Vanderbilt Cup Races

Too funny!  I was about to correct my reply; I didn’t remember ever seeing the Meteor with a top, and certainly not up, but bethought me of the nose looking familiar as one of Ab Jenkins’ Mormon Meteors.  They are covered in his book, “Salt of the Earth”, which I either have somewhere or gave to Howard.  As I recall fairly certainly, there never were ACD factory designations SJ or SSJ; all such cars were Js and the S and SS prefixes were added much later by aficionadoes (much as production Tuckers were never Torpedoes).  At least I knew the garage door was Austie’s eastern rear entrance.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #35 Solved:Two Record-Breaking Duesenbergs at the Long Island Automotive Museum in 1949

Bob S.
Very cool.  Congrats to Howard!  Bob

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Historic Tucker d'Elegance in Big Sur

Robert Richer
Partial:

Ab Jenkins’ Marmon.
Austie Clark’s Museum.

From Mystery Foto #35 Solved:Two Record-Breaking Duesenbergs at the Long Island Automotive Museum in 1949

Thanks Howard. How’s John doing?Say hi to him for me,thanks again.
______________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

John doing fine! Thanks.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Historic Tucker d'Elegance in Big Sur

Mystery Foto# 35….The 1935 Duesenberg Mormon Meteor Speedster is on the left Possible owner at that time Ab Jenkins. The 1936 Duesenberg SSJ La Grande Sports Roadster is on the right. Clark Gable (or Alfred Ferrera) may have been the owner at that time. Photo taken at Long Island Automotive Museum in Southampton. I cannot determine the date of the photo. Both cars were class winners at Pebble Beach Concours in years past. The Mormon Meteor was best of show in 2007 at Pebble. Ab Jenkins with the Mormon Meteror set a one-hour record of 153.97 mph (247.79 km/h) and a twenty-four-hour record of 135.57 mph (218.18 km/h) at a circuit on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The 24-hour record would be held until 1961. Can’t find speed records on the LaGrand Roadster but it had a top speed of 160mph.

From Mystery Foto #35 Solved:Two Record-Breaking Duesenbergs at the Long Island Automotive Museum in 1949

Sorry, folks; it won’t fadge!  Rank revisionism.  The abutments predate all the Mills bit.  Al, where are you when we need you?  To David’s query, the abutments, which are quite close together, appear perfectly normal for the usual LIMP plate girder bridge, not any special trestle.  When I was first in there and the abutments were more visible, I saw nothing out of the ordinary about them.  If the base hospital had progressed further, a bridge certainly might have been considered but that’s pure speculation so far.  Sam, III

From Femenias Findings: Exploring the Link Between Camp Mills and the "Mayan Ruins" Motor Parkway Bridge

One more comment and then on to the beach to celebrate Labor Day!  I’m now putting date in the late 40s or early 50s. 
And while probably not directly related to the photo, I found a Newsday clipping from 1971 about a Joseph Weider who rented an 8 car garage to antique auto/truck collectors and noted that Gary Cooper once housed his Duselberg there (complete with an autograph).  Sending the full article to Howard.

From Mystery Foto #35 Solved:Two Record-Breaking Duesenbergs at the Long Island Automotive Museum in 1949

On the left; 1935 Duesenberg Special/Mormon Meteor
From Wiki;
Financing for the Duesenberg Special came from sponsorship solicited by Ab Jenkins from oil companies and accessory manufacturers and distributors. Jenkins guaranteed his sponsors that he would break established speed records with the car. He delivered on his guarantee in October 1935, when he set a one-hour record of 153.97 mph (247.79 km/h) and a twenty-four-hour record of 135.57 mph (218.18 km/h) at a circuit on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The 24-hour record would be held until 1961.
Recently restored to its 1935 racing condition and entered in the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, which it won.

On the right;  1935 Duesenberg Special Speedster Model J (SSJ) owned by Gary Cooper.
In 2018, this Duesenberg SSJ was sold at Pebble Beach for $22 million. This made it the most expensive American car ever sold.

This looks to be at Henry Austin Clark, Jr’s Long Island Automotive Museum in Southampton

From Mystery Foto #35 Solved:Two Record-Breaking Duesenbergs at the Long Island Automotive Museum in 1949

Now that I read the headline of the mystery photo the photo was taken on LI so i’ll say the location is the LI Auto Museum in Southampton.

From Mystery Foto #35 Solved:Two Record-Breaking Duesenbergs at the Long Island Automotive Museum in 1949

Andy Ward - Please send any photos of the new Mayan Ruins and nearby location to Howard at - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Those photos would be most interesting. Thanks!

From Femenias Findings: Exploring the Link Between Camp Mills and the "Mayan Ruins" Motor Parkway Bridge

Actually the reference noting the Bob Robert’s car dealership refers to both SSJs made and not the Mormon Meteor photographed there.

From Mystery Foto #35 Solved:Two Record-Breaking Duesenbergs at the Long Island Automotive Museum in 1949

Identify the two automobiles and their owners when the photo was taken.
Right - Duselberg SSJ (Special Sportser J).  Gary Cooper
Left - Mormon Meteor;  AB Jenkins

Where was the photo taken and when?  First thought LI Auto Musuem but found a reference stating the two cars were seen photographed at the Bob Robert’s car dealership in Hollywood (corner of Ivers and Selma).  Late 1930s

What records were set by the two automobiles?
SSJ - average speed record in 1935 of 135.47 mph in 24 hours.
Mormon - Average speed of 158.822 mph in 24 hours and 148.641 mph in 48 hours.
 
Associate the two automobiles with Pebble Beach.
The SSJ was just auctioned at the Pebble Beach for a record $22 million.
Mormon auctioned at Pebble Beachin 2004 for $4.45 million.

From Mystery Foto #35 Solved:Two Record-Breaking Duesenbergs at the Long Island Automotive Museum in 1949

Congratulations to you Howard, your family and the and entire restoration and support team. You all deserve the highest accolades for the preservation and restoration of this historic automobile and Tucker legacy! Fantastic!

From Tucker 1044 Receiving its 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Award

Howard and Roz James Gram’s comment is spot on Your passion and generosity to share your adventures with us all is indeed the BEST Thank You for taking us along for the ride

From Update #1: The 12 Tuckers at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Congratulations Howard and team Tucker Well done Can’t wait to see it home

From Tucker 1044 Receiving its 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Award

Great observation!

From Was This Building The Prototype for the LIMP Toll Lodges?

PHOTO TAKEN IN FRONT OF AUSTIN CLARK MUSEUM SOUTHAMPTON, LONG ISLAND NY

From Mystery Foto #35 Solved:Two Record-Breaking Duesenbergs at the Long Island Automotive Museum in 1949

Must be really a great experience to see and be a part of the resto and exhibition. And not to forget, the driving/riding in a historical piece.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Historic Tucker d'Elegance in Big Sur

Good afternoon Howard
  I’m really keeping up with this special even. I noticed,you had white wall tires and then black for the award,am I right?and the reason for that,was to be original,am I right again? Now that should of given you first place,unless there was something better on his car and what was it,do you know? Enjoy the rest of the summer/
__________________________________________________________
Howard Kroplick

Ted, Tucker 1044 has two sets of wheels. We used the whitewalls for the Tour and the factory-correct blackwalls for the Concours. The judges recommended that Tucker 1044 should always be shown in blackwalls.
Clearly, at Pebble Beach, the Force was with George Lucas’ Tucker 1009.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Historic Tucker d'Elegance in Big Sur

Howard—- I’d like to echo the comments of James & Gram.  Congratulations!

From Update #1: The 12 Tuckers at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance