Vanderbilt Cup Races

It’s not just the Marlin -  Take a close look at the Chrysler Crossfire from the rear quarter (this is a car with a great butt), and you’ll see the echo of that distinctive Norseman sail panel in a recent Chrysler design.  (Both concept and production, as the Crossfire may be the closest production car ever to the concept car that inspired it.)  I’ve never heard that Eric Stoddard (the Crossfire’s designer) was influenced by the Norseman, but you have to wonder, as I’m sure the Norseman makes it on inspiration boards at Chrysler’s design studios on a frequent basis.

Also, while it’s not A-pillarless, the Crossfire does make an effort to strongly visually separate the windshield surround from the roof, giving it a bit of that cantilevered feel…

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

Only going to go with a Thomas Flyer circa 1908-1912.
Harrah’s?

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: 1911 Stoddard Dayton at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum

From George Bartunek:

Mystery foto #5 is the 1908 Thomas Flyer that won the NY to Paris race. My humble opinion is that it should not have been restored.
Several years ago I had the opportunity of seeing the runner up in the race in Munich, the German Protos.

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: 1911 Stoddard Dayton at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum

From Lynn Henry:

I enjoyed reading the item about the Wheeler bridge and forwarded your email to George Zink. George is a fellow Alley Pond Strider who has lived in the area for I think over 60 years.

Below are his recollections about the Wheeler bridge that I thought you would be interested in reading.  FYI, it was pointed out to me today.  I have run on the path a least a million times since 1984 and never noticed it!
(OK maybe not a million.!)

From George Zink:

The Wheeler Farmway bridge is at the very top of the hill east of Springfield Blvd.  Not easily recognizable, but you might have tripped over the slight change of height that runs across the road.  There are two of them. 

The concrete shoulders on each side of the road used to have short metal pipe fences rising about a foot above the shoulder.  Someone knocked the shoulders down to ground level a few years back.  Somewhere in the 1980’s when I was running, I was confronted by three stray dogs near that bridge.  In a pack, one dog will run around your back and try to hamstring you.  Knowing this I went to the northern shoulder.  The drop-off from the shoulder would keep the dogs in front of me.  They soon tired of the situation where they could not get behind me and ran off leaving me to finish my run.  That bridge and knowing it was there saved me a lot of trouble.

When I was a kid we used to explore the area and I did get to see the underside.  It was partially filled in with some large stones on the south side, but we were still able to get in.  Sorry, no pictures. 

There was yet another bridge we investigated just east of Bell Blvd when Kingsbury and Stewart Avenues were still a dirt roads in that area.  I doubt if anything is left of that one.  It was more open and easier to explore.  It could have been there for the Stewart Railroad which would have run in a gully where Stewart Avenue is now.  No pictures there either.

And all you asked about was the location of the bridge.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #60: Deer Park Road Motor Parkway Bridge (Dix Hills)

From Gary H.:

Back in the 1970’s I was involved in the initial “restoration” of the Marion Carll Farm, located north of the LIMP, on the west side of Commack Road, surrounded by a golf course.  One of the “neighbors” that I dealt with was the Harned family who lived down the street.  Seeing this building reminded me of the enjoyable times I had out there exploring the numerous buildings of the Marion Carll Farm, which then remained as a time capsule, having been untouched in many years, with the buildings filled with artifacts associated with Commack’s history.  At that time Carll’s niece Alberta Jenkins still lived there, and I was lucky enough to spend time with her talking about the area’s history.  Amazing how a simple photo can bring back such memories.

Gary

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #15 & #16 The Brentwood Lodges at Commack Road

O. K. - the Bonwit page is now back up and there’s material about Heinie’s for John Wevers (and the rest of you) there {the Heine’s links are also up}.  Sam, III

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #15 & #16 The Brentwood Lodges at Commack Road

1908 Thomas Flyer

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: 1911 Stoddard Dayton at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum

From John Wevers:

Hi Howard - Regarding the toll booth on Commack Road…it is easy for a local to understand how there is confusion there. Crooked Hill Road meets Commack road just feet from the Motor Parkway. Crooked Hill Road become Fifth Avenue, the main way into and through Brentwood.

That corner is the Commack School District, the Dix Hills Fire Department and kind of on the boundary line of Smithtown Town and the Town of Huntington.

That intersection had some meaning or such as I do remember there was a hot dog stand there at that corner ...Heine’s…..pronounced “hieny.” That is the site or origin of the Bonwit. And of course my Dad who was somewhat of a local historian of sorts recalled the toll booth as he called it and for all I cannot recall, he had mentioned a further use after it had been moved….but to where? As for the honey sales booth, I am not so sure. But to agree on the Brentwood origins…..it looks, in construction, like several old old buildings I remember in Brentwood. The only building that I know to still exist that the toll both picture reminds me of is the one room school located on the grounds of Brentwood High School.
Just to say, I really enjoy your website and the efforts of those who contribute.

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #15 & #16 The Brentwood Lodges at Commack Road

The structure that Howard and Al came across is quite similar to the original Brentwood Lodge. It looks to be in the front property? Is it safe to assume that the 2nd lodge built at the S/E corner of the LIMP and Commack Rd. was demolished?
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From Howard Kroplick
The building is directly in front of the main house.

The southeast toll lodge at Commack will be the next lodge in the series.

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #15 & #16 The Brentwood Lodges at Commack Road

This is Carl Fisher’s Stoddard Dayton. It was the pace car at the first Indianapolis 500 Race, and it can be seen in the Hall of Fame building, in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield.

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: 1911 Stoddard Dayton at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum

Great research about this lodge!

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #15 & #16 The Brentwood Lodges at Commack Road

Ayuh!  The current stand and the old lodge are in almost no way alike; besides, the proportions are all wrong.  May I refer you folks to my coverage of the Bonwit at <http://sbiii.com/limpkwy5.html#limpspur> and <http://sbiii.com/bonwitin.html>.  As before, the thumbnails now come up fuzzy but click on them for better pix.  Give me a few hours to restore the old Bonwit page, please.  Aside from the sad personal aspect, it’s too bad both Tsunises passed away; they each had promised to be major sources of background info.  Sam, III

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #15 & #16 The Brentwood Lodges at Commack Road

This is the Stoddard Dayton which served as the Pace Car for the first Indy 500 Race in 1911, as well as the 1913 & 1914 races.  It was driven by Carl G. Fisher, one of the founders of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  It was manufactured by the Dayton Motor Car Co., of Dayton, Ohio, and named for John W. Stoddard & son Charles, principals in the company.  The B&W photo shows the large brass intertwined initials CGF, along with the Stoddard Dayton name mounted on the front of the radiator.  The auto is shown on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: 1911 Stoddard Dayton at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum

Don’t know, but it’s another gem!

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: 1911 Stoddard Dayton at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum

Race driver Dario Resta after he retired from racing went on to be the import agent/dealer for the British built Sunbeam cars in Manhattan. Most of the cars were imported as a running chassis complete with front fenders and hood but minus coachwork to save money on import tariff. As a running chassis it was not deemed a complete car. Coachwork was then designed, built and fitted to the chassis by American coachbuilders.

From Film:The Pan-Pacific International Expo: Site of the 1915 American Grand Prize & Vanderbilt Cup Race

Howard -
I would like to invite you and Al to speak to the members of the Greater New York Antique Automobile Club on the first Thursday in April.  The meeting location is at the American Legion hall in Williston Park.  There is parking to the south of the building where there is an entrance to the meeting room.  There is additional parking space to the north on - you got it! - the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway.  The annual Spring Meet held by the club will be held later in April on the grounds of the Motor Parkway.  Looking forward to hearing from you.  Althea Travis

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #15 & #16 The Brentwood Lodges at Commack Road

This car is a 1911 Stoddard-Dayton that is representing the pace car for the 1911 Indy race in the Indy Hall of Fame Museum. There is some question as to whether this is the actual car. The original car was owned by Carl Fisher as he was the local Stoddard-Dayton dealer. It was the first time an automobile was used to pace and start a major auto race. In 1990 we had a celebration of the 1915 Point Loma Road Race in San Diego. We were fortunate in that there was a locally-owned Stoddard just like the one in the photo and the owner kindly brought it to our event and drove it as the pace car for the two laps of the course.

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: 1911 Stoddard Dayton at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum

Omg,I’ve seen this car and know that it’s historical,got some searching and brain racking to do and hope I come up with something

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: 1911 Stoddard Dayton at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum

Hay guys,you all really know your stuff,great job on this one,don’t know how you do it. I recognize some of the photos, seen them so many times but don’t know where they are,so don’t even bother answering,just wait and see what the answers are and marvel at the amazement of it all. One last thing. One last thing,I hope all is well after the storm. We were very lucky here,only got about 4 inches. I know it was bad it was bad in some places

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: A 1942 Composite Aerial of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Field-Updated 1/26/16

Howard:
You hit a homerun with this issue.  Every article was great.  Thanks for bringing these to us.  I note that Al is your favorite co-author, but isn’t he your only co-author? Some compliment!
Joe
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From Howard Kroplick

My father always told me I was “his favorite son”! I do not have any brothers!

From Anatomy of a 1910 Survey: Proposed Location of the Deer Park Lodge