Vanderbilt Cup Races

Answers to the mystery photo
Event: Purchase of Chrysler’s Chrysler
Location: Vanderbilt Estate Centerport NY
People: Lance Reinheimer- Director Vanderbilt Estate
        Howard Kroplick- Car collector and enthusiast
        Stephanie Gress-  Curator Vanderbilt Estate
Happy New Year to all

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The 2012 awarding of the 1937 Chrysler's Chrysler at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum.

This is wonderful!  Thank you!  There are houses from this period here and there in the Wy/DP area. Maybe from this company. The area was populated with “summer homes” without heat. Lots of folks from Brooklyn bought lots here to get out of the city in the summer via the LIRR mainline.

From Kleiner's Korner: The Great Automobile Parkway (aka The Motor Parkway)

wow WOW, WOW!

From Video: 1948 Tucker 1021 sold today for $1.7 million at the Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee

From Maggie Helck: Granddaughter of Peter Helck-former owner of Old 16.

The mystery photo sure looks like the “Old 16” Locomobile and I presume it is from the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race.

From Mystery Friday Foto #1: Solved; The Hazardous Woodbury Turn

Art, The free excursions were by railroad. On some occasions the sponsoring realty companies would run dedicated railroad cars at certain times usually in conjunction with an on site live raffle for a free lot.

From A 1908 Aeromap of Lake Ronkonkoma, the Motor Parkway Inn and an Automobile Parkway under construction

Interesting promotional piece, Al.  Thanks for sharing.  Here’s an ad (New York Times, Nov. 15, 1908) for the Babcock company promoting Lake Ronkonkoma inviting all persons responding to receive a free excursion (I presume to the Lake).  The ad mentions “The Automobile Parkway” - wonder if the excursion traveled on the parkway.  And another ad for the Wieckers Realty Company from The Times Union (May 7, 1908) mentioning an “Automobile Race Course”.  As readers of this site know there were various plans to build a course near Lake Ronkonkoma which never materialized. 

From A 1908 Aeromap of Lake Ronkonkoma, the Motor Parkway Inn and an Automobile Parkway under construction

Al, perhaps as the hypothetical map shows once a foreign power(s) made inroads into the western hemisphere, bombers could be assembled and launched from the barbarians to the north (Canada) and the Province of Mexico in the south.

From Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway's Contribution to Military War Games

My grandfather, Charles J Duprez was the NY Times photographer who traveled with the Thomas Flyer during the race.  He photographed the beginning of the race in Times Square to San Francisco where he was sent back to NY City.  He used to talk about the race saying it was crazy cold, too much snow, and that he knew the Thomas would not only finish the race, but would win it!!!!!  Sorry I won’t tell you how he thought they would win….....

From Mystery Friday Foto #52: Solved; The 1907 Thomas Flyer in the Snow

Art, Could never figure out the concern about foreign planes attacking the U.S. prior to WW 11. Up until then bombers had a range of 600 miles round trip which meant only Canada and Mexico were within striking distance of the U.S.

From Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway's Contribution to Military War Games

That sure looks like the “Old 16” Locomobile being driven by George Robertson with Glenn Ethridge as the mechanician. I think that’s the Woodbury Turn with Robertson having just come up Woodbury Road and turning west onto Jericho Turnpike. The associated race would be the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup which took place on October 24, 1908 BUT due to the phrasing of the question AND the relatively small number of spectators (compared to other 1908 photos), I’m thinking this photo may have been taken during a practice run a few days prior to the race. I’ll guess the date around October 21 - 23, 1908.

From Mystery Friday Foto #1: Solved; The Hazardous Woodbury Turn

My great grandfather lived in Lake Ronkonkoma and worked with Willy Vanderbilt building the last part of the motor parkway. He actually bought his bathtub which was damaged on it’s way from France..

From A 1908 Aeromap of Lake Ronkonkoma, the Motor Parkway Inn and an Automobile Parkway under construction

Thanks for the additional info!.

From Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway's Contribution to Military War Games

As always, great info Art. Funny how the LIMP is described as the old motor parkway in 1917. Only 9 yrs old then, and didn’t extend to Horace Harding Blvd yet lol. Remember reading here and there that the need for highways was originally intended ( still now really ) for military purposes. Wether it’s military, law enforcement and emergencies; we make clear for those vehicles that require quick passage.

From Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway's Contribution to Military War Games

From Greg O.

Art-
Here’s a bit more on Sperry’s ‘Flying bomb’ from a post 11 years ago.

https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/the_role_of_the_motor_parkway_in_the_development_of_the_cruise_missile

From Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway's Contribution to Military War Games

First photo is from the Long Island Automotive Musuem program, the second is from the Harrah’s Automobile Collection flyer.

From Mystery Friday Foto #52: Solved; The 1907 Thomas Flyer in the Snow

This looks like the Thomas Flyer posed on the carriage roads at Mohonk Mountain House.

From Mystery Friday Foto #52: Solved; The 1907 Thomas Flyer in the Snow

It is the 1907 Thomas Flyer.  It won the New York to Paris race.  The driver was George Schuster.  The car was for some years in Austin Clark’s collection in Southampton.

From Mystery Friday Foto #52: Solved; The 1907 Thomas Flyer in the Snow

As pointed out, collector/historians like Howard with the money and desire to share are a rare treasure.  Visited Howard’s emporium in Roslyn.  Same applies to Rob Ida and his crew.  I would trust them with any project they were willing to take on.  Visited their shop in Morganville.

From InstaGRAM Report: Rob Ida Shares the Tucker 1044 Restoration Backstory

George Schuster

From Mystery Friday Foto #52: Solved; The 1907 Thomas Flyer in the Snow

1908 New York to Paris Winner

From Mystery Friday Foto #52: Solved; The 1907 Thomas Flyer in the Snow