Vanderbilt Cup Races

Please let me know about future events.  though I live in Manhattan, I grew up in Great Neck, not far from where the Motor Parkway passed through Lake Success.  While in college, I wrote an article on the Vanderbilt that appeared in the Lincoln-Mercury Times under the title, I believe, “The Granddaddy of Superhighways,” because it had no intersections, only over- and underpasses. Sincerely, David Kahn <[email protected]>

From Rare Vanderbilia Unveiled at Huntington Motor Parkway Lunch & Learn

Hi, Howard,
Thanks for including our Bridgehampton Rally in October in your calendar, and don’t forget, you’re more than invited to attend again with the Beast!  Many people missed you last year, and leading the parade around “the old course” is one of the highlights of the event.  Thanks, hope to see you during the summer.
Earl

From Rare Vanderbilia Unveiled at Huntington Motor Parkway Lunch & Learn

Kudos to Bruce Adams for an informative program.
He has a delightful way of bringing the past alive.
The discovery of Harry’s collection definitely opened
our eyes.  And thank you Humtington Historical
Society for their “lunch & learn” program. The day
was great.

From Rare Vanderbilia Unveiled at Huntington Motor Parkway Lunch & Learn

That looks like the Nibbe farmway bridge, being built during the late summer or early fall of 1908. I believe the view is looking south.

From Mystery Foto #61 Solved: The Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage)

Powell Avenue Bridge, looking south with Plainview Road in the left side of photo.  Photo taken 1908.

From Mystery Foto #61 Solved: The Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage)

Now that’s a mystery photo! I think it would’ve been more of a challenge if Central Park was’nt mentioned. This is definitely Bethpage, looking south to the building of the Nibbe Farmway overpass, and also the road construction of the LIMP in 1908. There looks to be a developed road to the left, maybe Plainview Rd? Perhaps a farm rd.

From Mystery Foto #61 Solved: The Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage)

Lance, Sam Greco has his restoration shop in Garden City Park. He can be reached at 1-516-279-6170 . Sam does a great job keeping the Black Beast running!

From More Highlights from the 2012 Indy 500 Race Week

Is there any way to get in contact with Sam Greco? Does he still have his shop in Long Island?

From More Highlights from the 2012 Indy 500 Race Week

Hmm,  looks like one of two bridges - but I will wager the photo is looking south at the Powell Avenue bridge.  Would have to be August/September, 1908, probably August.

From Mystery Foto #61 Solved: The Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage)

From Andrew S.

Just watched the AmeriCarna episode. So great to see you on tv.  You did an excellent job. The Smithsonian should give you that trophy - it’s a shame to have it locked away and not displayed.

From Behind the Scenes: Velocity Channel's AmeriCarna Vanderbilt Cup Race Episode

From Douglas Bauer:

awesome show , keep those vintage race cars coming ,especially the indy cars , but how about a CanAm car

From Behind the Scenes: Velocity Channel's AmeriCarna Vanderbilt Cup Race Episode

From Josh Houghton:

The checkered flag was a cool bit of info. Glad you talked about the Vanderbilt Cup races, that is a fantastic subject that I hope gets more light shed on it.

From Behind the Scenes: Velocity Channel's AmeriCarna Vanderbilt Cup Race Episode

I’m taking a shot at it. I have 3 choices to make, with my 1st being the Powell Ave Bridge, because I think that’s the Bethpage Lodge to the left of the bridge. 2nd Nibbe Bridge and 3rd, but not very likely, there’s no railroad tracks and it’s not the longest bridge, which is the Central Ave Bridge. The direction of the photo shot is West. Now for the date, it would have to be before the races, so I would say early 1908. I need a break from this now

From Mystery Foto #61 Solved: The Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage)

1908
The Nibbe (Lane) farmway bridge
Looking south

From Mystery Foto #61 Solved: The Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage)

From Richard Lester:

I just watched you in the AmeriCarna show - what a terrific job you did.
It was fantastic!! I really enjoyed it.

From Behind the Scenes: Velocity Channel's AmeriCarna Vanderbilt Cup Race Episode

Looking South at the Nibbe Farmway Bridge with Deadman’s curve #2 just beyond the bridge. The Nibbe farmhouse is to the left. Constuction for that bridge would have been in July/Aug 1908.

From Mystery Foto #61 Solved: The Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage)

I would say it has to be Powell Ave, or Plainview Road, one of the two bridges that went over the LIMP in that area.  Since the photo shows the bed of the parkway being laid, and it is obviously going under the bridge.  As for the direction, I would only be guessing.  The date is the summer of 1908.  After the June groundbreaking and before the parkway opened.
Great photo.
-joe o.

From Mystery Foto #61 Solved: The Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage)

I can only imagine how you felt, a part of history!  Thanks for sharing with us Howard.

From Video: "Black Beast Wins INDY 500...100 Years Later!"

Nice to see the building still standing and looking very well.  I’ll have to visit the restaurant!

From Mystery Foto #59 Solved: The Van Ausdall's Hotel in Cold Spring Harbor, NY Circa 1914

I knew there was something familiar about it, just couldn’t pin point it. Now I don’t feel like I was on the wrong track

From Mystery Foto #60 Solved :Motor Parkway Near Round Swamp Road in Bethpage, Old Bethpage & Farmingdale