Vanderbilt Cup Races

Mom & Dad used to visit the Melton Collection and that Renault racer was found here in Ridgefield in 1943. William K. Vanderbilt’s daughter lived here in town until her passing in 2011 at the age of 107. Bob

From The Melton Museum of Norwalk, Connecticut (1948-1953)

I remember going to his museum in Florida in the early 190s. It was in an old casino building which made a great setting for displaying his collection.

From The Melton Museum of Norwalk, Connecticut (1948-1953)

Mystery Foto #2….The racer in the photo is a 1906 Apperson Jack Rabbit.
George Robertson was the driver and Arthur Warren the mechanician.
It was built for the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup
but was destroyed in a crash while racing in the American Elimination Trial.
P.S. Most of the answers I use for the Mystery Foto Questions are found with Internet research BUT… I actually remembered the nickname (Jack Rabbit) of the Apperson probably giving a strong indication of my age.
P.S.S. And for only $5000 you could buy replica of the racer for yourself!!!

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The Apperson Jack Rabbit Racer Built for the 1906 American Elimination Trial

To me it looks like the Alco Black Beast,
Howard Kroplick owns now

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The Apperson Jack Rabbit Racer Built for the 1906 American Elimination Trial

I will have to guess at this one.  Perhaps it’s the 50 hp 1905 Haynes driven by Frank Nutt in the American Elimination Trial but deemed not worthy after finishing 4th, which should have put them in the race.

Perhaps this is the car as noted on the Old Motor site.  http://theoldmotor.com/?p=28549  if not…...I will sit back and learn a bit as I can not find any info pertaining to the mechanician nor the nickname for the racer.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The Apperson Jack Rabbit Racer Built for the 1906 American Elimination Trial

Hello from Gerry Crosson of the Vanderbilt Museum.  You might be interested to know that at the “Book Revue” bookstore in Huntington Village, just north of the intersections of Routes 25a and 110 is about 25 years worth of copies of the “Long Island Forum” magazine on the upper floor Clearance section.  These date from around the 1950’s to the 1980’s and are on sale for $0.75 apiece.  It would be a shame to see this set broken up.  Any possibility the North Hempstead Historical Society could take a look and offer to buy the entire set for its archives? The set could be loaned to a local library if the Society has no room in it’s offices or museum.  As you know, the “Long Island Forum” publication is a valuable resource for any scholar of Long Island history. The society could buy the set probably at a much reduced price if an offer to buy the entire set intact is made.
Thanks.

From New York Post, January 3, 1925: "Vanderbilt Recalls Days When 30 Miles An Hour Was Speed" Part I

Dave, thanks for the info. Jasper’s Motor Parkway house (located south of the Mayan Ruins walls) is situated ~520 feet to the south end of the walls. He is out of range of the slopes pertaining to the Mayan Ruins bridge. In fact, his house sits at the very beginning of the curve towards the Clinton Rd bridge. A very slight upgrade towards the south end of his yard is expected. Overall, he is on level ground. 

Dave, I own an older version of Android, nothing special. But with any phone, if you go to the zoomed photo with the red circles that Howard posted (while zoomed OUT to the max, this is important), THEN click the zoomed photo for the zoom feature, and THEN zoom in even further with your fingers to the max. This will produce the clearest possible image of the sign and the year in its upper third of the sign. Take your time viewing. The ‘9’ and ‘3’ are clearly there, and the only digits that can possibly fit between them are ones ‘1’. Check it out!

From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City

I’m not sure what kind of pixels you have on your phone Frank! I can’t make out any date at all! But clearly you are gifted with this stuff!

I clearly see a whale blowing water out of his blow hole on the old pic of the abutment. No doubt. Maybe they dug this so deep they struck water!

Art, this is all in your hands now. No pressure. Hurry up 😊

Unlike the Caroline St. posts location, we might actually be able to figure something out at this site!

From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City

Dave - Strange carving on the wall indeed. The vertical lines don’t correspond to side swiping with a vehicle. It appears the image of an Indian boy with feather on his head facing north, arms extended forward and carrying a large knapsack. Is this where the Mayan name was derived from? A strange historic Indian burial ground site, casting spells to those who interfere. I’m ready to start digging :D

From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City

Oh my gosh, here I am again. Frank, besides being a expert mapper, you being able to make out the year on the sign amazes me.

Art, if you can work it out, I definitely want to be there when the time is right.

We may set a new record on the amount of comments for a blog!

Dave, you asked for a discussion about this location. And a discussion you received.

From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City

What a challenge and determination that was and it was accomplished,with a few struggles along the way,when you put your mind to do something,you just do it,no matter what it takes. Enjoyed this mystery very much.Thanks for sharing the extras with us,it was very interesting and a very amazing event

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved:Alice Huyler Ramsey & Her Maxwell Prior to Her 1909 Transcontinental Journey

Okay - I’ll take the challenge.  Will contact the homeowner once the snow melts and will see if he’ll permit some of us to take a road trip to explore further (that is, to “dig” up some more clues to put an end to all this haggling! lol).

From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City

Brian, you have a good lead there! Check the east abutment at its south end under the brush for the sign. If it’s not there, it could be in Garden City Public Works buried deep.

From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City

1913!! The upper third on the bridge’s sign reads 1913 in larger numerals, only through Howard’s zoomed photo. I was able to observe this using the phone. The larger PC screen was actually more difficult to read.

Brian, you may be correct. P.O. Zinzi’s accident report indicates the car was travelling east (actually south) when it lost its tire causing it to overturn. This stretch of roadway runs north-south. It’s assumed the car is resting on the closest shoulder (west shoulder) if he was heading east. If this is true, that would make the abutment sign on the east abutment.

From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City

Thanks, Dave. All those times I’ve been in those backyards during work, but never thought of having a camera.My photographic memory only takes me so far, lol. I agree, let’s form our own quicker version of a Oak Island Team! Comment #23, over and out.

From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City

Brian, yes I was walking/facing south on the video. And you’re right. According to the old pics it says when facing south the sign was on the left (east). I highly doubt that sign is still there (I don’t even think it’s the abutment) but I say we pressure Art to call his “vine” friends over there and persuade them to let us explore!

From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City

I’m about to learn something new this week but she’s from New Jersey. It must’ve taking many hours to reach Long Island back in those days, possibly an entire day.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved:Alice Huyler Ramsey & Her Maxwell Prior to Her 1909 Transcontinental Journey

Jasper’s place may be at the top of the hill or just beyond where it’s level, even though he’s just a block away. Based on the photo, I’m estimating ~150 feet from the abutment to the top, another 150 feet going the other way. Other estimations gladly accepted, please feel free anyone. So if Jasper’s house is outside this range, the parkway was always leveled in his backyard when his house was built. I’m trying to locate his house so I can measure from the walls in Google Maps. I see two candidates that MAY have a roadway in their backyards; one house is to the north where the LIMP ran as a strait-a-way, and the other to the south where it curved towards the Clinton Rd bridge. Do you recall his house number on Russell Rd? Please send to the link below. The walls can be seen in Google Maps using Historic Imagery on 4/2004, and 5/2007.

The sign that was once fixed to the bridge may have had displayed the year and other information. With Howard’s zoom feature, I can almost swear the lettering was raised or embossed.

The left red mark on the photo may be the same large crack today that is horizontally centered on the abutment, and just below the 10 inch crease in the video.

The ROW posts are located high in the photo. Motor Pkwy Inc. purchased this land level, then carved out a trench to allow passing under a bridge. Though culverts appear in other locations, I see no drainage system here. Water most likely accumulated here causing a hazard. The carving on the embankment may have been the result of striking the wall after hydroplaning. After the parkway closed, Garden City joined the fun and refilled the trench eliminating the flood problem.

This is all speculation and fun at the same time. Let’s get there soon to settle the “Mayan Ruin Mystery.” I’ll dig a few inches but WILL NOT dig 10 feet down!! :D

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From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City

This hotel was also the site where Charles Lindberg tried to sleep the night before his historic flight from Roosevelt Field in Garden City. The opening of the Jimmy Stewart movie, ” The Spirit of St. Louis”, zoomed in on the hotel oak sign, which was saved from the wrecking ball and is in good hands. My father obtained Lindberg’s autograph in a French St. Paul’s H.S. textbook as he rode the L.I.R.R. to the hotel the day prior to the flight.

From Mystery Foto #17 Solved: The Garden City Hotel Being Demolished in 1973

Incredible story of 5 great, American heroes!

From Town of North Hempstead to Hold Memorial This Sunday for Five Airmen Killed in a 1942 Bomber Crash