Vanderbilt Cup Races

I see what you mean, Brian.  Maybe the topographer in 1919 was having a rough day (or feeling the effects of a joyful previous night).  Thanks for highlighting.

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

I was looking at USGS Topo Maps of the LIMP etc. Happened to notice a “creative route” of the motor parkway in the Central Islip area on the Year 1919 map. For comparison, below is the 1904, 1919 and 1947 maps. On the 1919 map, the parkway is north of Bridge Rd ( rather than south of ), and the curves aren’t right. Thought this was interesting ????

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

Is the car the Black Beast?

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

Mystery Foto #9… Actor Gary Cooper is the driver and the passenger is Henry Austin Clark. The year of the mystery Foto is 1965. The Car is, I believe, a 1911 Mercer Raceabout also known as the Type 35 R. One of America’s really great cars of the pioneer era. 
I will never be able to own one of these so perhaps I should do the next best thing and build a model

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

Is the driver Les Cutting?
The passenger is Austin Clark.
The car seems to be a Simplex.
Rog

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

Lee, Regarding your Feb. 10 post about the 1903 timeline. In all likelihood there was a bridge of sorts prior to the one built for the Meadowbrook Club. In the same vicinity the CRR had to deal with crossing over what at the time was known as the Meadow Creek and the surrounding swampy area. I imagine it was a simple affair built just a few feet above.

From Mystery Friday Foto #5 Solved: A 1930's view of the Motor Parkway area around Merrick Avenue in Westbury and East Meadow

Frank, Yeah, I’m sure your right about the photos being of the same bridge. I was hoping that someone would come up with some info about the possibility of a bridge under the the tracks for the polo ponies going to and from the new polo fields north of Stewart Ave.

From Mystery Friday Foto #5 Solved: A 1930's view of the Motor Parkway area around Merrick Avenue in Westbury and East Meadow

That looks like Gary Cooper in the driver’s seat with Henry Austin Clark, Jr. as his passenger. The car is a 1911 Mercer type 35-R Raceabout. Some references have the date as 1965 but since Gary Cooper died in 1961, the date of the photo is probably closer to 1960.

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

    The passenger is Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

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

Gary Cooper and Henry Austin Clark, Jr., in 1965. Trying to ID the car….

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

Thank’s for attaching a link to the 90 minute video of the presentation at the Savoy Museum. Can’t wait to watch it.
I have attached a couple of pictures of #1044 before the restoration.

From Savoy Automobile Museum Presentation-A Talk with Tuckers- Retelling the story of the Tucker car & the restoration of Tucker 1044

- Gary Cooper
- Austin Clark
- 1954
- 1911 Simplex Speed Car

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

Al - I believe photos of bridge 1,2, and 3 are of the same. I took that same photo of #3 about ten years ago. I am unable to locate it at this time.
Photo 1 is looking NE towards Stewart Ave/Merrick Ave.
Photo 2 is looking SW, opposite direction, towards the Hunt Club and Mitchel Field.
Photo 3 is looking W, towards Meadow Brook State Pkwy.
I will keep digging for that elusive photo

From Mystery Friday Foto #5 Solved: A 1930's view of the Motor Parkway area around Merrick Avenue in Westbury and East Meadow

Gary Cooper and Austen Clark in the 1910 Simplex.

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

The passenger is Austin Clark. I have no idea about anything else.

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

The photo shows actor Gary Cooper and Henry Austin Clark jr.

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

I believe Roebling Road Raceway in (Faulkville) Savannah, GA is named for him.  They are busy almost every day with races and track testing of products for racers.  It is now owned by the SCCA.  I was there last weekend for the AHRMA vintage motorcycle races.  I also hear Mr. Roebling owned local Modena Island, now called Skidaway Island.  On LaRoach Ave. there is a GA Historical marker showing the location of “The Mercer Auto Camp” used during the Vanderbuilt races held long ago.  See “The Great Savannah Races” by Quattlebaum.

From Correcting the Vanderbilt Cup Race Record of Washington Augustus Roebling II

Henry Austin Clark Jr is the passenger

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

Interesting article Art. When I was researching for the detachable rim post a while back I never came across a mention of a weight detriment from them. It seemed the main concern was the possibly unfair tire change speed during the race, but it appears they were heavy enough to make a considerable difference.

From Mystery Friday Foto #8 Solved: Weighing a race car prior to the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race in Garden City

Yes, it is the Brichet bodied Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS. Fantastic pictures!

From Exclusive: Photos from the Wallis C. Bird and Marjorie Winifred Kendall Bird Family Album