Vanderbilt Cup Races

That is South Farmingdale looking north to Farmingdale and also Bethpage to the far left.  The prominent, wide roadway on the left is the Bethpage Parkway from the intersection of Merritt Road (the roadway running straight up in the center) extending to Hempstead Turnpike.

Bethpage State Park is seen in the distance, as can a bit of the Motor Parkway at Deadman’s Curve.

From Mystery Foto #79 Solved: Bethpage State Parkway Under Construction In 1935

This photo looks like a view of the Farmingdale / Bethpage area looking north. Bethpage Parkway is under construction in the lower left area. Merrit Road runs north-south in the center. The LIRR Main Line runs east-west through the center with the Central branch going off to the southeast and the Bethpage spur branching off to the northeast. The Hempstead Turnpike (Conklin Ave.) bridge over Bethpage Parkway appears to be completed at the left edge. I assume that’s Bethpage Golf Course at the top. While difficult to see, the LIMP is in the upper left area and this section was used in the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race.

From Mystery Foto #79 Solved: Bethpage State Parkway Under Construction In 1935

I remember coming across these abutments in the mid 80’s. The forman said they were the “remains of the old motor pkwy”. And from that my interest grew. Now I’m ready to tackle the latest mystery photo.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #49: The Botto Farmway Bridge in Old Bethpage

I saw Bethpage in one of the closeups, where deadmans curve goes north and across to bethpage park, this photo is a little tricky ... good one

From Mystery Foto #79 Solved: Bethpage State Parkway Under Construction In 1935

Hi Howard,This is Joseph DeBono. The Botto bridge abutments where the only thing standing in the mid 1960’s Keep up the good work

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #49: The Botto Farmway Bridge in Old Bethpage

You were right, I’m liking the aerial mystery foto this week!

The position is over South Farmingdale looking North. Bethpage (Central Park) in the upper left and Farmingdale on the right. Some of the roads pictured are; the Bethpage St. Pkwy under construction bottom left, Hempstead Tpke and it’s new bridge over the BSP, Fulton St., Merritts Rd vertically in the center. One of the nicest sections of the LIMP in Bethpage are in the upper left.
In the center of the photo is the convergence of the central and main railroad lines with the Bethpage State Park golf course just behind that.

I’ll assume the photo is relevant to the VCR due to the LIMP section seen between just about Central Ave to Plainview Rd was used during the 1908 races.

From Mystery Foto #79 Solved: Bethpage State Parkway Under Construction In 1935

Just let you all know that Americarna is on Velocity Channels tonight at 6-9pm, then again at 11-12

From Video of the Week: Velocity Channel's new Series "AmeriCarna"

In the 40s and early 50s my older sister and I along with our girl friends hiked, picked berries and played in that area. We thought we had discovered the tree covered road which was obviously no longer used. We believed it was the old Vanderbilt highway, parkway. For months we explored it in both directions never telling anyone for fear our parents would forbid us to go there. It seems rather remote at the time. Thanks for the photos. Brings back fun old memories.

From Motor Parkway Trails #2: Lake Success

Howard,
It would be cool to include here the video of the Black Beast roaring down the same stretch when you visited the students of the Great Neck school working on their project. Just a thought.
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From Howard Kroplick:

Frank, great idea! See above.

From Motor Parkway Trails #2: Lake Success

From a new perspective, an aerial of Plainedge/Farmingdale/Bethpage looking North. Bethpage State Parkway in the bottom left corner under new construction. The Bethpage Bikeway will travel alongside and merge with the Long Island Motor Pkwy just north of the Bethpage Golf Course on top. Route 24, Hempstead Tpke (Conklin St) is crossing the bridge on the left edge over the BSP. Merritts Rd in the center. LIRR approaching the Central Ave LIMP Bridge, which is off the aerial on the left edge. This place has changed much throughout the past 80 years. At street level, it would be unrecognizable today.

From Mystery Foto #79 Solved: Bethpage State Parkway Under Construction In 1935

Lower left corner shows construction of Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway.  The LIMP has not yet been disturbed at the 2nd Dead Man’s Curve, as the parkway enters the picture about 2/3 the way up the left side.  You can see the Nibbe and Powell’s Bridge, and Plainview Rd bridge is you look hard enough at the close up, and the LILCO power lines running concurrent with the LIMP. 
-joe

From Mystery Foto #79 Solved: Bethpage State Parkway Under Construction In 1935

I believe I found an actual picture of the drive thru in our family photos - how can I send it to you folks?
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From Howard Kroplick

Super! Please email to me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) . Thanks!

From Was the First Parkway Fast Food Restaurant Located in Central Park (Bethpage)?

Hi Howard,

I was wondering if these pictures are public domain?  I would like to use some pictures for my high school’s marching band field show, based on the 1914 Vanderbilt Cup, and Chaplin’s “Mabel at the Wheel”. 

Would your society be interested in helping sponsor our show?  It can’t hurt to ask, and it would give our program a lot more gravitas if it was being supported by your organization! 😊

Best,

Kevin McKeown
Director of Bands, Santa Monica High School
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From Howard Kroplick:

I will check the source of the photos and get back to you. There really is no society for the Vanderbilt Cup Races….but you don’t get anything unless you ask.

From Then & Now: The Santa Monica Course for the 1914 and 1916 Vanderbilt Cup Races

Hi Howard, I was amazed to see that the car goes in reverse. Did it go in reverse back in the early days?  And a question about the mechanician’s fuel pump, im curious .... is it still functional or is there a fuel pump now ?  Love the dual drive chains, early posi rear !!  Mike
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From Howard Kroplick:

Mike, yes I believe the Black Beast always had a reverse. No, the mechancian’s pump is no longer functional. There is a fuel pump.

From Video "Taking a Ride in the Black Beast"

Wonderful! I hope more people learn and appreciate the LIMP.

From Motor Parkway Trails #2: Lake Success

Thanks to Art for being on top of the construction work to monitor the process so as to preserve anything that might be uncovered. As for the posts I think they should be extracted and preserved since the new homeowners might find them to be ugly pieces of concrete without any regard for their historical value.

From Treasures Uncovered as Construction Begins at Levittown's Historic Grandstand Location

It’s Mario in the seat and PLN standing alongside the Holman & Moody Honker II CanAm car in 1967.  Mario drove the car in its aborted CanAm role. PLN sponsored it and served as team manager, later driving the car in the movie WINNING.

It sold at a Gooding and Company auction for $200,000.

From Mystery Foto #78 Solved: Paul Newman & Mario Andretti at the 1967 Can-Am Bridgehampton Race

Howard, I have the x Alex Joyce 1912 Alco and a1931 Chrysler town car of W.P. Chrysler and more iron at my lake home in Wolfeboro, NH   If your are ever in the area stop by.  Richie Clyne.

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From In Search of Alcos: #11 The 1912 Alco Convertible Touring Car Stored in a Rehoboth Barn

1967 Holman-Moody Honker II in Passino Purple (Racecar named in honor of auto developer John Holman-for honking the air horns on the team’s transport truck in the early days; Color named for Ford racing director Jacque Passino). The two gents in the photo are legendary racecar driver Mario Andretti and standing by is race team manager/sponsor/actor Paul Newman. They’re at the 1967 Can-Am series Chevron Grand Prix in Bridgehampton, NY (car finished 8th). The car appeared in Newman’s 1969 film ‘Winning’, where it crashed on the set during production. After a lengthy restoration, owner Tom Mittler auctioned it at Gooding & Co., Pebble Beach for $200k in Aug 2013 ($240k-$280k was expected).
Andretti was quoted as saying, “the worst he’d ever driven”. The car’s performance improved when the complete restoration later earned it the Historic Can-Am Celebration Cup at the Chicago Historic Races in 1997. Beautiful car. Howard, I’m sending some attachments.

From Mystery Foto #78 Solved: Paul Newman & Mario Andretti at the 1967 Can-Am Bridgehampton Race

I came across a splendid business card sized photo of the Vanderbilt Chrysler. If you left it for me, many thanks. If it’s an antique I’ll keep it safe until I can return it to you. Austie Clark once sent one like it for my EFFYH Formula 3 racecar when I bought it about 40 years ago. Austie had captioned, “All I could find - too little to invoice.”

From Mystery Foto #78 Solved: Paul Newman & Mario Andretti at the 1967 Can-Am Bridgehampton Race