Vanderbilt Cup Races

The Ormond Beach Hotel. Own by Henry Flagler. 1992 torn down. It’s now condos.

From Mystery Friday Photo #10 Solved: The Hotel Ormond -An early race destination at the "Birthplace of Speed"

I grew up in Levittown just a half mile from this location. I’m also curious as to why Levitt didn’t purchase more property where the LIMP existed in Levittown. Thanks for the historical details Greg!

From Greg O's Garage: An actual strip of the Motor Parkway sold

Mystery Foto #10… The building is the Ormand Hotel in Ormand Beach, Florida. It was also known as The Flagler Hotel. Street address was 15 East Granada Boulevard.
In 1904 visitors and officials of the Ormand Datona Beach Automobile Tournament stayed at the hotel. At that event in January ‘04 Willy K set a land speed record of 92.3 mph. The building was razed in 1992 and a Condo is now on the property. To give credit where credit is due my wife, Marlyn Gorman solved this Mystery Foto even before I had a clue as to what building that was.

From Mystery Friday Photo #10 Solved: The Hotel Ormond -An early race destination at the "Birthplace of Speed"

  I remember Walt from the Long Island Old Car Club. Those are wonderful memories!
 
  Prayers to his family.

From Sad news: Walter McCarthy has passed at the age of 85

Great documentation of this part of the Motor Parkway ROW.  I still wonder why Levitt didn’t build on the Motor Parkway between Pintail lane and Jerusalem ave.  He seemed to have no problem buying land and building here as well as between Bloomingdale rd and Wantagh ave.

From Greg O's Garage: An actual strip of the Motor Parkway sold

-The building and its location

Ormond Hotel. Ormond Beach, Florida

-Its role in automotive history

Owner Henry Flagler in 1904 also owned the Ormond Garage, the first gasoline alley before Indianapolis Speedway. The hotel accommodated participating race cars during the beach races. The Ormond Garage would house the drivers and mechanics during the speed time trials. Owners and manufacturers stayed at the Ormond Hotel.

-The status of the building

Despite being added to the National Register of Historic places in 1980, in 1992 it was razed for condominiums.

From Mystery Friday Photo #10 Solved: The Hotel Ormond -An early race destination at the "Birthplace of Speed"

Close up of the cupola.

From Mystery Friday Photo #10 Solved: The Hotel Ormond -An early race destination at the "Birthplace of Speed"

The Ormond Hotel in Ormond Beach, Florida.

Headquarters for the road races that took place on the beach in the early 1900s, of which Willie K. participated.  The managers of the hotel in 1902, John Anderson and Joseph Price, organized the races with William J. Morgan of “Automobile” Magazine.  The Ormond Garage was built near the hotel in 1904 to service the racers and their mechanics and was known as “Gasoline Alley”.

Currently the Ormond Hertiage Condominium occupies the site where the hotel was.  Throughout its existence the hotel was a lifetime residence for the elderly and a retirement hotel, finally being demolished in 1992.  The only remaining part of the hotel is its cupola which sits in Fortunato Park across from the condominium.

From Mystery Friday Photo #10 Solved: The Hotel Ormond -An early race destination at the "Birthplace of Speed"

I once came upon a photo of Walter McCarthy, Walter Gosden, and Henry Austin Clark Jr., together surrounding an old relic in need of repair. I suspected the trio were all into renovating rare old motors.

My condolences to the McCarthy family during this difficult time.

From Sad news: Walter McCarthy has passed at the age of 85

- The Hotel Ormand, Ormand Beach, FL.
- Lodging, frequented by the Vanderbilts and others, convenient to racing at nearby Daytona Beach.
- The building was demolished in 1992 to construct a condominium.

From Mystery Friday Photo #10 Solved: The Hotel Ormond -An early race destination at the "Birthplace of Speed"

I only learned of Walter from the website here. His bio tells me he was a tremendous individual all around. Condolences to his family and may he rest in eternal peace.

From Sad news: Walter McCarthy has passed at the age of 85

Gary Cooper lived a bit NE of the museum; his wife’s family I believe were from the area, and as he aged he spent more time there, loving cars he would go to the museum to check them out and go for rides with Austin. Copper is buried in Southampton just east of the museum , no headstone to mark the grave but just a large natural stone. We used to drive through the graveyard after having lunch at John Ducks restaurant to pay our respects to Gary Cooper in the 1920 Autocar hotel bus.

From Mystery Friday Foto #9 Solved: Gary Cooper and Henry Austin Clark, Jr. going for a ride in the Hamptons (Circa 1960)

Or maybe the 1904 VCR course shown below.

From Kleiner's Korner: The Courses of the Vanderbilt Cup Races (in French)

I believe this ““Nashville Banner” article actually refers to the 1909-1910 course of the Vanderbilt Cup Race as it looks strikingly similar to the shape of my new home state, North Carolina.  Second photo is the course, third photo is North Carolina.

From Kleiner's Korner: The Courses of the Vanderbilt Cup Races (in French)

Crazy story!  I look forward to seeing it running!

From Video of the week: Tucker Car #50, the last Tucker automobile ever produced by Preston Tucker!

Al Prete is correct; Sloppy work by the NY Times. I wonder what major event occurred just before in 1904, that led to this map’s misrepresentation

From Kleiner's Korner: Alternative Courses of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race

The 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race was a ten-lap race in a clockwise pattern. It was not a single loop as depicted by the NY Times map. Missing in the NY Times map is the Springfield Blvd (Creed Ave) segment that connected the continuous course. Photo below

From Kleiner's Korner: Alternative Courses of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race

The Times map draws roads as railroads and railroads as roads? The RR spur from Garden City to Hempstead is missing?

Was “National Rifle Association” a station-stop on the LIRR?

Massapequa is spelled “Massepequa” in several places, and in one place, Merrick Road is called “Herrick Road.”

Warsaw County? Reminds me of the old insurance commercial: “Where are you from?” “Wausau.” “Welcome to America!”

From Kleiner's Korner: Alternative Courses of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Brian, As you noted, Bridge Rd. ran along side the north side of the Motor Parkway. There was a Highland Ave along the southside of the Parkway in the same area that ended at Joshua’s Path. At one time the three roads ran side by side by side; Today the western terminus of Bridge Rd. is just east of Joshua’s Path. Before the construction of the L.I.E. the western terminus was north of the L.I.E and just west of Caleb’s Path, It appears that the section of Bridge Rd., between Caleb’s Path and Joshua’s Path was done away with or incorporated into the Parkway.

From Kleiner's Kolumn: The Long Island Motor Parkway in Maps (Part I)

Hi
I have a signed front cover of a 1964 issue of The Bulb Horn signed by Peter Helck to Bill Pollock. Bill was President of the AACA many years ago, and my late husband, Ralph DeStefano worked for Bill for many years, and bought Bill’s antique car restoration business from him in the 1990’s. I am interested in selling the piece, but am unsure if it has any value.
I will attach two photos. Thank you.
Lizabeth Sloan
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

From Verifying an Original Peter Helck Painting