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
Johan’s last pitch looked a bit low, but could’ve been called a strike if the batter didn’t go for it. Gave me a smile, too! You were the good luck charm, Howard!
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Howard Kroplick
Brian, it was actually ball four. Santana’s change-up was amazing and virtually unhittable when it was near the strike zone.
From Off-Topic: Nine Years Ago on June 1: A New York Met Memory
From Art Kleiner:
Great shot, Al. Another example of me getting one answer in my mind and not being able to think past that. Simply looking at a map of the Parkway would have helped!
There’s always the next one!
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: South Street On the Motor Parkway Right-Of-Way in East Garden City
Enjoyed the video, and saw the black beast go bye,,,
From Update: Alco Black Beast Highlights from the Nassau County Memorial Day Car Parade, May 25, 2020
Motor Parkway at eastern end of Roosevelt Field shopping mall facing east. Looks like Akbar restaurant didn’t have roadside service yet !! (late 80s timeframe). What would be a cool thing here on this site would be to have some info and pics then and now of the area on the other side of the last building east to Merchants Concourse. Theres gotta be some ruins up there
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: South Street On the Motor Parkway Right-Of-Way in East Garden City
Howard, You may recall that we spent quite a bit of time researching that painting a few years ago. Went thru my notes, came up with the following. He had his studio at 9 E. 42nd St. NYC. In 1907-1908 did several portraits of well-known automobilists. He did some posters for the 1911 New York Automobile Show. He enjoyed being referred to as “Pal the Artist”. Also did some 240 drawings for a 40 volume Shakespeare works 1908-1909. Will keep searching.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Rare 1908 PAL Race Painting Discovered
From Art Kleiner:
The caption of this picture from Motor Travel of Sept., 1921 states the picture was presented to the Automobile Club of America by Jefferson De Mont Thompson.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Rare 1908 PAL Race Painting Discovered
The Pic is of the ROW as it goes east from Roosevelt Field. The ROW is the eastbound roadway of the Mall access road. Just after the ROW passes by the Mall, you crossed over tracks (not here now) the mall road diverged south but the Row continus as South Street ( I believe) for about 300 yards, dead ending at a fence. However, there were trace of ROW beyond the fence as of 2002. I am going to say the time of the photo is 2005
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: South Street On the Motor Parkway Right-Of-Way in East Garden City
We’re looking east on South Street in Garden City. The road on the right comes in from Stewart Avenue, curves to the west, and functions as the southeast entrance to Ring Road and Roosevelt Field Mall. Gabby’s Shoes was in existence from 1983 to 2003 when it dissolved according to court records. I’m thinking that Gabby’s Shoe Outlet may have been a successor so I’ll guess the date of the photo to be around 2004-2005.
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: South Street On the Motor Parkway Right-Of-Way in East Garden City
Howard, I thought that the Locomobile Vanderbilt cups were all silver plated. The one on this Locomobile appears gold plated. ???
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Howard Kroplick
Al, all the mascots and paperweights were silver-plated. This was plated or painted after 1908.
From The 1908 Locomobile Model E of the Collection on Palmetto in Clearwater, Florida
WEST BOUND !!!! Some times I even forget what planet I’m on.
From Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Bellmore Bank Robbery
Walt, Re; your comments about the use of the Parkway by bootleggers. It was indeed used by bootleggers, actually to a great extent during the Prohibition era. So much so, in June 1921 the Parkway installed a night time toll collector at Rocky Hill Road even though there was no regular daytime toll collector at this location until 1928. By 1923 there was was so much traffic at night (almost all of it east bound and mostly in in the winter months, that some Rocky Hill Road toll ticket were printed up with a NIGHT designation. Some years up to 30% of the toll revenues from this lodge were collected at night.
From Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Bellmore Bank Robbery
The picture, looking east was taken at the curve on South Street in garden City. The building on the right is still the Akbar catering facility. Judging by the cars most likely taken around 2004.
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: South Street On the Motor Parkway Right-Of-Way in East Garden City
The mention of “criminals” use of the LIMP. During Prohibition in the 1920s-early 1930s the LIMP was used by bootleggers as it was a private road and the police would have to enter it and know they were on private property to make an arrest. It wasn’t used to frequently I believe but I do know that it was indeed used , as my grandfather had a bootlegger who supplied him with scotch ( Black & White brand with the scottie and westie dogs on the label) and he recalled one evening his bootlegger showing up with the fellows brand new 1932 Chrysler Imperial 4 door sedan that was all scratched up on the sides - when the fellow was picking up his liquid haul on the south shore the police showed up and a quick escape had to be made through a hedge row! The fellow then made his way to the LIMP and got off at either Lakeville Rd. or Little Neck Pky area to head here to Floral Park.
There was a very well known car collector here on long island who was an electronics whiz and used to make equipment for bootleggers to fit to their boats known as “rum runners”. This was used to learn of the whereabouts of the police who were in their area to avoid them. But that is a story for another time and has nothing to do with the LIMP. WG
From Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Bellmore Bank Robbery
31 May 2020 Links to the Memorial Day parade ride all go to Palmetto story.
Thought I might find the parade here.
Maybe next week?
Thanks
Vic
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Howard Kroplick
Here is your link, enjoy the ride:
https://vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/video_take_a_ride_in_the_alco_black_beast_for_the_2020_nassau_county_memorial_day_parade
From The Top 15 Black Beast Films On YouTube
Art Kleiner:
Causing me too much angst. But here goes - I’m assuming the smokestack is the Covanta plant off of Stewart Avenue. So I’m thinking the photographer is looking south from Old Country Road on Fulton Street in Westbury. Thought I found a listing for Gabby’s of Merrick Avenue but nothing else. Late 1990s or early 2000.
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: South Street On the Motor Parkway Right-Of-Way in East Garden City
The Covanta tower is the largest clue. Photo is East of the Ring Road at Roosevelt Field, running parallel to Stewart Avenue along the path of the LIMP in the direction of where Mitchel Gardens once was located near the tower.
The intersection in the foreground is the right turn running South and parallel to the LIRR spur that connects with Quentin Roosevelt Boulevard today at Stewart Ave.
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: South Street On the Motor Parkway Right-Of-Way in East Garden City
Al captured this image on South St, this road is ‘T shaped’ between Stewart Ave and Roosevelt Field. The view is the east section that deadends. I always wondered about the building at the end, facing west. A bank maybe? Abandoned currently. Time period looks like 1990 - 1995. That’s the Covanta Stack, e/o Meadowbrook Pkwy.
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: South Street On the Motor Parkway Right-Of-Way in East Garden City
Al is looking east on South Street in Garden City (S of Roosevelt Field mall and N of Stewart Avenue). Rationale: The smokestack in the background, which I figured to be the Covanta smokestack. This is the only road near the Covanta plant that lies in a straight line right over the Motor Parkway. The building on the left, and the large white building to the left of the smokestack, match buildings in Google Street View.
I found a document on the internet that indicates that Gabby’s Shoes was located at 11 South Street. This address is occupied by Bolla Transport today, according to Google Street View. If I only knew when Gabby’s went out of business, I could probably figure out when the Foto was taken. Without that info, and judging by the cars, I’m guessing that it was sometime in the 1990s.
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: South Street On the Motor Parkway Right-Of-Way in East Garden City
No research, I’m 99% sure I know this one: Current LIMP I know. When you send pics from 100 years ago I have no idea (but still love it).
Garden City, South Street, looking East. This leads up to a fence that enters you into the woods to the south of the Meadowbrook, and north of Stewart Ave. That big driveway is no longer there, trees come into that space now.
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: South Street On the Motor Parkway Right-Of-Way in East Garden City
Southeast corner of Roosevelt Field. Looking East.
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: South Street On the Motor Parkway Right-Of-Way in East Garden City
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