About
The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
All Content © 2026 VanderbiltCupRaces.com
Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
Always loved this photo as well and instantly remembered it can be found on Page 32 of your book!
-Identify the exact location of the Mystery Foto and its orientation
Bethpage (Central Park) looking Easterly. This is the Northward turn at ‘Nibbe’s Hollow’ (Deadman’s curve #2) just before the Nibbe Framway Bridge.
-Identify the family that owned the farm buildings in the background
The William Stymus farm.
-When was this photo taken?
June/July,(probably) 1908
-Which, if any, of the Vanderbilt Cup Races used this section of the Motor Parkway?
1908 VCR
From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: Building the Long Island Motor Parkway Through the Stymus Farm in Bethpage
Growing up, my backyard boarded the 8 th precinct parking lot, which was motor parkway. As a kid, While digging for China with some friends, we dug up a motor parkway sign, which after doing some research may be a license plate! Then later growing up I ran cross country in high school, 1974. I must have ran past that concrete structure a hundred times on that cross country course wondering how and why that was there! I went on the trail recently looking for it and couldn’t find it. I can’t believe it’s gone, it was a piece of history. I had my suspicions that it was there for a purpose. Now it’s confirmed. Thank you for everyone that contributed to this article. It was first the Vanderbilt parkway, then motor parkway then part of it the lirr, now where the power lines run! ... (in bethpage between the 8th precent and the Levittown fire house.)
From Then & Now: The Botto Farmway Bridge in Bethpage State Park
I say bridge over Plainview Rd. Looking south west. Nebbe Farm.
Photo taken in the summer/fall of 1908, prior to the 1908 VCR.
From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: Building the Long Island Motor Parkway Through the Stymus Farm in Bethpage
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL
From The Twelfth Annual Thanksgiving "Turkeys on the Road"
As much as I like 20’s cars, this car is beautiful! Does Wayne actually own it? I can imagine him having done the restoration; it looks perfect in the photos. If only I could afford to have him restore my Packard 243 Touring! 😊
________________________________________________________
From Howard Kroplick:
Barry Levinson was the owner when it was shown in the Amelia Concours in March 2016. There is no confirmation that Levinson sold this car to Wayne Carini, who had restored it.
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
i think the 49 Buick is a masterpiece of design,
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
I sure hope I can make it tonight. If my friend feels up to driving me there.
From The Incredible Vanderbilt Cup Races on Long Island: The Role of Hicksville Updated: 11/22/16
From Susan Blackwell:
Easy one it is Wayne Carini, 1949 Buick Road master , from the movie “Rainman”
Dave and I had seen it at Lime Rock in September
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
From Simon Favre:
The car is a 1949 Buick Roadmaster with the straight eight 320 CID engine.
The car is famous because it appeared in the movie “Rain Man” with Tom Cruise.
The car was sold at auction in December 2012 for $170,500 to “an anonymous collector.” NASCAR racer Ryan Newman owns one of the cars from the movie, but it is now green.
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
Back when the Clearview was completed, the plan was to continue it further south. Had that been done my aunt and uncle’s house on 212th St. would have been part of eminant domain
From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure I: Clearview Expressway-Queens
Nice job Dave. Growing up in Queens Village in the 60’s meant many bike trips to Alley Pond, Cunningham, and Pe Pond. We rode our bikes on what we called “The Old Motor Parkway” many times from Winchester Blvd. finding our way to Flushing Meadow Park, the Worlds Fair Grounds. Back then we could faintly see the white centerline on the road. Glad it’s still there. Thanks for making the trip especially with your son.
From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure I: Clearview Expressway-Queens
Paul DiNatale - It sounds like you biked all the way to the Great Neck school without ever leaving the parkway. If this is true, do you or friends have any pictures doing these trips? Those would really be neat to see!
From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure I: Clearview Expressway-Queens
Oh wait! It says Buick Eight on the grill. Also love the directional lighting above the headlights.
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
Don’t know the 50s? car/owner but it looks like it just came off the showroom floor. Amazing! The circles on the fender is ‘Buick’ I believe, that later changed to rectangles.
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
That looks like the 1949 Buick Roadmaster that was in the movie “Rain Man” starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman. It is currently owned by the director of “Rain Man”, Barry Levinson, who had it restored by Wayne Carini of the Velocity Channel’s “Chasing Classic Cars” show.
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
From Hugh Nutting:
The 1949 Buick Roadmaster convertible is one used in the Rain Man movie. It is one of 4 like cars used. One of the 49 Buicks was in the Bob Pond car collection until 2014. It sold for $180K. If you look closely you can see script on at least one – front fender below the port holes. It is too short to be the Roadmaster script – must be a Super with a 4th port hole added. For filming a Super and Roadmaster would not look much different on several angle shots.
One is owned by NASCAR driver Ryan Newman and has been repainted light green and has a red leather interior.
BTW, my cousin had a new one in the movie color. She traded it in for a new 55 Chrysler. In 1959 she got her second new Buick convert, a new blue 1959.
Hugh
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
A ‘49 Buick Roadmaster, owned by Barry Levinson, the Hollywood movie director who directed the film “Rainman” in which this auto was prominently featured being driven by Tom Cruise with his brother passenger, Dustin Hoffman.
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
hmmm. it is a 1949 Buick Roadmaster convertible. I’m guessing it is the car from Rain Man.
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
“Rainman” Buick?
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
Tom Cruise’s 1949 Buick Roadmaster from ‘Rain Man’
even the plate is the same !!
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
Page 666 of 1021 pages ‹ First < 664 665 666 667 668 > Last ›