Vanderbilt Cup Races

A picture of the start of a beautiful relationship at the Bridge!

-Identify the race car, its nickname, the race and year in which it competed as seen in this photo.

The 1967 Holman Moody Honker II race car at Bridgehampton race track on September 17, 1967. For that race, the car started 23rd and finished 8th. It’s best showing!

-Identify the two men and their role with the race car.

Paul Newman sponsored the car that started his interest in racing. Mario Andretti was his driver.

-In what film did this race appear as a stunt car?

‘Winning’ 1969
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065215/?ref_=nv_sr_4

-This race car was sold in 2013. Identify the auction and its purchase price.

Gooding & Company -$200,000

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

As I didn’t know about the Frontenac agency, I researched this possiblity. There were two cars named Frontenac, the first produced from about 1906 to 1913 in Newburgh, NY, the other during the early ‘20s in Indianapolis. The last one is the Louis Chevrolet related Frontenac. For the photo only the early Frontenac is of interest of course. These Frontenacs were rather large 4 cylinder cars, all models having the same wheelbase as the Stevens-Duryea model X and were produced in low numbers. They had a relatively long and high hood however, with louvres over the full length, quite unlike the cars on the picture. Over the years they didn’t change significantly in appearance. Therefore it is my conclusion that neither of the cars can be a Frontenac and I maintain my above mentioned id’s.

From Mystery Foto #77 Solved: The Motor Parkway Garage in Floral Park

Didn’t have a chance to get to this one. I would have been wrong anyway. I wasn’t thinking Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park and too many guesses for the cars

From Mystery Foto #77 Solved: The Motor Parkway Garage in Floral Park

In regards to the poll on favorite museum, I think many of us chose AAP because so many of their aircraft still fly!

From More Insight into the Bird Cars, the Farnesworth Garage and the 1962 "Car Auction of the Century"

Amazing work!  LIke everyone else, can’t wait to see the car complete!

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle XII: Countdown to Pebble Beach-One Month

Howard I was so impressed to see the making of the rebirth of this remarkable automobile. So much has gone into, and still more to go before the first showing.
I’m hoping to see you again at the Great Neck Autofest in September. I’ll be showing once again my burgundy 1966 Pontiac GTO. Lets hope for a perfect day!!

    John Hotetz

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle XII: Countdown to Pebble Beach-One Month

Second thought - if you look at the bottom (S end) of the loop ramp from Stewart Ave. E/B onto Meadowbrook Pwy. N/B, a RoW still shows!  Is that LIMP or Central RR of LI?  If CRR, I cover the old bridge in there on a yet-unrestored CRR page.  If LIMP, same question - have you been in there and is it covered somewhere?  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #76 Solved: An Aerial of Meadowbrook Hospital and East Meadow Circa 1951/1952

Did we ever explore the segment between Carman and the Wantagh?  The RoW is so clear on the Google and Bing satellite views but I don’t recall it at all.  If you covered it on your blog, where please?  If not, somebody please get in there with a camera.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #76 Solved: An Aerial of Meadowbrook Hospital and East Meadow Circa 1951/1952

Other than your hints and the size of the place, I haven’t a clue, but I’d bet it was a Hicks family garage on Hicksville Road in Hicksville.  Today’s heavily modified 86 No. Broadway?  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #77 Solved: The Motor Parkway Garage in Floral Park

What fun!  I’m in that top photo and the one with the first of Walt’s comments; too grainy to be sure which of several possibilities.  “Mercedes 540K roadster had real alligator skin upholstery”.  That may well be but there was no M-B 540K there, garage or visiting; the car with a missing rad. cap and add-on rad. shutters is a 1927-1931 S (short w/b) or SSK.  If the 1930 date (very likely) is true, it’s almost certainly an SSK, but it’s a convertible coupé (NOT a roadster - ditto the LaGrande Duesey).  Sam, III

From More Insight into the Bird Cars, the Farnesworth Garage and the 1962 "Car Auction of the Century"

“The left side of the engine shows a clear view of the long thin metal box on top of the cylinder head that houses the spark plug wires and was a feature on Chrysler 8 cylinder cars since at least 1933.”  To be most specific, the big Imperial straight 8 started with the 1931 CG Imperial 8 and that already had the “box”, as shown clearly on <http://sbiii.com/chryslr4.html> at <http://sbiii.com/autopix/31cgsag3.jpg> and on my own former CG on <http://sbiii.com/chryslr8.html> at <http://sbiii.com/imprlpix/31cgcc04.jpg>.  Sam, III

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle XII: Countdown to Pebble Beach-One Month

2.86 mi East from the Rocky Hill Lodge, the garage is located on Jericho Tpke between N/S Tyson, Van Siclen, Belmont Ave’s in Floral Park (See attached). Amazing revelation! My first search was to check near the 1904 Start/Finish line near Jericho (3 mi East from the Mineola Lodge). For the owner, I’m going with Belmont. The cars, I’ll leave it for the experts. This would’ve been nearly impossible without the hints. A real challenge but lots of fun! Thanks guys.

From Mystery Foto #77 Solved: The Motor Parkway Garage in Floral Park

Thanks for a great article Howard!  Being a painter of iconic guitarists with cars, I loved reading this!  Best wishes, Chris Osborne

From TheMusicZoo.com: Cars & Guitars: Beauty And The Beast

This car continues to amaze me in its beauty!

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle XII: Countdown to Pebble Beach-One Month

I’m stumped on this one, but while poking around on Google Streetview around where I’d thought it might be, I noticed similar architectural features on the building at 160 Jericho Tpke in Floral Park. There also happens to be notable family street names within a block or two, ie; Belmont, Whitney, Vanderbilt.
Too many guesses to list on the cars.

From Mystery Foto #77 Solved: The Motor Parkway Garage in Floral Park

Phil, the make of the tires is Lester Tire Co. , this is not the usual tread pattern you are used to seeing for their tires, I didn’t even know they had this available. Supplier was I believe Lucas Tire in Ca. the owner of the company Stan Lucas is a good guy and has some great pre war cars.
Phil Alderman - yes I do appreciate the humor, but you have to realize on the tv car restoration shows they can get a lot of work accomplished during the breaks for commercials !

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle XII: Countdown to Pebble Beach-One Month

Howard, see the documentation I’m sending you via e-mail concerning the following.
What was the location of the Motor Parkway Garage?
Location is in Floral Park, at the intersection of Jericho Turnpike and Tyson Avenue.  Building today 160 Jericho Turnpike.  Map to be sent Howard indicates the garage next to a building owned by a Krug - any relation to the Krug’s Hotel? 

Who was the owner of the Motor Parkway Garage?
Documentation indicates the owner of the garage was Anton T. Smith, who ran the garage as an agency for Fontenac Pleasure Cars.  But I can’t find any streets nearby named for Smith.  There’s a Belmont, Vanderbilt, Whitney along with Van Siclen and Van Buren, but can’t find any connection of these to the garage.

Identify the two cars in front of the garage.
Since it was an agency for Frontenac and the pic is an ad, I’m assuming the cars are Frontenacs.

From Mystery Foto #77 Solved: The Motor Parkway Garage in Floral Park

Seventeen months! The restoration shops on television do a complete restoration on a car in anywhere from three to seven days. (The people who know me will appreciate the humor.)

Totally enjoying the process - the car is spectacular. Thank you, Howard.

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle XII: Countdown to Pebble Beach-One Month

Awesome story. This was the Bugatti I remember from childhood at the LI Museum. Gold Coast of LI was an incredible place to wander in the 60s. Anyone remember Ferguson’s Castle in Huntington Bay?

http://www.gothichorrorstories.com/true-ghost-stories/huntington-bay-ny-the-rise-and-fall-of-fergusons-castle/

From More Insight into the Bird Cars, the Farnesworth Garage and the 1962 "Car Auction of the Century"

From Robert:

Absolutely breath-taking, Howard.

Aside from Pebble Beach, when will we be able to see it?

Maybe over Labor Day at LRP?  I’m sure that along with the Lauren cars that will be there, Murray Smith would give it a special place of honor.

What an amazing story!

ROBERT

PS:  Auction of the Century is beyond belief, too.

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle XII: Countdown to Pebble Beach-One Month