Vanderbilt Cup Races

Westbury, East Meadow - view looking northeast
LIMP, Merrick (Whaleneck) Ave., Stewart Ave., Newbridge Ave.
Salisbury Links
LIMP Merrick Ave. Bridge
CRRLI Train Trestle leading to the Meadowbrook Golf Clubhouse
Salisbury Links Clubhouse
1924

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

#1044, was actually entered and accepted by Pebble beach BEFORE the restoration began.  They had 8 MONTHS to do the job.  Just listened to Mark Lieberman as well as Tucker Great Grandson’s Sean & Mike Tucker tell the story of Preston Tucker as well as the restoration process of #1044. The car is currently on display at the Savoy Automotive Museum in Carterville, Georgia (Metro Atlanta)  Sean and Mark were very involved with the restoration process of #1044.  Ida Automotive did the project.  It is considered the most awarded Tucker and the most accurate Tucker in existence.

From Mark Lieberman's Journey: Hunting Down the Barn-Find Tucker 1044 in 2016

Northeastern most corner of what will become Mitchel Field.  Curved, tree lined roadway is Meadow Brook Club Road which goes under the Central Railroad of LI trestle just before arriving at the Salisbury Plains station at Merrick Ave.  The Salisbury Links Clubhouse is adjacent to the train station. 

Parallel routes running West to East, left to right are from top to bottom, the LIMP, Stewart Avenue and the Central RR.  Meadow Brook Toll Lodge can be seen just to the West of Merrick Avenue along with the bridge leading over it and on to the links at Salisbury.

Out of range and to the Southwest of the photo are the Polo Grounds which border Camp Mills and later, Mitchel.

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

The book describes the author’s trip from NYC to LI and back.

From UPDATE - Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race in Literature and Entertainment (Part 2)

“Excuse My Dust” is another book with references to the Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race.  Written in 1943 the author, Bellamy Partridge, details his past experiences with the automobile.

From UPDATE - Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race in Literature and Entertainment (Part 2)

moses was kind of a dick..

From Newsday 1954 Article: "Motor Parkway 'Ghosts' Haunt Northern State"

Raymond Lowey designed what one sees, and he was an amazing designer.  Also did the very famous GG1 locomotive.  But the engineers did a great job too!

From In the Black Beast Garage: The 1963 Studebaker Avanti

Thanks Greg. 

Al - here’s a link about Shiloh and George Vanderbilt purchasing and moving it to accommodate his building of Biltmore.  Thanks for bringing that to our attention. 

https://thelaurelofasheville.com/lifestyle/heritage/historic-shiloh-communitys-roots-run-deep/

And some pics from mountainx.com.

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 3: The Vanderbilt (George) Connection and the Rise of the Automobile in my New Home State - North Carolina

Agreed, a 58 year old Studebaker, that looks Sleek, Beautiful and MODERN.
The Avanti was ahead of it time.

From In the Black Beast Garage: The 1963 Studebaker Avanti

They still look sleek and beautiful today!  And modern!

From In the Black Beast Garage: The 1963 Studebaker Avanti

We visited Biltmore in 2018 (and Fallingwater last summer). The estate, and the nearby city of Asheville, are fascinating. Asheville is loaded with art and art galleries.

It’s interesting to note that while George was not involved in running any of the Vanderbilt railroads, he had a rail line built so that materials could be brought to the Biltmore site while it was under construction. The rail line was dismantled after construction was completed.

One of the articles mentions “colored people” disposing of “small tracts” of land. The African-American neighborhood of Shiloh was located north of Biltmore. When George bought the land, he moved the entire community to south Asheville, where it remains today.

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 3: The Vanderbilt (George) Connection and the Rise of the Automobile in my New Home State - North Carolina

Art, Section 4, Paragraph 12, has been temporally suspended because of Covid. So OK to send, my sense of fairness allows me a to add another dollar toward shipping costs. Please send it same- day- delivery.

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 2 - The Vanderbilt (Willie K.) Connection and the Rise of the Automobile in my New Home State - North Carolina

Another great post Art! Biltmore has been on my bucket list for a while now, and since I’m a huge admirer of Frank Lloyd Wright, Fallingwater is another home on that list.

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 3: The Vanderbilt (George) Connection and the Rise of the Automobile in my New Home State - North Carolina

Hmmmm…I had a plate very similar to that one. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to find it in a few months!

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 2 - The Vanderbilt (Willie K.) Connection and the Rise of the Automobile in my New Home State - North Carolina

Al, Section 4, Paragraph 12 of the Code states the lost item has to be returned in person.  (its in the small print, very small print)!  So let me know when I can expect you.  And are you sure you’re not the Loco person?  We can take this offline if you’ld like - don’t want others to put in claim for the plate now that its been found as well!

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 2 - The Vanderbilt (Willie K.) Connection and the Rise of the Automobile in my New Home State - North Carolina

Art, I cant believe it…. you found MY Motor Parkway plate # 52 !!!! Let me explain, #52 was first issue to Shelby Tucker. It fell of of his auto while the way to a round of golf with Moss Stang, Kaiser Frazier and Willie K. on the course behind your home. Shelby reported the loss to the local Motor Vehicle Dept. and asked to have returned to him if ever found. The North Carolina Motor Vehicle Code has a “if ever found” clause which states that if an item has been reported as lost and later found….. it must be returned to the party that reported the loss or to his heirs. I purchased the rights to the plate from Shelby’s heir, Loco Mobile. So,  please sent it to me insuring for $5000, willing to contribute a dollar toward shipping costs.

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 2 - The Vanderbilt (Willie K.) Connection and the Rise of the Automobile in my New Home State - North Carolina

Thanks Al for the great suggestion to see what else I could find in my backyard!  Lo and behold - just found a Motor Parkway plate and a racer!  Wonder if George Robertson ever drove this one on the Southport Spur!  Can anyone identify the racer?

And not so coincidental, Greg.  I paid extra to get a home lot on the spur!  I was going to build a garage for the racers in my backyard but the HOA wouldn’t permit it!

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 2 - The Vanderbilt (Willie K.) Connection and the Rise of the Automobile in my New Home State - North Carolina

Our deepest condolences to the Helck family and to you on the tragic loss of Tim Jerry and Rita

From Sad news: Tim Helck has died at the age of 64 years

I think the photo was taken in Jericho on the Jericho Turnpike, possibly facing south or southeast. The individuals were all members of the William Cullen Bryant family. They were there watching the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on October 24, 1908. The car on the far left is a Stanley Steamer. From left to right I think we’re looking at Fanny Godwin White, Elizabeth Marquand Godwin, Frederick Marquand Godwin (back to camera), Elizabeth Love Godwin, Elizabeth Godwin White, and Harold Godwin. It’s possible I have the last two “Elizabeths” reversed.

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: The family of William Cullen Bryant of Roslyn Harbor watching the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race in Jericho

The Bob Swanson Vanderbilt car had a Midget Offenhauser engine bur was a purpose built car for the race with a longer wheelbase than standard midgets. After WWII it had a DO HAL engine installed and was raced as a sprint car. Later a Hudson six was installed and it raced on the Dry Lakes. In the 1950’s a Ford flathead was installed. The front end was converted to a cross spring. I spoke to the second to last guy that drove it, he said it finally crashed badly. I’d pay dearly for the remains if they are still out there somewhere . Bob Swanson

From The Two Midget Racers in the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race