Vanderbilt Cup Races

Wonderful job Greg If anyone is interested in a presentation about many of the gentleman and thier equestrian adventures in NYC and Long Island let me know Jerry and Rita

From The REAL ladies of The Gilded Age from Julian Fellowes' HBO Show, 'The Gilded Age'

Nice job and research, Greg. I’ve definitely become a fan of this series. Perhaps they need some extras? lol Quite sad that Pastor Frank had such a hard & quick passing. Frank & Ada were just beginning to enjoy their lives together. Have to say the Van Rhijns & the staff were quite relieved with the Fortune that Frank left for Ada. I can see Agnes being a sound advisor for Ada with the finances. Looking so forward to Season 3 : )

From The REAL ladies of The Gilded Age from Julian Fellowes' HBO Show, 'The Gilded Age'

Is the actual name of the Cup Race, what is says on the ribbon?

From A rare 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race Contestant Ribbon Badge manufactured by The Whitehead & Hoag Co.

I think this might be Maurice Bernin and his mechanician Felix Prossen at the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race on October 8, 1904. Bernin drove the number 11 Renault and finished 17th.

From Mystery Friday Foto #14 Solved: #1 Locomobile Vanderbilt Cup Race Driver Jim Florida

It is great to read about Whitehead & Hoag Company. It is rare to see the companies mentioned who produced some really fine quality items to supply to car manufacturers and auto accessory stores. I have know about W & H for decades and always look to check at the center on the back of cast emblems etc to see their makers mark. They had a huge volume of business . It is not often that manufacturers of auto related items are mentioned but it puts a whole new light on how things were provided and their important part in automotive history.

From A rare 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race Contestant Ribbon Badge manufactured by The Whitehead & Hoag Co.

Thanks Al and Art for the course details. Appears tough road conditions throughout the whole course. Westbound heading back was likely more treacherous with the hills along the north side. Surprised some completed the event in just two days. No doubt others were disabled enroute with multiple flat tires

From Mystery Friday Foto #13 Solved; A Long Journey to Montauk

Kelly Williams

I have never seen this image of the Pierce-Arrow! thanks for sharing. it would be fun to recreate it in model car kit form! - I build model kits in my free time and I always enjoy finding new inspiration for my next model build.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Unpublished Long Island Automotive Museum Photos from 1958 to 1962, Part 6

Abigail, that’s amazing news visiting your grandparents at the old lodge. So glad your Mom Emma got to see her old house restored.

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #9 Garden City Lodge

Marty. Himes was a dear, trusted friend of mine for more than sixty years.  He was a noted historian, a master storyteller and, most of all, a man of his word.  May he rest in peace.

From Update- Sad News: We have lost a Long Island racing icon and good friend Marty Himes

Marty Himes was a dear, trusted friend of mine for more than 60 years.  He was a noted historian, a master storyteller, and, most of all, a man of his word.  May he rest in peace.

From Update- Sad News: We have lost a Long Island racing icon and good friend Marty Himes

Emma was my mother - she grew up in that house and I spent many summers there with my grandparents, who were wonderful people. To me, it was a magical place- partly due to its design and partly to the wonderful details they had added after purchasing it. Tucked into the end of Vanderbilt Drive, it was secluded and quiet despite the traffic on Clinton Avenue. The old parkway was no longer used but still there, and kept my brother and I content rollerskating on it. I took my mother to visit the house after it had been moved to Garden City and she was happy to see it was still loved, even if not lived in.
Thanks for posting all this!

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #9 Garden City Lodge

Finishing up the course and a picture taken prior to the run.

From Mystery Friday Foto #13 Solved; A Long Journey to Montauk

An article from The New-York Tribune, June 12, 1910 outlining the course.  Sorry Frank, it doesn’t appear the Motor Parkway was used.  Maybe they didn’t want to pay the toll!

From Mystery Friday Foto #13 Solved; A Long Journey to Montauk

Unfortunately I have no modern-day photos.  But here’s one that shows that unusual body in more detail.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Unpublished Long Island Automotive Museum Photos from 1958 to 1962, Part 6

Kelly Williams

It’s fantastic to hear that it’s still around!!! Thank you for the comment! Any chance that you have any photos of it? If not, that’s ok, we are just happy to hear that it is still around!

- Gram Spina

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Unpublished Long Island Automotive Museum Photos from 1958 to 1962, Part 6

Frank, No part on the Motor parkway was used for the 2 day contest. It started in Manhattan and most of the run eastward was on the Merrick Rd.  The route used the second day back west was mostly along the north shore of the Island.

From Mystery Friday Foto #13 Solved; A Long Journey to Montauk

Fantastic Fotos, 114 years later! Clever to use the ‘Continental Tires’ banner lengthwise to help shield the dusty ride. I’d bet the course included Motor Parkway’s entire 45 mile length. After Ronkonkoma heading east towards the light, you’re on your own through 75 more miles of pristine and mostly undeveloped lands of early Long Island.

From Mystery Friday Foto #13 Solved; A Long Journey to Montauk

Thanks for all those pix.  They brought back so many memories of my many visits to Austin’s great museum and collection.  i remember when he just got back his beautiful red Simplex.  Austin was a great gracious man.  always loved chatting with him.  Rog

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Unpublished Long Island Automotive Museum Photos from 1958 to 1962, Part 6

Location is the Montauk Point Lighthouse. Sometimge between 1910 and 1931 as the paved road to lighthouse is absent ( built in 1931)
No idea about the event or car though there was a New York State Motor Trade Association 200-mile Efficiency Run to Montauk Point in 1912 I believe.

From Mystery Friday Foto #13 Solved; A Long Journey to Montauk

The Pierce-Arrow still looks just like this, in a California collection.  I have been trying to establish the coachbuilder, but have had no luck so far.  The step-daughter of the original owner gave the car to Clark around 1947, and he thought it was the only one ever made with this body.

Interestingly, the book “New Departure Classics” has a drawing of a Houpt-Rockwell from 6 years earlier, with a surprisingly similar body.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Unpublished Long Island Automotive Museum Photos from 1958 to 1962, Part 6