Vanderbilt Cup Races

Ye cats and little fishes - I *KNEW* I had more on the brick works, and a map, AND a brick!  See <http://sbiii.com/longis-0.html#nasbrick>.  Sam, III

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

As thorough as I expected, great footage!

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

Edith Klarmann:
Don’t rightly know if this is the way to make further reference to the Hairston’s Property that I have been referring to abutting the LIMP; that said, above is a foto taken off a current street view of Google looking West the rear of which and up the hill is the LIMP or what is left of it, with the house being precisely as I remember those many years ago.
Edith

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

Wonderful images, thank you Mr. Vargas.

As far as The Museum Image, the 1902 Curved Dash Oldsmobile isn’t on the overhang ( sold by Mr. Clark Jr. in 1965 ). Maybe the image was taken in 1970?

Maybe someone else wants to ID the Autos?

From Never Before Published Photos of the Long Island Automotive Museum

Hi Sam, could you please explain what you mean with “you’re dead wrong with the Central RR”.  Several responses stated that the railroad line was the LIRR Central Branch.  Ann and Jim also stated that the branch was used to ship brick from Bethpage. Yes there was a sub branch (Bethpage) that cut off from the main at Bethpage junction.  The main line of the Central Branch then continued to Babylon and to the Babylon village docks.  At Bethpage junction the Bethpage branch line then crossed the LIRR main line by what is now Merrits Rd and continued up Thomas Powell Blvd to the brick works.

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

Thanks, Howard,
That museum was the life passion of Henry Austin Clark, also a founder of Bridgehampton Race Circuit, an automotive historian and writer and an unparalleled collector. And, not unimportant, with a great sense of humor.
Earl

From Never Before Published Photos of the Long Island Automotive Museum

My husband and children attended Mepham High School and I retired from there as an Art Teacher.  James Zarvos was one of my photography students fulfilling an assignment when he photographed an “discovered” the hidden map beneath.  I remember his phone call - “Mrs. P. do you know there is another map under there?”  If anyone would like to visit the school I’ll bet they will be glad to show it to you.  Kudos to any school that chooses to preserve instead of replace these beautiful things.
______________________________

Howard Kroplick

What was in the hidden map?

From Mystery Foto #33 Solved: The World's Largest Map of Long Island Located at Mepham High School

Sorry, folks, but you’re dead wrong on the Central RR.  A. T. Stewart built it as a competitor of the LIRR; it was later absorbed into the LIRR as the Central Branch.  CRR history at <http://sbiii.com/lirr-crr.html>. The short Bethpage Branch of the CRR, shown on a blueprint map <http://sbiii.com/crrlipix/bethbr16.jpg>, was built later to serve the brickyard, up at the north end of the branch.  The location of the photo is seen at the bottom of my <http://sbiii.com/crrlipix/btwrmap.jpg>.  Sam, III

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

Nice presentation—keep up the good work

Ken

From Highlights from Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society Meeting: The Grand Vanderbilt Estates

Oct 10, 1908, on the high-banked Dead Man’s Curve looking south in Bethpage. It’s still there!
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/then_now_the_first_deadmans_curve_in_bethpage

The Motor Parkway Sweepstakes, the first race to use the new course, intended to test the layout, timing system, and crowd control for the upcoming 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race two weeks later.

Sweepstakes consisted of five concurrent races of varying lengths and car values; (N)assau (93.8 mi., under $1000.), (J)ericho (140.8 mi., $1000.-$2000.), (M)eadow Brook (211.1 mi., $2001.-$3000.), (G)arden City (187.7 mi., $3001.-$4000.), and (P) Motor Pkwy (234.6 mi., +$4000.). 

Trailing behind in the photo is Motor Pkwy #41, missing the “P” in front of its number, the Chadwick driven by William Haupt, mechanician Lindquist? (finished 5th) 

M36 Rainier driven by Axel Peterson, mechanician ? (finished 4th).

The motionless LIRR train behind supplied additional seating for spectators.

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

Location - Bethpage ( old Central Park) Dead Man’s Curve looking south (LIMP west bound) towards the LIRR Central Branch
LIMP Motor Parkway Sweepstake races held on October 10, 1908.  1st race held on the newly opened Motor Parkway. This is also the date of the photo.
The train was a LIRR special observation train used as a viewing stand/platform.
The race cars was # 36 a Rainer driven by Axel Peterson and #41 a Chadwick driven by William Hapt

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

The Central RR was built by Stewart to carry bricks from the Queens (later Nassau) Brickyard in present-day Old Bethpage for new buildings in Garden City.

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

I think I’ve seen this photo before. That looks to be Deadman’s Curve in Bethpage where the Motor Parkway turned north. That section was used in the 1908 race. The train would then be on the Central Line - a rail line about 3/4 mile south of the present LIRR in the area, but the tracks no longer exist there. The train was in place as viewing station for the race.

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

No Mystery Foto at all!  Deadman’s Curve in Central Park (now Bethpage) in 1908, looking SSW.  This was in your 26 Feb 2010 post.  Central RR of LI special train to race.  I’ll leave the race details to Cup freaks - oop - experts.  Sam, III

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

We are looking south on the LIMP at “deadman’s curve” in Central Park (now Bethpage), a few hundred feet south of the Central Avenue bridge. Of the several races being run simultaneously, the 41 Chadwick (driver William Haupt, mechanician E. A. Lindquist) was participating in the Motor Parkway Sweepstakes; and the M36 Rainier, driven by Axel Peterson, was competing in the Meadow Brook Sweepstakes. (could not identify his mechanician) The photo was taken on October 10, 1908, which also served as the Grand Opening of the newly completed portion of the LIMP. The train in the background was on the Central Branch of the LIRR and served as a viewing area for spectators to watch the races in addition to bringing them to the grandstand.

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

Wonderful evening Paul did a great presentation Thank You Howard

From Highlights from Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society Meeting: The Grand Vanderbilt Estates

Mystery Foto #15… The location is Deadmans curve in Central Park (now Bethpage). The race shown is the 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes race. The driver of the M36 Rainer racer is Axel Peterson. The #P41 Chadwick car is driven by William Haupt while his mechanician is E.A. Lindquist. The photo was taken on October 10, 1908; the day of the Sweepstakes race, of course. Another important event on this date would be the Model T Ford first offered for sale… OR…the Chicago Cubs win the World Series.The train in the background is on the Central Branch. It was used to bring the public to the races.

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

The above photo is “Deadman’s Curve”, Central Park (Bethpage).  In the background is the Central Railroad Line of the LIRR.  This line was established, not only as a commuter line, but to bring bricks from the brickyard in Old Bethpage to Garden City for the development of that community.

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

I’m interested in coming to the April 29 Show with my ‘65 Studebaker.  What time should I get there and can participants leave at any time?  thanks,  Bob
___________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Here are details on the car show. You can leave at any time.
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/events/details/hostoric_motor_parkway_memories_antique_car_show_williston_park_ny

From Howard Kroplick Events and Automobile Shows (Updated: October 19, 2018)

Bill Murray:
Thank you for hosting this! Enjoyed the presentations/discussions

From Highlights from Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society Meeting: The Grand Vanderbilt Estates