Vanderbilt Cup Races

The Olds picture at Medowcroff was taken in 1912.  Look at Registration plate.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Photos from the John E. Roosevelt Family Photo Album (1909-1910)

Again a very beautiful photo collection! Thanks again for sharing. A small additon/correction, as the Circuit de “Bresirar” must be a small reading error. This photo was probably taken during the 1905 Coppa Florio, which was held at the Circuit de Brescia. Wagner started with number 8, also finishing at 8th place!
An interesting feature I didn’t notice before is the circular seat on the 1903 Darracq voiturette, which were apparently raced without mechanician. Could this seat be turned around?

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: From the Helck Family Collection- Driver Louis Wagner

These are really beautiful and sometimes even spectacular photos. which sometimes remind me of the photos made by Lartigue in the same era. We know all of course that many family archives contain hidden treasures and there are many understandable reasons why the owners want to keep it that way. Therefore we have to be grateful to those families who are willing to share their family history with the world. Thank you!

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Photos from the John E. Roosevelt Family Photo Album (1909-1910)

Cornelius Vanderbilt IV.  If I have it correctly “The Commodore” Cornelius Vanderbilt had two sons, William and Cornelius II…...Willie K is the son of William, Cornelius IV is grandson of Cornelius II…..so Willie K was IV’s great uncle? 

If I read correctly the Vanderbilt family was not too fond of Grace Wilson, who became III’s wife, but it appears only Willie K accepted her as part of the family.

“The Vanderbilt Cup would not return to the United States motor racing scene for more than twenty years. In 1960, sponsored by Cornelius Vanderbilt IV, it was run as a Formula Junior event and held again at Roosevelt Raceway. In 1965, 1967, and 1968, the Bridgehampton Sports Car Races were billed as the Vanderbilt Cup.”.......so IV brought the third generation Vanderbilt Cup into existence after Willie K then William K’s nephew, George Washington Vanderbilt III, revived and sponsored a 300-mile (480 km) race at the new facilities at Roosevelt Raceway in ‘37 and ‘38.

He passed in 1974 and this photo appears to be late in life…...I would suspect perhaps 1974 is my best guess.

https://www.geni.com/people/Cornelius-Vanderbilt/6000000001820087273
http://thegildedageera.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-cornelius-vanderbilt-ii-mansion-new.html

From Mystery Foto #33 Solved: Cornelius Vanderbilt IV, Donor of the 1960 Vanderbilt Cup Trophy

Thanks for sharing all this memorabilia with us,it never ends,does it? So much to remember,if it comes up in a mystery in later weeks,which I know it will

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Photos from the John E. Roosevelt Family Photo Album (1909-1910)

Going by Mr. Robertsons statements, these drivers/mechanics were a tough breed. And to win anyway possible!

From October 23, 1958 Newsday: The Races That Made History

My father served on the USS Plymouth during its Navy lifetime.  Vanderbilt II gave Alva II for the usual $1. She did several convoy runs from NYC to Key West and Gitmo.  Bit of a checkered career. Ran into a coast guard ship at one point. Had a new young commander who got Navy Cross & lost his left leg in U-566 attack using last torp of its duty. 
Supposedly Alva II was quite popular when docked in East River. Reading this & seeing images it’s no surprise why!  Quite the vessel.  Dad was killed and I came out 8 months later so some good from it all.  Always be prepared.
__________________________________________________________________________
From Howard Kroplick

Thank you for your father’s service!

From One of Yachting's Dozen: William K. Vanderbilt Jr.'s Alva

Thanks Howard. Don’t know when I’m going to see you guys again.Really miss the roar of the Black Beast,nothing like that here,nowhere near it,wish you could come here and put some life in this place,something out of the ordinary.I’ve been talking to people about you and telling them to go on the website,maybe that way you’ll get an invite,if I told the right person to make it happen.Hope something becomes of it

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved:#M32 Rainier and #P43 Simplex Racing on the Opening Day of the Motor Parkway

I had the feeling that this photo had been a mystery picture before, but I could be wrong. Anyway, it seemed to be not too difficult this time. This photo was shot during the 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes. The car in front with #M32 is Louis Disbrow on a Rainier (competing in the Meadowbrook Sweepstakes and finishing on 2nd place). He is chased by the car with P43, which is Frank Lascault on the faster Simplex (competing in the Motor Parkway Sweepstakes, finishing on 4th place). The bridge in the background is Meadowbrook Bridge, I believe the photo was taken from Stewart Avenue Bridge.

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved:#M32 Rainier and #P43 Simplex Racing on the Opening Day of the Motor Parkway

Location: Today’s Salisbury Park Dr. and Stewart Ave facing West, Eisenhower Park
Background Bridge: Meadowbrook Parkway Bridge (gone)
Photographed from: Stewart Ave Highway Bridge (also gone)
Race: Oct 10, 1908 Motor Pkwy Sweepstakes
Racers: M32 Rainier of Meadowbrook division, L.A. Disbrow driver
        P43 Simplex of Motor Parkway division, F. Lescault driver
DISQUALIFIED! I already knew the answer to my own mystery

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved:#M32 Rainier and #P43 Simplex Racing on the Opening Day of the Motor Parkway

Howard,  Great article on the #25 motor parkway plate.  As most Parkway buffs know, the plates are the single most sought after Parkway collectible.  Starting in 1927 the National Highways Association actually had two automobiles touring the United States covered with #25 plates from various jurisdictions and states promoting the building of more and better highways. Of the hundred or so surviving Motor Parkway plates,  about ten bear the # 25. There is a good reason why so many of this number exist.  Every year the Association would return the previous year’s plate the the Parkway. Kienzle, the Parkway” s general manager, would simply give them away, mostly to the children of the Parkway"s employees.  There are two color variations of the 1927 plate . For 1927 the Parkway selected orange numbers and letters on a blue background. In early 1927 the Highway Association wrote Kienzle telling him the plates arrived badly damaged and could not be used. Kienzle immediatley contacted the plate manufacturer and told them to, quickly as possible, send two # 25 plates directly to the Association., which they did. However, in there rush to fill the order, the colors were reversed. Kienzle, who never saw the plates, was unaware of the error as they were never used on the Parkway. I wonder what his reaction was when he received the plates in early 1928.

From Charles Davis, the Good Roads Everywhere Movement and Long Island Motor Parkway License Plate #25

The cars I believe are in the October 8, 1908 LIMP sweepstakes.  The car in the background is the number P43 Simplex (USA) in the Motor Parkway Sweepstakes driven by Frank Lescault…..the car in the foreground is the numbed M32 Rainier in the Meadow Brooks Sweepstakes driven by Louis Disbrow who finished 2nd.

As far as where?  I need to do a bit more searching but am out of town so don’t have my normal time, but wanted to get this in.

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved:#M32 Rainier and #P43 Simplex Racing on the Opening Day of the Motor Parkway

Wow, thank you Howard. I’ll have to let all these locations sink into my imagination for a while. Most of the roads where whatever type bridges were to be built are still in existence presently . And there was so much farmland at that time for farmway bridges to make sense to be built. Perhaps Bridge Rd in Hauppauge derived it’s name from the bridge that was never built. It seems that the naming of most roads, streets, etc on Long Island have a bit of history beyond it.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The 100 Planned Bridges Over & Under the Long Island Motor Parkway

We’re looking west in East Meadow with the “Meadowbrook” bridge over Bellmore Road (Newbridge Ave.) in the background and the southern edge of the Ladenburg Estate in the upper right corner. The photographer was probably standing on the Stewart Avenue bridge on October 10, 1908 during the concurrent running of several races to celebrate the opening of the LIMP. The car closest to the camera is the M32 Rainier driven by Louis Disbrow in the Meadow Brook Sweepstakes. The car behind him is difficult to see, but I’m guessing it’s Frank Lescault driving the P43 Simplex in the Motor Parkway Sweepstakes.

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved:#M32 Rainier and #P43 Simplex Racing on the Opening Day of the Motor Parkway

Fascinating!  Note that those eagles duplicate the Hudson radiator cap mascot.  I well remember friends using old plates to patch rust in car bodies but never anything like this.  Perhaps I’m missing something again here but why #25, please?  Sam, III
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From Howard Kroplick I

Sam, great question! It has never been explained.

From Charles Davis, the Good Roads Everywhere Movement and Long Island Motor Parkway License Plate #25

I was an active charter member of the CCCA and only dropped out when exhibitors started trailering their cars to meets and with crews of paid detailers.  That rare ‘42 Caddy coupé sure looks like a stock factory jobbie and, if so, is really pushing the definition of a true Classic.  Sam (pur sang), III

From The Classic Car Summer 2016 Magazine: The Boca Raton Grand Classic

Photo taken from atop the Stewart Ave. (east Meadow) bridge looking west with the Newbridge Ave. bridge in the distance.  The 1908 Meadowbrook Swepstakes, with Car #M32 leading in the picture. October 10, 1908.

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved:#M32 Rainier and #P43 Simplex Racing on the Opening Day of the Motor Parkway

Can we build replicas of these someday?

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The 100 Planned Bridges Over & Under the Long Island Motor Parkway

-Identify the location of the photo
Hempstead Plains on the edge of present day Eisenhower Park at Salisbury Park Drive and Stewart Ave.

-Identify the Motor Parkway bridge in the background
Newbridge Ave parkway bridge.

-Where was the photographer standing when he took the photo?
On top of the Stewart Ave. highway bridge looking West.

-Identify the race(s) and date of the photo
Motor Parkway & Meadow Brook Sweepstakes September 10, 1908

-Identify the two racers
M32 Rainier driven by Louis Disbrow
P43 Simplex driven by Frank Lescault

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved:#M32 Rainier and #P43 Simplex Racing on the Opening Day of the Motor Parkway

Eastern end of what is today Eisenhower Park.  Picture is looking west, from Stewart Ave Bridge.  LIMP was dug under Stewart Ave.  The bottom of the picture would be today’s Carmen Ave.
-joe

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved:#M32 Rainier and #P43 Simplex Racing on the Opening Day of the Motor Parkway