Vanderbilt Cup Races

The hauler almost appears a Buckminster Fuller design. It’s the 1955 Mercedes Benz Blue Wonder racing car transporter, the fastest in the world.
Summoned by British Colonel Michael McEvoy from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Rudolf Uhlenhaut was tasked to build a small racing car for an officer he once knew pre WWII days.
The same racer on board the transporter is Uhlenhaut’s Mercedes Benz prototype 300SLR coupe (Super Light Racing), the engineer, developer and father of the racer, among other racers.
At retirement in 1972, Uhlenhaut never owned a car and required hearing aid in old age.
Significant because the racer likely has been located and up for sale. It should be preserved as significant improvement in automotive design during the 20th century.

From Mystery Friday Foto #23 Solved: A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR W196S on top of the Mercedes-Benz "Blue Wonder" hauler

The vehicle that is being hauled is a 1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SLR.  The vehicle was created to demonstrate the power of what Mercedes could do.  The vehicle was capable of achieving 186 mph.  A 300 SLR competed at Le Mans in 1955 with historically tragic consequences.  On lap 35 the Mercedes collided with an Austin Healey, became airborne and crashed into the crowd killing 83 people and injuring over 100.  On May 5th 2022, a coupe version of this vehicle (only one of two built) was sold for $142 million.  The hauler in the picture is the “Blue wonder”, Mercedes’ race car transporter truck.  The original was crushed in 1967 but a replica was built in 2001.  It is now displayed at the Mercedes Benz museum in Stuttgart Germany carrying a 300SLR on its back.

From Mystery Friday Foto #23 Solved: A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR W196S on top of the Mercedes-Benz "Blue Wonder" hauler

Car make and model :1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR W196 S.

Why it was made: to be bad to the bone and to be raced at Le Mans in 1955 as well as other endurance races that are apart of the 1955 World Sportscar Championship.

This Roadster is one of “brothers” of the hard top 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut coupes that broke the world record for the most expensive car ever to be sold. Beating out the Ferrari gto by A long shot.

As for the transport truck it’s name is “The Blue Wonder” and j-Leno

From Mystery Friday Foto #23 Solved: A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR W196S on top of the Mercedes-Benz "Blue Wonder" hauler

Interesting debate regarding what to call the new invention. It calls to mind a newer invention, the computer. We call it a “computer,” meaning a device that does calculations. The French call it an “ordinateur,” meaning a device that follows orders (the program). Both are appropriate names, but their meanings are different.

From Greg O's Garage: The first Automobile Publication; The Horseless Age Part 2

I first thought that was the Mustang III in the photo. Never suspected Challenger III was nearby on the same floor. Great shot!

From Updated with a film: Ford Custom Car Caravan (1962-1966)

Much thanks Gary Hammond for clarifying the Motor Parkway House. The bridge under construction should be Nibbe’s farmway bridge, approx 0.14 miles from the hotel, as seen in the photo. If this is the Powell bridge, I’m now confused. What am I missing. HELP!

From Mystery Friday Foto #22 Solved: The Powell Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge in Bethpage under construction circa July/August 1908

This is looking north in Central Park/Bethpage NY. Workers are building the LIMP and the future HWY bridge at Powell Ave. This section was ready in September 1908, so maybe this in 1907. That’s the Motor Parkway House to the north & west. Gary Hammond has discovered that a Mathias Romscho managed this building in 1910. I was trying to figure out how long this building resided, but not sure if it was demolished or renovated up until the present. I screenshot 3 maps below.

From Mystery Friday Foto #22 Solved: The Powell Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge in Bethpage under construction circa July/August 1908

I am by far one of the least qualified people to do this, but I am a history and Vanderbilt enthusiast and I took on the challenge. I am guessing that the photographer is pointing slightly northeast, with the Vanderbilt park slightly to the right. The road going under the bridge would become or already was Springfield Boulevard. The building is probably 223-11 Kingsbury Avenue. Im not sure how to date a photo like this, but from a 1954 aerial photo and when the parkway was built, I would think that this is in 1908.

From Mystery Friday Foto #22 Solved: The Powell Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge in Bethpage under construction circa July/August 1908

I believe this is 1908 Bethpage looking north at construction of Motor Parkway’s Nibbe farmway bridge (Map below).
The Motor Parkway House was a hotel/Inn once located on Powell Avenue and built during Motor Parkway’s construction in 1908. The hotel aimed to accommodate parkway travelers reaching the mid-point between Fresh Meadows, Queens and Lake Ronkonkoma, Suffolk. I don’t know if the hotel was successful. Nearby was Richard and Ellen Foran’s Hot Dog Stand and Halfway House Tea Room located at intersection of Broadway and Motor Parkway.
Powell Avenue is approx 750ft / 0.14mi from where Nibbe’s bridge once stood. The distance in the photo corresponds. The hotel appears located on the west side of Motor Parkway in the direction towards Broadway.

.https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/thursday_april_30_2009_the_motor_parkway_house

From Mystery Friday Foto #22 Solved: The Powell Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge in Bethpage under construction circa July/August 1908

I’ve seen this “proposed loop” motor speedway map before.  I know its in the Hempstead plains, (present day Levittown), between Newbridge rd and Wantagh ave.  However, south of the constructed Motor Parkway, (just south of the grandstand) but north of the Central extension Stewart railroad is an out of place east/west road or right of way that did not make any sense to me.  I’m now assuming based on the further information included in this post that this was part of the 10 mile straight away track that was also proposed with the loop track.

From Kleiner's Korner: Long Island's Other Proposed Motor Speedways

This is the Powell ave bridge in Central Park (today’s Bethpage).  It was classified as a “highway” bridge since the Motor Parkway went under it.  It is one of the original bridges built for the 1908 Vanderbilt cup race, so the photo was probably taken in the summer of 1908.  The photographer is facing north and the building to the left is the “motor parkway house”.  This may have been used as sleeping quarters for the workers.

From Mystery Friday Foto #22 Solved: The Powell Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge in Bethpage under construction circa July/August 1908

Thanks for the kind words Brian.

From Greg O's Garage: The 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course in Motoring and Boating

Great piece of work, Dick Gorman. You’re very talented!

From Greg O's Garage: The 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course in Motoring and Boating

Wanted to show off my new watercolor painting based on the blog photo of the 1909 Chalmers-Detroit but now in color. Racecars are one of my favorite subjects for watercolor.

From Greg O's Garage: The 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course in Motoring and Boating

Interesting photos! The panoramic was a hit with readers as the magazine needed to print extra copies and reprinted the picture in the following week’s edition.

From Greg O's Garage: The 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course in Motoring and Boating

Hey Howard, I’ll judging at Old Westbury, your Fords will be Best of Show! with me!

From Holman Moody Challenger III and The Mustang III Concept Show Car to be featured at this Sunday's Gold Coast Cruisers Waterfront Car Show in Glen Cove

WOW! This particular Fairchild aerial photo contrasts to their usual high resolution aerial photography that was well known at the time, and still today. I can’t explain how this low resolution Fairchild photo was even processed for viewing!

From Mystery Friday Foto #21 Solved: The Fairchild FC-2 NC6370 flying over the Motor Parkway in East Meadow courtesy of the Fairchild Airplane Manufacturing Corporation (circa 1928-1932)

Mark, the Challenger III was always blue not maroon. Howard

From Holman Moody Challenger III and The Mustang III Concept Show Car to be featured at this Sunday's Gold Coast Cruisers Waterfront Car Show in Glen Cove

The Fairchild Plant and Flying Field was located at FARMINGDALE, L.I., N.Y., not Farmington.  Originally on Motor Ave. (later Liberty Aircraft), later in East Farmingdale on Conklin St. (later became Republic Aviation / Republic Airport).

Howard Kroplick: Gary, good catch, thanks!

From Mystery Friday Foto #21 Solved: The Fairchild FC-2 NC6370 flying over the Motor Parkway in East Meadow courtesy of the Fairchild Airplane Manufacturing Corporation (circa 1928-1932)

Flying over Salisbury/Eisenhower Park looking NNW.
Four horizontal roads at center are CRR, tree-lined Stewart Ave, Motor Parkway, and Old Country Rd. Also part of the Meadow Brook Club access road can be seen diagonal off Merrick Av.
Two vertical roads from left to right are Merrick Ave and Old Newbridge Av/Bellmore Rd (now Salisbury Park Drive).
Hard to see but related Motor Pkwy structures are Meadow Brook lodge, Merrick Av bridge, and Bellmore Rd bridge.
Guessing around 1930s, plane unknown

From Mystery Friday Foto #21 Solved: The Fairchild FC-2 NC6370 flying over the Motor Parkway in East Meadow courtesy of the Fairchild Airplane Manufacturing Corporation (circa 1928-1932)