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
Website by Eric Miller Design
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Recent Comments
Now that’s a mystery photo! I think it would’ve been more of a challenge if Central Park was’nt mentioned. This is definitely Bethpage, looking south to the building of the Nibbe Farmway overpass, and also the road construction of the LIMP in 1908. There looks to be a developed road to the left, maybe Plainview Rd? Perhaps a farm rd.
From Mystery Foto #61 Solved: The Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage)
Lance, Sam Greco has his restoration shop in Garden City Park. He can be reached at 1-516-279-6170 . Sam does a great job keeping the Black Beast running!
From More Highlights from the 2012 Indy 500 Race Week
Is there any way to get in contact with Sam Greco? Does he still have his shop in Long Island?
From More Highlights from the 2012 Indy 500 Race Week
Hmm, looks like one of two bridges - but I will wager the photo is looking south at the Powell Avenue bridge. Would have to be August/September, 1908, probably August.
From Mystery Foto #61 Solved: The Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage)
From Andrew S.
Just watched the AmeriCarna episode. So great to see you on tv. You did an excellent job. The Smithsonian should give you that trophy - it’s a shame to have it locked away and not displayed.
From Behind the Scenes: Velocity Channel's AmeriCarna Vanderbilt Cup Race Episode
From Douglas Bauer:
awesome show , keep those vintage race cars coming ,especially the indy cars , but how about a CanAm car
From Behind the Scenes: Velocity Channel's AmeriCarna Vanderbilt Cup Race Episode
From Josh Houghton:
The checkered flag was a cool bit of info. Glad you talked about the Vanderbilt Cup races, that is a fantastic subject that I hope gets more light shed on it.
From Behind the Scenes: Velocity Channel's AmeriCarna Vanderbilt Cup Race Episode
I’m taking a shot at it. I have 3 choices to make, with my 1st being the Powell Ave Bridge, because I think that’s the Bethpage Lodge to the left of the bridge. 2nd Nibbe Bridge and 3rd, but not very likely, there’s no railroad tracks and it’s not the longest bridge, which is the Central Ave Bridge. The direction of the photo shot is West. Now for the date, it would have to be before the races, so I would say early 1908. I need a break from this now
From Mystery Foto #61 Solved: The Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage)
1908
The Nibbe (Lane) farmway bridge
Looking south
From Mystery Foto #61 Solved: The Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage)
From Richard Lester:
I just watched you in the AmeriCarna show - what a terrific job you did.
It was fantastic!! I really enjoyed it.
From Behind the Scenes: Velocity Channel's AmeriCarna Vanderbilt Cup Race Episode
Looking South at the Nibbe Farmway Bridge with Deadman’s curve #2 just beyond the bridge. The Nibbe farmhouse is to the left. Constuction for that bridge would have been in July/Aug 1908.
From Mystery Foto #61 Solved: The Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage)
I would say it has to be Powell Ave, or Plainview Road, one of the two bridges that went over the LIMP in that area. Since the photo shows the bed of the parkway being laid, and it is obviously going under the bridge. As for the direction, I would only be guessing. The date is the summer of 1908. After the June groundbreaking and before the parkway opened.
Great photo.
-joe o.
From Mystery Foto #61 Solved: The Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage)
I can only imagine how you felt, a part of history! Thanks for sharing with us Howard.
From Video: "Black Beast Wins INDY 500...100 Years Later!"
Nice to see the building still standing and looking very well. I’ll have to visit the restaurant!
From Mystery Foto #59 Solved: The Van Ausdall's Hotel in Cold Spring Harbor, NY Circa 1914
I knew there was something familiar about it, just couldn’t pin point it. Now I don’t feel like I was on the wrong track
From Mystery Foto #60 Solved :Motor Parkway Near Round Swamp Road in Bethpage, Old Bethpage & Farmingdale
As I said, I see structures and roads, maybe even bridges, that could be part of the Motor Parkway. There’s something about the top of the picture that I’ve seen on the left side, it looks familiar to me. Maybe I’ll find out in a few minutes. I’m just lost on this one
From Mystery Foto #60 Solved :Motor Parkway Near Round Swamp Road in Bethpage, Old Bethpage & Farmingdale
Thank you to Howard and all who left comments for providing further insight into this photograph. We do know who the women are in the second and third to last photographs. When that picture was taken the Hotel was run by George Van Ausdall, Sr. (his son, also George, owned the hotel when the mystery photo was taken). George, Sr. is sitting downstairs. Upstairs are his wife, daughters, daughter-in-law, and two unidentified friends of the family. In the past, there was speculation that they were prostitutes, but that is simply not accurate.
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From Howard Kroplick:
Robert, thanks so much for information on the photo. Much appreciated!
From Mystery Foto #59 Solved: The Van Ausdall's Hotel in Cold Spring Harbor, NY Circa 1914
Howard,
It’s always a treat for me to read stuff written by Austin Clark. I remember his column, “Young Nuts and Old Bolts.” Too bad I never saved any of those articles.
I’m glad that you are preserving them.
Thanks again.
Roger
From Henry Austin Clark Jr. 1974 Article: "The Vanderbilt Cup Races- Part I: 1904"
Howard,
Fun to watch the progress of that fine car. I can’t wait to see the finished product. I’d imagine that you can’t wait either.
Roger
From Video: "The 1937 Chrysler's Chrysler Being Restored- April 2013"
In Battle Row campgrounds just east of the parkway bridge, wooden posts are used to section off that buffer area along the southern edge of the parkway. The 100+ year old posts are also still standing there today and recently rewoken by Howard, Al, Sam III, and Pat.
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/mystery_friday_foto_57_where_isn_the_world_is_sam_berliner_iii_and_al_veloc
From Mystery Foto #60 Solved :Motor Parkway Near Round Swamp Road in Bethpage, Old Bethpage & Farmingdale
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