Vanderbilt Cup Races

I enjoyed that ...

From Henry Austin Clark Jr. and his 1911 Mercer 35R Raceabout

After meeting Hal and hearing him speak in Southampton and seeing this film, I think H. Austin Clark Jr.‘s legacy is in good hands.

From Henry Austin Clark Jr. and his 1911 Mercer 35R Raceabout

Wonderful photographs, Gregg Merksamer is a great guy and author of a book on the history of the NY Automobile show.

From The Artwork of Gregg Merksamer:Chrysler's Chrysler & Mustang III at the Greenwich Concours 2012-2016

Yes Dave, especially when you stand under the 1910 date right?

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” XI: Old Bethpage Bridge

Thanks so much ,first visit to track was in 1957, then in 1991 I got to take my 1987 FX16 GTS around the track ,the track was rented for a day and various cars showed up,first time for me on the track with my Toyota was a thrill I’ll never forget especially since I made an 8mm video from a camera mounted where the passenger seat normally goes. You films reminded me to watch mine ,no racing just the thrill of driving that track, WOW!
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From Howard Kroplick:

Thomas, can you forward a copy to share on VanderbiltCupRaces.com ?

From Film "1957 Bridgehampton Race Circuit Inauguration"

It’s me again, Dave. I was just viewing a 1953 aerial of this area. Universe Dr is well established running west of Wantagh Ave. It’s blurry, but I think there’s a abutment remnant at the intersection of Wantagh Ave; W/S ( it doesn’t appear to block traffic ). Then east of Wantagh Ave, you can see the LIMP roadbed. So, no surprise; a good part of Universe Dr was built over the LIMP roadbed. And just south of here is former Central ROW/ presently PSEG LI ROW. So I’m not quite sure what road is seen “ahead”, but pretty sure from my “photographic memory”; that the Levittown substation( PSEG LI facility ) is in the distance to the right. This substation is closer to Hicksville Rd ( Rte 107 ).

From The Helck Family Memoirs: 1973 Newsday "What Ever Became of the Vanderbilt Parkway?" Updated 7/14/16

That’s the way to go Howard,just keep collecting those awards,can’t stop wining,you can’t loose.I don’t think there’s a car out there that can beat you in your class,is there?maybe there was,can’t remember,you win so much,coming in second or third,with high honors,all the time.

From The Artwork of Gregg Merksamer:Chrysler's Chrysler & Mustang III at the Greenwich Concours 2012-2016

Ted, near Wantagh av/deadmans curve could quite possibly be

From The Helck Family Memoirs: 1973 Newsday "What Ever Became of the Vanderbilt Parkway?" Updated 7/14/16

Almost missed this one, recovering from major surgery, but couldn’t resist coming back and taking a peek. Can’t investigate this one but viewing from a phone, if that’s the newbrIdge hotel, there should be a tunnel portal under the bridge, and railroad tracks where the gent in the foreground is standing. I don’t see any on this little screen. On lower photo, my first hunch was Brian’s suggestion but can’t dig deeper. Brian worked the lines and Tim worked the precinct. These would be two excellent sources to start from

From The Helck Family Memoirs: 1973 Newsday "What Ever Became of the Vanderbilt Parkway?" Updated 7/14/16

Hi Dave. That photo just below the painting, I guess you can see the remains of the LIMP; and the uprise of the bridge abutment at the W/S of Wantagh Ave. I’m think the road ahead may be the entrance road into the precinct. If the photo was taken a little more to the north, you would probably see Universe Dr. The LIMP ROW and Universe Dr are VERY parallel with each other in this location. Being that the Newsday article is 1973, maybe this photo is; too?

From The Helck Family Memoirs: 1973 Newsday "What Ever Became of the Vanderbilt Parkway?" Updated 7/14/16

Great article. Really well written, thorough and concise. Well done Colleen.

Brian—so you are saying this picture is just WEST of Wantagh Ave? That would be Universe Drive directly ahead?

From The Helck Family Memoirs: 1973 Newsday "What Ever Became of the Vanderbilt Parkway?" Updated 7/14/16

Hi all. The location of the lower part of that picture look so familiar,but I can’t exactly say where it is.I recognize where the power lines are. Could it somewhere around Deadmans Curve,Stewart Ave or Wantagh Ave Bethpage,that’s my best guess?

From The Helck Family Memoirs: 1973 Newsday "What Ever Became of the Vanderbilt Parkway?" Updated 7/14/16

I believe Brian is correct.  Wantagh Avenue facing east.  Both the bottom and top photos.
Top shows view from Wantagh Ave. bridge looking towards Hicksville Road and the Massapequa lodge.
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From Howard Kroplick:

Thanks, Tim. Images added above. Given the direction of the racer and the location of the Newbridge Hotel, I believe the direction of the top image is looking west.

From The Helck Family Memoirs: 1973 Newsday "What Ever Became of the Vanderbilt Parkway?" Updated 7/14/16

Hello all. I believe it was determined that the photo below the painting is just W/O Wantagh Ave. If you enlarge the photo, the Levittown substation is in the near distance to the right. Also, the steel towers that are on the south side of the ROW have been replaced with the present day steel poles. On the north side of the ROW , the wood poles that have 3 cross arms each have been replaced with the present day steel towers.
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From Howard Kroplick:

Brian, thanks!

From The Helck Family Memoirs: 1973 Newsday "What Ever Became of the Vanderbilt Parkway?" Updated 7/14/16

Great article. Is it possible that the Half Hollow Hills Library has retained some interesting information about the parkway? I’m sure you’ve already checked into that Howard.
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From Howard Kroplick:

Mike, they do have some files on the Motor Parkway.

From The Helck Family Memoirs: 1973 Newsday "What Ever Became of the Vanderbilt Parkway?" Updated 7/14/16

Identify the Vanderbilt Cup Race and the date of the photo:
1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race, October 8, 1904

Identify the location and the orientation of the photo:
Jericho Turnpike, Westbury (west of the Powells Lane intersection); view looking west

Identify three structures in the photo:
Grandstand on south side, Press/officials box on the north side, Hitchcock horse track on the north side.  Is John Allen’s house in the photo on the southside, too?

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: A Unique View of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Grandstand

Looking West down Jericho Tpke at the grandstands, press box, start/stop line during the VCR of Oct 8th, 1904.

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: A Unique View of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Grandstand

This looks like the start / finish area of the first Vanderbilt Cup Race taken on October 8, 1904. It looks like the photographer was looking west on Jericho Turnpike in Westbury between Powells Lane and Hitchcock Lane. In addition to the grandstand on the south side of Jericho and the press box / officials’ stand on the north side, there is also Thomas H. Hitchcock’s one mile horse race track on the right beyond the fence. Also, I believe the building in the center past the grandstand could be the barn on the Baltazzi property.

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: A Unique View of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Grandstand

October 6, 1904
Looking west on the Jericho Tpke. Between Powell’s Lane and Hitchcock Drive
1. Grandstand on left (south side of roadway)
2.  Press box on right
3.  Fence on right is the location of Tommy Hitchcock’s horse track.

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: A Unique View of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Grandstand

Wild guessing this week, 1- looking west, 2-could be belmont race track on right, 3- 1904 VCR Race looking west on Hemp Tpke. Belmont park opened 1905.

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: A Unique View of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Grandstand