Vanderbilt Cup Races

Is that the same ALCO truck that was once owned by Henry Austin Clark and now fully restored living on Long Island? Bob

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Harry Grant Preparing the Alco for the 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race

The racing car is of course an Alco, probably shortly before the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup race. In 1909 the Alco used friction-type shock absorbers, whereas in 1910 Alco had mounted telescopic shock absorbers, like on the photo. At the wheel Harry Grant, but about the mechanician I have doubts. It isn’t Frank Lee, but I see some resemblance with Ralph De Palma. I can’t think of any reason though why he would sit next to Grant. De Palma was racing mostly Fiat at the time and didn’t compete for the Vanderbilt Cup of that year. The truck is obviously an Alco too. Alco had started truck building in 1909 with a 3 ton truck. Interesting is also the light-coloured car on the left in the background, which seems to be Mulford’s Lozier in touring trim.
I have no idea where the photo was taken. The structure in the background seems to be some kind of hangar, but I couldn’t find it on any other photo in my archive.

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Harry Grant Preparing the Alco for the 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race

That sure looks like Harry Grant in the driver’s seat so the racer must be the ALCO Black Beast. But that doesn’t look like Frank Lee next to Grant so it could be George Babcock, the only other mechanician to ride with Grant. If that’s true, then they must be preparing for the Elgin National Trophy Race that took place on October 26, 1911. The truck in the background appears to be an ALCO Power Wagon or 3 1/2 ton truck.

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Harry Grant Preparing the Alco for the 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race

Amazing results and great pics of historic OCR bridge; she still stands tall! This Motor Parkway section could be part of an excellent 1.5 mi. stretch of rural greenway from NHP Rd to Herricks High School at I.U. Willets Rd. This right-of-way appears mostly undisturbed and intact. With tall brush fencing off the backyards, the scenery would be reminiscent of the ol’ days. Now that would be inviting and practical for all. Hats off for another LIMP win at OCR!

From The Amazing Clean-Up of the Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge

this is the kind of connection between “old car guys/collectors” and the general community that there needs to be so much more of. It makes the kids and their teachers feel they are really part of why we have an interest in the preservation of historic automobiles and transportation. All who participated will carry this memory of the experience the rest of their lives. Once again Howard you are a peer in the promotion of our passionate interest in early cars.

From Smiles and Thumbs-Ups from the Great Neck South High School's Rebel Car Club Show

Just Wonderful! The way you so willingly share your cars is an inspiration….!

From Smiles and Thumbs-Ups from the Great Neck South High School's Rebel Car Club Show

Uncle fester was played by the child star Jackie Coogan while Carolyn Jones played Morticia Gomez was played by John Astin and Ted Cassidy was lurch(You Rang?) who was also the voice of Franenstein Jr

From Mystery Foto #49 Solved: Charles Addams and his wife Barbara Jean in Southampton Updated:10/30/16

I remember Leo Krasek, who was pictured in one of your photos here. I am 70 this year and I was about 15 when I used to go over to Leos garage which was at his home in Bensenville, Ill. He was always in the corner of his shop doing metal turning on his lathe. 1957 he bought a new Ford 2 dr. sedan model which he put fuel injection on and several drivers were over there consulting with him . many good stories about Leo.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive-The Helck Family Memoirs #1: Old 16 at the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Nice job by all !

From The Amazing Clean-Up of the Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge

ALCO? Was American Locomotive Company building cars in that era?

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: Harry Grant Preparing the Alco for the 1911 Elgin National Trophy Race

From Jon Ruvio:

Once again I would like to thank you and your team for coming to our show. You and your crew were so nice to the kids at the school, it really made it a super special day.

Like I mentioned if there is ever a time where we can help you out, please let us know. ( I saw on the blog that you had the clean up at the Motor parkway bridge, This is something where the car club would love to help out! )

Hope to see you soon!

From Smiles and Thumbs-Ups from the Great Neck South High School's Rebel Car Club Show

From Councilman Peter Zuckerman:

Members of the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society, officials from the Town of North Hempstead and local residents completed the initial phase of the clean-up of the Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge. Check out Saturday’s wonderful clean-up. Check out the before and after photos for the amazing results.

If you would like to see more about this weekend’s Community Cleanup .

Big thank you to Howard Kroplick for helping to organize such a great event.

From The Amazing Clean-Up of the Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge

The old link, http://home.att.net/~berliner-ultrasonics/limtrpwy.html,ld now read http://sbiii.com/limtrpwy.html.  Sam, III

From The Complete 44-Mile LIMP Tour: Maps, Images and Videos

Great Mitchel Field aerials from Cradle of Aviation.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: A 1937 Cirkut Photo of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Raceway Update: 5/27

Sam the first car in the color photo of the ‘parade’ is a 1937 Buick series 80(Roadmaster) , the second (below), the black & white photo shows the back of a 1937-38 Buick. Sorry no 1939 Chrysler, my source is standard catalog of American cars 1805-1942.

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

This could be a rear view of Roosevelt Raceway’s grandstand looking ENE in Westbury (E Garden City) showing Motor Parkway and its Roosevelt Field ‘highway’ bridge along the raceway’s southern perimeter. If correct, the roadway parallel to Motor Parkway should be Stewart Ave heading east, just before crossing over MSP (not yet built) and heading towards Salisbury Park’s entrance (Eisenhower Park). The houses in the foreground would be Mitchel Gardens (housing development for Mitchel Field’s personnel), still under construction in 1941. Great job at OCR’s bridge! A favorite LIMP spot, I’m feeling vibes this section could be the next major restoration project for the LIMP greenway thoroughfare. Staying tuned for PSE&G’s massive cleanup…..

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: A 1937 Cirkut Photo of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Raceway Update: 5/27

From Jim Moran:

Howard,

The Councilman and I would like to thank you for getting together such a top notch team for the Community Cleanup and for all of your organizing efforts. It was a phenomenal event and the bridge looked so nice after our hard work. Can’t thank you enough.

Sincerely,
Jim Moran
Leg. Aide to Councilman Zuckerman

From The Amazing Clean-Up of the Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge

My revised answer for the bonus photo is it’s a cigar sticking out of the wall. Great optical illusion!

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: A 1937 Cirkut Photo of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Raceway Update: 5/27

The photographer appears to be over Garden City with his camera pointed northeast toward Westbury. The structure in the background is the grandstands built for the 1936 & 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races. The train track is the LIRR Central Branch or A.T. Stewart’s old Central Railroad. In the center is the bridge over the LIMP connecting Stewart Ave. to Roosevelt Field (& raceway). The airplane is on the right side in Mitchel Field. The date is at least 1937 but might be a year or so later based on the finished condition of the buildings at Mitchel Field. Among the many events that took place hear are: Lindbergh’s 1927 solo flight; the previously mentioned Vanderbilt Cup Races; the R-34 Dirigible’s landing in July, 1919; Lindbergh’s homecoming celebration (6/16/27); Clarence Chamberlin’s first passenger flight to Eisleben, Germany; Chamberlin’s stunt flight taking off from Stewart Ave. in 1928; and the site of the first retail shopping mall in NY State (1956). The bonus photo could be a Civil War era “Minne” ball (bullet).

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: A 1937 Cirkut Photo of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Raceway Update: 5/27

Hi Howard and crew!!  Great job!!!

From The Amazing Clean-Up of the Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge