Vanderbilt Cup Races

Looks more like the North Hills-Williston-Roslyn stretch to me, perhaps the #26 Robbins Lane farmway bridge?  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The New Hyde Park Road Motor Parkway Bridge Abutment

Wow! you could have 2 or 3 Tuckers for that.

From Update: 1968 "Bullitt" Mustang sells for $3.74 million at Mecum Auction

I, for one, would love to see the whole map, in sections, of course.  I recognize that that’s asking a lot but so was posting the WWI LI map, the 2005 LIMP Nomination Maps, the ‘42-‘43 LIMP Topo Maps. and the whole Nassau County aerial photo series of 1926, 1950, and 2000.  Ditto for Frank F.‘s and Wayne’s work and Art’s other maps.  It would be great to have the whole thing accessible to our members and readers before it vanishes back into the recesses of the Suffolk files.  Thanks so much for all your detective work, Art!  Sam, III

From Kleiner's Kolumn: Suffolk County Acquisition of the Long Island Motor Parkway

This is excellent Art, thank you!

An area of interest right off the top of my head is today’s Maxess Rd towards the end of today’s Vanderbilt Pkwy at Half Hollow Rd. Large area but I guess it can be posted here in segments. Details and notes on these maps can be interesting and helpful.

Also near Commack Rd being that 2 of the Brentwood Lodges were here on either side of the LIMP.

From Kleiner's Kolumn: Suffolk County Acquisition of the Long Island Motor Parkway

One more, bridge series image.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The New Hyde Park Road Motor Parkway Bridge Abutment

I’m thinking way outside the Levittown folder, so here goes:

  He or she was positioned on the west side of New Hyde Park Rd, viewing east capturing the LIMP abutment and LILCO ROW. To the right are side views of homes along Executive Dr. A 1966 aerial shows these homes. Blurry to the ROW’s east, but Old Courthouse Hwy bridge may be visible? Wall was erected to close of the parkway post 1938. Also see a chain barrier to the left which may have been a entrance for LILCO ( there’s a gate here now for PSEG ). 4 images you’ll see below, 1 is a 1960’s view of this abutment. Thinking the mystery is later in the 1960’s than the bridge series image. Pretty sure that’s a hydrant in the bridge series image, there’s no hydrant there now. There is a hydrant across on the west side of New Hyde Park Rd.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The New Hyde Park Road Motor Parkway Bridge Abutment

I have a forbes silver co quadruple 1048 ,Vanderbilt cup 1908
_______________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Although the Locomobile trophies were made from different materials, they all have the same markings on their bases.

From The Sterling Silver Locomobile Vanderbilt Cups

My guess was 2.5 million Howard. I was at Mecum Kissimmee from Tuesday to Thursday and saw the car in the glass box surrounded by security guards. It has a great Hollywood connection but it’s got surface rust all over it. No need to see the hammer fall in person in my opinion. Got to see it better on TV! Time will tell if we ever know who bought it or if it will ever be seen in public again.
________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

It sure got a lot of love! I hope the new owner will share it.

From Update: 1968 "Bullitt" Mustang sells for $3.74 million at Mecum Auction

I was lost, at “very unique.”

From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype

Along sals. Park drive near pseg plant, behind the county jail. The parkway curved to run along the rail road tracks that were once there.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The New Hyde Park Road Motor Parkway Bridge Abutment

Nice to see and hear Howard,,,

From Kleiner's Kolumn: Update on the Nassau County Motor Parkway Trail at Eisenhower Park

$4M. Many fine muscle cars featured throughout the chase, including the ‘68 white Firebird that appeared twice!

From Update: 1968 "Bullitt" Mustang sells for $3.74 million at Mecum Auction

Great materials, thank you everyone!  My father worked for Sperry Rand right until he shifted to the brand new IBM plant being built in Dutchess County.  I hadn’t realized he designed a patent and upon discovery of such, I was led to this collection of interesting factoids.

From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: The Sperry Gyroscope Plant in Lake Success on September 27, 1952

$4.1M

From Update: 1968 "Bullitt" Mustang sells for $3.74 million at Mecum Auction

Auction Estimates (prior to Commission):

James Spina:      $7.5 million +
Nelson Medina:  $7.5 million
JeRita:            $4.7 million
Ted Reina:        $3.0 million
Howard Kroplick: $2.4 million

From Update: 1968 "Bullitt" Mustang sells for $3.74 million at Mecum Auction

Is Steve’s book on the photographer out yet? I am still looking for Ormond 1904 race pictures, .I asked the Vanderbilt museum to look but no reply yet, may be Steve has a stash, hope to make it to his presentation

From Willie K. Presentation Draws Capacity Crowd in Roslyn

Photos 4 to 6

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: An Accident at the 1911 Indy 500 Race

This accident happened during the famous 1911 Indianapolis 500 mile International Sweepstakes on June 1st., 1911. This race was the first of many 500 mile races to come and the intention officially was to replace both the Vanderbilt Cup and the Grand Prize by this race. This first edition was won by Ray Harroun on a Marmon. There was a lot of dispute about the outcome, but I will not go into this here.
The accident on the photo happened after about 220 miles, when the steering knuckle on the Case #8 of Jagersberger snapped causing the car to crash into a wall in front of the stand. His mechanician Anderson jumped out to push the car off the track but he fell. In order to avoid running him over Harry Knight on Westcott #7 steered away, but the car skidded, got out of control and drove into the pits where it collided first with Herbert Lytle’s Apperson #35, turning the car upside down, and next with the Fiat #18 of Eddy Hearne, ending up against a fence. Both Harry Knight and his mechanician John Glover were hurt in the incident and brought to the hospital. John Glover’s injuries proved to be fatal and he would die in hospital the day after. He was the second victim of the race, because earlier in the race Arthur Greiner’s Amplex #44 had overturned, killing his mechanician Dickson.
There are not many photos of the accident, but in the French magazine La Vie au Grand Air of August 12 a series of 6 photos appeared giving an impression of the chaotic situation.
1. La collision: The crash (the French text is telling a slightly diffrent story of what actually happened.
2. Un qui l’echappa belle: Billy Knipper on Benz #46 was able to avoid the crashing cars.
3. La présence d’esprit d’Eddie Hearne: Hearne had the presence of mind to leave the track immediately.
4. Le transport d’un blessé: Knight’s mechanician John Clover was transported to an ambulance.
5. Un photographe heroïque: Photographer Rathburn was taken a snapshot of the accident, when a tire came flying by only a few inches from his head coming down 20 yards further.
6. Eddy Hearne après l’accident: This photo, taken a second after the accident, shows Eddy Hearne still at the wheel of his car, but displaced 60 meters from the place of impact.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: An Accident at the 1911 Indy 500 Race

My father used to take me to the Auto Shows in New York City. I believe the venue was something like “Grand Central Palace”. I was 9 or 10. What was a vivid memory was the headlight in the hood. At later shows, I recall the Kaiser-Darren, Chrysler Gaia and eventually the LeSabre and Mauri Rose with the gas turbine Firebird. I recall Hudson’s run as the top stock car winner ang got the autograph of their driver Marshall Teague.

From Hemmings Blog: Tuckers are more popular than ever, and this 6,300-mile car going to auction is proof

This photo is from the first Indy 500 race on May 30, 1911. The three cars and drivers are:#7 Westcott driven by Harry Knight; #18 Fiat driven by Eddie Hearn; #35 Apperson driven by Herb Lytle. As to the cause, my attached narrative from firstsuperspeedway.com by Mark Dill explains it best. The link is Herb Lytle who participated in more Vanderbilt Cup Races than anyone including the 1904, 1905, and 1908 V.C.R.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: An Accident at the 1911 Indy 500 Race