About
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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Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
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Recent Comments
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
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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"
Identify the exact location of the Mystery Foto
Looking North on the West side of Willis Ave near Syracuse St.
Identify the Motor Parkway bridge
Willis Ave. parkway bridge
What is the structure on the left behind the bridge?
Unsure. Maybe something from the highway dept?
Today, where is the nearest Motor Parkway historic marker located relative to this location?
At the bridge site on the East side of Willis Ave.
From Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Willis Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge in Willston Park/Albertson in 1939
Sorry Howard, the jpeg photo I sent is tough to read. A clearer view of the route is available in Google Earth. Anyone can give me a ring if interested in the kml file.
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
From Updated (11/3/17): The Course for the Long Island Automobile Club's 1902 100-Mile Endurance Test
Tricky at first ( long ) glance. Here’s my answers:
*Exact Location of Foto: W/S of Willis Ave., Williston Park. Guess what I see in front of me are fuel pumps/gas station?
*ID Bridge: Willis Ave. Parkway Bridge. The W/S abutment is visible between the utility poles, the E/S abutment is out of view. There looks to be a bridge support at the east edge of Willis Ave.
*Tall structure on left beyond bridge: After viewing a 1947 Topo map, “Robertson Gravel Pit” was north of the LIMP. Structure is likely a conveyor for gravel,etc. John D Caemmerer Park is on location today.
*Nearest LIMP Historical Marker: On LIMP ROW, e/o Willis Ave. Well preserved roadway leads to Williston Park Village Pool.
From Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Willis Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge in Willston Park/Albertson in 1939
Hi Howard,
Just a quick question, it goes back to the Holbrook presentation on September 12th, is your map of the LIMP properties turned over to the state back in 1938, available for viewing in any of the Long Island Museums?
Bob DeStefani
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Howard Kroplick
I believe that I have the only known copy.
From Great Turnout to the Presentation on Ronkonkoma and the Motor Parkway in Holbrook
The location of this week’s mystery photo is the LIMP Willis Ave bridge in Williston Park. The photo was taken on the west side of Willis Ave just south of the bridge facing north looking towards Albertson..
The structure behind the bridge would be a sand crane/shovel of the Searingtown Sand Company. The sand company is where the Town of North Hempstead Highway Department, town park, and storm basin are located today.
On May 18, 2003, the Village of Williston Park placed a historical marker on the east side of Willis Ave near the old bridge location. The marker was placed by where the east bridge abutment once stood.
From Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Willis Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge in Willston Park/Albertson in 1939
Willis Ave Bridge. Picture roughly from the corner of Williams Street looking north along Willis Ave. Closest historical marker is on the east side of Willis Avenue, exactly where the bridge crossed. I am guessing on the structure, but where Albertson Park is today was a sand pit and or rock quarry, so that is my guess.
-joe
From Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Willis Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge in Willston Park/Albertson in 1939
WOW, what incredible finds by all. This mystery really did open up a can of worms. Art’s findings, as always, are amazing with historical facts to clarify. And the kiosk, half sawed to its size, (that I missed), another incredible find! Nice find by “eagle eye’d” Al for revealing this. I wouldn’t have got this by myself.
From Mystery Foto #43 Solved:Lou Austin's Commack Gas Station/Restaurant on the Long Island Motor Parkway
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