me!

From Greg O's Garage; The Country Estates of the Motor Parkway/Vanderbilt Cup Race Officials and Directors

Pope Hartford, Bert Dingley, 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Westbury Old Country Road Turn onto Ellison Avenue, looking east
October 1, 1910 - date of the race
Dingley and the car finished 10 after completing 22 laps.

From Mystery Friday Foto #35 Solved: Bert Dingley taking the Hicksville Turn in a Pope-Hartford at the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I believe that’s Bert Dingley driving in the #22 Pope-Hartford during the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race with C. F. Osgood as his mechanician. It looks like they have just turned left from Old Country Road at Ellison Avenue in Westbury with the photographer facing east. If I’m correct about the race, then the date must be October 1, 1910. Dingley finished 10th. that day.

From Mystery Friday Foto #35 Solved: Bert Dingley taking the Hicksville Turn in a Pope-Hartford at the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Nice going, Greg. Guess the Belmonts just scrambled their surname for the estate Blemton : )

Below is a map of Idle Hour along with a Key to the map. Note there’s a Tunnel ( 2 ) between the Mansion ( 1 ) & the Powerhouse ( 3 ). Screenshot is blurry, but the former college is still named Idle Hour/William Vanderbilt Mansion.

From Greg O's Garage; The Country Estates of the Motor Parkway/Vanderbilt Cup Race Officials and Directors

Great story. Thanks.

From Greg O's Garage; The Country Estates of the Motor Parkway/Vanderbilt Cup Race Officials and Directors

Bert Dingley, #22 Pope Hartford
Outside Westbury Turn
October 1, 1910 Vanderbilt Cup
10th place in the last Vanderbilt Cup race held on Long Island

From Mystery Friday Foto #35 Solved: Bert Dingley taking the Hicksville Turn in a Pope-Hartford at the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race