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.
All Content © 2026 VanderbiltCupRaces.com
Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
Ted 2:04 PM
That’s a real cool film, true to life
__________________________________________________________________
Ken 4:32 PM
Thanks for posting that film. It took me back to my teen years(I was 15 in 1953) when I couldn’t wait to get my driver’s license and whatever kind of used car my parents would let me buy and work on.
Ken
From Film of the Week: "The Cool Hot Rod" (1953)
Ted 2:41 PM
Well, here goes nothing. I have 4 people that I can name. ! The starter Fred Wagner 2 the one and only William K Vanderbilt Jr.3 ACA Chairman Robert Morrell 4 AAA Counterpart Jefferson De Mont Thompson
____________________________________________
Feb 10 2014
From Ariejan Bos
My attempt to solve at least part of the latest Friday mystery:
Lots of moustaches, lots of guesses. But anyway I’ll make a try. We see of course Herb Lytle, driver of the Isotta. Was Jack Tattersall still his mechanician? Then of course W.K. Vanderbilt in the foreground, behind him with the big moustache Jefferson DeMont Thompson (chairman of the Vanderbilt Cup Commission). I have the impression that the man directly on Thompson’s left is F.H. Elliott, secretary of the Commission. Then it could be that the man somewhat further towards Elliotts left side (in the light rain coat) is Frank G. Webb, vice-chairman of the Commission. The man with the megaphone seems to be Fred Wagner and the man with the checquered flag: Joe Tracy??
___________________________________________
From Art Kleiner
Hi Howard - very good presentation on Sunday. Great turn out and was glad to contribute to the Roslyn Historical Society. Also looking forward to reading the new book!
Here are some people in Mystery Photo 54: (some I’m positive of, others not entirely sure)
Besides Herb Lytle:
His mechanician, Fehr
William K. Vanderbilt Jr.
Starter Fred Wagner
A.R. Pardington
Robert Graves
Jefferson DeMont Thompson, AAA Chairman
Robert Morrell, ACA Chairman ???
Sam Butler, ACA Secretary ???
Charles Dieges, Timing Expert ???
Hank Caldwell, Official ???
A.B. Tucker, Official ???
Robert P. Hooper ???
__________________________________________
From Sam Berliner III,
Ye cats and little (Lytle?) fishes, Howard!
Did you SEE who is the Commander of the Federation of American Motor Cyclsts, providing courier service?
None other than one E. L. Ovington - how about that being Earle Lewis Ovington, famed flyer who flew the first official U. S. airmail in 1911 from Garden City to MIneiola!
Louis N. Lanehart, M. D., was the course physician (“Chief Surgeon”) for 1906, NOT Dr. William Jackson Malcolm.
Dang! Your mystery photo #53, which I know like the back of my hand, eluded my notice! No wonder! It only just came in now, with the other post.
By the way, dare I question you, le Mâitre? I durst! In your Krug’s Corner film, isn’t the 1906 photo at 1:58 of Willie “attempting to clear the course” actually the scene as he rushed the Lanehart to the fatal accident?
______________________________________________
Feb 12 2014 Ted 10:35 PM
I was really surprised that I got all three officials right. I was positive that Willy K was right, but wasn’t very sure about the other two. Thanks for the super congrats, that’s a first
From Mystery Foto #54 Solved: Officials of the 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes
Ted 2:44 PM
I think I might have something on the film. Here goes Freeport Speedway, New York City, Indy Speedway and maybe Islip Speedway. I’m working on the photos know, then to the mystery. Catch you later
From Film of the Week: "Crazy Cars: 1906 -1950"
Jan 16 2014 Joe Oesterle 11:53 PM
Long Island Aviation Country Club. Prominent, Charles Lindbergh.
__________________________________________________________________
Jan 17 2014 TED 3:20 AM
Guess what? I think I know where Field Ave is, it’s between south oyster bay road and new south road, not far from where I life, I can walk their. I’m going to continue my search later on today and maybe I’ll find the house
______________________________________________________________________
Jan 17 2014 Tim Ivers 9:40 AM
This house is one half of the clubhouse located on the old Hicksville Aviation
Country Club bordering the old Motor Parkway, and was frequented by many of thecelebrity aviators of the 30s and 40s; Lindbergh, Earhart and many more.
__________________________________________________________________________
Jan 17 2014 Ted 5:24 PM
I found where the house is on Field Ave Hicksville, Most of the houses around there are fairly old, Now to get to the questions, Will be back.
_________________________________________________________________________
Jan 18 2014 Joseph DeBono 7:13 AM
Howard, This is Joseph DeBono ,The 51 Foto The half of the House is half of the club house of L I Aviation Country Club in Hicksville When it was off Jerusalem ave and the long island motor parkway keep up the good work
________________________________________________________________________
Jan 19 2014 Greg O. 11:19 AM
I’m stumped and look forward to the answer, but from what I can see, my first, knee-jerk reaction was this is a lodge that was moved here. The left side of the house has the same lines as one of the original 3 Pope lodge porticos.
However, this current house in the picture, (3 Field Ave in Hicksville) was rebuilt sometime between 2000 and 2004 completely changing the look from the house that originally stood there from 1950. Looking at Historic Aerials, and past Google Earth images, from 1953 to 2000, the house’s footprint looks like it could have been parts of the Meadow Brook lodge, being that was the only lodge demolished within the proper time frame of this house being originally built.
________________________________________________________________________________
Jan 19 2014 Howard Kroplick 11:31 PM
From Art Kleiner
House (or part of the house) was originally part of the LI Aviation Club in Hicksville. Found this by going past the house on Field Avenue yesterday. Then searching the property cards on the Nassau County Tax Assessors website I found it noted (on the top of Field Avenue -1 attached) that the building was being renovated and another note saying “old dwelling, Hicksville Aviation Club”. More notes (on the other pic) says the house was boarded up and the “interior was a mess of bldg. material & rubbish” - 1956, as per 1950.
Charles Lindbergh and his wife were frequent visitors during the 1930s (Mrs. Lindbergh got her pilot’s license there in 1931) and F. Trubee Davison, Asst. Sec. of War for Aeronautics attended at the club’s dedication in 1929.
Very interesting mystery photo this week. Keep them coming!
_____________________________________________________________________________
Jan 20 2014 Ted 3:03 AM
I don’t know, I can’t find anything, don’t know where to look anymore, no more ideas ,doing something wrong I guess, the hint didn’t even help. I did find the house and see it, that’s something anyway
____________________________________________________________________________
Jan 20 2014 Howard Kroplick 10:22 PM
From John Dinkel:
This one should not have been that difficult. Anyone can see that this house is a shingle-wing design.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Jan 20 2014 Ted 10:48 PM
Hay Greg at least we both knew where the house was and I actually saw it. Didn’t even know about the LI Aviation Club in Hicksville. One question for you Howard, where is the photos of the original location on Vanderbiltcupraces.com?
_____________________________________________________________________________
Jan 20 2014 Ted 11:43 PM
Never mind Howard, I found it and have seen it before, didn’t remember there’s always next week.
From Mystery Foto #51 Solved: A Section of the Clubhouse of the Aviation Country Club of Long Island
From Ed Dooley:
Nuvolari is one of my favorite drivers in history and of his era. Always am intrigued by stories and accounts of their careers. The Cross Bay Speedway being one I was totally unaware of.
Many thanks,
Ed Dooley
From When Tazio Nuvolari Drove A Sprint Car In Ozone Park
From Joseph DeBono:
“The Mystery Foto #50 is the east side, in front of the Petit Trianon. The petit is to the right in the picture. Keep up the good work.”
From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: The Petit Trianon Driveway at Lake Ronkonkoma
From Frank Femenias:
“Congrats Howard, Sam Greco, and all involved in restoring this 100+ year old machine back to showroom condition. Fantastic work!”
From Hemmings: Alco Black Beast Featured in 2014 Classic Car Calendar and Jim Donnelly Honors
From Frank Feminas:
I’m guessing the Petit Trianon Inn’s circular driveway, the exit side on the north end of the structure. The arched windows resembles the Petit’s. We’re facing east at the hidden Lake Ronkonkoma in the back. Appears to be gas or oil for sale on the left of the picture as you exit. Based on the parked cars, I’d say we’re in mid ‘20s? I see at least one Ford in the pic.
From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: The Petit Trianon Driveway at Lake Ronkonkoma
From Frank Feminas:
“Love the postcard series. Where to begin is right! Is “Lakewill”, Lakeville? And check out the low hanging high voltage lines near Roslyn House. A recipe for disaster, what were they thinking?”
From Vanderbilia Postcard Series #3. The Brooklyn Eagle Mineola Fair Post Cards of the 1906 Course
From Joe O:
“Possibly the S curve on Willis Av. Photographer may be on the NE corner looking east down IU Willets, though the course didn’t route that way, they turned at Willis and headed south towards Krugs. “
From Vanderbilia Postcard Series #3. The Brooklyn Eagle Mineola Fair Post Cards of the 1906 Course
Cars parked outside of the Petit Trianon in 1914. Thought I recognized a Pierce-Arrow in the background, but I’m not too sure…
From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: The Petit Trianon Driveway at Lake Ronkonkoma
Identify this location on the Motor Parkway
Petit Trianon - Lake Ronkonkoma
-What is the approximate year of the photo?
1918
-Bonus: Identify one or more of the parked cars
Cadillac?
From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: The Petit Trianon Driveway at Lake Ronkonkoma
Cars parked on the driveway at the Petit Trinnon resturent in Ronkonkoma
Date around 1910
From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: The Petit Trianon Driveway at Lake Ronkonkoma
From Cynthia M.:
A big congratulations to you! this is FAABULOUS!
From Hemmings: Alco Black Beast Featured in 2014 Classic Car Calendar and Jim Donnelly Honors
Le Petite Trianon - 1908
Packard
From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: The Petit Trianon Driveway at Lake Ronkonkoma
Hi Howard:
i believe it to be Petit Trianon, or someones private home.
Thanks and Best Regards, Ron Ridolph
From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: The Petit Trianon Driveway at Lake Ronkonkoma
I don’t know where to start. Please someone help. Where exactly did IU Willets Road wind like that?
-joe o
From Vanderbilia Postcard Series #3. The Brooklyn Eagle Mineola Fair Post Cards of the 1906 Course
From Dr. Jack Binder:
The photo is of Lake Success. Shown is Lakeville Road, the Motor Parkway. The date is pre1952- Probably 1930s.
From Mystery Foto #49 Solved: A View of Lake Success in 1934
Lakeville Road, Motor Parkway, Marcus Avenue and NSP, probably 1940s or 1950s while it still looked intact before the bridge was later torn down in 1970s.
From Mystery Foto #49 Solved: A View of Lake Success in 1934
From Tony K.
I have just spent one of the most anti-social, yet enjoyable Christmases of my life.
How come?
Simply wallowing in your wonderful website!
I can’t begin to thank you enough – and I’m still only half way through the site.
From The Top Twenty 2013 Posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com
Page 841 of 1020 pages ‹ First < 839 840 841 842 843 > Last ›