Vanderbilt Cup Races

Happy New Year to All,

Here’s the Google Maps link to an elevated satellite view of the scene from the above photo captioned “View looking east towards Creedmoor… (March 3, 1932).”:

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.740609,-73.7337802,99a,35y,97.32h,73.26t/data=!3m1!1e3

(Nerd Note: I found that, on my laptop, the Microsoft Edge browser loads the Maps link in an oddly delayed, ‘special effects reveal’ stop-motion manner, which shows how the complete image is composed of many separate photo segments; perhaps you can experience the same effect.)

From Mystery Foto #52 Solved: The Creedmoor Motor Parkway Bridge in 1928

Two small mistakes in the captions:
Car no. 5 is an Alfa Romeo 12C-37 entered by Scuderia Ferrari. Tazio Nuvolari was out at lap 17 of 90.
Car no, 14 is an Alfa Romeo 8C-35 sold to Jim White by Scuderia Ferrari after the 1936 Vanderbilt and modified in the US to be faster and more reliable than the Scuderia’s 1937 Alfa Romeos.
__________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Aldo, good catches! Thanks.

From Updated: 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Race Photos From the NYC Municipal Archives

Real clear pictures, thanks for sharing.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Photos From the NYC Municipal Archives

Not fair if I answer this one, but let me know if nobody else gets it!

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Locust Grove Section of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

Wonderful pictures. Thanks! One correction, Tazio’s number 5 is an Alfa Romeo 12C-36.
————————————————————————-

Howard Kroplick

Tobey, good catch. Thanks!

From Updated: 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Race Photos From the NYC Municipal Archives

The first photo ; interesting cars parked at the side lines that brought their owners to see the race. A bit difficult to see clearly due to the NYC GOV archives logos but the second car from the left in that first photo at the bottom is a new Packard 5 pass coupe that appears to have the chauffeur standing on the right side running board. Image to small to determine if it is a Eight, Super Eight or Twelve cylinder. GREAT STUFF. Thanks!!!
______________________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Walt, great observation! I have added close-ups of the spectators’ automobiles.

From Updated: 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Race Photos From the NYC Municipal Archives

That barbed wire fence was undoubtedly to keep crowds from running onto the track as had happened in the past, resulting in a fatality leading to NY State’s ban on racing on public roads.

From Updated: 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Race Photos From the NYC Municipal Archives

IU Willets Rd

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Locust Grove Section of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

I think that’s Jericho Turnpike facing east in the Locust Grove area, near Syosset, about 200 feet east of Underhill Blvd. Along with the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on October 24, 1908, the five Sweepstakes Races held two weeks prior also used this section of Jericho Tpke. They included the Nassau, Jericho, Garden City, Meadowbrook, and Motor Parkway Sweepstakes. During the Cup Race, the #3 Mercedes, driven by Emil Stricker, caught fire along this section of the course.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Locust Grove Section of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

Brian Part II:  I just watched the 1908 VCR YouTube video. This same image is displayed as Jericho Tpke Railroad Crossing, Locust Grove. This may be facing east.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Locust Grove Section of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

*Location of Mystery:  I believe this is Jericho Tpke facing west in Locust Grove. The car is eastbound approaching the LIRR Port Jefferson Branch.

*VCR that involves this location:  October 24th 1908

*Race car that caught fire in this area:  #3 Mercedes, driven by Emil Stricker. “Caught fire at Locust Grove, his car finished in 6th place”.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Locust Grove Section of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

I’ve just discovered this site—Wow!  Thank you very much for sharing it with everyone.

I have a question about the course for the 1904 Race.  From the geometry of the map on the site, I would think that the run through Hicksville followed what today is Jerusalem Avenue, rather than Broadway, which is more nearly parallel to the LIRR tracks to Bethpage. Is that so?

If it is, the photo of car No. 18 on Broadway near St. Ignatius Church may depict an off-course practice tune-up, rather than the Race itself.  Similarly, the checkpoint caption for the photo of car #6 probably should refer to Jerusalem Avenue, not Broadway.

Although I sometimes pick nits (in this case because I grew up right off Jerusalem Avenue), I really do appreciate your efforts.
__________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Ron, welcome to VanderbiltCupRaces.com. I appreciate your feedback and comments. I will further research the 1904 course.

Sincerely,
Ron Wencer
Toronto

From The Incredible Vanderbilt Cup Races on Long Island: The Role of Hicksville Updated: 11/22/16

I’m in agreement with Howard that the bridge was part of any development that was to take place in the future. The only highway frontage the property had the time was on today’s Winchester Blvd.The north/south alignment of the Parkway in this area effectively divided the property into two parcels so a request for a crossing of the Parkway was certainly reasonable.  My guess is that the bridge, which was a proper highway bridge, was going to be part of a roadway that some day would run from Winchester Blvd. eastward to what at the time was Clinton St., today’s Commonwealth Blvd. A bigger question I have is why was the Parkway required to build a crossing at the time?  Historically, the Parkway would commit to a crossing and would agree to do so when needed. An example are the Mayan ruins in Garden City Okay, the State insisted on a crossing at the time, but why was a highway bridge built ? Did they really care if the crossing went under or over the Parkway? The Parkway preferred to go under highways rather than over as it was a lot cheaper to do so. Did the decision to build a highway bridge have any thing to do with the the triple Parkway opening ? So far, unable to find another example where the Parkway did this.

From Mystery Foto #52 Solved: The Creedmoor Motor Parkway Bridge in 1928

-Identify the exact location of the Mystery Foto
The LIRR crossing on Jericho Turnpike in Syosset, facing east on Jericho Turnpike in 1908, toward the present-day overpass.

-Which Vanderbilt Cup Race(s) was run on this section of the course?
1908 VCR

-Which race car caught fire in this section
#3 Mercedes driven by Emil Stricker

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Locust Grove Section of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

These are amazing photos

From Surveyor Clinton Robertson Photo Album:The Motor Parkway Engineering Field Offices & a Worker Shanty

Unless Howard has a blueprint or schematic of this bridge, I figure the bridge length between the abutments was 50+ ft. Maybe heavy farm machinery drove back and forth across this bridge, therefore requiring additional bridge supports.
________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

I believe that this bridge was never used .  When it was built, New York State probably had plans to develop the hospital property on both sides and required that the Motor Parkway build the bridge as part of the sales agreement.. However, the 1937 aerial indicates the north side of the bridge led directly into heavy wooded area.

From Mystery Foto #52 Solved: The Creedmoor Motor Parkway Bridge in 1928

Great photos Howard. Any idea of exact location of field office in Mineola?
_______________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Mark, no location is described in the album. Based on the other Mineola photos in the album, I assume the field office was located near the Jericho Turnpike Motor Parkway Bridge.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/long_island_motor_parkway_bridge_series_27_jericho_turnpike_highway_bridge_

From Surveyor Clinton Robertson Photo Album:The Motor Parkway Engineering Field Offices & a Worker Shanty

Fantastic Fotos! Motor Parkway history gets clearer all the time. Keep ‘em comin’! Thanks Howard

From Long Island Motor Parkway Photos From the NYC Municipal Archives

Good point Al. This is one of only three bridges I’m aware of, where steel beams were used to help support. The other two were Westbury Ave and Central Ave. They all share in common the long span but why was this necessary for Creedmoor? I’m guessing it was cheaper/easier to just reach for the nearest high ground on both sides, than building a concrete bridge requiring more dirt to fill in the gaps. This 1925 photo taken from on top of the bridge three years earlier shows the outer openings still inactive.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/images/made/images/blog/3-1-2013_3-30-21_PM_edited-1_210_161.jpg

From Mystery Foto #52 Solved: The Creedmoor Motor Parkway Bridge in 1928

I love browsing those archives, especially the newly viewable 1940s tax photos!

From Long Island Motor Parkway Photos From the NYC Municipal Archives