Vanderbilt Cup Races

great pictures, going way back to about 1956,55/57??? i was there with my mothers fathers brother, his name was harry (ginsberg) gilbert. on some level or another, he was involved with the museum,and had a few cars there.  if anyone knows anything about my uncle harrys connection,i would be very happy to receive. there was also a connection with “chryslers chrysler”. Im going to send a foto to howard. i grew up in lake sucess area but had to leave n.y. in 1967 to move to phoenix. i walked in and out of old motor parkway many times, it was a natural splendor indeed.  thank you, arthur ginsberg fielder santa monica

From Never Before Published Photos of the Long Island Automotive Museum

Mystery Foto #16…. The error in the caption is that the 1914 Vanderbilt Cup Race was held in in Santa Monica Road Race course in California; NOT THE MOTOR PARKWAY ON LONG ISLAND. No Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island after 1910.
As mentioned above the race was the “1914 Vanderbilt Cup in Santa Monica”. The car was the Isotta as driven by Harry Grant and his mechanician was most likely Frank Lee.
The date of this event was February 26, 1914. The Isotta broke a piston on the first lap and finished last.

From Mystery Foto #16 Solved: Harry Grant Driving the #1 Isotta During the 1914 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I always think there are people much smarter than me,that can realize important events, or artifacts, or in this case a museum dedicated to the conservership, preservation of such an important time.. Baffling….

From Never Before Published Photos of the Long Island Automotive Museum

My father bought the 1940 Buick woodie at the auction.
It was just sitting there not auctioned and the bank sold it to him for 750.00.
In 1991 I acquired it and had it until 2003 when I sold it to museum in Sarasota Florida.

From The 1962 "Car Auction of the Century" at the Farnesworth Garage

How or why did the museum close. It seems that Mr Clark and the museum were and have been so important to the legacy of the automobile. Maybe you can help me understand .
_______________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Lack of revenue was the primary reason that it closed.

From Never Before Published Photos of the Long Island Automotive Museum

Just want to express my thanks for sharing your photos here means so much more than “verification of LIMP, etc.” These images display just how much fun you had growing up in this area.

From Documenting A 1950 Melville Driveway-The Former Entrance to the Huntington Lodge

The correct location for the photo is the Santa Monica road race course and the date was February 26, 1914,  with Ralph DePalma in the #12 Mercedes.

From Mystery Foto #16 Solved: Harry Grant Driving the #1 Isotta During the 1914 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Spectacular series! Hats off to Maureen for reviving these historic photos. 

That does indeed look like a post by the entrance; this bulkier one possibly made of wood.
And the beams on the side could also be remnants of the Broad Hollow bridge, removed around 1950.

Thanks to all involved for making this possible.   

From Documenting A 1950 Melville Driveway-The Former Entrance to the Huntington Lodge

Ron,
You are welcome.  It has been a thrill to travel down this road again in so many ways.  Thanks to Howard and all he has done to make this possible and the many that hold a kindred spirit to the LIMP.
Maureen

From Documenting A 1950 Melville Driveway-The Former Entrance to the Huntington Lodge

Hi Maureen:
  What a great surprise on our website today !! It brought back many memories of
our travels and we must have passed you so many times.  Blessings to you again for
your efforts to bring back history to many of us.
                Cordially,  Ron Ridolph

From Documenting A 1950 Melville Driveway-The Former Entrance to the Huntington Lodge

the picture of the museum was early the first year as the olds wasn’t over the door yet ant the flag pole isnt there either.i no this as i was the guy in charge of setting the flag.i was the first employee of the auto museum.me and austie drove the mercer in 1950 at the bridgehampton race.we clocked 87 mph.our picture is in the 1951 program of bridgehampton races

                    GENE MARTIN

From Never Before Published Photos of the Long Island Automotive Museum

I don’t think it’s the starting line and it’s definitely not on the Long Island Motor Parkway. I believe it’s Harry Grant driving the #1 Isotta during the 1914 Vanderbilt Cup Race in Santa Monica, CA on February 26, 1914. It could be a few feet past the starting line since I think the Isotta’s engine failed soon after the start.

From Mystery Foto #16 Solved: Harry Grant Driving the #1 Isotta During the 1914 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Eric—-this is the section you were talking about in the last post.

SB III—-We will get into more detail on the “mansion” on the next post but I’m amazed you’ve never been there or have multiple pages to send me to in it’s regard!! Research the name “BAGATELLE” and you will find all you need to know. (I’m ready for the backlash SB).

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Hike" VIII: Wheatley Heights & Dix Hills (Half Hollows Hills)

As I had noted, I vas dere, Cholly, in 2000 <http://sbiii.com/limpkwy7.html#halfholl>, in 2002 <http://sbiii.com/limpsuff.html#halfholl>, and lastly in the Winter of 2002/03 <http://sbiii.com/limpkwya.html#wintale>.  It would be interesting to know just who owns the RoW along Bagatelle.  I spotted the RoW there *MARKED* on Google Maps <http://sbiii.com/limp-aer/buttrfly.jpg>; never noticed that before.  Also, Dave, can you or Frank or Art pin down exactly where you were when you took the “mansion” pic, please?  Art’s map doesn’t seem to jibe with the satellite view (Wildwood just runs N-S).  Sam, III

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Hike" VIII: Wheatley Heights & Dix Hills (Half Hollows Hills)

I missed Frank’s 18 Apr post; sorry I wasn’t specific enough.  The CRRofLI was NOT built in 1871 to carry bricks, although the later 1873 Bethpage Branch was.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: A 1908 Long Island Racing Scene at Bethpage's Deadman's Curve I

Spectacular find of the Hairston’s house Edith, and yes, you’re in the right place for continued comments. I found the home on Google maps as well and will be sending Howard a 1947 bike route map from your home to the Hairstons’, as per your directions. Your trip was 1.8 miles each way, not to mention the hilly bridges to overcome towards the Hairstons’. 

Based on the 1947 aerial, of the three bridges you had to cross to reach the Hairstons’ (not including the Brush Hollow Rd bridge), two were still intact and appear passable (the Ezekiel Smith farm bridge by Maxess Rd, and the Ruland Rd bridge). The one bridge that appears to have already been removed was the Wellwood Ave bridge (Pinelawn Rd), just 500 feet short of your destination. 

Do you recall how you crossed the street here in 1947 without a bridge? Did you temporarily leave the LIMP just to cross? You mentioned when accessing Hairstons’ backyard, it was at the bottom of the hill. It’s sounds like the Wellwood Ave bridge embankments were still in place even though the bridge was removed.

When riding your bike in 1947 from home to the LIMP via Old Brush Hollow Rd, you must’ve passed through Maureen’s driveway (on the south side of the Brush Hollow bridge) to gain access to the Motor Parkway. You were so close to meeting your neighbor Maureen

From Updated: Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Hike” VI: Broad Hollow Road

Jim- It’s also possible that the train may be in motion and not stationary. Besides the windows looking empty (or window shades drawn) in the mystery photo, there are other photos of races at the same location where a train doesn’t appear at all on the track.

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: A 1908 Long Island Racing Scene at Bethpage's Deadman's Curve I

Seems Frank has a point.
Central RR of LI was built in sections.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Railroad_of_Long_Island

The Bethpage Branch was built to connect to the brickyard just 1 month after the other parts were finished.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethpage_Branch

By 1908 it may have no longer have connected to Bethpage Junction - which would make it easy to have trains remain stationery on the remaining track near Deadman’s Curve

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: A 1908 Long Island Racing Scene at Bethpage's Deadman's Curve I

If you guys do a cleanup, I’d recommend renting a couple of power brushes(like this - https://www.gravely.com/en-us/walk-behind-mowers/power-brush). These work great for cleaning off layers of dirt on the pavement, and will not damage the road underneath, especially around broken/uneven areas. Do it on a day after a good rain though, so as not to kick up a ton of dust! You might get a bit muddy, but at least there won’t be anything in the air. These will also be easier to maneuver in the woods where the cleanup will be going on. Also, count me in as a volunteer!

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Hike" VIII: Wheatley Heights & Dix Hills (Half Hollows Hills)

Not all cars seem to have been portraited for the LIAM post card series, so it took some research to identify all cars on the photos. On the photos (always left to right if applicable):
A. A rare 1906 Pungs-Finch Limited roadster
B. A Ford truck, Bugatti and 1911 Mercer 35
C. A 1901 Waverley electric and 1904 Stevens-Duryea stanhope
D. A 1906 Cadillac and 1910 Buick model 10 toy tonneau
E. The 1910 Buick (see photo D), 1923 Ford town car and the front end of the 1907 Locomobile
F. The 1907 Locomobile model E tonneau
G. No idea, but probably someone will remember!
And finally of course the well-known 1915 Ford chief’s car

From Never Before Published Photos of the Long Island Automotive Museum