Vanderbilt Cup Races

Greg, Believe the photographer is on the Central Ave,/ railroad bridge at Central Park/Bethpage looking northeast. Photo taken sometime shortly before the Vanderbilt Sweepstakes Race on Oct, 10, 1908 as the roadway is not yet paved. Much earth was moved around in this area in order to maximize the speed thru the curves.The property on both sides was owned by William O. Stymus. Among the trees on the right was a 7-11.

From Mystery Friday Foto #49 Solved: Traveling Along the Bucolic Motor Parkway in Bethpage

The ‘other’ (Motor) Parkway Garage at the other end of the Parkway in Floral Park.

https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/mystery_friday_foto_77_the_motor_parkway_garage

From Kleiner's Korner: August, 1925 - 100 Years Ago on The Motor Parkway

I have 2 guesses, but based on the surroundings it looks like Bethpage in the current Bethpage state park as the road curves north. The photographer is looking south west and my era guess is the 1910’s. I think there’s a golf course to the south , lending credibility to my claim. The woods are whatever was there before BSP. It could be Deadmans Curve in Bethpage, but the curve would be more pronounced.

From Mystery Friday Foto #49 Solved: Traveling Along the Bucolic Motor Parkway in Bethpage

Thanks for the history, Al.  Here’s two articles mentioning the HQ in the Denton Building.  First is from January, 1907 and the second is a piece written by Arthur Pardington in September, 1910.

From An Al Velocci Special: The Garden City Headquarters of the Long Island Motor Parkway

Art,  Joseph Kirkland was more involved than just seeing the cars on the Motor Parkway. He sold a little more than 2 acres to the Parkway for the ROW. He was also supposed to get a farmway bridge as part of the sale but that never happened.

From Kleiner's Korner: August, 1925 - 100 Years Ago on The Motor Parkway

Thanks Mike, Hope all is well.
I’ve used material about our area of the Motor Parkway in various posts throughout the years.  You can probably search the site for Salisbury, Levittown, etc.  Is there anything specific you might find interesting? Interested in non-LIMP related matter about our area?  I remember you giving me material about the potato bug quarantine that precipitated the land being sold for development.  Things like that?  Call me if you would like to discuss more.  516-297-9679. 

I look at the attached map every once in a while to remind me of what it must have been like in the early 50s.

From Kleiner's Korner: August, 1925 - 100 Years Ago on The Motor Parkway

That’s my grandmothers car in picture. Mary Rehm. She survived

From Mystery Friday Foto #49 Solved:The 1958 Airplane/Three Car Crash on the Southern State Parkway

We are looking north or slightly northeast in Central Park (Bethpage) with the photographer’s back to the Central Ave. / LIRR Motor Parkway bridge around September, !908. William O. Stymus owned the property on both sides of the LIMP at this section with the Stymus family cemetery in the cluster of trees on the left. The car looks like a 1908 Buick Model 10.

From Mystery Friday Foto #49 Solved: Traveling Along the Bucolic Motor Parkway in Bethpage

Thanks for the interesting stories Art! See if you can find any stories about the part of the LIMP that you and I lived near around Salisbury Park Drive and Newbridge Road.

From Kleiner's Korner: August, 1925 - 100 Years Ago on The Motor Parkway

Looking north at the second Dead Man’s Curve in Bethpage (Central Park).
October, 1908
Joseph B. Botto (In 1906 the land was owned by Karp & Botto, pickle producers, who in 1908 offered to rent space for parking to viewers of the Vanderbilt Cup Race). 
Cemetery
Not sure of the make and year of the car, but I believe the driver is Al Velocci! 

From Mystery Friday Foto #49 Solved: Traveling Along the Bucolic Motor Parkway in Bethpage

i plan on coming with 1 guest,looking forward to seeing that gorgeous Duesy! thank you for the invite!

From Update: Saturday, November 1, 2025: The Duesenberg Open House at the Waterfront at Roslyn Garage

Exiting the LIRR Bridge over Central Avenue in Bethpage.  Heading north.  The LIMP will turn east just a bit and follow the path of the current day Rt 135 North.  I see the old cemetery straight ahead.

From Mystery Friday Foto #49 Solved: Traveling Along the Bucolic Motor Parkway in Bethpage

https://youtu.be/rXiwn7v0UlA?si=-mjk4Ib8JDscKNiB

From Mystery Friday Foto #48 Solved: An Interesting Motor Parkway Monorail Proposal

Condolences to the entire Helck family!  Thank you for your contributions to keeping automotive history alive.  And special thanks for helping with vanderbiltcupraces.com and giving Howard and his followers so much material to use.  It was a gift to be able to review, catagorize and marvel at the material I was able to look out from the Helck Family Collection.  It just never seemed to end!  RIP!

From Sad News: Jerry Peter Helck has passed away at the age of 94.

And speaking of alternative means of transportation . . . I found this early 20th century colorized postcard from Nellie showing how Woodhaven might look in the future, including a monorail overheard!  I found it quite interesting.

From Mystery Friday Foto #48 Solved: An Interesting Motor Parkway Monorail Proposal

I will attend Howard. Looking forward to seeing the car and you.

From Update: Saturday, November 1, 2025: The Duesenberg Open House at the Waterfront at Roslyn Garage

Hi Al
Great story
$100 seems very little
Willy K and the LIMP sold the Massapequa toll lodge to Thomas and Josephine Zinzi
in 1938 for $100, probably because they lived there as employees of the parkway.

From An Al Velocci Special: The Garden City Headquarters of the Long Island Motor Parkway

Great post, Greg… Thank you for sharing your knowledge on the topic.

I would like to add more information on this subject. In one of the chapters of my doctoral dissertation, I address this specific topic.

Based on numerous sources (all referenced in the notes to the text), I propose a critical review of Michelin’s insistence on promoting this technology, providing new data. You can also see previously unpublished images and advertisements on this topic.

Here are the two download links for that specific chapter.

Chapter 16 - RACE & TIRE PROMOTION - pp. 1093-1170
https://diposit.ub.edu/dspace/bitstream/2445/126382/130/25A.pdf

Chapter 16 - RACE & TIRE PROMOTION - pp. 1171-1208
https://diposit.ub.edu/dspace/bitstream/2445/126382/131/25B.pdf

I hope you find it interesting.
Greetings from Barcelona, ​​capital of Catalonia.
Sincerely,
Professor Pau Medrano-Bigas
University of Barcelona
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

From Greg O's Garage: Removable rims and their impact on early motoring and racing

You know your ‘Groupie’ will be there!

From Update: Saturday, November 1, 2025: The Duesenberg Open House at the Waterfront at Roslyn Garage

I will be attending.

From Update: Saturday, November 1, 2025: The Duesenberg Open House at the Waterfront at Roslyn Garage