About
The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
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Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
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Recent Comments
The photo of Marty from the Long Island Antique Power Association July 2019 event in Riverhead with his memorabilia and his old stock cars setup. Was looking forward to go again this weekend event to say hello to the old boy, BUT! Hope he’s able to fully recovers from his injuries so we all can say HI MARTY again?
From Update July 20 2021: A visit to see Marty Himes and the Himes Museum of Automobile Nostagia
The driver is the famous Ohio born Barney Oldfield, Freestone tires from Akron Ohio.
A front wheel drive, NYC based, Christie.
Thank you for taking good care of the Clarence Peter Helck archives and sharing them along the way.
From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Barney Oldfield in the 1909 Christie Racer which established the 102.6 mph Indy lap record in 1916
Wishing Marty well and a speedy (of course speedy) recovery. I met him at the museum and at Lime Rock when he was racing a midget in the vintage events held in September. Always enjoyed speaking with him.
From Update July 20 2021: A visit to see Marty Himes and the Himes Museum of Automobile Nostagia
J. Walter Christie front drive Christie.
Barney Oldfield purchased the front drive Christie from Walter Christie in 1912.
Oldfield gave Firestone tires big exposure with the “My only Life Insurance are Firestone Tires”.
Barney Oldfield ran the front drive Christie 1912 through 1916.
In 1916 Christie was placed on display across the country.
Oldfield was about at the end of his career. He raced the “Golden Submarine” 1917 and 1918.
From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Barney Oldfield in the 1909 Christie Racer which established the 102.6 mph Indy lap record in 1916
List of Boyd Tucker colors
From Special Guest Post by Meredith Jaffe: Boyd’s Crystal Art Glass Tucker Figurines
A great day! So nice to see everyone again!
From Update: Highlights from the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society meeting at Waterfront at Roslyn
A perfect day! Warm but with a great breeze off the harbor. SO happy to be there for Art, and wish him well. It was just so nice for me to see everyone again after the past several years enduring recovery from heart surgery. Great to be among friends who are kindred spirits in the interest of the history of long island ! Thank you Howard and Roz for making this the best time I have had in years. Thanks to all who were there for being the gracious people who you all are.
From Update: Highlights from the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society meeting at Waterfront at Roslyn
Art, thanks for keeping the history of automobile and racing alive and well on LI.As a kid growing up and riding my bike on the motor parkway off NHP. You bring great memories. Enjoy North Carolina!
From Update: Highlights from the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society meeting at Waterfront at Roslyn
A kind tribute to Art, well deserving. Looks like you were in Newsday, Art. I’ll have to check this out. Hope you all had a great time!
From Update: Highlights from the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society meeting at Waterfront at Roslyn
An Epic Day. An ongoing inspiration.
From Update: Highlights from the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society meeting at Waterfront at Roslyn
Didn’t the LIMP promote itself with “no police”? Makes sense that they had some, but just wondering.
From Mystery Foto #27 Solved: Tommy Zinzi policing the Motor Parkway in front of the Meadow Brook Lodge
Marty has been my friend for decades. When I got interested in drawing sprints and midgets, we instantly found a common bond in Bill Schindler. Marty was always ready to help me drawn from his amazing store of knowledge and artifacts.He is an amazing person. Prayers and well wishes for him to recover and be home soon.
From Update July 20 2021: A visit to see Marty Himes and the Himes Museum of Automobile Nostagia
Dear colleagues. I enclose a news item published in The India Rubber World magazine, published on November 1, 1913. As you can see, Barney Oldfield is portrayed in the image, at the wheel of his Christie. In any case, the text does not specify much, because as it says: “We reproduce herewith a recent photograph”. I hope this news provides some clue ... Greetings from Barcelona, capital of Catalonia.
From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Barney Oldfield in the 1909 Christie Racer which established the 102.6 mph Indy lap record in 1916
Of course, the great Barney Oldfield with his Christie automobile … Where? I really do not know, as he made several race exhibitions in 1910s. Here are another view taken in the same photo-session… Sure many of the contributors will have the exact answer. Sincerely, Pau Medrano-Bigas
From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Barney Oldfield in the 1909 Christie Racer which established the 102.6 mph Indy lap record in 1916
Wishing Mr. Himes a speedy recovery. A serious accident indeed resulting such bodily injury. I find the public roadways today with more operators disregarding safety for themselves and for fellow motorists. Get well soon!
From Update July 20 2021: A visit to see Marty Himes and the Himes Museum of Automobile Nostagia
Thanks Howard, we will. I never met the man but bet he’s a tough nut. Has been on my mind to visit his museum ever since a group of you did several years ago.
From Update July 20 2021: A visit to see Marty Himes and the Himes Museum of Automobile Nostagia
Frank, Exactly right, The lodges all had safes to hold the the monies collected until picked up. Prior to the Motorcycle force Kienzle himself would do the collecting. This way he could check out conditions of the ROW and other handle other issues.
From Mystery Foto #27 Solved: Tommy Zinzi policing the Motor Parkway in front of the Meadow Brook Lodge
1909 Christie Front Drive
Barney Oldfield
Walter Christie beat Barney Oldfield and others with his new car at Gross Pointe, Michigan in August of 1909.
Oldfield bought the car and in 1915 in Tacoma he averaged 113.9 mph for a mile, and at Indianapolis in 1916 he set a new lap record of 102.6 mph.
No VCR connection to the car (let’s start the debate again).
Wayne Carroll Peterson is Barney Oldfield’s great, great nephew.
Information obtained from vanderbiltcupraces.com, firstsuperspeedway.com and The Henry Ford Museum.
From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Barney Oldfield in the 1909 Christie Racer which established the 102.6 mph Indy lap record in 1916
Amazing details as always Al, much appreciated! I figure the Monday morning collections was due to the heavier toll activity during the weekends.
From Mystery Foto #27 Solved: Tommy Zinzi policing the Motor Parkway in front of the Meadow Brook Lodge
Oldfield in the Christie racer.
From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Barney Oldfield in the 1909 Christie Racer which established the 102.6 mph Indy lap record in 1916
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