Vanderbilt Cup Races

Here I am again!  Your off to an early start this year aren’t you? That Chrysler certainly is drawing a lot of attention to famous places. Will you have enough time for the Black Best?,it’s old hat now. That Chrysler has to be shown off now,It’s something new. How do you like all this snow? I’m tired just thinking about it. Well they predicted it’s going to be a bad winter.

From Chrysler's Chrysler Heading South in March to CCCA Meeting and Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance

it’s been awhile has’nt it? The mystery photos look very familiar to me this week,but I’m not sure if they were part of the Vanderbilt Cup Race Course. I might have two areas in mind,not sure.

From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park Looking Towards the LIRR Bridge

Jericho tpke facing east tulip ave on the right creedmore spur railroad tresle in background,little neck parkway on the left.  The year of the race in this area 1906

From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park Looking Towards the LIRR Bridge

In addition, I neglected to mention that this is also the intersection of Jericho Turnpike and the Little Neck Parkway, marking the southern terminus of the Little Neck Parkway.

From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park Looking Towards the LIRR Bridge

Jericho Tpke, Floral Park, Looking East.
1904 Race Course.
Photo Guess, 1930’s.  Obviously after the use of traffic lights.
-joe o.

From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park Looking Towards the LIRR Bridge

Identify the location.
• Jericho Turnpike and Tulip Avenue, Floral Park (formerly East Hinsdale), NY; at the Long Island Railroad (formerly Central Railroad of Long Island) bridge crossing Jericho Turnpike, facing East.

What year was this section part of the Vanderbilt Cup Race course?
• 1904

What year was the photo taken? Provide your rationale.
• During the winter of 1929/30, perhaps December of 1929 or January of 1930. 
• The sedan in front of the B&G Auto Services building (with “For Sale” painted across the windshield) is a 1927 or ‘28 Whippet 96, 5-passenger sedan with 1929 (yellow) NY License Plates. The posters on the showroom windows say “1930 License Plates” on the first two lines, the fender and side-mount spare of a 1929 or ‘30 Willys-Knight can be seen in the showroom window and the bare trees confirm that it’s winter; establishing that the photo was taken in late 1929 or early 1930.

From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park Looking Towards the LIRR Bridge

This is Jericho turnpike facing east in Floral Park, NY. Tulip Avenue is coming in on the right side and that building was a Willys Knight dealership.(my grandfather bought his Stearns Knight coupe in this dealership) the road to the left is Little Neck Parkway and the building on that corner was built but never occupied so was torn down a few years later. the railroad bridge is what was known as the Creedmoor Spur, and was originally part of Stewart’s Central rail road. Nassau County on the right (south) side of the road, Queens County on the left (north) side of the road. The only Vanderbilt Cup race to use this part was in 1904. Date of the photo would be about 1926 or 1927 as there are no trolley tracks - the tracks were removed in 1925.

From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park Looking Towards the LIRR Bridge

Jericho Tpke. looking east Tulip ave to the right Little Neck Pkwy to the left. Central RR bridge.

From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park Looking Towards the LIRR Bridge

Well, the location is Jericho Turnpike looking east st cross street Tulip ave, on the right and Little Neck Pkwy on the left. The LIRR trestle over Jericho Tpke is the Creedmoor spur. I’m not sure of the year, but about 1928, or so seems right.

From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park Looking Towards the LIRR Bridge

I have a can like yours its green not sure original color but it is oval in shape its five gallon in great shape it has a metal stick in it i am a ex mechanic. it looks like and smells like it has wheel bearing greese or dope in it .wonder what its worth I am a race car fan of all types,it would be cool to know if it was used in the 1900s in a race I will try to send pics nota good texter
__________________________________

Hi Lisa:

Please send the jpegs to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .

From Mystery Foto #86 Solved: Antique Five Gallon Can Manufactured by George D. Ellis & Sons, Inc.

I like the then and now pictures the best.  That way you can really examine the differences.  I also like the way the photographer carefully takes the now picture to match it as good as possible.  Keep them coming!

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved:The Western Terminus of the Motor Parkway at Rocky Hill Road Circa 1917-1924

From Mark Dill:

One of the most amazing settings ever, ever in history for an auto race. San Francisco, 1915. Dario Resta’s brilliant drive in the rain soaked American Grand Prize remains one of the impressive in all auto racing history. It must have been magic. More brilliant work from the world’s leading historian on the Vanderbilt Cup, Howard Kroplick. Just flat out amazing.

From The Most Exotic Vanderbilt Race Course: The 1915 Race at the Panama Pacific International Exposition

Hi Howard,  Several responders to the mystery photo this week state the $1.00 toll fee went into effect in 1917. Actually there was a dollar fee in effect for the first time on May 27, 1910. Vanderbilt had written Kienzle on May 10, to reduce the fee to one dollar by over stamping the $2.00 printed fee on the toll receipts. Several examples of over stamped toll tickets exist. Starting in 1911 there were several variations of toll fees . These were determined by how far you went, if it was one way or round trip, even an over night fee. The Parkway even had a reduced fee if you traveled between 6 am and 6 pm in 1911. There was a special fee of 50 cents in May of 1912 between the Hillside Lodge on Rocky Hill Road and the Meadow Brook Lodge for motorists attending the International Polo matches held at the Meadow Brook Club that year. On August 11,  1915 Vanderbilt wrote Kienzle to eliminate all variations of the daily fee rates and sell only $1.00 tickets effective September 1, 1915 By the way, the fee for motorcycles was fifty cents.

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved:The Western Terminus of the Motor Parkway at Rocky Hill Road Circa 1917-1924

1958 Oldsmobile models have a similar front to the 1955 Ford Mystere.

From Concept Cars That Never Made It Part II

Howard - Interesting one this week. See Kleiner’s Korner for more. 
Walt - thanks for the info. on Vincent Seyfreid - my kind of guy!!!

Where was this photo taken?
Would have to guess near the western termimus of the Motor Parkway in Fresh Meadows.  Intersection might be with Nassau Blvd./North Hempstead Turnpike (Horace Harding).

When was this photo taken? Provide a rationale for your suggested period of time.
$1 toll was in effect from 1917-1933; Quinlan, Terry & Johnson was very active in Flushing real estate in the 20s and 30s, (see following answer) so I’m guessing the photo was taken in the mid-late 20s. 

Provide background on Quinlan-Terry & Johnson.
Quinlan, Terry & Johnson, Inc. was very active in real estate transactions in Queens, particularly Flushing during the early to mid 20th century.  Firm was founded in 1876.  Ira L. Terry and Walter M. Johnson were two officers of the firm in 1926 (Terry was President and Johnson Secretary and Treasurer).  Terry was the official real estate appraiser for NYC for 14 years.  Johnson previously was with the Bank of the Manhattan Company.  Firm had two offices - 89 Main Street in Flushing
(1927 telephone # Flushing 6000) and 250 Jackson Avenue in Long Island City/Astoria (1927 telephone # Stillwell 6489). 

Why was a sign with #170 on the road?
Would guess that since there were numerous potholes the 170 might have indicated a marking for road crews for repair purposes. 

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved:The Western Terminus of the Motor Parkway at Rocky Hill Road Circa 1917-1924

This location could be the “Birthplace of Gridlock”, Motor Parkway’s western terminus (1917-1924) at Rocky Hill Road and the LIMP, looking north on RHR. The expensive parkway tolls being collected however, scared motorists away from here instead. The slight right bend just up ahead next to the house is still visible today on Springfield Blvd. The toll reduction to $1.00 began in 1917. The Springfield Blvd/Motor Pkwy bridge that now resides here was built in 1924. Quinlan and Francis Terry/Walter Johnson is an internationally recognized English architect/realtor that had offices in Flushing at the time. http://www.qftarchitects.com/. Quinlan was the General Appraiser for the city in real property in Queens. Rocky Hill Road/48th Ave snake right into the heart of Flushing. What better location to post your advertisment! I believe that’s a highway official parked on the right that photographed our mystery this week, responsible with the daunting task of documenting future road maintenance yet to be performed in Queens. Hopefully not too far in the future. 
Hoping this photo came with captioning to confirm its location. That would be neat.
Howard, I’m sending over some pics.

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved:The Western Terminus of the Motor Parkway at Rocky Hill Road Circa 1917-1924

Springfield Boulevard northbound at LIMP.
1917 when toll was reduce to a dollar.
Quinlan Terry and Johnson was the name of the realty company which was the largest in Queens at that time.
# 170 was a surveyor’s marking.  The vehicle to the side of the road might be the surveyor’s.

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved:The Western Terminus of the Motor Parkway at Rocky Hill Road Circa 1917-1924

Where was this photo taken?
My complete guess would be possibly on North Hempstead Tpke (or another local road) in Fresh Meadows, Queens.

When was this photo taken? Provide a rationale for your suggested period of time.
Likely the late 1920’s.
In 1917-1933 the LIMP toll was $1, but this was probably after 1924 when the LIMP was extended to the Fresh Meadows Western Terminus located off Nassau Boulevard.

Provide background on Quinlan-Terry & Johnson.
Unsure, other than what the billboard obviously describes as a realtor in nearby Flushing, Queens.

Why was a sign with #170 on the road?
No clue. Maybe this was a photo to denote location/identity for the city to repair potholes?

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved:The Western Terminus of the Motor Parkway at Rocky Hill Road Circa 1917-1924

I’m going to take a few wild guesses since I’m running out of research time due to my grandson’s 8th. birthday and the associated chaos. Location: Nassau Blvd. (later Horace Harding Blvd.) looking east at the recently opened western entrance to the L.I.M.P. sometime around late 1926. The reason for the “170” sign could be to indicate a specific location requiring extensive repairs in anticipation of the NYS route numbering system starting within the next year or two. Quinlan, Terry & Johnson was probably the largest real estate agency in the area at the time and were responsible for helping to develop large portions of northern and western Queens County.

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved:The Western Terminus of the Motor Parkway at Rocky Hill Road Circa 1917-1924

Another GREAT weekly piece of email; Tanks again Howard for all your time, effort and pasion you have for “The Vanderbilt Cup Races” legacy.

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: Jim Rathmann and Carroll Shelby at the 1960 Vanderbilt Cup Race