Vanderbilt Cup Races

From Hazel M:

I know how hard it is to judge the beautiful and most unique antique automobiles ever seen. This event of cars was Sunday, June 7th at Old Westbury Gardens. I have to admit I fell in love with one car- a 1937 Chrysler owned by Howard Kroplick. The interior and exterior of this “One of a Kind” made me want to take it for a ride. Howard should be proud of his achievement. I am sure he has heard this millions of times.

From Highlights from the 50th Annual Spring Meet at Old Westbury Gardens

Andy Hotton whose shop built it did lots of specialty work for Ford. He built the 1957 Battle-birds and raced them in 1957. I saw them when I was in High School. Andy lived next door to Les Henry, Ford Museum boss.

Andy had a large collection of early Lincolns.  Many were used in new Lincoln sales lit in the 1970s. He build a few Lincoln stretch limos after Leman-Peterson went out of business for Ford factory use. It was fun riding around Dearborn in them.  Hugh

From Profile- 1963 Mustang III Concept Show Car: The Oldest Mustang on the Road Today

I have visited your grandfathers house when I was about 8 years old. I remember going to his barn and seeing all the vintage cars. I often think about opening those doors and being so amazed at what I saw. What a collection! Tim , I have communicated with you before,
Wonder if you remember me? My dad was a commercial artist also in Rochester,N Y. (Same name as mine) I was wondering, what kind of value his paintings are now? It would be great to hear from you.  BE WELL, Ric

From A Tribute to Peter Helck (1893-1988), the Great American Artist

It could be Joe Tracy by the right front wheel.

From Mystery Artwork #23 Solved: #1 Thomas and #4 Thomas Prior to the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race at Krug's

Much detailed action in this painting, loved the purple hues. It could be evening. Is that Peter Helck’s signature? Child holding the pennant indicates a Vanderbilt race but can’t make out the year. Unable to locate the #1 and #4 team in a Vanderbilt Cup Race. Painting may be a stressful, time-constrained moment in one of the Elimination races.

From Mystery Artwork #23 Solved: #1 Thomas and #4 Thomas Prior to the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race at Krug's

On this artistic picture Peter Helck gives us a look in the Thomas headquarters, probably during the night before the Vanderbilt Cup race. An agitated Hubert Le Blon is sitting in the drivers seat of the no.1 Thomas, and his team mate Caillois (with chauffeurs’ cap) apparently trying to calm him down? Caillois’ Thomas is the car on the right, still carrying the no.4 of the Eliminations in which he failed to qualify. Le Blon, who ended 2nd in the Eliminations, would end up on 8th place in the actual race.
On the flag one of the boys is holding the text seems to be 1906 Vanderbilt. Could Peter Helck have pictured himself, when he was there as a 13-year old boy to watch his first automobile race?

From Mystery Artwork #23 Solved: #1 Thomas and #4 Thomas Prior to the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race at Krug's

  Who was the artist of this painting?  Peter Helck

  What year was depicted in the scene? Where is it indicated in the painting? By the looks of the pennant held by the boy in the lower left hand corner, looks to be 1906.

  Identify the two racers and the one driver.  #1 - Thomas (Driver - Hubert Le Bron), #4 - Fiat. 

From Mystery Artwork #23 Solved: #1 Thomas and #4 Thomas Prior to the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race at Krug's

Well, I’m not real certain about this but I’ll take a couple of wild guesses anyway. The artist could be Peter Helck and the year might be 1906, which is what I think is on the banner or pennant the young boy is holding. If it is 1906, then the two racers could be the Thomas (#1) and the Fiat (#4). The driver in the #1 car could be Hubert LeBlon.

From Mystery Artwork #23 Solved: #1 Thomas and #4 Thomas Prior to the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race at Krug's

Artist is Peter Helck. 1906 Vanderbilt Cup noted on the boy’s penant. The racers are the Thomas cars and the driver is Hubert Le Blon.

From Mystery Artwork #23 Solved: #1 Thomas and #4 Thomas Prior to the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race at Krug's

Hi Howard, I saw this beauty at the car show held at NEWSDAY recently. Everyone was looking at this beauty. A great job of restoration and undoubtedly a small fortune to accomplish it….......

From Video: News12 Long Island- Long Island's Hidden Past- Chrysler's Chrysler

Howard, 
When we first saw the painting my wife’s immediate response was “It’s Howard’s Garage!”, but then we realized it wasn’t anywhere as neat & clean as yours!
That said -
Artist - Peter Helck
Date - 1906 - the boy on the left side is holding a Vanderbilt Cup pennant which seems to be dated 1906 (a little blurry on screen)
Cars & driver - if it is 1906 then #1 is the Thomas, driven by Hubert Le Blon, who is standing behind it, wearing a cap & waving his hand; # 4 is the Fiat driven by Vincenzo Lancia; the gentleman in the back with the cap might be Le Blon’s mechanician Marius Amiel

From Mystery Artwork #23 Solved: #1 Thomas and #4 Thomas Prior to the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race at Krug's

Who was the artist of this painting?
Doesn’t really seem like his ‘style’ so I’m probably wrong, but I’ll go with the obvious guess here and say Peter Helck.

What year was depicted in the scene? Where is it indicated in the painting?
1906. Indicated on the pennant the boy is holding in the lower left corner of the painting.

Identify the two racers and the one driver.
The #1 Thomas driven by Hubert Le Blon and #4 Thomas from the 1906 American Elimination Trial

From Mystery Artwork #23 Solved: #1 Thomas and #4 Thomas Prior to the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race at Krug's

This is another Peter Helck painting I have not seen before.
It depicts a garage scene at Krug’s Hotel in Mineola that was used as the headquarters of the Thomas team during the 1906 race.
On the right is the #4 driven by Frenchman Gustave Caillois during the American Elimination Trial that ultimately failed to finish. On the left is the #1 Thomas with driver Hubert Le Blon behind the steering wheel and what looks like Marius Amiel, the Frenchman’s mechanician, fiddling with the powerplant.

From Mystery Artwork #23 Solved: #1 Thomas and #4 Thomas Prior to the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race at Krug's

Congrats Howard and anyone else who was involved. Great work. This truly is a landmark. The Bethpage Bridge should be next!

Important Question: is the town now obligated/required to maintain the bridge in any way?

Structurally it’s in very good shape considering it’s age and it’s wonderful that it’s off the beaten path and nobody really disturbs it but….

There is a ton of graffiti in there currently and I know it’s a hangout spot for teenagers to drink and do whatever else they do!

It really is wet down there. Almost wetland status! The apartments and some houses there have gutters that empty right into the road there. I’m told there has been water issues there for years, apparently LILCO did something with a well? The man who lives next to the bridge was telling me about it.

And is there a way to draw some good attention to it? It really is not in a spot that anyone would know about or go to. Is there any intent to put any sort of signage perhaps on the Northern State? New Hyde Park Rd? To direct someone to the landmark? Similar to what we see on parkway exits now?

From Town of North Hempstead Designates the Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge as a Town Landmark

Another step in the right direction, now for the cleanup. Can the path be used for bikes and hiking afterwards ?

From Town of North Hempstead Designates the Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge as a Town Landmark

That is great news Howard about The Old Courthouse Road Bridge that the North Hempstead Town Board declared it an historic Land Mark.

From Town of North Hempstead Designates the Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge as a Town Landmark

What became of the bridge ? As a boy living in North Babylon in the late forties & early fifties I rode my bike up Deer Park Ave past this spot many times. I remember a old wooden toll gate on the east side of Deer Park Ave. in the woods at about this location.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: The Motor Parkway at Deer Park Avenue, Dix Hills in 1928

  What is the most significant feature in this previously never before published photo?  How about the placement of the gas tank lid?  Or it being a two seater, shortened base, 3 carboretor, fiber glass creation. 
  What other significant automobiles were created by Dearborn Steel Tubing?
Thunderbolt, Ford Falcon 427 A/Fx dragster, F-100 XL Pickp-ups and a 1962 Town Car limo for the white house (for JFK?). 
  Who is seen working on the Mustang? Provide some details of his career.
Vincent E. Gardner - if so then here are some highlights -started in the auto industry with the Auburn Auto Company, worked for Studebaker, worked for the Dearborn Steel Tubing company in the 60s where he designed the Mustang III, claimed it had been stolen when he actually hid it away after Ford decided to end it. 

From Mystery Foto #22 Revealed: Designer Vincent Gardner Working on the Mustang III at DST in July 1964

From Doug:

There are 2 cars, the first is probably a 1908, the second is probably a 1913 model 31 touring. If he has any more images, that would be great.
The phaeton front fenders are flat on their way back and visual intersect below the front of drivers door. (link below). My interest is due the fact that my father is restoring a ’13 model 31 Phaeton right now.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2513&dat=19130429&id=qIZhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MxQLAAAAIBAJ&pg=4804,1983072&hl=en

Keep up the great website.

From Can You Help Find This 1908 Pope-Hartford Touring Car?

This is GREAT news, many thanks to Art for documenting the new markers.

From Three Historic Markers Placed on the Pilot Section of the Motor Parkway Trail in East Meadow