Vanderbilt Cup Races

1904.  Jericho Tkpe looking west from the south side of the road, just east of the start finish line, at what is today Powells Ln.  I can see the grandstand, the press box, and the horse racing track in the estate behind the fence.

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

Frank Femenias…..Thank you, sir, for the appreciation.  It was nice to be reassured the research was sound, however I’ve just ordered the book which was mentioned by Howard.  One can never have too much information….or photos to compare.

One other item which relates to the Vanderbilt Cup is the Savannah course was used the next year for the 1911 Vanderbilt Cup.  Which I guess could be called the first “second generation” Vanderbilt Cup as it was no where near Long Island.

Chuck

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: The #31 Falcar Driven by Hughie Hughes at the 1910 Savannah Challenge Race

In June 2010, I had submitted a research question concerning whether anyone had an information about the 1902 Curved Dash Oldsmobile that was placed over the front entrance to the Museum.  No comments were sent back to my question since that time.  I see from this note about the special Hampton’s Evening that discussed prior friends, family, and employees were present at the gathering.  Would it be possible to forward my comment directly to those in attendance that may have some knowledge about the Olds over the Museum entrance?  I would greatly appreciate any help that you could lend.  Thank you in advance for your assistance.

From A Very Special Hamptons Evening and Tribute to Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

It’s so appropriate that this bridge is in the bethpage restoration. The whole place revolves around going back in time and tucked in the back corner of the place (some of the people that work there didn’t even know about it) is the first paved road and one of the two bridges left in Nassau. Hopefully Nassau cty will appoint landmark status to this bridge as it has to old courthouse road.

If you’ve never been to this location you have to go. When you go here for the first time you get goose bumps.

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

What happened to the contents of the museum?
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From Howard Kroplick

Ron, documents and photos were donated to the Henry Ford Museum.

http://www.dalnet.lib.mi.us/henryford/docs/HenryAustinClarkJrPapers_Accession1764.pdf

From A Very Special Hamptons Evening and Tribute to Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

Difficult indeed. Was looking in all the wrong places for the balcony. Nice thorough info on racer and track, correcting the long mislabeled photo. Good mystery Chuck.

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: The #31 Falcar Driven by Hughie Hughes at the 1910 Savannah Challenge Race

The 60’s had lots of “M’s defining the decade:
* the M&M boys
* Murray the Kay
* Martha & the Vandellas
* Mustangs
Great video, thanks.
Rich

From The 1965 Mustang Assembly Plant, Martha & the Vandellas and Murray the K

I enjoyed the event immensely to learn more about Mr. Clark from family and friends. While I frequently went to the track in Bridgehampton in the mid-60’s, I missed the opportunity to explore the Museum in its heyday. I never knew the connection between the track and Mr. Clark (he was a founding board member) so let’s hope Mr. Kroplick’s next history will focus on the race track.

Is there any source to identify all the cars that passed through the Museum and their current whereabouts?

From A Very Special Hamptons Evening and Tribute to Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

Thank you to Howard for making this a Mystery Foto and Ariejan for the verification and extended background information on what was a difficult foto.  It took the balcony of the S/F tower for me to start putting the puzzle together or I might still be scratching my head.

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: The #31 Falcar Driven by Hughie Hughes at the 1910 Savannah Challenge Race

From Ariejan Bos (Netherlands)

The scene shows the Falcar #31 of the English driver Hugh ‘Hughie’ Hughes with mechanician Armsburger during the 1910 Savannah Challenge Trophy. This race for cars with piston displacements between 231 and 300 ci was held on November 11,1910 the day before the American Grand Prize, and was run on the same course. The race was run concurrently with the Tiedeman Trophy (for cars with piston displacements between 161 and 230 ci), but started an hour earlier due to the difference in racing distance. Hughes would finish on third place.

The race was won by Joe Dawson in a Marmon. The link with the Vanderbilt Cup is that Hughes would compete in the 1912 Vanderbilt Cup, in which he ended on 2nd place. He also started in the 1915 Vanderbilt Cup, finishing on 9th place.

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: The #31 Falcar Driven by Hughie Hughes at the 1910 Savannah Challenge Race

Howard,
I’m so sorry I couldn’t attend the event in honor of Austin Clark last Thursday due to a previous commitment.  Looking at those terrific photos brought back a number of memories of him.  I used to make numerous trips to his museum.  I never got tired of seeing all those wonderful autos, the NY to Paris Thomas Flyer in particular.
Roger

From Walter McCarthy Collection: A Tribute to Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

I’m not sure this is Hamline.  Photos of the stands taken at that time show a different roof line.  Oldfield & Soules raced the two Stearns all over the midwest during 1908 - this may have been taken at one of those venues.  By December, the 45/90 had been painted a dark color, so this photo would have been taken some time between July and then.

From Mystery Foto #20 Solved: Barney Oldfield Driving a Stearns Racer in St. Paul on July 15, 1908

Was able to attend your tribute to HAC back in 2014, in Bethpage, and was going to attend last Thursday too, but I completely forgot!  Sorry I missed it! I bet it was great!  Looks like a nice size turnout too!

My pics from the Bethpage presentation are on-line here:
https://ashautophotos.smugmug.com/Cars/Museums-and-Shows/Henry-Austin-Clark-Tribute/

From A Very Special Hamptons Evening and Tribute to Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

Mark, I don’t mind being wrong but you misread me; I’m talking about the car in the distance in the B&W pic, in front of the bridge, making a left turn, across Willis (to our right).  ‘39 Chrysler (or possibly Dodge or DeSoto) for sure - had one - very unique (if unfortunate) shape <http://sbiii.com/chryslr5.html#39-41CHR>.  Sam, III

From My Motor Parkway Story #3: Bob Valentine and the Williston Park Historic Marker

Sure wish I could attend; I’ll be out of state (NY and MA).  WhiIe I can’t claim we were close friends, Austie was very kind to me on several occasions, both in Glen Cove and Tuckhoe, and we hoisted a few together.  I miss him.  Sam, III

From Walter McCarthy Collection: A Tribute to Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

Neat photos. The Meadowbrook Lodge entrance ramp appears to still have the expanded entryway at the bottom, and Merrick Ave’s expansion appears to have been eastward into Eisenhower park. And at the Mineola Lodge,  there appears to be a white overhead highway sign for an upcoming exit? Or a full width barricade to prevent entry into the underpass? Great rare images!
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From Howard Kroplick

Good eye! I believe it was a concrete barricade keeping automobiles from using the abandoned Motor Parkway.

From 1950 Aerials of the Meadow Brook Lodge and the Mineola Lodge

The parking lot scene is incredible, especially when you consider that the auto was barely 10 years old at that point.  Note the very modern looking license plate at lower right.  The snoozing gentleman looks no more comfortable than he would in the back seat of my FIAT 500.  The Jericho Turnpike always having been such, “parked on Jericho Road” might better be translated as “on the Jericho road” or as “on the road at Jericho”.  I’ve watched the race film again and again and, after just reading the first-hand account, the crowd surging onto the track becomes more terrifying with each viewing.  Sam III

From Translation: December 1906 Les Sports Modernes: The Vanderbilt Cup in America

someone with the means should have Marcels clone this gorgeous car ,wonder if Ghia still has the body buck ? . . .

From The 1956 Chrysler Norseman Concept Car Lost at Sea Updated 1/13/16

From Jerry Rokoff:

Great newsletter and format!

My guess:  1908 year opened as a toll road.

Roslyn road south of Barnard lane.  Site of toll entrance guessed Roslyn cause you live there

From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A Rare View of the Massapequa Lodge on the Motor Parkway

The White truck is RHD so a 1910 to 1912

From The 1914 Goodrich Long Island Route Book & the Goodrich Road Markers Updated: 6/13/16