Vanderbilt Cup Races

Liking the mystery foto, but were going away on vacation. Have fun with it, all!

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: A 1944 View of the Central Avenue/LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge in Bethpage

Hi Dave. The utility has these pipe type gates or barriers to keep other’s from dumping refuse on the ROW. When these gates are actually working, one side is locked ( utility employees have the key of course if truck access is needed to perform work, etc. ). I recall 3 types of gates…Chain Link, “sliding” pipe type, and “hinged” pipe type. PSEG LI ROW between Shelter Rock Rd and New Hyde Park Rd ( LIMP & Old Courthouse Rd Hwy Bridge ) is a good example. There’s a hinged pipe type entrance gate on the W/S of Shelter Rock Rd. After unlocking one side of the pipe ( pipe is resting in a I BEAM ), you then have to pull/push the pipe enough to get your vehicle into the ROW. The other side of the pipe is “hinged” in a I BEAM. Have a can of WD-40 handy being that the hinged end becomes quite rusty. And then on the E/S of New Hyde Park Rd, there’s a tall chain link gate that’s much easier to open, providing it’s not being strangled with vines.

From Updated: Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Hike” VI: Broad Hollow Road

The photo is looking east-southeast along the mainline of the LIRR from the Bethpage station (Broadway in foreground) with the LIMP bridge over Central Avenue and the LIRR in the distance. 1908 was the only Vanderbilt Cup Race that ran over this bridge. According to the website http://www.trainsarefun.com, the photo was taken in October, 1944. However, looking at the car on the right side of the photo, it could be a bit later.

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: A 1944 View of the Central Avenue/LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge in Bethpage

  Bethpage and looking east.

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: A 1944 View of the Central Avenue/LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge in Bethpage

Nicely written marketing pitch. It was a great opportunity but I do believe that post war car sales were weak not only due to a shortage of product. The country was also in a recession during the late forties. That was another challenge for Tucker. Looking forward to the rest of the literature.

From 1947 Tucker Franchise Plan Sales Tool Part I: Opportunity Knocking on the Door

Excellent coverage Sam and Dave! You guys always go all out. Some sections seem to be untouched and preserved still. Hoping these stretches will also connect to the proposed greenway in the making. Seems that’ll be the best way to preserve the remnants of this historic roadway. It should never be discarded.

From Updated: Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Hike” VI: Broad Hollow Road

Vanderbilt Day IV will be happening in the next week or two, exact date TBD but the mission is to start just west of Lakeville Road, behind the hospital, and then proceed through all of Nassau in detail and finish again at the Maxess Road bridge.

Does anyone have any ideas as to possible unknown exploration locations? Are there any thoughts? Howard shared a great idea last year, the Mineola/Albertson location just south of Sigsbee Ave and that turned out to be a great find with lots of LIMP pavement remaining.

Anyone????

From Updated: Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Hike” VI: Broad Hollow Road

This is a great, very easily accessible location that it seems like not many people know about. It’s quite confusing actually as the LIPA lines and path run south of RTE 110 and it appears as though that is the LIMP ROW but it’s not. I’m sure this confuses many people….I know Sam III was thrown off by this as his site seems to show that LIPA path as the ROW but it’s NOT. Wayne’s map is 100% correct with this location - initially it was confusing but it’s definitely right as the pavement and posts are all visible. Go and explore!

So Brian you think that post and gate are LILCO/LIPA related? Why would they cut off access to their own path?

From Updated: Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Hike” VI: Broad Hollow Road

Hi Dave/Sam. Always liked this area, especially behind the substation and then due east towards Maxess Rd. The roadway is decent looking for being almost a century old.The pipe gate looks similar to the type that LIPA or PSEG use for truck access into their ROWS, etc. But this one doesn’t look to be useful anymore lol. What is it about concrete posts? It’s always neat coming upon them.

From Updated: Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Hike” VI: Broad Hollow Road

Maureen, after you’ve rested up, take a look at my Atlantic Avenue tunnel material at <http://sbiii.com/bhra.html#AtlAvTun>.  Boerum Hill in Brooklyn is very well known to all serious LI Rail Road buffs.  Just in case you haven’t seen it already, take a look at <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boerum_Hill> as well.  Thanks fro sharing.  Sam, III

From Update: VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Memories of Living in the Huntington Lodge in Melville

I still want to know (or remember) how Ridgefield got into this act.  Also - “young French women” at Morris Park?  Further, Brighton Beach is some 12 miles SW of Morris Park.  Huh?  Sam, III

From From the Simeone Museum: Celebrating the Renault Roadsters

What’s with the red rims?  I thought you’d established that they were green.  Sam, III
_________________________________________________________

Howard I

Sam III,  the original green color was painted on the inside of the wheel. The rim of the wheel was red.

From Updated Tucker Topics: Have Tucker 1044 Will Travel

I am so pleased to see all the comments regarding the find of the Huntington Lodge.  Much appreciation that so many of you enjoyed the pictures.  I especially enjoyed seeing the aerial maps and the confirmation of the location of the lodge.  Since my trip down memory lane and the motor parkway, I have begun to work on more of my Long Island family being early settlers to New Amsterdam by the name of Boerum. I remember family stories about the Duryea car people and upon my recent hunt Boerums did marry into the Duryea families.  This circle is growing tighter and tighter.
Today I received a nice letter on old LLMP paper from a Ronald Ridolph expressing his delight about the Huntington Lodge.  Called him tonight.
Someone in the comments mentioned if I knew anyone living near the Huntington Lodge and the only two kids I played with were a Teddy Barley and a Patty Krewatt.  Both lived in the five or 6 small houses on 110 south of my location nearer to a road to the left off 110 to Pinelawn Cemetery.
Well, I have to rest.  All this excitement!!

From Update: VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Memories of Living in the Huntington Lodge in Melville

Some of the answers….
1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race by the Levittown grandstand and pits.
1903 #5 Mercedes (Germany), 90hp, this Mercedes was likely the one that broke the one-mile land speed record on the beach in 1904, owned by Willie K., finished 4th during last lap when the race was called. Driver was William Luttgen, Mechanician was Pfeiffer.

I see Willie K wearing the boots, watching the refuel.

This was the race where George Robertson, #16 Locomobile, 90hp, finished 1st with an average speed of 64.3mph, first American car to win the Vanderbilt Cup Race.

Robertson and Lytle, #6 Isotta, Italy, 60hp, 2nd place, were neck to neck for 90 miles. On the last lap, Robertson blew a tire and replaced it within two minutes. He managed to win the race in the remaining 18mi.

An unprecedented 250,000 spectators arrived for this race.

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: William Lutgen's Mercedes at a Pit Stop During the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

It looks like Santa Monica RR, A Stutz driven by Charles Merz 1912.

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: William Lutgen's Mercedes at a Pit Stop During the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

This photo was taken during the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on October 24, 1908 and shows Willie K’s Mercedes being refueled. The driver was William Luttgen and the mechanician named Pfeiffer (although I’ve also seen him referred to as Marx). The car’s reported claim to fame was that it was the same car that Willie K. drove while breaking the one mile land speed record at Ormond Beach in 1904. Additionally. it’s the same car that’s embossed on the actual Vanderbilt Cup. Referee Willie K. is standing behind the car. Next to him could be Fred Wagner, the starter. Close to the right front wheel could be race chairman Jefferson DeMont Thompson. For this race, the only two people allowed to service the car were the driver and mechanician. The generally accepted first use of pits to service race cars was on May 18, 1908 at Targa Florio, Circuito Grande Modonie, Sicily.

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: William Lutgen's Mercedes at a Pit Stop During the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

1908 vanderbilt cup.  Driver William Luttgen; mechanician Marx
They were the only two allowed to service the car.
Official looking on: William K Vanderbilt
This race marked the first use of pits in the USA, and it took place at
the Hempstead Plains grandstand.
The car, a Mercedes, was owned by William K. Vanderbilt Jr.
This car broke the one mile land speed record in 1904.

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: William Lutgen's Mercedes at a Pit Stop During the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Howard,
That was a terrific and well deserved article on your beautiful Mustang III.
Nice going.
Rog

From Hemmings Cover Article: Mustang III The Concept Car That Helped Ignite the Pony-Car Revolution

Looks like Tracy & Poole are refusing during the elimination race for the 1905 VCR. while their pit-crew just watch. Was that a requirement?  If so, maybe that’s part of the reason that Locomobile appears to have used a larger tank the following year.

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: William Lutgen's Mercedes at a Pit Stop During the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

strange that the back side view looks similar to the 240Z datson that debuted in 1971-2.

From Hemmings Cover Article: Mustang III The Concept Car That Helped Ignite the Pony-Car Revolution