Vanderbilt Cup Races

Congratulations on a very informative post about the April 14, 1900 automobile race and for the numerous quality photographs, news articles and links. I wrote an article about this: “To Babylon and Back: The April 14, 1900 Automobile Race on Long Island,” which appeared in the Spring 2004 Long Island Forum: 4-13. I was not aware of the fine article about the race, which appeared in the “Automobile Magazine Illustrated.” We used five photos in the article with the permission of the Hal B. Fullerton Collection at the Long Island Division of the Queens Public Library. I wrote a similar article, “‘Scorching” the Roads in Automobile Test Runs, 1901-1902” for Natalie A. Naylor and The Nassau County Historical Society Journal: Volume 58, 2003: 1-13. This concerned the 100-mile endurance road “tests,” which were run in Queens and Nassau Counties in April 1901 and April 1902.

From The First Automobile Race Held on Long Island (April 14, 1900) Updated: 7/3/15

I have a trivia question for you. How about the fastest speed record for the NASCAR cars? I thought they had speeds close to 200mph, before they put restrictor plates on them

From Only One Car Show Today and a New Car Trivia Series

What great forensic work is exactly right, you always get down to the bottom of things and get the best of it. What will you get next? You’ll never know until you see something that strikes your eyes or hear about something that really interests you and I know you’re always looking for something historical.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: How Vincent Gardner Saved the Mustang III from Being Destroyed

Location: Bethpage State Park

Relation to LIMP: LIMP is at the left of this map, running north. It then continues east thru BSP,  and north of the park.

Image date: Early 1960’s

This looks to be a map drawn up to represent the proposed BSPkwy Ext that would’ve continued north to the present Caumsett State Park. I printed this image full size to mark out existing roads. LIRR main line is not shown, would be south of Stymus Ave.

From Mystery Foto #27 Solved:Model of the Proposed Golf Courses of Bethpage State Park Golf (Circa 1933)

Overview (drawing) of the Bethpage State Park golf courses looking north.
Guessing on the date to be about 1960 because the Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway looks
to be running top to bottom on the left and five 18 hole courses are showing.
The remains of the LIMP appear near the rectangular polo field on upper left.

From Mystery Foto #27 Solved:Model of the Proposed Golf Courses of Bethpage State Park Golf (Circa 1933)

What great forensic work! Amazing story to accompany a unique car.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: How Vincent Gardner Saved the Mustang III from Being Destroyed

What happened? I didn’t think you were going to post this until Monday, I guess because I really had no answers to talk about did I? Happy Fourth again. I’m going into town to watch the fireworks in Historical Williamsburg, about 15 minutes from the apartment.

From Mystery Foto #27 Solved:Model of the Proposed Golf Courses of Bethpage State Park Golf (Circa 1933)

Looks like a map or scaled model layout of Bethpage Park (Central Park) and golf course in Bethpage, north up. Motor Pkwy is the vertical roadway furthest left, perpendicularly crossing Powell Ave. This map/layout is dated 1908-1950s with straightened, tree-lined Plainview Rd still visible north of the LIMP.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/long_island_motor_parkway_bridge_series_48_plainview_road_bridge_in_central

Ted: Best wishes to you and family at your new home in sunny Virginia. Many historical areas and structures survive and well maintained in Williamsburg.

From Mystery Foto #27 Solved:Model of the Proposed Golf Courses of Bethpage State Park Golf (Circa 1933)

Y’all laugh at this one, from the looks of the photo, it’s Long Island, where it starts and where it ends, I have no idea, it’s a pretty long stretch. I’ll probably laugh when I read the answers. Hope y’all had a safe and Happy Fourth,

From Mystery Foto #27 Solved:Model of the Proposed Golf Courses of Bethpage State Park Golf (Circa 1933)

In this site…..1899 and before the USA had 10 races.  Yet the Belmont Driving Park was not one of them.  So more was going on than the Times let on but as noted they may have had a different criteria for what was a race.  http://www.autoracingrecords.com/racelist.php?year=1895

From The First Automobile Race Held on Long Island (April 14, 1900) Updated: 7/3/15

Here’s a race in 1896 in RI…...I’m starting to guess there may have been more than 4 before the LI race…...perhaps only 4 road races?  The Times did not recognize stadium racing?  A debate for others.  http://amhistory.si.edu/onthemove/collection/object_363.html

From The First Automobile Race Held on Long Island (April 14, 1900) Updated: 7/3/15

The “first 50 mile automobile race” claim by the NY paper may be inaccurate.  The first ever automobile race in the US was run on a 54 mile course in 1895.  No doubt the LI race was faster than 7.3 miles per hour. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/duryea.htm

From The First Automobile Race Held on Long Island (April 14, 1900) Updated: 7/3/15

Bethpage State Park in Old Bethpage (formerly Bethpage), NY, circa 1938.  The L.I. Motor Parkway can be seen on the left side of the frame.

From Mystery Foto #27 Solved:Model of the Proposed Golf Courses of Bethpage State Park Golf (Circa 1933)

I’m away for the weekend and can only give this a quick view and guess…

This looks to be a map of the Bethpage golf course with the LIMP on the left side of the photo pre-1959 when rt 135 construction started, likely in the 30’s.

From Mystery Foto #27 Solved:Model of the Proposed Golf Courses of Bethpage State Park Golf (Circa 1933)

Bethpage State Park.  LIMP runs from lower left to upper left.

From Mystery Foto #27 Solved:Model of the Proposed Golf Courses of Bethpage State Park Golf (Circa 1933)

In addition to the link above pertaining to the Belmont Driving Park I also found this….the taxi which arrives regardless, it wouldn’t happen today.  http://www.yesterdaystopstory.com/cabbie-dies-way-station/

From The First Automobile Race Held on Long Island (April 14, 1900) Updated: 7/3/15

July 28, 1899 was one of the prior races in America in Narberth PA.  The track was built for horse racing outside Philadelphia PA for the nations Centennial celebration in 1876 and continued for many years…....but car racing waited a couple decades.  http://phillyhistoryphotos.com/tag/narberth/  I came across this link when researching a couple photos from the Belmont Driving Park in 1912.

From The First Automobile Race Held on Long Island (April 14, 1900) Updated: 7/3/15

A very much different car than all the other Vanderbilt Cars I would say,that’s in body style I mean,the shape and size,shorter and it served it’s purpose as well as could be.I have more time for myself now,finally,things are going much smoother now,almost back to normal

From The Renault Vanderbilt Racer in Germany

A little late, but had to take a quick look to see what’s going on. Wow, I don’t think you ever mentioned this race did you? and if you did I don’t remember, just learned something again from you, it’s unbelievable.

From The First Automobile Race Held on Long Island (April 14, 1900) Updated: 7/3/15

How can I get ahold of the Sanborn map for Mineola?  I live a few blocks north of the old Krug’s Hotel location and would love to see what the area looked like then.
Thanks!
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From Howard Kroplick

What streets are you looking for?
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From Howard Kroplick

Sanborn maps dating from 1908 and 1907 are typically available online from your local library

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: Nassau County Gildersleeve Inspecting the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course