About
The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
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Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
In the photo of the couple with the model T depot wagon (8th photo down) is Albert Cantrell not Joseph. Compare the features to the photo of the two brothers taken in 1950, Albert is on the right. Same man in both photographs.
Really neat to see the photographs and images Walter McCarthy supplied, thanks!
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From Howard Kroplick
Good catch! Thanks.
From Long Island Auto Manufacturers & Body Builders #2: J.T. Cantrell & Company of Huntington Part I
When J.T. Canterll first learned the wood working trade he came to work on L.I. by boat from Upstate NY. He sailed and paddled it himself. By 1958 there was not much call for wooden bodies. They experimented with fiberglass van bodies. One of last Cantrell family members was a lawyer. He did most of the office work to close the company and went on to be a lawyer at Chrysler in Detroit.
From Long Island Auto Manufacturers & Body Builders #2: J.T. Cantrell & Company of Huntington Part I
Been there; done that -long since!
http://sbiii.com/chryslr5.html#powerwgn and
http://sbiii.com/longis-3.html#liautomf
Sam, III
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From Howard Kroplick I
Sam, thanks for the links!
From Long Island Auto Manufacturers & Body Builders #2: J.T. Cantrell & Company of Huntington Part I
Was the Wheatley Hills Sweepstakes associated with the Golf Club? The Motor pkwy does run right through it.
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From Howard Kroplick
Brian, the 1909 sweepstakes was not associated with the golf club which was founded in 1913. Wheatley Hills referred to an area of Long Island located near Old Westbury.
From The 1909 Wheatley Hills Sweepstakes Won by Ray Harroun in a Marmon
Thanks to Eric. His photos exhibit just how well these abutments stood the test of time. Being utilized in their current manner, the employees must check the integrity of the abutments from time to time.
From For the First Time in 34 Years: Photos of the Clody Farmway Bridge in the Melville Sand Pits
This photo was taken during the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race and shows the number 16 Packard “Gray Wolf” heading north on Springfield Road (now Springfield Blvd.) in Queens Village. The driver was Charles Schmidt (who also designed the car) and the mechanician was William McIldrid. They are crossing the LIRR mainline and are about to turn right on Jamaica Avenue (Jericho Tpke.) heading east into Nassau County. This section of the course was the only time any Vanderbilt Cup Race was ever designed to run in any part of New York City.
From Mystery Foto #8 Solved: The Packard Gray Wolf Approaching the LIRR Crossing in Queens
1904 race
Springfield Boulevard, Queens at the railroad crossing
Driver : Charles Schmidt
Mechanician: William McIllrid
Location was one of four sharp turns on course.
From Mystery Foto #8 Solved: The Packard Gray Wolf Approaching the LIRR Crossing in Queens
-Identify the year of the Vanderbilt Cup Race in this photo
1904
-Identify the racer, its driver and the mechanician.
The instantly recognizable #16 Packard Gray Wolf driven by its designer Charles Schmidt, and his mechanician, William McIllrid.
-Identify the location. What was unique about this section of the course?
Railroad crossing at Springfield Avenue in Queens. the only VCR that took place in Queens. -Thanks for the assist from my wife Dee who broke the mystery photo open for me! She recognized the 1904 NYPD uniforms.
Looking forward to hearing the history from everyone on John O’ Connor and his tavern/hotel, and the ‘then and nows’!
I also later found the mystery photo on an older video starting at 6:09…
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/sunday_december_6_2009_film_the_1904_vanderbilt_cup_race_course
From Mystery Foto #8 Solved: The Packard Gray Wolf Approaching the LIRR Crossing in Queens
Identify the year of the Vanderbilt Cup Race in this photo:
• 1904; however, this may be a pre-race practice run since the driver and mechanician are not wearing the helmets and goggles visible in other race photos)
Identify the racer, its driver and the mechanician:
• #16 Packard, the “Gray Wolf,” driven by Charles Schmidt with mechanician William McIllrid.
Identify the location. What was unique about this section of the course?
• The LIRR railroad crossing at Springfield Boulevard, Queens, NY.
• This section may be unique for other reasons but it is the only section of the course outside Nassau County.
From Mystery Foto #8 Solved: The Packard Gray Wolf Approaching the LIRR Crossing in Queens
Fantastic! It’s been a looong time. These bridges sneer at the test of time and continue standing. I wouldn’t have been able to hold the camera steady at this engagement. A SHOUT OUT to Eric!!
From For the First Time in 34 Years: Photos of the Clody Farmway Bridge in the Melville Sand Pits
Too tough for me this week, I can’t get the close-ups to enlarge. But here goes:
Identify the location
Old Westbury - Albertson - Roslyn
What year was this section part of the Vanderbilt Cup Race course?
1906 - The race went under a railroad intersection as indicated on the accompanying map to be sent Howard.
What year was the photo taken? Provide your rationale.
Mid-late teens.
From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park Looking Towards the LIRR Bridge
Eastbound Jericho Tpke. in Mineola just before present day LIRR crossing and Roslyn Rd.
From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park Looking Towards the LIRR Bridge
I haven’t had the time to do enough research for the last few mystery photos, so I’m going to have to go with one of my knee jerk guesses again…None of which have been working out too well for me lately!
Identify the location-
Looks like the railroad bridge over Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park. I remembered an old blog entry from a while back of the location.
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/friday_october_29_2010_then_and_now_the_1904_vanderbilt_cup_race_course_in_
What year was this section part of the Vanderbilt Cup Race course?
1904
What year was the photo taken? Provide your rationale.-
Judging by the visible car and the fact that 3 color traffic signals were invented in the early 20’s, I’ll guess this was in the mid/late 20’s.
From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park Looking Towards the LIRR Bridge
After Dario Resta retired from racing (photo # 9) he became the New York (Manhattan) dealer for the English Sunbeam cars. Many expensive European cars were imported into the USA via the port of New York, and minus any coachwork. They had bodies designed and built here as the lack of a body on an imported car saved a lot on import fees.
From From the Gary Faules Collection: Drivers and Race Cars from the 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Races
Howard
That was a great visit we had last Saturday, wonderful company , and in the third photo it shows you standing between two Lincoln V12 owners. So were you trying to convince them to switch to a classic Chrysler Imperial or were they trying to convince you to change to a KB Lincoln?
From Chrysler's Chrysler Heading South in March to CCCA Meeting and Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
I drove the 1904 course this AM 30 miles = 1hour 45 mins.
From Car Coming Part II: A Celebration of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course
Good photo, Frank. Facing east at Jericho Tpke and Central RR trestle, with Tulip Ave heading southeast. This location was part of the 1904 VCR route. I personally can’t identify the exact year this photo was taken. My guess is 1930. With further research, I came across this exact photo on Arrts Arrchives; dated 1928. Hav’nt checked Arrts site lately, the old photos are excellant.
From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park Looking Towards the LIRR Bridge
This photo shows Jericho Turnpike looking east in Floral Park with Tulip Avenue branching off to the right and the southern end of Little Neck Parkway at the left. This section of Jericho Tpke. was used in the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The bridge is for the Creedmoor spur of the LIRR, formerly part of A. T. Stewart’s Central Railroad. The building to the right of the bridge appears to be a Whippet car dealership and they were only produced from 1926 to 1931. The dirt area on the left side of Jericho Tpke. was where the trolley tracks were. Since the trolley service ended operations in 1926, I’m thinking this photo was probably taken around that year or maybe 1927.
From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park Looking Towards the LIRR Bridge
Floral Park, late 30s, Tulip Avenue looking southeast on left; Carnation Avenue on right.
From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park Looking Towards the LIRR Bridge
This is Jericho Turnpike just west of Little Neck Parkway facing east (Tulip Avenue forks off to the right). That is the original Central Railroad/LIRR Creedmoor Spur bridge. My guess on the year would be 1908.
From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park Looking Towards the LIRR Bridge
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