Vanderbilt Cup Races

Great letter.  And that Packard is amazing looking!

Ron

From Exclusive Firsthand Account of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race: "A Very Successful Trip"

1906, Paul Sartori driving Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt’s (Willie K’s cousin) 250hp racer. Location could be NYC’s Hells Kitchen near 368 W 53st. based on the address on the horse drawn buggy.

From Mystery Foto #56 Solved: Paul Sartori in Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt's 250-HP Custom Built F.I.A.T.

From Ariejan Bos:

I enjoyed very much the eyewitness report letter. Through these documents the events, which seem so far away in time, come really close to us.

From Exclusive Firsthand Account of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race: "A Very Successful Trip"

From Linda C.

What an interesting letter from 1904 “ A Very Successful Trip”. I enjoyed that

From Exclusive Firsthand Account of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race: "A Very Successful Trip"

Have to give up on this one.
It looks to be Alessandro Cagno, but he only paticipated in one Cup race and not two as suggested by the photo caption. That’s also certainly not the #12 Itala he drove in the V.C.R.- but the car does look like it could possibly be Italian made.
I’ve even searched through many G.G. Bain photo archival websites and can’t seem to find a match there either.

From Mystery Foto #56 Solved: Paul Sartori in Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt's 250-HP Custom Built F.I.A.T.

Driver is Paul Sartori, who participated in the 1904 (finishing 16th in #10) and 1905 (finishing 7th in #20) Vanderbilt Cup Races driving Fiats.

The following was taken from Robert Dick’s book titled “Auto Racing Comes of Age”.  The car in the photo was built by Sartori and French engineer Francious Richard in the autumn of 1905 for use in the early 1906 Ormand Beach race.  It was owned by Alfred Gwynn Vanderbilt Jr., cousin of Willie K. at a cost of $19,000 and built in Alfred’s garage in NYC.  Built with 2 Fiat engines in tandem it was said to have 250 hp and to be “the highest-powered car in the world”. 

Unfortunately after being transported to Florida for the race it practically didn’t move at all and Vanderbilt withdrew it from the race.  It was shipped back to the NYC garage “dismantled and left for the scrap”. 

Howard - see my e-mail to you with a couple of short articles about the the car from its time. 

From Mystery Foto #56 Solved: Paul Sartori in Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt's 250-HP Custom Built F.I.A.T.

From Tom M:

I just want to let you know how much I have continued to enjoy this site.

Thanks for not only keeping it up, but for adding cool new things to it all the time!

From Exclusive Firsthand Account of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race: "A Very Successful Trip"

From Cyril Smith:

There are three rail lines pictured in your Mystery Photo, as Bill Bellmer indicated this is Garden City Hilton Ave. The third line (foreground ) is trolley line spur between GC station Franklin Ave trolley

Note pix taken 1/2 block away from GC Hotel, likely where team was staying. GC had a women’s bicycle club at the time

From Mystery Foto #55 Solved: Walter Christie Driving the #9 Christie in Mineola on September 21,1906

Thanks for the very quick response

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle VII: Getting Primed For The Finish

Ted, just visited the car today. There will be an update on the website later this week.

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle VII: Getting Primed For The Finish

It must be pretty near that time that it will be finished, if it’s not already, and for you to get it back to long island, no rush, but when? soon I hope

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle VII: Getting Primed For The Finish

As for this mystery, you’ll laugh, it’s a mystery to me, but I do say that racer is some kind of a car. To me it looks like it has a larger engine, which makes it a longer and it’s not chain driven

From Mystery Foto #56 Solved: Paul Sartori in Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt's 250-HP Custom Built F.I.A.T.

From Ariejan Bos:

This magnificent photo shows Paul Sartori at the wheel of an 8-cylinder Fiat. The car was owned by Alfred G. Vanderbilt, a nephew of William K.. Built during the end of 1906 by Sartori and french engineer François Richard by combining two hugh 4-cylinder Fiat engines it was meant to break the 2 mile-a-minute record at Ormond-Daytona beach. The engine however suffered from severe mechanical trouble and the attempt was cancelled. Alfred Vanderbilt lost his interest and the car was scrapped. Sartori had raced previously a Fiat (also owned by Alfred Vanderbilt) in the 1904 and 1905 Vanderbilt Cup, but both times without success. Alfred Vanderbilt would die in 1915 on board of the Lusitania after it had been torpedoed by a German submarine: he had given his life vest to a woman with child and had never learned to swim ...

Regards,
Ariejan Bos

From Mystery Foto #56 Solved: Paul Sartori in Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt's 250-HP Custom Built F.I.A.T.

I don’t know who that is, but amazing photo!

From Mystery Foto #56 Solved: Paul Sartori in Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt's 250-HP Custom Built F.I.A.T.

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From Mystery Foto #56 Solved: Paul Sartori in Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt's 250-HP Custom Built F.I.A.T.

John Mc Auliffe 7:34 AM

Another great great job, Howard.  Congrats!
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Janet Guthrie:

Loved the story about your book—lots of nostalgia from my years on Long Island, 1960-1975—wish I could be at your signing!
Best regards,
Janet Guthrie

From Newsday LI Life Cover Story: "Book about North Hempstead marks its 400th birthday"

Ron Ridolph 3:50 AM

Hi Howard:  CONGRATS and Nice job again and again !!!!

  You are the man !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

  Best Regards,  Cordially,  Ron

From Roslyn News: " The Rise of North Hempstead"

Joe Oesterle 11:14 PM

Bridge over N Wantagh Avenue, Massapequa Lodge is the giveaway.  Taken 1908, during construction.  Probably before the official opening in October.  The car belongs to the photographer.
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Greg Oreiro 9:33 AM

Standing on the Wantagh Ave parkway bridge looking East at the Massapequa lodge and the Hicksville Rd bridge in the distance. The date is September 1908.

The car appears to be the same Buick owned by the photographer who took the well-known photo used on the cover of the book taken on top of the Carmen Ave bridge.
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Art Kleiner 8:03 PM

Let’s give this a try:
Westbury Road Bridge with the Merrick Ave. Bridge and the Meadow Brook lodge on the left in the background.
1908
Car is used by a photographer.
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Ariejan Bos

This is Wantagh Avenue Bridge under construction. We are looking east towards the Massapequa Avenue Bridge, the Massepequa toll lodge can be seen on the left side along the road. On the right we see the LIRR. The date must be somewhere in August or September 1908 near completion of the LIMP. The Buick features on several photographs of the LIMP under construction, but doesn’t carry a (visible) license plate. It could belong to an inspector of the road construction company or maybe to a journalist checking the progress.
Of course as always thanks for your work and good luck with the upgrading process of the site!
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Tim Ivers 7:37 PM

Looking eastward from atop Wantagh Avenue bridge.  About 1908.  Massapequa Lodge on left of roadway at the Hicksville Road overpass.  Railroad on right running parallel to LIMP.  Now the power company ROW.  Vehicle belongs to photographer.  Path of LIMP is now the driveway entrance to the “decommissioned” 8th Precinct.

From Mystery Foto #52 Solved: The Wantagh Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge

Michael Keller 1:32 PM

Strange front suspension suggests a Christie front wheel drive racer.

regards,
Michael from Switzerland
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R Troy 12:58 AM

I’ve no clue, but that is an amazing looking car!
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S. Berliner, III 1:48 AM

Wow, those tracks must have been rough on the tires!  ‘s a Christie!  ‘s all I know.  :·)  Sam, iII
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S. Berliner, III 1:53 AM

Oops!  Forgot to note that it was NOT during a race - look at those outfits, no goggles or helmets, and no hood on the car!  Test drive, I’d guess.  Sam, III

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Lee Stohr 10:30 AM

This is John Walter Christie’s #9 entry in the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Elimination race.  Lewis Strang was his mechanician.  I’ve seen the photo in an album in Austin Clark’s files at the Henry Ford.  After Christie wrecked his main entry in practice, he used this car in the Elimination Race and the main event.  Notice number 9 on the front of the car.  I doubt the photo was taken during the race, because neither Walter or Strang are wearing their goggles or racing jackets.  Date must be about September 22, but I can’t be positive.  I can’t identify the street but I’m sure you can Howard!
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Walter McCarthy 11:25 AM

Christie front engine race car.
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Walter McCarthy 11:42 AM

It was the 1906 race and it did not finish.  It was driven by Christie himself for I think 7 laps.
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Greg O. 10:00 PM

Here goes my best guesses;

-Identify the manufacturer and model year for this racer.
  1905 FWD Christie

-Identify the driver and mechanician

  (John) Walter Christie and Nephew and future driver Lewis Strang

-Was the photo taken during a race? Explain your reasoning.

  Doesn’t look like it. Possible practice run for the 1906 elimination trials after the larger car was wrecked? There does not appear to be any number on the car, (other than maybe a faint ‘9’ from another competition?) and they are not wearing goggles or proper racing attire.

-What is the date of the photo?

  September 1906

-Where was this photo taken? The back of the original photo included a descriptive caption.

  Unsure about the mystery bulding. Maybe the grade crossing at Jericho Tpke for the LIRR Oyster Bay branch? -Although the Pickering photos of the crossing look different. IU Willets didn’t have any large buildings, and Old Westbury Rd was not a grade crossing… Hmmmm.
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From Mystery Foto #55 Solved: Walter Christie Driving the #9 Christie in Mineola on September 21,1906

Joe Oesterle 1:27 AM

LIMP, Clinton Ave, Roosevelt Field.
Structures include LIMP Bridge over Clinton, Garden City Toll Lodge, Managers House, along with buildings and hangers for the airfield.
I can only guess the year.  Prior to 1938.  My guess is the parkway is still open during this picture.  -joe
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Lee 10:46 AM

Roosevelt Field Airport
Glen Cove Rd (On left) heading north
Vanderbilt Parkway Bridge and Toll Crossing over Glen Cove Road
Old Country Road East-West (Top of Picture)
Earlier than 1920 (guess)
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Tim Ivers 11:52 AM

Clinton Road bridge, Garden City, looking north.
Curtiss Field at top right.
Garden City toll lodge and parkway manager’s office buildings at bottom
below parkway to right of Clinton Road.  Bridge was one of a few built
with 3 lanes under it.
About 1930.
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steve lucas 10:41 PM

This photo sure looks like East Garden City looking north with the LIMP going west to east in the foreground and the bridge going over Clinton Road. The confusing part is trying to establish the date. The Garden City lodge looks like it is still under construction (no porte-cochere built yet) so that would make it 1911. But the general manager’s office is there and that wasn’t built until 1915. Also, I believe the large complex north of the LIMP is the Curtiss Aeroplane & Motor Co. but I thought that was built a little later. All very confusing.
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Edith 6:58 AM

Mitchell Field
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Greg O. 10:15 AM

I actually have this exact photo in my collection from looking for answers to the very similar picture/vantage point of mystery photo #2 last year.

Looking North, it’s Hazelhurst/Curtiss/Roosevelt Field alongside of Clinton Ave. The Clinton Ave bridge, Garden City lodge, and LIMP office are seen South of the field. Mystery photo #2 was 1927. In this photo, there is to be more hangar development, but still no runway. Since it appears to be the first LIMP office, my guess for this photo has always been 1929 and the office was rebuilt/replaced shortly thereafter.
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Michael Appice 4:08 PM

This weeks photo is Roosevelt Feild. The hangers are at the top of the photo and the various shops are in the left of the photo The left side bottom of the photo is the Glen Cove Rd.  Motor Parkway bridge with the toll house to the right of the bridge. Since theres a grass field and it looks like a Model T in front of the building i think the photos date is around 1920
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Ted 3:03 AM

Here’s another mystery that I can’t figure out, but only can guess at. Looking through the photos I found some possible areas it could be which is Roosevelt Raceway, Rock Hill Toll Lodge, Fresh Meadows and Commonwealth Blvd all in the late 1920s to the early 1950s. Can’t tell you exact detals
Feb 03 2014 Bob Miller 12:14 PM

That’s the curve over clinton road, Garden City.  That was the only 3 support highway bridge I know about.  The office and Toll Lodges are also in the photo.
Looks Great.
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Bob Miller 12:16 PM

Correction on my comment.  It had 2 supports and 3 bays over the roadway.  Sorry about that.  Don’t know the date, but it does look ca WW I to me.
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From Rich Carlsen:
“Can the mystery photo be that of Mitchell Field?”
Feb 03 2014 Howard Kroplick 7:55 PM
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From Jon Shapiro
“Farmingdale, NY, Republic Aircraft Corporation - 1941”

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From Art Kleiner:
“The date of the photo is stressing me out more than it should.  Office might be the original which will throw my original reasoning out the window.

Location - Roosevelt Field, Garden City (Old Country Road, Clinton Road, LI Motor Parkway)
Structures - Motor Parkway Clinton Road Bridge, Garden City Lodge and Office, hangers, barracks, water tower.
Date - either early 1940s (new barracks and water tower) or pre-1929 (original office)?

Attached is the 1940 census roll showing the occupants of the lodge (239 Clinton Rd) the Ernst family (value listed is $3,300) and the office (241 Clinton Rd, value of $9,000) occupied by the Whitten family.  Ernst is shown as a carpenter and Whitten has something to do with aeronautics.

Also attached is the property description for the office indicating it was built in 1929 and remodeled in 1939 and a 1946 Newsday article about an intruder.

Interesting again this week.”
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Frank 12:11 AM

Does anyone know what the lone structure is on the west side of Clinton Road (north of the bridge) in the 1926 photo?

From Mystery Foto #53 Solved: Clinton Road, the Motor Parkway in Garden City and Curtiss Field Circa 1926