Vanderbilt Cup Races

1911 Palmer-Singer
1st Transcontinental flight (between Sheapshead Bay, NY and Long Beach CA).
Calbraith Perry Rodgers, pilot.  The car was used during stops to locate the plane and Rodgers.   
Rodgers broke an ankle while making an emergency landing before getting to his final stop, Long Beach, CA.

From Mystery Friday Foto #34 Solved: The Incredible and Historic 'First' North American Transcontinental Flight

I grew up in Fresh Meadows and was nine years old when I saw my first, and brand-new, ‘57 Chevy - turquoise and white. A stunner then and a stunner now. Although a “death trap,” as all cars were then, the design was and remains magnificent; sleek but not overstated, and reflective of the coming passenger jet age in ‘58 with the British Comet and in ‘59 with the Boeing 707. I’ll soon be 78 years old and have been unable to discern the make and year of any given car for more decades than I can remember, except for the “classics,” like those of the ‘50s and ‘60s. Can anyone tell me what the difference is in the sheetmetal between a Genesis and a Bentley as they rush by, given that I can’t see insignia plates now. And to those who yell that I’m just a “boomer,” I say that I’m thankful for the type of simple pleasures I had, like playing stickball and football in the street, running home to get a quarter when the Good Humor or Bungelow Bar man came by, or catching a big event with live TV like the Ed Sullivan show.

From Back in Automotive Time: The January 1957 Car Life Magazine Part 1: America's First Super Highway

The first airplane flight across th US was by Cal Rodgers in his Wright Type EX biplane called the Vin Fiz after his grape drink soda sponsor.  He left Sheepshead Bay on September 17th, 1911 and after 70 stops made it to Pasadena, CA on November 12th.  The car in the photo which was probably taken in California is a (1911?) Palmer-Singer.  A week after the flight Rodgers crash landed in Compton and wound up on the crutches seen in the photo.  Attached is another photo of the car (Google Images) with his mechanician at the wheel, a piece of fabric from the Vin Fiz and a photo of a few books about this trip.

From Mystery Friday Foto #34 Solved: The Incredible and Historic 'First' North American Transcontinental Flight

The cover photo appears to be the entrance to the Motor Parkway from the Winchester Boulevard side of Alley Pond Park,next to where the tennis courts are today

From Back in Automotive Time: The January 1957 Car Life Magazine Part 1: America's First Super Highway

That’s a 1911 Palmer-Singer with aviation pioneer Calbraith Perry Rodgers sitting in the passenger seat. Rodgers was the first person to fly an airplane from coast to coast. The historic event took place from September 17, 1911 to November 5, 1911 with many stops (and crashes) along the way. The car was part of the support staff the followed along the route by train from New York to California and was used to retrieve Rodgers whenever he landed or crashed if he came down too far away from the train. Vin Fiz was the name of his plane and was actually a new grape drink that being introduced by The Armour Company that sponsored Rodgers during his historic flight. The crutches had been used by Rodgers as walking aids for injuries he sustained during his many crashes. (There were at least 15 crashes). Tragically, Rodgers was killed on April 3, 1912 when he became the victim of the first recorded fatal bird strike by an aircraft.

From Mystery Friday Foto #34 Solved: The Incredible and Historic 'First' North American Transcontinental Flight

the area where the rings would fit you can put your pinky finger in and it is about the same thickness! Can you imagine what it was like to have those heavy pistons flying up and down in a cylinder with the car going 80 mph?
to actually see and touch some of these century old parts is just amazing. other parts - brass hubcaps that weight 3 lbs, (keep in mind modern cars do not have 3 lbs. of brass in the entire car) brass lights that burn a flammable fuel tires whose tread pattern spell out non skid…....

From Kleiner's Korner: Willie K's Simplex Test Driver

WOW, thanks for the comparison photo, Walt! Had no idea how these early automobile parts differ from today.

From Kleiner's Korner: Willie K's Simplex Test Driver

forgot to mention next to the smaller piston is a quarter to give you some idea of size

From Kleiner's Korner: Willie K's Simplex Test Driver

the pistons in the Simplex were cast iron - very very heavy! Here is a photo of two SImple3x pistons, the larger is the 75 hp and the smaller the 50 hp, the piston and rod with them is for comparison is from a modern 350 hp engine.

From Kleiner's Korner: Willie K's Simplex Test Driver

OOOPF!!!!!!

From Update-InstaGRAM report: The Sam Mann Collection Auction

That’s the Woodbury Turn with the photographer looking approximately south-east and the Woodbury School at the top of the hill. The date is October 24, 1908 during the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The #8 Thomas racer, driven by Joe Seymour, is about to turn west onto Jericho Turnpike with Mr. Peterday as his mechanician. Seymour finished in 8th. position.

From Mystery Friday Foto #33 Solved: The Well-Known 'Woodbury Turn'

This is the “Woodbury turn” at Jericho tpke.  The photographer is looking in a southeasterly direction.  The race is the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race held on October 24th.  The building in question is the Woodbury school.  The car is a 1908 Thomas driven by Joe Seymour and finished 8th in the race during the 9th lap when the race was called.

From Mystery Friday Foto #33 Solved: The Well-Known 'Woodbury Turn'

Many thanks to Howard Kroplick and Al Velocci for keeping Long Island Motor Parkway history alive. Garden City has its own personal stretch of the historic roadway still intact, alongside the Parkway Manager’s House on Vanderbilt Court, also intact. I would proudly display the rare stretch of 0.3 mile (1600 feet) roadway for the community to observe, use, and learn from.

From Garden City News: Village urged to restore historic Motor Parkway remnants

I remember Del Insko. He was a great driver! https://sports.nyhistory.org/category/harness-racing/

Enjoy,

Howard Kroplick

From Memories of Roosevelt Raceway (1936-1988)

My uncle is Del Insko (one of my mother’s younger brothers) and he us now 94 years old and in a nursing home in Clinton, WI and, according to him, being held against his will! Actually, he lived by himself for the last 10 years after his wife died and his children had hospice check on him everyday. Several weeks ago hospice walked in on him as he was having a grand mall seizure and he was rushed to the hospital but was not allowed to go home. He had fell several months ago while crossing the road at his farm near So Beloit, IL and had broken his hip. He hospitalized and had surgery but signed himself out after 2days and 2 nights in the hospital,
He is wheelchair bound now but still wants to go home to his farm he bought in 1957.
Who knows, he might just “get-‘er-done”! He is one tough guy!!

From Memories of Roosevelt Raceway (1936-1988)

I have a set new in box{green} also with the original invoice, from mnpls. Grandpa had an order for a tucker but ended up with a 1950 stude bullet nose conver, when tucker became unavailable.

From Tucker 1044 gets Brand New Tucker Seat Covers

When I was a lid, maybe 12(?) my dad took me to the midget car racing one night. It was a good show. Very loud, I loved it.

From Update: InstaGRAM Report: From the Marty Himes Family Collection- The History of Indoor Three-Quarter Midget Racing at Island Garden Arena

There’s your connection, Gram.  Always interesting to find things like that.

From Update: InstaGRAM Report: From the Marty Himes Family Collection- The History of Indoor Three-Quarter Midget Racing at Island Garden Arena

Art,

Thank you so much for the additional research! It’s quite fitting that Arnold Carlson was a Floral Park resident, because that’s the town where I live!

From Update: InstaGRAM Report: From the Marty Himes Family Collection- The History of Indoor Three-Quarter Midget Racing at Island Garden Arena

Great post, Gram, thanks for sharing.  I lived in Valley Stream in the 60s and 70s and often went to West Hempstead - I remember passing the Island Garden Arena many times.  I don’t believe I attended any events there but always wondered what was presented.  Here’s some background material pertaining to its origin, the last ad (Feb. 13, 1965) I’ve been able to find promoting midget racing (notice the other ad promoting the Roslyn at the Clock Tower movie theater and the movie) and rock bands that performed there.

From Update: InstaGRAM Report: From the Marty Himes Family Collection- The History of Indoor Three-Quarter Midget Racing at Island Garden Arena