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.
All Content © 2026 VanderbiltCupRaces.com
Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
There’s some old coverage of Russell Road from 2004 on my LIMP Central Nassau page at <http://sbiii.com/limpcns1.html#russ-ocr> and a lot on Roslyn Road from 2002 and earlier on my LIMP page 12 (which, with pp. 10 and 11, somehow never got transferred - I’ll do it now, promise) <http://sbiii.com/limpwy12.html#roslodge>. Sam, III
From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #8 Garden City
I was going to ask that you remind me about (or refer me to) the move of the two sections of the Salvation Army Hotel. It seemed vaguely familiar - aha, for those who might also not recall, it was covered in detail in the 11 Dec 2018 blog, including the current location. It would appear from today’s satellite view, attached, that the right angle section, nearest us in the 1928 aerial view, was cut off at some point in or after the move. Sam, III
From Update: The Spring 2019 Meeting of the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society: The Role of Garden City
Congratulations Howard! Well deserved. Nice to see both you, the car, and the Tuckers at Greenwich.
From Tucker 1044 Awarded a Best in Class Award at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance
Is that Babe Ruth? The short length of the slacks he’s wearing suggests part of a baseball uniform.
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Peter Helck, Golfer Gene Sarazen and Old 16 in 1948
Great episode guys….
From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #8 Garden City
OK, just a guess on some points but here goes….
1) Peter Helck
2) clothing, golf knickers
3) Bobby Jones
4) Peter Helck “ol’ 16” Locomibile
5) late 40’s early 50’s judging by the Cadillac in the background.
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Peter Helck, Golfer Gene Sarazen and Old 16 in 1948
Congratulations Howard !
You are the best ambassador to the car hobby there is.
A worthy recognition of a job well done.
Gerry
From Tucker 1044 Awarded a Best in Class Award at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance
Great to see all of you. The Tucker was outstanding. Great show, great people.
From Tucker 1044 Awarded a Best in Class Award at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance
Artist is Peter Helck.The car is Locomobile ‘Ol 16’.The hint is athletes pants,they are plus fours worn by golfers.So I guess is athlete is a pro golfer.The year is 1949 -50,that is the year of the new Cadillac convertible in background.The Caddy probably delivered the Locomobile,judging by the trailer hitched to it.
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Peter Helck, Golfer Gene Sarazen and Old 16 in 1948
Great hidden info on the GC bridges. I always wondered about expansion over time especially these main thoroughfares. With OCR’s widening to 42’ in 1929 I wonder when it was widened again to 60’? And the 1907 topo drawn to scale reveals Clinton Rd to receive a huge widening to almost 10x its original size! At 40’ today it must’ve been a mere ~5’ dirt road. Great news the old roadway will be preserved for future generations to enjoy. All fantastic news!
From Update: The Spring 2019 Meeting of the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society: The Role of Garden City
That’s famous artist Peter Helck sitting next to famous golfer Gene Sarazen (you can tell by the golf spikes) in Peter’s even more famous “Old #16” Locomobile, the winning racer of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup. The date of the photo is September 11, 1948 - you can tell by the inspection sticker on the windshield of the car over Peter’s left shoulder. (Seriously, I simply cheated and looked up mystery photo #42 from October, 2016)
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Peter Helck, Golfer Gene Sarazen and Old 16 in 1948
Mystery Foto #22…. The artist to the right is, of course, Peter Helck. The athlete behind the wheel is golfing great Gene Sarazen. His shoes and socks hint at the sport of golf. The race car is none other than the Old 16 Locomobile. The car was owned by Peter Helck at that time. The Celebrity Party was held on September 11,1948.
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Peter Helck, Golfer Gene Sarazen and Old 16 in 1948
-Identify the artist (right)
Peter Helck
-What in the Mystery Foto provides a hint at the athlete’s sport?
Golf pants
-Identify the athlete (left).
Gene Sarazen
-Identify the race car and its owner.
Peter Helck owned Old 16 at the time
-What year was this photo taken? Provide a rationale.
September 11, 1948 celebrity picnic at Lowell Thomas’ Home in Pawling, New York
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Peter Helck, Golfer Gene Sarazen and Old 16 in 1948
The artist was Peter Helck
The driver, golfer Gene Sarazen, is wearing “plus fours”, golfing knickers
James Melton owned old number 16
The year was 1948
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Peter Helck, Golfer Gene Sarazen and Old 16 in 1948
The photo is of noted artist Peter Helck and professional golfer Gene Sarazen. The
race car is a 1906 locomobile.
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Peter Helck, Golfer Gene Sarazen and Old 16 in 1948
Old Country Rd became as wide as the LIMP by 1930. Section of LIMP between Clinton Rd & the mall will make a nice shortcut for local residents.
From Update: The Spring 2019 Meeting of the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society: The Role of Garden City
Peter Helck
Race car driving in old 16 Locomobile
Babe Ruth
1948
From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Peter Helck, Golfer Gene Sarazen and Old 16 in 1948
Today’s “LONG ISLAND OUR STORY” in NEWSDAY had six pages of Long Island Motor Parkway and Vanderbilt Cup on Long Island.
_____________________________________________________
Howard Kroplick
Bruce, which day was it published?
From Garden City News: Long Island Motor Parkway: The Role of Garden City
Didn’t get a chance at the mystery photo but this looks like the planned Garden City Mott section just West of Clinton Rd that was never built.
From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: A 1914 Map of the Garden City Section of the Long Island Motor Parkway
Village of Garden City including the Mott Section at center bottom (heirs of Mott Apple Juice), Mineola Fairgrounds top left corner, Roosevelt Field top right. This map (early ‘20s) likely a first draft, anticipating housing growth after Camp Mills (1918-1919). More streets south of Old Country Rd would be added. The map numerals do not correspond with today’s Section/Block/Lot system. This prime section of real estate also had easy access to the Motor Parkway. The Garden City lodge would eventually be moved in 1989 to the extreme bottom left corner of the map.
From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: A 1914 Map of the Garden City Section of the Long Island Motor Parkway
Page 471 of 1029 pages ‹ First < 469 470 471 472 473 > Last ›