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
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Recent Comments
There are 3 # 16, Mercedes. Fiat and the Locomobile, I’m sure It’s the Locomobile. The 2 people I don’t know. I think it’s at the start-finish line Jericho Turnpike in Westbury in 1954
From Mystery Foto #64 Solved:George Robertson & Glenn Ethridge at the 50th Anniversary of the 1904 Race
Car is the “Old 16” Locomobile.
George Robertson and Glenn Ethridge
Photo taken at the 50th Anniversary of the 1st Vanderbilt Cup Race, held on Oct. 9, 1954 in Garden City. Significance is that this was the last time the winning team of the 1908 Cup Race, Robertson and Ethridge, appear together as Robertson passed away nine months later. Howard - will be sending you some articles about the event separately.
From Mystery Foto #64 Solved:George Robertson & Glenn Ethridge at the 50th Anniversary of the 1904 Race
-Identify the car (everyone should get this one!)
Old #16 Locomobile
-Identify the two people in the car
George Robertson and Glenn Ethridge
-What event was this photo taken? Provide the date.
Oct. 9 1954
-What is the significance of the photo?
It’s the 50th anniversary of the first Vanderbilt Cup Race and the last time the 1908 winning team would ever appear together. Robertson passed away shortly after.
From Mystery Foto #64 Solved:George Robertson & Glenn Ethridge at the 50th Anniversary of the 1904 Race
My Guess. Old 16. Joe Tracy. 50th year anniversary of the 1908 VCR. Last time Joe Tracy sat behind the wheel of that car.
From Mystery Foto #64 Solved:George Robertson & Glenn Ethridge at the 50th Anniversary of the 1904 Race
It’s really coming together now. The rest has to be done so carefully now. It’s getting to close to finishing it. Things have been going along very smoothly and a lot has been done, even though it’s taking a little; longer than expected. A fantastic job is being done. It’s amazing what has been done to it, being so badly damaged and all the extra work that had to be done, it’s unbelievable. Enough said.
From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle IX: Putting It Back Together
1950 was 12 years after 1938.
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From Howard Kroplick
John, good catch! Thanks.
From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series:#20 Old Searingtown Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Searingtown
Hi Howard:
Looking good and lots of CHEERS to you on this project !!!!!
See you soon and be well !!!! Cordially, Ron Ridolph
From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle IX: Putting It Back Together
Brian: I checked a 1924 aerial and it showed the same. http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/mystery_foto_friday_17_identify_this_future_location_of_the_long_island_mot
Seems odd such a busy roadway to terminate so abruptly like that. Hard to imagine even eastern Queens at some point was as rural as the eastern counties
From Mystery Foto #63 Solved: The Abandoned Motor Parkway and North Hempstead Turnpike in Fresh Meadows
I was curious to know how far east N Hempstead Tpke extended originally. According to a 1947 topo (historic aerials), it terminated at Hollis Court Blvd.
From Mystery Foto #63 Solved: The Abandoned Motor Parkway and North Hempstead Turnpike in Fresh Meadows
! Mitch Kaften’s photo of the boys playing baseball, north of Holy Cow Park was taken in 1955, with the LIMP’s N Hemp Tpke bridge still erect in the background !
From Mystery Foto #63 Solved: The Abandoned Motor Parkway and North Hempstead Turnpike in Fresh Meadows
This is another one wouldn’t of gotten, so I didn’t even bother with it
From Mystery Foto #63 Solved: The Abandoned Motor Parkway and North Hempstead Turnpike in Fresh Meadows
Well, this is Fresh Meadows. The 2 roads that are certainly abandoned for automobile traffic are the LIMP and N Hempstead Tpke. You can see the path remnants of the tpke on both sides of Francis Lewis Blvd going east into Cunningham Park, and west under the LIMP overpass. That path angling west and east south of the tpke must be the Central RR remnants. Approx. 1950, well after the LIMP was in operation. And from what I read, the LIMP overpass was demolished later in the 50’s. If this photo was near 1960, you would see the Clearview Expressway cutting through Cunningham Park, east of Francis Lewis Blvd. The portion of Hollis Court Blvd that angles north and south would be taken over by the Clearview, too.
From Mystery Foto #63 Solved: The Abandoned Motor Parkway and North Hempstead Turnpike in Fresh Meadows
Motor Parkway Western Terminus, Fresh Meadows facing North. Tree-lined Horace Harding Blvd (Nassau Blvd) on the top left. Abandoned are Motor Pkwy, North Hempstead Tpke (Booth Memorial Ave), and the N Hemp Tpke LIMP parkway bridge (1926-1955/6). Hollis Court Blvd (Queens Rd) still in one piece on the right side of this aerial. Francis Lewis Blvd (Cross Island Blvd) and Peck Ave’s are present. The Fresh Meadows apartments (1950) replaced the Fresh Meadows golf course. P.S. 179’s (P.S. 4) building foundation (1955) in the process of being set. I’d say this is approximately 1955.
From Mystery Foto #63 Solved: The Abandoned Motor Parkway and North Hempstead Turnpike in Fresh Meadows
-Identify the location of the aerial.
The LI Motor Parkway Western terminus in Fresh Meadows…or at least it used to be.
-What are the two abandoned roads in the aerial?
The Motor Parkway and North Hempstead Turnpike…and the eventually-to-be demolished Hollis Hills Terrace when the Clearview Expy gets built.
-What other structure(s) can also be seen ?
The North Hempstead Turnpike LIMP Bridge
-What is the approximate date of the aerial? Explain your reasoning.
Francis Lewis Blvd, Peck Ave. and the apartments to the West all were built in the early 40’s as was the northern embankment of the bridge taken down, so my guess is 1948-ish since there looks like more overgrowth in 1951 aerials.
From Mystery Foto #63 Solved: The Abandoned Motor Parkway and North Hempstead Turnpike in Fresh Meadows
May be way off but here goes:
Glen Oaks, circa40s, early 50s, following construction of Glen Oaks Village.
Abandoned Motor Parkway and Underhill Avenue?
From Mystery Foto #63 Solved: The Abandoned Motor Parkway and North Hempstead Turnpike in Fresh Meadows
Hi Howard,
Rather late reaction, but I had forgotten about it and came across it today. The car on the upper photo is a 1904 Matheson. Was this a reconaissance trip? The next year Matheson would compete with a car (unsuccessfully though) in the trials for the Vanderbilt Cup.
Wish you good weather on the day of the ceremony!
Regards and thanks for all of your work to keep the spirit alive!
Ariejan
From Vanderbilt Cup Race Historical Marker Unveiling Ceremony to be Held on Saturday, April 26, 2014
From Stephanie G:
Congratulations Howard and Roz!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful news.
From Chrysler's Chrysler's Specifications
From Stephanie G:
Congratulations Howard and Roz!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful news.
From Chrysler's Chrysler's Specifications
Heshy, you are Major League. Somewhere, P.K. is beaming.
Best always,
H
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From Howard Kroplick:
H, Papa Phil is definitely smiling!
From Chrysler's Chrysler's Specifications
Thanks for the quick response Howard. Now I’m off to Tappan Beach. I guess I won’t be seeing you until 4-23 at the Bethpage Library. See ya.
From Chrysler's Chrysler's Specifications
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