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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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Recent Comments
Mystery Foto #27…Photo high I taken at Massapequa Lodge Toll House. Driver and passenger are Officer Thomas Zinzi and wife Josephine Zinzi. Josephine was gate keeper at the lodge. The motorcycle was a 1926 Harley Davidson police special.
From Mystery Foto #27 Solved: Tommy Zinzi policing the Motor Parkway in front of the Meadow Brook Lodge
Beginning to appreciate what you have with the H & M Challenger.
From Restoration Update #1: The 1962 Holman-Moody Challenger III
The original Falcons came only with an inline six. Later versions had the V-8 option. Rog
From Restoration Update #1: The 1962 Holman-Moody Challenger III
The first truck painted white looks like it’s a White. Don’t know the year though.
The last photo looks like a curved dash replica.
How did I do coach?
It’s good to see old photos of Austin Clark. I miss him and his museum.
Rog
From Henry Austin Clark Jr.'s Long Island Automotive Museum automobiles at the July 4, 1960 Southampton Parade
Very interesting to see the remnants of the ‘62 Ford Falcon in the modified/custom design (and try to figure out what was retained and how much of the car is newly designed and fabricated). Is the grillwork from the original Falcon??? Did the 289 Ford V8 come with the original Falcon or is it an “add-on” to the modified version of the car? Why were the special (large capacity) gas tanks included in the modified/custom design???
From Restoration Update #1: The 1962 Holman-Moody Challenger III
It was a grand day ...
From Henry Austin Clark Jr.'s Long Island Automotive Museum automobiles at the July 4, 1960 Southampton Parade
the fellow wearing the t shirt that note’s he is “Going to Herb’s” most likely means he is going to Herb McCarthy’s restaurant on Bowden Square in Southampton. There was a house directly opposite that restaurant where a man connected to the automotive industry resided and called home for many years. This man was a significant part of the history of the automobile. Anyone care to offer who they think that might be?
From Henry Austin Clark Jr.'s Long Island Automotive Museum automobiles at the July 4, 1960 Southampton Parade
Would’ve loved to take a “now” photo of the mystery but I’m too far away on the west coast. The mystery photo scene is unrecognizable today.
From Mystery Foto #27 Solved: Tommy Zinzi policing the Motor Parkway in front of the Meadow Brook Lodge
Likely Motor Parkway police officer Thomas J. Zinzi with wife Josephine as “passenger”, in front of their home at the Motor Parkway Massapequa Toll Lodge (1908-1967), one of the first six Motor Pkwy lodges designed by John Russell Pope. Admiring all the open land behind the lodge during early Bethpage. This snapshot of Arthur Mauriello’s grandparents was taken 1926-1938 during Zinzi’s service with the parkway. Photo is definitely looking north and confirms the lodge’s porto cochere on the left. Appears a single digit on Zinzi’s badge (likely #1).
Big bike, around 1100cc. A whopping 39 spoked wheels! Looks like a drum brake in the front. Below photo of a 1926 Harley Davidson with 1000cc JD engine has some similarities, particularly the small sign on the front fender. The JD at the time was preferred by police departments, with a high-performance engine capable of outrunning almost any other vehicle on the road during the 1920s.
From Mystery Foto #27 Solved: Tommy Zinzi policing the Motor Parkway in front of the Meadow Brook Lodge
Can’t decide what’s cooler. The car flying or it’s transformation : )
From Test drive the Mercedes EQ this Sunday
I think the cinders were logs or planking. Residents must of been overjoyed when the roads received actual pavement. There must’ve been some type of stop signs before the traffic signals.
From Kleiner's Korner: The Dangerous Intersection of Wheeler Road and the Motor Parkway
A glimpse of Zinzi’s Harley in the lower left corner at the scene of a severe Parkway wreck.
From Mystery Foto #27 Solved: Tommy Zinzi policing the Motor Parkway in front of the Meadow Brook Lodge
Huge thanks to Bill Cruickshank for yet another beautiful shot from his family collection!
As Bill’s grandfather Otto McCamish would call him, ‘Tommy the cop’ Zinzi and his grandmother Pernelle in front of their Meadowbrook lodge.
The bike is truly beautiful! A classic Harley Davidson. Most likely a 1928 model that these days could sell for 75k if pristine.
From Mystery Foto #27 Solved: Tommy Zinzi policing the Motor Parkway in front of the Meadow Brook Lodge
Great photo Greg! Never seen this one before.
From Mystery Foto #27 Solved: Tommy Zinzi policing the Motor Parkway in front of the Meadow Brook Lodge
I don’t think that cars of that era could go very fast in the mud on Wheeler Road. That may have saved lives too. Driver behavior hasn’t changed in a century unfortunately.
From Kleiner's Korner: The Dangerous Intersection of Wheeler Road and the Motor Parkway
Yes Al! And Elsie Janis was his mechanician.
From Greg O.'s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection- Barney Oldfield and the "Green Dragon"
Guess what ?.... Barney Oldfield did race the the Golden Dragon in 1906 for the “Vanderbilt Cup”
From Greg O.'s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection- Barney Oldfield and the "Green Dragon"
Photo of Joe Tracy and Al Poole at the start of the NY - Philadelphia endurance test mentioned above using denatured alcohol. This comment follows one of Sam Berliner’s last entries (if not his final one) on vanderbiltcupraces.com prior to his passing.
From Kleiner's Korner: A 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race Entry
Mystery Foto #26… The race car is a 1908 Mitchell as driven by F. Zirbes in the 1908 Jericho Sweepstakes. This race for cars costing between $1001 and $2000. The date of the race is October 10, 1908. Official second from left could be Willy K.
From Mystery Foto #26 Solved : The J18 Mitchell racer driven by Frank Zirbes at the Start Line
Al,
Barney absolutely raced Vanderbilt at Ormond in 1904. Willie K. lost.
https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/the_dawn_of_speed_when_willie_k_raced_barney_oldfield
From Greg O.'s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection- Barney Oldfield and the "Green Dragon"
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