Vanderbilt Cup Races

Once again, this venue that was part of my life,  pops up.  It was really interesting.  Bicycled on the LIMP as a kid, going from my aunt house in Albertson to my Uncle’s house across from Wheatley Golf Club.  Al’s book would be an interesting to read/buy.  Is it still in print??  Thanks for the article.  Bob

From Kleiner's Korner: Meet this Civil War Veteran Who Guarded the Motor Parkway at the Roslyn Lodge

The article indicated the Roslyn Lodge was located on Roslyn Road in East Willison, where would this be located on Roslyn Road today? do we have an address on Roslyn road?  Was any part of theis lodge saved and existing somewhere today?

Excellent story, I never knew there was a Vanderbilt toll lodge in our area..

From Kleiner's Korner: Meet this Civil War Veteran Who Guarded the Motor Parkway at the Roslyn Lodge

That’s the house owned by John Allen on the south side of Jericho Turnpike across from Powells Lane in Westbury, a short walk east from the grandstand for the first Vanderbilt Cup Race. The photo was taken on October 8, 1904. Two years later the house served as the headquarters for the Vanderbilt Cup Commission during the 1906 race.

From Mystery Friday Foto #10 Solved: Time for a Cool, Refreshing Drink at John Allen's House on the 1904 Course

Howard!
This is a wonderful tribute to my Dad, and I wish I had seen it sooner.
I’ve just shared with my siblings and will show it to my mom tomorrow.
Here are a couple of newspaper clippings I dug up recently, one with Roger Gerry!
Thank you so much for the warmth and memories ????
Jess Frost

From A Tribute to Guy Frost (1934-2019)

Thanks George!

From Friday Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Newly Discovered 1953 Drennan Aerials of Roosevelt Field

John Allen’s distinctive white home was located on Jericho Turnpike directly in front of Powells Lane. Note: a refreshment stand was set up on the Allen property for the 1904 race. On a banner across Allen’s lawn, Continental Tires promoted their use on the Mercedes racers.
In this September 1904 photo, the grandstand was under construction. Note the John Allen’s home in the background.
The John Allen home was located on the south side of the Motor Parkway, just east of the Grandstands,

From Mystery Friday Foto #10 Solved: Time for a Cool, Refreshing Drink at John Allen's House on the 1904 Course

This is John Allen’s home on Jericho Tpke near Powell Ln in Westbury.  In 1906 it was the headquarters for the Vanderbilt Cup commission.  Located at the site today is a bank and a gas station.

From Mystery Friday Foto #10 Solved: Time for a Cool, Refreshing Drink at John Allen's House on the 1904 Course

Could be Thomas’ #8 at the 1905 American Elimination Trial Race, idling at the starting line on Sep 23,1905. If so, Montague Roberts is behind the wheel with Fred Grant as his mechanician. The racer finished 5th place and did not qualify for the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race on Oct 14, 1905. Willie K is seen with his back on the #8 Thomas. With a nose that long I was expecting a V12, which couldn’t compete with the quicker 4-6 cylinders at the time

From Mystery Friday Foto #9 Solved: The 1905 #8 Thomas at the Starting Line

Michael Luftman - The Bridgehampton Race Course with Arents’ turn.

From Mystery Foto #8 Solved: George Arents Jr.'s Crash on the Course

tit for tat…has anyone checked the Mississippi river itself. Is it possible that it (#42) was just pushed into the river from its resting place on the river bank. I have never seen the Mississippi but I know it huge and could easily swallow up such a car.

From Greg O's Garage; The four "lost" Tuckers #1027, #1023, #1018 and #1042

That’s the 60HP Thomas racer driven by Montague Roberts with Fred Grant as the mechanician. They are getting ready to start at the 1905 American Elimination Trial on September 23, 1905. Although finishing 5th., they were not selected to be part of the American Team for the Vanderbilt Cup Race that year due to some controversy that would take too long to explain.

From Mystery Friday Foto #9 Solved: The 1905 #8 Thomas at the Starting Line

Sep. 23, 1905, Montague Roberts driving the 6-cylinder Thomas (double-triple) in the Vanderbilt qualification run.  It showed well, but first one battery box broke, then the second, requiring the mechanician to brace the battery, and suffer acid burns.  They had to slow down, and finished 5th.  Normally that would have been good enough to qualify, but the committee made an arbitrary decision to not include the Thomas in the race.  Roberts and E. R. Thomas were pretty annoyed.

From Mystery Friday Foto #9 Solved: The 1905 #8 Thomas at the Starting Line

I believe the last corner of the Bridgehampton Race Circuit was known as “Arents’ Corner” because another George Arents (son of the Arents of the1904 crash) wrecked a Ferrari TDF there on the opening weekend of the then-new track in 1957.

From Mystery Foto #8 Solved: George Arents Jr.'s Crash on the Course

Arents was also a famous book collector!

From Mystery Foto #8 Solved: George Arents Jr.'s Crash on the Course

THE CAR WAS A “THOMAS”, MANUFACTURED IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK
THE DRIVER WAS MONTAGUE ROBERTS, THE MECHANICIAN WAS FRED GRANT.
THE RACE WAS THE AMERICAN ELIMINATION TRIAL HELD ON SEPTEMBER 23, 1905
THE ENTRANT FINISHED IN 5TH PLACE.

From Mystery Friday Foto #9 Solved: The 1905 #8 Thomas at the Starting Line

In fact the massive garbage dump in Staten Island was visible from the space station.

From Update with Aerials: Video of the Week: Robert Moses: Long Island's Master Builder

the verazano bridge ruined staten island and turned it into a overbuilt disgrace.  no more was it a green oasis. It is sad!

From Update with Aerials: Video of the Week: Robert Moses: Long Island's Master Builder

This was a real challenge. At first I was trying to associate the photo with the 1906 crash of J. W. Christie in his namesake racer; then Louis Chevrolet in 1910 with the Buick; then Robertson in the 1906 Apperson “Jack Rabbit”. No luck on any of them so I’m going with the Knox racer at the 1909 opening of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Prest-O-Lite Trophy Race in which both driver (William Bourque) and mechanician (Harry Holcomb) became the first deaths at Indy after Bourque looked back to see who was gaining on him, lost control and flipped over.

From Mystery Foto #8 Solved: George Arents Jr.'s Crash on the Course

Further study of Christie’s life and work should include a read of Steel Steeds Christie by
J. Edward Christie, Walter’s son. Published 1985 by Sunflower university press.

From A profile of John Walter Christie- Front wheel drive pioneer

As an aside to this incredible restoration by Ida May I note that there is an incredible feature on Rob in the new 2025 Spring deluxe edition of Hot Rod.

From Frank Lloyd Wright's 1940 Lincolns- Automotive history being restored by Rob Ida