Vanderbilt Cup Races

David, you are correct. At first Union seemed slightly different in the aerial compared to today’s map, pushing me to overlay the image. The first turn east of Winchester would ultimately be delayed a bit further east-paving over the baseball diamond as mentioned. I also had difficulty locating the underpass staircases. It appears the north stairs (just north of the lined parkway posts) was built first, as there’s no evidence of any ground breaking for the south yet.

Sam, the white ‘artifact’ on the north side of the parkway near Wheeler #2 remains a mystery. Today there’s a single tennis court at this location. But the dark blur on the roadway, directly under the artifact could well be a passing vehicle, or part of the tree on the south roadside.

From Mystery Foto #23 Solved: Planning for the Extension of Union Turnpike in Queens (Circa 1931/1932)

Mystery Foto 23A?  Look carefully at the pic again, about a hundred feet west of Wheeler Farmway Bridge #2, perhaps where today’s Parks underpass is.  Wuzzat?  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #23 Solved: Planning for the Extension of Union Turnpike in Queens (Circa 1931/1932)

Mystery Foto #24… The car shown here is the ever popular 1911 EMF “30” two seat racer. This car ran in the Tiedeman Trophy Race as well as Vanderbilt Cup Race in Savannah, GA. in November 1911. The Tiedeman race was, at the time, a more important event than the Indy 500. The EMF driver in both the Tiedeman and the Vanderbilt Cup was Jack Tower.
During the time that the EMF road cars were manufactured I have read that they were second only to the Ford Model T in number of units sold. I believe that the company was bought out by Studebaker.

From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: The 1911 E-M-F Racer Shown at the 2019 Elegance at Hershey

1911 EMF 30 chassis
Tiedeman cup race [for smaller cars]  Hosting Vanderbilt cup race-  Savanna.Ga
driver Jack Tower????

From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: The 1911 E-M-F Racer Shown at the 2019 Elegance at Hershey

This story would be truly unbelievable if it didn’t come from HK!  What are the odds?  O.K., I’ll bite; which other cars are so blessèd (true original plates, NOT replicas)?  Sam, III
_______________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Tucker historian Mark Lieberman believes that 2-3 other Tuckers have Tucker plates with #s matching their chassis #.

From The Search for the Two Original 1948 Tucker #44 License Plates

Your attention to detail is outstanding

From The Search for the Two Original 1948 Tucker #44 License Plates

Is this the answer and connection? The #33 Car was a Columbia, driven by R.W. Wilcox. He finished 2nd in the Wheatley Hills Sweepstakes which was run the same time as the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup.

From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: The 1911 E-M-F Racer Shown at the 2019 Elegance at Hershey

That’s a 1911 E-M-F Model 30 Speedster. E, M, & F are the initials of the last names of the three owners of the company: Everitt, Metzger, & Flanders. This racer finished third in the Tiedman Cup which was a preliminary event for the Vanderbilt Cup Race held on November 27, 1911 at Savannah, GA. The driver was Jack Tower who was a member of the Buick Factory Racing Team from 1908 to 1910 that participated in several Vanderbilt Cup Races and Sweepstakes events on Long Island. I think Jack Tower may have been a mechanician for Bob Burman at some point also. The E-M-F Company was absorbed by Studebaker in 1912. I believe the current owner of the racer is Dale Critz, Jr.

From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: The 1911 E-M-F Racer Shown at the 2019 Elegance at Hershey

Wow!!!!!

Rog

From Tucker 1044 Honored at the 2019 Elegance at Hershey

That is a great story! BTW, I just started reading Philip Egan’s Tucker book.

From The Search for the Two Original 1948 Tucker #44 License Plates

Howard

The history reflected by your collection is indeed impressive,

Wondering what the next selection might be,\
Phil Lukens

From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: The 1911 E-M-F Racer Shown at the 2019 Elegance at Hershey

Very cool story Howard

From The Search for the Two Original 1948 Tucker #44 License Plates

To answer a question posed above, Union Turnpike was being extended because, in the late 1920s, it was designated as a future arterial highway to Nassau County that would relieve traffic on Nassau Blvd and Hillside Ave. [A Brooklyn Eagle story at that time noted, “Motorists are forced to crawl at a snail’s place between the two counties,” a statement often still true today.] However, by 1932, thinking about the role of Union Tpke had changed thanks to NSP and GCP construction.

“Snail’s pace traffic” wasn’t the only commonality with today—there was wrangling between the state and city, too. NYC, eager for development, ended up paying for the relocation of the LIMP, and the Creedmoor underpass, when the state, city, and Lakeville Holding and Development reached a three-way agreement about the area pictured. (A later city-state dispute slightly altered the course of Union Tpke through Creedmoor to avoid bisecting the athletic areas, but destroying the baseball diamond that can be seen in the photo.)

Finally, no one commented that construction related to the Creedmoor underpass discussed in Nov 2016 posts can be seen in this picture. That Union Tpke was seen a major future arterial route explains the reason for building that underpass even though Winchester Blvd was nearby.

From Mystery Foto #23 Solved: Planning for the Extension of Union Turnpike in Queens (Circa 1931/1932)

The #33 Columbia in the 1909 Wheatley Hills Sweepstakes, driver RW Wilcox
The race was run simultaneously with the Massapequa Sweepstakes over the
Short partially completed LIMP course.

From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: The 1911 E-M-F Racer Shown at the 2019 Elegance at Hershey

Great car , but am I being to critical in the restoration thinking someone got a bit over zealous in the pin striping to the chassis, hood, body, front axle wheels etc etc would this actually been done to the car being a race car when new?

From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: The 1911 E-M-F Racer Shown at the 2019 Elegance at Hershey

Beautiful setting, beautiful cars!

From Tucker 1044 Honored at the 2019 Elegance at Hershey

Howard,
Thank you for being a great supporter of the USMMA Midshipman run auto club. Tucker 44 was a great attraction at the show, it was a spectacular day for all the car owners and spectators, but mostly for the students at Kings Point.
_______________________________________

Howard Kroplick

It was an honor to participate!

From Great Neck Record: Classic Cars Displayed in Chrysler's Former Home

Can’t get enough of these oldies, thanks!

From Mystery Foto #23 Solved: Planning for the Extension of Union Turnpike in Queens (Circa 1931/1932)

Howard, who did you contact at the Smithsonian to see the Cup? Going down to see my son this weekend in DC and love to show him the Cup. Thank you.
____________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Suggest contacting Roger White: http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/vanderbiltcuptaces.com_exclusive_the_vanderbilt_cup_trophy_today

From Who Owns the Original Vanderbilt Cup Trophy and Where Is It Today?

Simply remarkable family reunion, all in the course of 100+ years! A treasured event that will no doubt last for future generations. Congrats to Howard and to the Lytle team.

From The Family of Vanderbilt Cup Racer Herb Lytle Has a Reunion at the 2019 Indy 500