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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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Recent Comments
Bill Holingsworth
Briggs Cunningham is in the Mercedes GP car (circa 1914+/-), Bill Spear is in the car to rear left, the blue GP car further to the rear left could be a Delage, if not, still mostly likely French. Behind the fence is the 300SL Roaster (1957-63). The mid 20’s sedan is not a Royale as they did not have spare mounted in the front fender. It could be a Bugatti, it could anything. The photo of the wheels is not clear enough to distinguish them, giving a hint as to the make of the car. Photo is taken at Sebring, probably before the 12 Hours Race in March. Cunningham’s arms are in the air because his engine has stalled at the start. Year of the photo would be in the 1960’s.
From Mystery Foto #5 Solved:Briggs Cunningham Driving His 1914 Mercedes Grand Prix Car at Sebring (1959)
How about Daytona 500 in Florida, early ‘60s.
Hand signal indicates the driver will not move his car or his car is not running.
From Mystery Foto #5 Solved:Briggs Cunningham Driving His 1914 Mercedes Grand Prix Car at Sebring (1959)
“Bokeh”? HK, the pix wouldna been so great if you and your crew hadna done such an incredible job of restoration! Bravi tutti! Sam, III
From The Fine Art of Photographer Jerry Keefer: The Tucker 1044
Just off the top, I’d say that’s a 1914 Grand Prix Mercedes and the driver’s signal is an exultant “I WON!”. I can not make out enough of the car behind at left but that’s a M-B 300SL roadster beyond. My first thought about the Big Black Beast at right was a Bugatti Royale but the wheels are wrong so maybe a W07 M-B Typ 770 Grosser Mercedes - neither one seems to have had a closed rear quarter panel saloon model, though. ??? Sam, III
From Mystery Foto #5 Solved:Briggs Cunningham Driving His 1914 Mercedes Grand Prix Car at Sebring (1959)
It is Briggs Cunningham in a 1914 Mercedes GP car at Sebring. Behind him might be Phil Walters in the BuMerc and behind that is Briggs’ Peugeot circa 1913. There is a 1957 era Mercedes 300 SL roadster and a 1931 Marmon V-16 sedan. Briggs is likely signaling he is stopped so other cars will pass him.
From Mystery Foto #5 Solved:Briggs Cunningham Driving His 1914 Mercedes Grand Prix Car at Sebring (1959)
WAGS all. Briggs Cunningham in 1914 Mercedes GP, Henry Austin Clark in ???, Lindley Bothwell in 1914 Peugeot L45. Mercedes 300SL roadster, Packard/Stutz sedan in background. Sebring, Florida. Sebring 6/12 hour endurance race. Briggs is sayin’ “I win” or “I give up. The drugs are hidden in the belly pan”! 😊
From Mystery Foto #5 Solved:Briggs Cunningham Driving His 1914 Mercedes Grand Prix Car at Sebring (1959)
Beautiful photo work by Jerry. I love his use of bokeh to blur out what he’s not focusing on.
Rog
From The Fine Art of Photographer Jerry Keefer: The Tucker 1044
Howard, I ‘m quite sure the photo was taken at Sebring, I visited there in the 1960’s. The driver is Alex Ulman, the founder of the track. the photo was probably taken in 1960’s when the 24 hours race was instituted. The Mercedes in the background is the 300 SLR, a revolutionary design for the time with gull wing doors on the coupe.
From Mystery Foto #5 Solved:Briggs Cunningham Driving His 1914 Mercedes Grand Prix Car at Sebring (1959)
My guess to the answers to the questions asked: Briggs Cunningham is in the car with his hands raised, do not have any idea why his hands are raised - he either won the competition or his car quit and would not run!
Austin Clark is at the wheel of the car behind this. The location is Sebring , Florida and this photo was taken at the time of the race. The dark sedan in the background is a model J Duesenberg with either a Derham or Rollston body.
From Mystery Foto #5 Solved:Briggs Cunningham Driving His 1914 Mercedes Grand Prix Car at Sebring (1959)
Briggs Cunningham in an early Benz? Plus, an obvious 300SLR. And is that Henry Austin Clark behind him?
From Mystery Foto #5 Solved:Briggs Cunningham Driving His 1914 Mercedes Grand Prix Car at Sebring (1959)
I like “Joe Burt and friends”, everyone is wearing the same hat. And nicely dressed!
From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Looking North on Merrick Avenue and Stewart Avenue in 1944
Very fine photography on a very fine Tucker.
From The Fine Art of Photographer Jerry Keefer: The Tucker 1044
Sounds like a new quest for the Wikimedia Commons gallery for Mineola. Actually, I just found out they have it already.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mineola_Bl_Old_Country_Rd_td_09.jpg
From Then & Now: The First Long Island Offices of the Long Island Motor Parkway, Inc.
Update: A 2018 Google Map has been added. This image will be used as a guide for the planned placement of a Long Island Motor Parkway historical marker adjacent to the Merrick Avenue Bike Path.
From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Looking North on Merrick Avenue and Stewart Avenue in 1944
Scott Eckers
• Identify the location of the Mystery Foto and the orientation of the photographer.
Stewart Avenue and Merrick Avenue, East Meadow/Westbury, looking north
• Link the Mystery Foto to the Long Island Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Races .
The Meadowbrook Lodge is on the northwest corner.
• What was the likely purpose for the structure on the right? What is on this location today?
This structure was in the golf club; it is in Eisenhower Park today.
• What was the approximate date of the Foto? Provide a rationale.
Mid/late 1930s because of the power lines and the bridge (I know I’m wrong now!)
• Who was the photographer?
Joseph Burt, Mineola
• Kudos question: Can you find the airplane in the photo?
Yes! It’s in the air! (Above the lodge.)
Thanks for a great picture this week!
Scott Eckers
From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Looking North on Merrick Avenue and Stewart Avenue in 1944
Looking north on Merrick Ave with Stewart ave in the forefront and the motor parkway behind it. The toll booth is visible on the left. The structure could be something from Eisenhower park as that would be where the current day entrance is. Just a guess
PS. Plane is right above toll booth
From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Looking North on Merrick Avenue and Stewart Avenue in 1944
Forgot to mention that I had spotted that culvert in the old bridge’s West embankment as well.
From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Looking North on Merrick Avenue and Stewart Avenue in 1944
Thanks Bill and Howard for this FABULOUS view in Salisbury. Never seen this before in my 56 years. This view is alarming and unrecognizable today. We’re at the entrance to Eisenhower Park on the right side off of Merrick Ave. There’s a red light camera here today. Photographer Joseph Burt of Mineola is standing on the sidewalk looking NNE. 1908-10 Vanderbilt Cup Races began here on top of the hill at the Meadow Brook lodge. Many concrete posts outlining the Motor Parkway property line. Structure on right is likely vending machines/restrooms to accomodate the golfers. Golf course remains here today. Date is sometime after the ‘50s when the lodge was removed. The silver bird is directly above the Meadow Brook lodge and a smaller black bird above the Stewart Ave street post. Fantastic!
From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Looking North on Merrick Avenue and Stewart Avenue in 1944
My Great Uncle received a hernia operation there in August, 1918 and stayed on as a nurse helping GI.s , dealing with the Flu Epidemic of 1918. In his letter, he gave the address as, “Base Hospital; No. 5, Ward 3, Mineola Long Is. New York. Do I have this right? Thank you.
From Update #3: Mystery Foto #28 Reveals Another Piece of Long Island History in Garden City
Love these older images, thanks Bill!
*Location & Orientation: Southeast corner of Merrick Ave & Stewart Ave ( I can just make out Stewart Ave inscribed on the post at the northeast corner ), Westbury NY. View is north.
*Structure on the right & present day: A caddy shed/shack for the golf course. There’s not any building there now. A much wider Park Blvd was carved out just north of this east side of Stewart Ave. The blvd does the loop curve to the north before heading south. Maybe the shack was in the way. Then there’s a refuse area north of the blvd.
*Image date & reasoning: There’s no evidence of Park Blvd, yet ( carved out after 1950 ). LIMP bridge is no more, toll lodge lived until 1954. I’ll say 1945.
*Photographer: Joseph Burt, 1886 - 1971. Mineola resident who practiced photography as a hobby. And I bet he established a photo collection, thanks Joe!
*Aircraft in photo: Likely the dark shape seen in the 5th closeup, above and to the left of ‘Ottavino Memorials’, west side of Post Ave.
*Foto link to the LIMP & VCR: The Meadowbrook Toll Lodge is clearly seen to the northwest. Pretty sure the remains of the west abutment is there thru the row of trees, and fairly sure I see a culvert at the embankment. The 1908, 09 &10; races were here, too.
*
From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Looking North on Merrick Avenue and Stewart Avenue in 1944
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