Vanderbilt Cup Races

Mystery Foto #47…..... The car is a 1949 Buick Roadmaster Convertible. One of two Buicks used in the making of the film “Rain Man starring” Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman.
The currant owner is The films’s director Barry Levinson.

From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man

Wow! Sam logged on and left a post. This made my day. Glad to know I’m “not that bad!”

Thank you frank. Awesome you guys did this too. We really have to meet one day. We were there very early as this is the starting line of the long journey. From the starting line this is the first point of “lost” parkway. The 73rd ave budge is cool though. Lots of posts in the thickets around it.

There are other spots coming from this journey. Stay tuned. I’m running out of new ideas however regarding LIMP. We could explore Melville to Wyandanch in more detail, I’ve seen the basics and found some good spots and I’m sure there’s more stuff to find in the woods there but for some reason the Suffolk portion of the road really doesn’t interest me very much. Not the same vibe. No race history. No Gold Coast owners going out that way (not many). Just doesn’t feel as “historical”.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure I: Clearview Expressway-Queens

The auto is the 1949 Buick Roadster Convertible, featured in the 1988 movie “Rain Man” starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise.  The pair drove the car across the country.  The car was shown at the 2016 Amelia Isle Concours and is currently owned by the film’s director, Barry Levinson who bought the car around 2 years ago and had it refurbished.

From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man

1949 Buick Roadmaster used in the film ‘Rain Man’. Recently restored and shown at Amalia Island. Owned by the film’s director Barry Levinson.

From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man

There’s nothing I enjoy more than exploring and finding pieces of Long Island history. The LIMP is history and exploring this road and finding forgotten sections is just awesome. I just love that it’s there, hibernating, waiting to be re-discovered. I’ve written to Smithsonian Magazine with hopes that they take interest in writing a story about it. So far no answer. I think it’s right up their alley.

And I’m lucky enough to have my little man / exploring buddy to come along with me. Great times! We are already planning Vanderbilt Day III.

If anyone has any thoughts/historical sites that you think deserve investigation please let us know, LIMP sites or otherwise. I told Howard he has to get another web site up and running covering LI history in general! Nobody is better qualified to get that going!

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure I: Clearview Expressway-Queens

Yeah he’s not that bad…..
We have some pretty good times together.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure I: Clearview Expressway-Queens

David Stephan - I had suspected exactly the same, living in Queens myself. Up to some point around 2004?, it was still being used by patients/nurses during daylight hours, before being permanently shut down. Hope to film this “LIMP remnant” walk-through some day. Brian McCarthy had brought up a good question as to how long the tunnel is. My findings measure it as 220 feet (67meters).

From Raiders of Lost Underpass

Another great exploration Sam and Dave! Brian McCarthy and I were there on the same day. We must’ve just missed each other. We also walked the whole ROW curve up to the 73 Ave bridge looking for any remnants. No luck on the curve but the Clearview Expwy location had roadway posts and ROW posts amidst very tall trees. A highly recommended exploring site.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure I: Clearview Expressway-Queens

Sam, you have a cool Dad.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure I: Clearview Expressway-Queens

At a time when Vision Zero is being pushed so hard, one has to wonder why this pedestrian underpass was abandoned and locked up - and whether any viable use could be made of it today.

From Raiders of Lost Underpass

From Gary Hammond:

My interest in Dudgeon’s Steam Carriage or Wagon started back in the 1990’s while doing research on the history of the Mineola Fair.  I’ve amassed quite of bit of material on him and the vehicle since then - I’m sending you a few items.  I did get to see it when on exhibit at NMAH, although it was placed in an awkward position, crammed in amongst other vehicles on display, not highlighted for its importance!  It’s also relatively small about 11’x5’x5’ overall.

Mystery Photo # 46 – Richard Dudgeon’s Steam Carriage or Wagon
This was an easy one – Richard Dudgeon’s Steam Carriage or Wagon!  Considered to be one of the earliest self-propelled road vehicles built in America, if not America’s oldest operational road vehicle!  Built in 1866, it replaced his original vehicle (built c. 1853-58) which was destroyed in the N.Y.C. Crystal Palace fire of 1858 while being exhibited during the 30th Annual American Institute Fair.  Although Dudgeon’s business was located in Manhattan, he was a Long Islander, living on the North Shore at Peacock Point in Lattingtown/Locust Valley (see 1873 Beer’s Atlas, p.127).  Today it’s part of the collections of the National Museum of American History, Washington, D.C. where it had been on exhibit for many years, in the Road Transportation Hall, although it may now be in storage (see YouTube video).
Miscellaneous facts:
 Richard Dudgeon is credited with inventing the hydraulic jack and roller tube expander.
 At the 28th Annual Queens County Agricultural Society Fair, held September 29 – October 1, 1869, at the Mineola Fairgrounds, Richard Dudgeon exhibited his Steam Carriage.
 Richard Dudgeon died April 8, 1895; buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn
 Exhibited November 1900 at the N.Y. Madison Square Garden Auto Show
 Driven through the streets of Glen Cove, July 24, 1902
 Exhibited at the 1939 N.Y. World’s Fair in the Railroad Building (photos exist online)
 Exhibited April 15-23, 1950 in the VMCCA Antique Auto Show, Boston
 The Dudgeon would become involved in a Nassau County court battle involving custody and ownership.  Unfortunately, no records seem to exist from the case, as they probably were destroyed in the early 1980’s in the Mitchel Field Hanger # 1 fire when all the County court and clerk’s records stored there were destroyed.
 A detailed article about Dudgeon appeared in Automobile Quarterly, Vol. 5, # 3, Winter 1967
 On January 25, 1991, the U.S.P.S. issued a 4¢ stamp “Steam Carriage 1866” showing the Dudgeon machine
 Sam Berliner has stuff about the Dudgeon Steam Carriage posted on his website

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: The Dudgeon Steam Wagon- The Earliest Road Vehicle Ever Seen on Long Island

The Oasis: I wasn’t aware of this or anything mansion related in East Meadow. Interesting. And via Google maps there appears to be a “void” where this house once stood. It’s certainly worth a look. I’ll get back to you if I find anything of interest!

From Images of America Book: East Meadow by Scott Ackers

Wonderful post! I have first-hand memories of it being a fad to walk through that long passage (circa early 70s as I recall). Although I couldn’t find any articles in the several news archives I searched, I believe rising crime and a failure of the underground lighting system made things really scary and unsafe and led to the closing of the underpass.

From Raiders of Lost Underpass

Although photos can be misleading, Eric’s photo does not look like the materials used in bridge construction (but does look a lot like crumbly pavement childhood). I investigated further using the 1951 aerial NYCityMap that can be found at on.nyc.gov/2frfpIU and comparing that image to the 2010 NYC aerial overlay and to Howard’s November 23, 1937, and October 1941 aerials of same area.
I conclude that Eric’s “concrete findings” are associated with an access road seen in the 1941 and 1951 aerials that trends NNW and is connected to the NE end of this truncated LIMP segment. In 1951, there is a long diagram light-colored slash that may be a debris mound or an informal barrier and seems to be associated with Eric’s “finding.” In both aerials, the bridge is further to the SW, so Frank may have drawn the Creedmoor Bridge slightly too far to the NE and the bridge probably would cross through in the triangular junction, at a spot where a dark car is shown in the NYC 2006 aerial.
I’ve discovered that others have referenced the 1951 aerial. You can clearly see many LIMP highlights coexisting/overlaid with modern landmarks including the concrete abutments of the Commonwealth Blvd. bridge, the North Hempstead Tpke. and Hollis Ct. Blvd. Bridges, and the LIMP segment destroyed when the CVE was built.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series: #9 The Creedmoor Bridge in Queens Updated: 10/22/16

Those “neatly arranged rocks” in Eric’s first photo seem to be the lining of a drainage ditch and at least two stones appear to be setts and not cobbles (surprising). Those cobbles and setts are probably the bottom bed of the ditch that escaped destruction/leveling/erosion because it was originally so below grade.  (A construction cross-section that includes a ditch is shown for the first segment of LIMP in Good Roads Magazine, Volume 9, page 320.)

From Remnants of Long Island Motor Parkway Discovered in Queens

Where is Old Sixteen these days? Who owns it? Hey Howard you haven’t bought it yet?
__________________________________________________________________a
From Howard Kroplick

Old 16 is owned by the Henry Ford Museum and is currently on display:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/three_legendary_racers_at_the_henry_ford_museum

From Helck Family Collection: Old 16 on Display at the Henry Ford Museum in 1962

Hi Howard:
Growing-up in Locust Valley where my family knew the local Dudgeon family, I was told all about Richard Dudgeon’s very early steam vehicle of 1866. I’m pleased to know that it’s well-preserved at the Smithsonian

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: The Dudgeon Steam Wagon- The Earliest Road Vehicle Ever Seen on Long Island

P. S. - The Dudgeon was running in Glen Cove on 24 Jul 1902:

  http://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/?spot=6121369

There is so much else for you on that page!

Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: The Dudgeon Steam Wagon- The Earliest Road Vehicle Ever Seen on Long Island

-Identify the vehicle and the year it was built
1866 Dudgeon Steam Wagon

-What powered the vehicle?
Steam powered

-Describe its link to Long Island
From the Smithsonian website;

The Dudgeon steam wagon is one of the earliest self-propelled road vehicles built in the United States. Richard Dudgeon, a machinist who was known for his commercially produced hydraulic jacks, designed and built a steam-powered wagon because he hoped to end the abuse and mistreatment of horses. The wagon resembles a small locomotive, but it has a steering wheel and seats for the driver and eight passengers. Dudgeon drove the vehicle on New York City streets and at his farm on Long Island. It burned coal and ran at a top speed of 25 to 30 miles per hour.
LOCATION
Currently not on view
OBJECT NAME
steam wagon
DATE MADE
1866
MAKER
Dudgeon, Richard
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 5 5/16 ft x 5 ft x 11 5/16 ft; 1.62458 m x 1.524 m x 3.45338 m
PLACE MADE
United States: New York, New York

-Where is this vehicle today?
The Smithsonian in Washington DC, but not on display.

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: The Dudgeon Steam Wagon- The Earliest Road Vehicle Ever Seen on Long Island

Another “Gotcha!”  The 1866 Dudgeon Steam Wagon, built in Manhattan by Richard Dudgeon, which was once housed in Locust Valley and ran on Long Island in my lifetime, and which is currently (or was) on display, in running condition, in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.  It even ran all the way up to Albany with the then-Governor aboard.  It also was up here in New England for many years.  How do I know?  You may be the chief guru on the Parkway but I am on the Dudgeon.  I invite one and all to read all about Dudgeon and his remarkable machines (this was his SECOND!) at <http://sbiii.com/dudgeon.html>, et seq.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: The Dudgeon Steam Wagon- The Earliest Road Vehicle Ever Seen on Long Island