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
Would this be Rob Ida’s Tucker replica??
From Update: Mystery Saturday Auto #3 Solved: Tucker 1034 in the News
This is a 1948 Tucker 48, chassis number 1034. It will be up for auction at Gooding & Company’s January 2020 auction in Scottsdale, AZ
From Update: Mystery Saturday Auto #3 Solved: Tucker 1034 in the News
This ‘48 Tucker sold for $1,600,000.00 in an auction this year.
From Update: Mystery Saturday Auto #3 Solved: Tucker 1034 in the News
Love those postcard!
From Postcards from the Long Island Automotive Museum (#7-11)
This is Tucker # 1034. This Tucker was used as one of ten promotional cars that traveled the United States. Chassis 1034, was one of the few more-desirable examples that was actually assembled by the Tucker factory before it closed. Tucker # 1034 is one of only 12 finished in the attractive Waltz Blue Metallic. Tucker code #200 “Waltz” Blue. This highly original car has been driven fewer than 6,200 miles.This car still has its original interior upholstery, and has never required a comprehensive restoration.This car is going to Auction in Scottsdale Arizona. The auction will be held on January 17 and 18, and estimates say that this Tucker will fetch between $1.75 and $2.5 million.
From Update: Mystery Saturday Auto #3 Solved: Tucker 1034 in the News
This is Marion (on this photo misread as Marian) Spooner, the daughter of F. Ed. Spooner and photographed by her father at the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup race. Spooner was a journalist and photographer, who like Nathan Lazarnick was one of the pioneers in capturing early automobilism in photographs. Starting from Chicago he was later on a partner with Wells to form the famous Spooner & Wells, Inc., located in Detroit and New York. Unfortunately it seems to be almost impossible to get insight in the life story of Spooner, who seems to have been an amateur cyclist before becoming a photographer. The role of Wells is also unknown to me, as only Spooner’s role comes up in all reports. Spooner was e.g. the passenger in the first Glidden Tour in 1904 with driver Dwight Huss, famous Oldsmobile pioneer driver. During the transcontinental race in 1905 between two Oldsmobiles, the Old Scout and the Old Steady, Spooner and Huss formed a team again and in the Old Scout they won in a time of 44 days, beating the Old Steady by a week. Spooner & Wells were active not only in car reports for journals and car magazines, but also in corporate publicity and advertisements.
Marion is sitting at the wheel of a Jackson, possibly the same car in which her father was present at the American Grand Prize. The car is probably the new 1909 model E tourabout.
Both attached photos from the DPL-archive.
From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: Marion Spooner Photographed at the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Checking out these never seen before photos of Mustang III prototype being built in the process. This car was built as a one of one. I think Vince knew it clearly at the time. That’s why he stole it to preserve it. Great stuff Howard!
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Vince Gardner Building the Mustang III Concept Show Car
Easily found by Google search. It’s Tucker 1034. It is newsworthy because it will be auctioned off by Gooding & Company in Scottsdale on Jan. 17-18, 2020.
It is one of the most desirable Tuckers because (a) it was completed at the factory before production halted; (b) it is one of only 12 painted Waltz Blue; (c) it has survived without needing a comprehensive restoration, and with its original upholstery; and (d) every one of its former owners is known.
From Update: Mystery Saturday Auto #3 Solved: Tucker 1034 in the News
I believe this is the twin turbo Tucker replica that Rob Ida was creating. Keep the dream alive! I hope this becomes a reality for others to appreciate.
From Update: Mystery Saturday Auto #3 Solved: Tucker 1034 in the News
What a cutie, OMG!, but I’m going to wildly guess this mystery as George Robertson’s daughter, sitting in the driver’s seat of Old 16, after he won the first VCR race by the US, at the “winner’s circle,” if there was any. I didn’t research the steering wheel and its levers - it would’ve spoiled the experience. I hope I’m right. ADORABLE indeed! Happy Holidays to all!
From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: Marion Spooner Photographed at the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Chestnut St. pops up again! I was testing the waters if anything new appears in the long search for Lee’s childhood street name. New York St. remains the top contender. Thank you much Art, and Bill Bellmer too for your assistance!!
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/in_search_of_the_mystery_camp_mills_new_york_road
From Kleiner's Kolumn: The Long Island Motor Parkway in Maps (Part I)
Another great picture during construction of the bridge.
From Kleiner's Kolumn: Removal of the Central Avenue/LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge
Brian, I believe the yellow boxes are golf courses but will confirm when I get a chance to pull the map out.
Frank/ Lee - does this help?
From Kleiner's Kolumn: The Long Island Motor Parkway in Maps (Part I)
Joseph O - Thanks for your info. 8’ drop of the water table, that’s significant. With that, all those various ponds that I notice on the older aerials either dried up or filled in over time. Searingtown Rd looks to have been constructed over the one side of the swamp. Dried up enough and built up like you said. Makes sense with the library, too. Which looks to be smack on the LIMP. Just a year behind you, Joe. I grew up in Brentwood, that’s where my memories are : ~ )
From Mystery Foto #47 Solved: A House Built on the Long Island Motor Parkway Right-Of-Way
1950 map
From Kleiner's Kolumn: The Long Island Motor Parkway in Maps (Part I)
Art, any chance to get the circled street names of the 1950 map below, particularly the one with the pointed arrow? This could be the street name that Lee Chambers of Garden City was searching for while living his childhood at Mitchel Field. Any help identifying the street name(s) in this area would be appreciated.
From Kleiner's Kolumn: The Long Island Motor Parkway in Maps (Part I)
Nice catch on the 1911 Hempstead Spur Brian! I overlooked it. On that map the parkway terminated at Lakeville Road.
From Kleiner's Kolumn: The Long Island Motor Parkway in Maps (Part I)
Neat maps Art!
The 1911 maps display the Trolley Lines that the parkway bridged over - Willis Ave, Future Westbury Ave, and Broad Hollow Rd. Think the Hempstead Spur that was planned ( south to Hempstead Tpke, Garden City ) is shown, I don’t think it became a reality.
On the 1935 maps, I think the ‘Yellow Squares w/Numbers’ are highlighting Golf Courses.
The Beau Sejour map shows the parkway terminated near Lake Success, so maybe dated 1910+
From Kleiner's Kolumn: The Long Island Motor Parkway in Maps (Part I)
Great map collection Art! Regarding the undated maps, I believe the top map is 1926 or after - showing the western terminus at Nassau Blvd. The middle is 1911 or after - showing the Motor Parkway traveling west of Lakeville Rd. The bottom is also 1911 or after - showing the western terminus at Rocky Hill Rd. This collection of maps must’ve taken some time to acquire. Thanks for sharing these
From Kleiner's Kolumn: The Long Island Motor Parkway in Maps (Part I)
In response to Brian McCarthy, the swamp area led north of Herrick’s Pond. And stayed east of Old Searingtown Rd. The LIMP right of way was it’s northern limit. From what I have been told, the water table dropped about 8 feet when Nassau County built it’s sewer system. This was done about 1960, when many roads in the area, including Searingtown Road, Shelter Rock Rd and Willis Avenue were widened. Plus the land was built up to build the new Searingtown Road. It dried up enough to build the library in about 1965. And the adjacent Williston Park homes on Foch Blvd were also able to be built. Before this time the area was not able to be developed.
The property with the mystery photo had a beautiful small pond. It was full of frogs. A magical find for a nine year old in the summer of 1975. As a kid, I was trying to figure out why someone built sidewalks in the woods.
From Mystery Foto #47 Solved: A House Built on the Long Island Motor Parkway Right-Of-Way
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