Vanderbilt Cup Races

Interesting.  That blacksmith shop was owned and operated by my great grandfather Schneider.  It continued to operate (I was told) until the early 50’s by my father’s uncle.  I was born in 1950 so I have no recollection of it.  Dad ended up with a few old tools from the place and I ended up with a 16 lb. sledge hammer from my father.
I wonder if Johnny Brooks (the boy that was run over by one of the cars) was a relation, since my middle name is Brooks.  I never really understood why my folks named me Brooks; going through our family tree there was a Brooks who was a stone mason in Great Neck (in the mid-1800’s as I recall) who married an Allen or whose daughter married an Allen.  But apparently my folks just like the name and didn’t have very clear feelings about Brooks.
So thank you Howard and friends for all this interesting material you put out.
Robert Brooks Allen - Bob
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Howard Kroplick

Bob, that is so neat!

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Lancia Taking a Manhasset Turn at the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I think that’s Herb Lytle driving the #6 Isotta having just gone over the “Meadowbrook” bridge which went over Newbridge Avenue (Bellmore Road) during the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The photographer is facing west from a position on top of the Stewart Avenue bridge in the Salisbury Plains area.  During the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race, Driver Harold Stone lost control of his Columbia racer, went off the road and crashed, killing his mechanician Matthew (William?) Bacon. This and other prior fatalities lead to the end of racing on Long Island’s public roads.

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: The Dangerous Newbridge Avenue Bridge on 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

No comment (I’ve forgotten this one) but, OH!, how I’d love to know what the sign, facing away at left, reads [“magic” - appended!].  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: The Dangerous Newbridge Avenue Bridge on 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

Yee-hah!  Wunderbar!  Thanks, G.C.; this makes me *SO* happy.  I just “happen” to have a 1999 B&W pic of the LIMP RoW at Raymond Court on my Nassau County 2005 parks proposal page, <http://sbiii.com/limpncpk.html>.  It’s Photo T5 and I’m appending it here.  Sam, III

From Update #1: Village of Garden City Uncovers the Motor Parkway Near Raymond Court

At a time when it’s easier to just obliterate history, I’m glad to see that it seems there is some respect for the origins of this historic motor parkway. Thanks to Al for reporting and Howard for taking pix.

From Update #1: Village of Garden City Uncovers the Motor Parkway Near Raymond Court

This is by far the best auto related event me and my son Gram attend all year. Superb in every way… Exciting, Great cars, great people, great organizers and the perfect locations. Long may it run!!!
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Howard Kroplick

Next year, the Alco Black Beast will be there with a new radiator!

From Hemmings Blog: On the ground at the 2019 Port Washington Hill Climb

Hemmings Classic Car magazine has been giving long island historic car related events some great coverage recently. This item as well as the story on the Roslyn Lincoln dealership seen recently that all went together because of you, me and Ian Z.
( ok,  I didn’t mean for those last few words to rhyme but they do ) !
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Howard Kroplick

Keep up your great work at Hemmings!

From Hemmings Classic Car: The Vanderbilt Cup- America's first internationally recognized road-race

Thanks Garden City

From Update #1: Village of Garden City Uncovers the Motor Parkway Near Raymond Court

Another incredible photo.  Standing alone, it’s hard for me to tell if this is Long Island or Nebraska!

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: The Dangerous Newbridge Avenue Bridge on 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

Hello Kurt,
I am writing an article about your grandfather and the 100th anniversary of his company in 2020.
I found a lot of informations, that I can send to you.
I attached 2 of the most spectacular photos-
a HEIM, that raced 1922 at Monza (with the driver Reinhold Stahl)
and 1911 Nikolaus race, that your grandfather won. Zar Nikolaus II himself gives the price to the BENZ team and I think it´s your grandfather, that takes the price.
Please contact me, if you have further questions or informations
kind regards
Dietrich

From Search: Information and Photos of Franz Heim. Submitted by Kurt Heim (January 9, 2015)

Wonder what the charge was for the telephone call, and local or long distance?

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Lancia Taking a Manhasset Turn at the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Thinking the future parking area will be accessed from Roosevelt Field? Don’t think the residents on Raymond Ct desire their block to become a thru way?

From Update #1: Village of Garden City Uncovers the Motor Parkway Near Raymond Court

The Meadowbrook bridge (Newbridge Avenue) in East Meadow (Salisbury) looking northeast in the 1909 race.  High Harding in the Apperson #6 .
This location was the scene of a fatal wreck in the 1909 race.

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: The Dangerous Newbridge Avenue Bridge on 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

Identify the location, the Motor Parkway bridge and orientation and position of the photographer.
-Looking Easterly towards what is now Eisenhower Park and Salisbury Park Drive at the corner of the Ladenburg Farm.

Identify the Vanderbilt Cup Race, the race car and its driver.
-Hugh Harding driving his Apperson in the 1909 VCR.

What significant event happened at this location?
-The bridge was the scene of a tragic accident during the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race. Driver Harold Stone lost control of his Columbia racer trying to make the curve on the bridge at speed. The car ran off the bridge killing the mechanician Matthew Bacon.

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: The Dangerous Newbridge Avenue Bridge on 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

Photo is:  Bridge# 35— Newbridge Avenue //  Bellmore Road in
            East Meadow.

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: The Dangerous Newbridge Avenue Bridge on 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

All this got me curious (after all these years).  Extrapolating from USGS Topo Maps, Spinney Hill starts at ~25’ above sea level at the turn by Marshall’s Pond-cum-Whitney Lake and rises westerly to ~205’ at the point where Spinney Hill Drive from the southeast meets No. Blvd. some 500’ east of So. Middle Neck-cum-Lakeville Rd.  That is a 180’ rise in ~4,000’ horizontally along the road for an *AVERAGE* 4½% grade.  In those 1906 “crates”, no less (sorry, Howard).  Yeeks!  By the way, I have driven every single “new” or new car I have ever owned, 1939 and up, even my current little FIAT, up Spinney Hill as soon as I got it, just to see, so I really know that grade well.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Lancia Taking a Manhasset Turn at the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I saw that guy w/o a hat that Sam spotted, but I chose to ignore him for some reason.  Sorry spectator-from-the-past.

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Lancia Taking a Manhasset Turn at the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

The newspaper article doesn’t finish the story about poor little Johnny’s fate…..

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Lancia Taking a Manhasset Turn at the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

1906 Telephone Station Manhasset Hill

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Lancia Taking a Manhasset Turn at the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Forget about the men.  Although a bit fuzzy, it looks like there’s 1 woman among the spectators.  Also, is that dust that gives the vehicle a white appearance?

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Lancia Taking a Manhasset Turn at the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race