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.
All Content © 2026 VanderbiltCupRaces.com
Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
more . . . just noticed that a couple more letters on the sign are missing!
From Sad News: The buildings of the Long Island Automotive Museum are gone
more . . .
From Sad News: The buildings of the Long Island Automotive Museum are gone
Was in Southampton on July 13 and took a trip to the museum grounds. Not much different from Howard’s visit in March but sure are lots of trucks. And fire truck is still there. And there’s a snowman across the street watching out for trespassers. I must have hidden myself well.
From Sad News: The buildings of the Long Island Automotive Museum are gone
Congratulations Howard… Job will done… awesome sign… It was fun!!
Sincerely
John
_______________________________________________
Howard Kroplick
John, you are always my right-hand guy! Thanks!
From Howard Kroplick Leaves His Town Historian Position After 7 & 1/2 Years
The dedication, enthusiasm and skill that Howard has devoted to the Town Historian position is immense. Our town owes him an enormous debt of gratitude. And besides that he is just such a nice guy.
Thank you Howard!
From Howard Kroplick Leaves His Town Historian Position After 7 & 1/2 Years
Good job Howard!
From Howard Kroplick Leaves His Town Historian Position After 7 & 1/2 Years
i can only guess the houses built in a place called Levittown, NY. the rest i can not figure out.
From Updated: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Bethpage's Important Section of the Motor Parkway & Zorn's
-What is the location of this Mystery Foto?
Looking SW over Bethpage just slightly West of Dead Man’s curve
-Identify the location of the Motor Parkway and the major roads in the aerial
LIMP located diagonally across the lower left hand corner of the photo. Stewart Ave (Lower) and Broadway (Upper) intersecting the LIMP
-What important event occurred in this section of the Motor Parkway?
Groundbreaking for the start of the LIMP construction
-What commercial entity is located in the upper section of the aerial?
St. Joseph Hospital and maybe just a tiny glimpse of Zorns!
-Date the Mystery Foto. Provide a rationale.
1951 based upon construction dates of various homes.
From Updated: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Bethpage's Important Section of the Motor Parkway & Zorn's
You are an inspiration to many for your respect for the history that surrounds you - the Long Island Motor Parkway, the autos that ran the race, your enthusiasm and to share your love for vintage automobiles, to the documentation of the Town of North Hempstead history. Job well done and to be proud of.
From Howard Kroplick Leaves His Town Historian Position After 7 & 1/2 Years
Oh, this is neat; I recognised it instantly as OCR/WestburyAve. and then all sorts of other locales, not ONE of which pans out! Hmm. Good one, Brian! Sam, III
From Updated: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Bethpage's Important Section of the Motor Parkway & Zorn's
Good one Brian! It took two days searching 3 counties but I believe the tricky orientation was the culprit this time. We’re at Lincoln Blvd in Bethpage closely resembling Shiloh Ave in Queens. The bottom center grass field is the site of the 1908 Motor Parkway Ground Breaking Ceremony. Road work started soon after the ceremony ended on June 6. James Spina’s granddad was there. The train must have run through the center of the ceremony site. The photo shows the crowd roped off to the sides, leaving an open area at the center. The Stewart Ave (Jerusalem Rd) bridge has already been removed since the ‘50s. Photographer is looking SE. Motor Parkway is diagonal in bottom left corner missing its bridge, Arthur Ave parallel to LIMP on its left (north), Central RR Row dirt path parallel to LIMP on its right. Hemp Tpke diagonal at the top right corner. New Island Hospital on top, later St. Joseph Hospital. New Island was established in 1999. Is this photo really ca. 1999? It doesn’t appear to be. Looking forward to the answers.
From Updated: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Bethpage's Important Section of the Motor Parkway & Zorn's
Such a genuine gesture of your colleague’s to leave you with a signed and sealed Letter of Proclamation along with your own Historical Marker, Howard. It comes as no surprise that you are highly regarded by all.
From Howard Kroplick Leaves His Town Historian Position After 7 & 1/2 Years
Big loss for North Hempstead.
You did so many things for the town.
From Howard Kroplick Leaves His Town Historian Position After 7 & 1/2 Years
Well done Howard…
From Howard Kroplick Leaves His Town Historian Position After 7 & 1/2 Years
Back in the late 50s my brother and cousins would walk and ride bikes on that very curve. My grandfather worked on that very section of the road and then built a house on the left side just off ace trap in Bethpage. I’m certain the incline was close to 20 degrees and it see
S like it has settled a bit. And the actual distance of the sweep was. L myth was also quite impressive. My sister n Gram and I still walk there occasionally. Gram begins studying for a degree in Automotive Restoration at Penn College this fall. The Motor Parkway (that’s what we called it as kids in the 50s) and Howard have had a giant impact on Gram!
From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #10 Bethpage #1
Howard, well deserved! Thanks for the memories and all that you have done to preserve the fabulous history throughout the Town of North Hempstead. Where will this Historical Marker be placed? All the best in your future endeavors, Frank
—————
Howard Kroplick
In my office, the marker is mounted on cardboard!
From Howard Kroplick Leaves His Town Historian Position After 7 & 1/2 Years
Thank you for all the hard work and dedicated hours you gave to preserving the history of your county. Best Wishes and I hope you enjoy your freedom and more time to explore and discover new things about the area that you love.
From Howard Kroplick Leaves His Town Historian Position After 7 & 1/2 Years
The LIMP bridge here was removed in the early 1950’s. 1953 Historic Aerial displays what looks to be construction of the small hospital, this image doesn’t. This image was taken as late as 1952 then.
From Updated: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Bethpage's Important Section of the Motor Parkway & Zorn's
Looking southeast in Bethpage over Stewart Avenue
The LiMP is at lower left running diagonally upper left and Stewart Avenue diagonally right.
In June 1908 ground was broken at this location for the Motor Parkway then called Jerusalem Road.
The commercial entity at the top looks like Zorn’s Poultry, established 1940.
Mid Island Hospital (St. Joseph) does not appear in the picture which would indicate the photo predates 1955.
The bridge over Stewart Avenue does not appear (removed in early 50s) so my guess is
The photo is 1954-1955 vintage.
From Updated: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Bethpage's Important Section of the Motor Parkway & Zorn's
This photo is over Bethpage with the remains of the LIMP running diagonally from the middle of the left edge to the middle of the bottom edge. Other major roads include Stewart Avenue, Broadway, Lincoln Blvd., and Hempstead Turnpike. On June 6, 1908, the groundbreaking ceremony for the LIMP took place at approximately the northwest corner of Stewart Avenue and Albergo Court which is in the lower left quadrant of the photo. Zorn’s Poultry Farm is at the top of the photo. Since there appears to be a very small piece of Mid-Island Hospital (built 1955) to the left (east) of Zorn’s yet no evidence of construction for the Wantagh-Oyster Bay Expressway (started 1958), I’ll guess the date between those two years.
From Updated: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Bethpage's Important Section of the Motor Parkway & Zorn's
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