Vanderbilt Cup Races

No Autonomous driving involved here.

From Jalopnik.com: Today's Race Car Divers Have it Easy

That was TAMPA Hall built for the Taxpayers Association of Motor Parkway Acreage, a civic organization, and was located on the corner of Caleb’s Path and Gates Avenue. It was used for meetings and social events primarily by the residents of a specific sub-division of Brentwood near the LIMP.

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved: Taxpayers Association of Motor Parkway Acreage (TAMPA) Hall in Brentwood

As per vanderbiltcupraces.com

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

“This was the hall of the Taxpayers Association of the Motor Parkway Acreage (TAMPA) on Caleb’s Path and Gate Avenue in Brentwood. TAMPA was formed on May 28, 1934 for the protection, improvement, and benefit of the civic interests of the community. The hall was used for meetings, social events lectures and parties until the 1950s.”

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved: Taxpayers Association of Motor Parkway Acreage (TAMPA) Hall in Brentwood

Could this have been a Motor Pkwy maintenance facility? If so, and if memory hasn’t failed, this would’ve been located in the Dix Hills area, 1/2 mi. west of Deer Park Ave. Tough mystery Jason, looking forward to this week’s solution

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved: Taxpayers Association of Motor Parkway Acreage (TAMPA) Hall in Brentwood

Stumped! Oddly, this structure is similar in size/configuration to John Russell Pope’s lodges. The windows appear the same and it’s receiving electricity but no chimney to heat the unit. The communications antenna places this at least the ‘30s. Unlikely a prototype lodge.

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved: Taxpayers Association of Motor Parkway Acreage (TAMPA) Hall in Brentwood

Great write-up!  I beg to differ with Penny, however.  Try driving a supercharged 1928 7.020 litre SS Mercedes with the three-pointed star 10 feet away out front, stiff underslung springing, brutal steering, mechanical brakes, and the accelerator pedal BETWEEN the clutch and brake pedals!  After the star starts around a turn, it feels as if it takers five minutes before the cowl, and then you, follow.  Add to that the frantically-anxious owner of this museum-piece next to you and you match any ALCO or Tucker drive.  Sam, III

From Jalopnik.com: Today's Race Car Divers Have it Easy

All those flecks of oil, all that blue exhaust, all that thrashing of chains and vibration. Gee its a real car with lock to lock steering: a car that you drive not one that drives you. There is nothing that can compare with a ride at speed in a chain drive beast. You are immediately transported back to the dawn of motoring and gain a real appreciation for skill and endurance of the early drivers.  Bravo!!!

From Jalopnik.com: Today's Race Car Divers Have it Easy

I like that “never was” photo, would like to see more done that way.  Looks like a past dimension,,,, (to enter)?

From Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Willis Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge in Willston Park/Albertson in 1939

The man sitting next to Lewis Strang (at the wheel) is probably Loren Hodge, who rode with Lewis to win the first 100 mile race at Indianapolis in 1909, probably in that car.  There is a good interview and biograp in the Decator Sunday Herald and Review, (Decatur, Illinois)
17 Feb 1980, Sun, Page 51.  You will notice a good likeness in his photo from the interview here

https://img.newspapers.com/img/img?id=77612227&width=557&height=399&crop=1059_615_1702_1243&rotation=0&brightness=0&contrast=0&invert=0&ts=1510350982&h=d9bf0934ec5d21d38807385edac5c874

Loren Hodge was invited by Glenn Curtiss at the 1909 race to become one of his early pilots at his New York factory.

From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: The 1909 Buick Factory Racing Team in Flint, Michigan

Very cool Howard!  I was there when they did the filming at your garage.  Now I have to figure out how to watch it!  Thanks again for the invite.  I will always remember standing next to the beast when you fired her up.  Sounded like 50 caliber machine guns!  Mitch Hackett
————————————————————————-
Howard Kroplick

Mitch, the episode will eventually be posted online. They did a great job!

From Updated: Jalopnik:America’s First Great Car Race Happened On Roads People Still Use Every Day

Ha, ha!  There IS yet another Tucker!  I spotted it quite by accident on 04 Nov 2017 up here in Massachusetts.  I’m sending the photo to Howard.  Sam, III

From Hagerty.com: A new Tucker, true to the original, debuts at SEMA

The bridge is tucked way back in the southeast corner of the Restoration, away from all of the “attractions”. Everyone who I’ve ever talked to who have taken their kids/family to the Restoration has absolutely no idea what I’m talking about when I ask them about the bridge.

Of course, you really need to go and investigate the bridge yourself Frank!

From Updated: Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Hike" IV: Old Bethpage

Liking the “Never Was” creation. Would be a lot of fun driving through that time portal. Have a Polaroid ready to go and leave ASAP before the portal closes!

From Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Willis Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge in Willston Park/Albertson in 1939

Is this bridge protected? I’m assuming it is under Old Bethpage Restoration. It seems secure but don’t want anything happenig to it.

From Updated: Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Hike" IV: Old Bethpage

Ed L:
Great video!

From Hagerty.com: A new Tucker, true to the original, debuts at SEMA

Looking north on Willis Avenue in Williston Park/Albertsons.  The LIMP overpass is visible and behind it on the left in the distance it appears to be a construction crane which might be part of a sand mining pit which used to be there, owned by the Wheatley Hills Land Company.
The historic marker is on the right (eastern ) side of Willis Avenue under where the bridge used to be.

From Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Willis Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge in Willston Park/Albertson in 1939

Looks like 2 Tydol gas pumps (blurry) in the foreground. I checked Bob and Ruth’s first ever photo of the Willis Ave bridge looking North in Williston Park. A Tydol gas station does not appear across the street in the photo. Not sure of the “crane” behind the bridge. If this is Willis Ave, this is the second only photo of this bridge. 

SOLVED! The crane appears in Bob and Ruth’s first photo. Willis it is! The crane’s location should be today’s Albertson Park, and nearest LIMP historic marker is directly under the bridge on the east sidewalk across the street. I believe the Motor Parkway is the division line between Williston Park and Albertson. Thanks Bob and Ruth for another rare shot of this bridge

From Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Willis Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge in Willston Park/Albertson in 1939

I think the photographer was standing on the west side of Willis Avenue in Williston Park about 2 blocks south of the LIMP looking north at the bridge over Willis Avenue. The structure in the left background could be the old Albertson firehouse on Dewey Avenue. The nearest LIMP marker would be on the east side of Willis Avenue where the eastern bridge abutment had been at the entrance to the village pool.

From Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Willis Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge in Willston Park/Albertson in 1939

Very Nice!

Ken

From Hagerty.com: A new Tucker, true to the original, debuts at SEMA

Bravo Greg! Great article and super research!!!!!Thanks Howard for posting this.

From Gregg D. Merksamer: "Remembering the 1908 Briarcliff Trophy Race"