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
Great photos Dave and Sam! I like that Mr. Jasper seal coated his preserved section. I look forward to the next series!
From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” VI: Garden City
Too easy because i was just there in Fresh Meadows last May .... 73rd avenue bridge facing east….built 1926 and still standing. Now that fall is here i can’t wait to bring my bicycle and go exploring thru the parks. I believe on the other side of the bridge is the parking lot and entrance to get onto the roadway.
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: The 73rd Street Motor Parkway Bridge in 1927 Looking East
Black Stump Road aka 73rd Avenue, looking east, the bridge was built in 1926 and is still standing
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: The 73rd Street Motor Parkway Bridge in 1927 Looking East
Awesome opportunity to stand on Arthur Jasper’s real piece of the Motor Parkway in his quiet backyard, ~when then in the distance a gas powered chugga can be heard, slowly approaching and getting louder and louder, then whizzes by with a hand wave and smile towards the horizon. Nice job Sam and Dave, and thanks for sharing the adventure. Looking forward for more of the road ahead and hope you’ve encountered friendly and hospitable locals as Mr. Jasper. Keep on ridin’ guys.
From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” VI: Garden City
From Chet:
I look forward to the arrival of the Vanderbilt Cup Races each week, maybe its being a native Long Islander and maybe it is my first job after college and the War with a surveyor (Holzmacker) in Bethpage where we came a across vestige’s of the Motor Parkway.
My father drove the Motor Parkway, although I did not. I looked upon it as a faded lady of the night, with it’s very steep banked curves, narrow pavement and it’s constant encroaching overgrowth.
From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” VI: Garden City
Congratulations once again Howard. I can’t say I’m surprised. Due to the car’s historical importance and it’s fabulous restoration it’s hard to beat. Although I couldn’t stay for the awards presentation I can attest to the strong competition on the show field. It was a great show. It was nice to see you in Saratoga Springs. Hope to see you at the Americana Concours with the Mustang.
From Hemmings.com: Mrs. Chrysler’s Chrysler Takes Best in Show at Hemmings Concours
Man! I was really wrong!!
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936
Howard,
It appears that above the word “SPECIAL” on the side of the car is someone’s signature, as in the “John Doe” Special, also note the V8 logo on the hood. Yes, there was a LAU MOTORS located in Brooklyn in 1937 (the earliest date I could find), which would become a Nash dealership located in Freeport “Nash LAU Motors”.
See http://nashparts.com/dealership/nashdealersny.htm for a great listing of NYS Nash dealers through time.
The Nassau Daily Review-Star (Weds., 10/24/1945, p. 2) reported that Joseph A. Lau took over the former Columbian Bronze building at 14 Brooklyn Ave., north of LIRR, Freeport, for the Nash Lau Motors agency. Lau was a resident of Floral Park, and had an agency in Brooklyn until August 1942 when auto production was halted due to WWII. He was listed as being experienced in the auto business since 1921.
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936
Lau Motors was a dealership located in Brooklyn during this time period - might it be connected to the car in the photo? Especially if it was a press event?
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936
This was a very good one this weekend,not that they aren’t every week.Hugh gave a very good answer.Need more research on that cool car.It looks like an oversized midget racer
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936
Laurel was a speed equipment company that built OHV heads for Model T Ford engines circa 1930. Morton Brett offered a radiator much like the one on this car.
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936
Didn’t have time this weekend to research this one, but to throw out something if I can’t get to it tomorrow, I,d say that looks like George Robertson in the felt hat sometime in the mid to late 1930s.
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936
I can only comment on the construction. It was likely a 4 banger car built about 1930. The front axel is from a Model A less brakes. The rear axel is likely from a 1926 or 27 Model T [however late 1920s Chevrolet axels were also popular] The engine is a Ford V8 flathead as built from 1932 to 1936. Most likely the photo is from the 1938 to 1941 era. The body is nice enough to a factory built like Morton Brett. The radiator shell could be a narrowed Auburn or Chrysler from the mid 1920s. Like most good race cars, the better ones ran for many years and were modified and up-graded. Some even were run at hill climbs and in road races.
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936
Guessing George Robertson, first American victor of Vanderbilt Cup’s 1908 International Race. Joe Tracy in white coveralls below
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936
Just a guess, but is that Eddie Rickenbacker in the felt hat? I believe that he must have competed in a Vanderbilt Cup race during his pre-war (WW I) days.
I have no idea about this event and who the drivers are, but if I was guessing and if it is in fact Rickenbacker then it might be an event associated with the Indianapolis 500.
The racing car looks somewhat like a Miller, but the flathead engine doesn’t look right with a Miller. I ‘m guessing that these are Duponts.
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936
No clue but theres a leak !!! Very cool car
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936
Howard, Happy the Mustang III is in good hands. Hope all went well in the 2011 restore.
From Inside the Restoration of the Mustang III Concept Show Car (2011-2013)
Howard/LIMPer’s; Was continuing to scratch my head as to why divert the Motor Pkwy from its Right Of Way at this particular location. Not sure, but I believe the idea here (while building the LIE) was to connect Old Willets Path (a main road) to the busy Motor Pkwy, but to do it without building an extra bridge over the LIE. So they left Old Willets Path intact, and diverted the historic Motor Parkway to save expenses on building an extra bridge?. Sounds crazy but any thoughts can help clarify?
From A 1926 Map of the Motor Parkway Acreage in Brentwood
I love exploring too! Great pictures!
From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” IV: Albertson to East Williston
Howard: As always, digging for more history on your car and it’s amazing what you find out and learn about it, also excited that you are the owner of the car, saved it from being destroyed, but to be enjoyed by a deserving person like you.
From Inside the Restoration of the Mustang III Concept Show Car (2011-2013)
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