Vanderbilt Cup Races

How sad.  It as such a great place and Austie such a great guy.  Love your Then and Now series.  Sam, III

From Updated: Walter McCarthy Collection: Then & Now- The Long Island Automotive Museum

WOUNDER WHAT IT WOULD COST TO REOPEN IT

From Updated: Walter McCarthy Collection: Then & Now- The Long Island Automotive Museum

What a shame - would make a nice automobile museum (again)!  Once it’s gone, it’s gone.

From Updated: Walter McCarthy Collection: Then & Now- The Long Island Automotive Museum

Too bad. I always meant to go visit the museum, but never got there due “Life”.
I guess I can now.
Is there anything left to see, aside of the buildings?
BTW, good to meet you-sort of- at the last Chowder.

From Updated: Walter McCarthy Collection: Then & Now- The Long Island Automotive Museum

For some reason, I’m glad that even though the Southampton Automotive Museum no longer operates, and the nearby Bridgehampton Race Circuit no longer hosts races, that both are still there to remind us of wonderful automotive facilities of the past.

From Updated: Walter McCarthy Collection: Then & Now- The Long Island Automotive Museum

Congratulations!  It was a glorious weekend, I was exhibiting my art up on the midway for four days.

Best wishes,
Chris Osborne

From Hemmings Motor News: A Walk in the Park- The 2015 Lime Rock Concours d'Elegance

Vehicle 2 Old #16 at Westbury 1952 with Robertson, Peter Helck, and Peter Helck Jr.

From Mystery Fotos #50 Solved: Old 16 and The Beast in Bridgehampton (1951-1952)

Who owns the property now? Could some investors rebuild the museum and have a rotating collection of cars and history with special events and car shows there.

From Updated: Walter McCarthy Collection: Then & Now- The Long Island Automotive Museum

After attending the presentation in Bethpage November 2014, I took my own tour of the museum grounds in April of this year. Brought back fond memories of going out there with my dad so many years ago. Eric’s photos reinforce the images in my mind from that visit.

From Updated: Walter McCarthy Collection: Then & Now- The Long Island Automotive Museum

So sad !

From Updated: Walter McCarthy Collection: Then & Now- The Long Island Automotive Museum

Thank you for the fascinating (if depressing) post.  Would that some comfortable L I antique auto aficionado with a bent for history could not in some manner resurrect this gem….  Hmmmm

From Updated: Walter McCarthy Collection: Then & Now- The Long Island Automotive Museum

Our family visited Long Island in the summer for two or three years around 1980.  We stopped at LIAM on one of those trips, and it turned out to be that the day we stopped in was one week before it closed.  I can remember my son’s and my disappointment that we could never get back there again.  Amazing that the building are still standing and a shame that they were not put to some other useful purpose.

From Updated: Walter McCarthy Collection: Then & Now- The Long Island Automotive Museum

Why don’t they put the place out of its misery and tear it down?

From Updated: Walter McCarthy Collection: Then & Now- The Long Island Automotive Museum

I don’t know vehicle #1, but I believe that vehicle #2 is Peter Helck’s Locomobile that won the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
Rog

From Mystery Fotos #50 Solved: Old 16 and The Beast in Bridgehampton (1951-1952)

Wow, those photos brought back some bittersweet memories of the place.  I didn’t realize that the buildings in back still existed.
Thanks for the memories.
Rog

From Updated: Walter McCarthy Collection: Then & Now- The Long Island Automotive Museum

#2 is the winning Locomobile “old number 16” , driver is Roberson 1908 winner.  The two passengers are none other than Peter Heclk and his son.

From Mystery Fotos #50 Solved: Old 16 and The Beast in Bridgehampton (1951-1952)

The first photo taken in 1961most is the Classic Car Club of America CARavan that was known as the Montauk Point Caravan. Note all of the cars in the parking area are pre WWII luxury cars. CCCA still has numerous CARavans in all parts of the USA each year.

From Updated: Walter McCarthy Collection: Then & Now- The Long Island Automotive Museum

Both of these photos were probably taken at Bridgehampton, NY on May 24, 1952. That was “race day” for the SCCA road race event. Vehicle #1 is “The Beast” (not to be confused with the “Black Beast”) and was owned by Charles “Chuck” Kotchan. It was formerly called the “Case Super Special Speedster” by a prior owner.  Kotchan used it as a tow-car for his racer, an EFFYH, which can be seen on a trailer behind “The Beast”. Vehicle #2 is the world famous “Old 16” Locomobile, winner of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup, with winning driver Joe Tracy behind the wheel. Next to him in the beret is Peter Helck, the car’s owner, with his son Jerry behind him.

From Mystery Fotos #50 Solved: Old 16 and The Beast in Bridgehampton (1951-1952)

Well,one of the thing I know,it’s 1951,by the license plate on on car 2,now if I could only make out what state the license plate is on car 1 and I think by the emblem on the hood,that it might be a Austin Martin. Car 2 couldn’t be old 16 could it?,that would be too easy.

From Mystery Fotos #50 Solved: Old 16 and The Beast in Bridgehampton (1951-1952)

I love your publication! Thank you!
Has there ever been any interest in restoring the old museum and it’s property? It would be so fitting to the memory of Austin as his was one of the very first museums dedicated to motor vehicles. I hate to see it just rotting away if it is still there.
Most Sincerely,
Rick A. Jorgensen
_____________________________________________________________________
From Howard Kroplick:

Rick, I believe the property is no longer zoned for a museum..

From Walter McCarthy Collection: The Opening Year of the Long Island Automotive Museum (1948)