Vanderbilt Cup Races

Brilliant reportage very much appreciated. Your documentation is contributing to the value of your Chrysler too. Thanks, Tom

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle V: Summer's Progress

It was great to see all of you this morning!  You had a beautiful day to pay tribute to the Long Island Motor Parkway Sweepstakes!

From Relive the Long Island Motor Parkway Sweepstakes This Sunday Throughout Nassau County

I very much enjoy these periodic report and am delighted that you share them.  I think Mr. Gosden is a master of the understatement, for example, when he writes:
“To get this all in perfect alignment to make it all function was a major task”  I can’t help but think it probably took two or more men a week of hard effort to figure it it out.

  Keep it up!

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle V: Summer's Progress

I know it’s not cheap to restore cars these days but never was there a more worthy candidate…...Thanks for sharing the update…..

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle V: Summer's Progress

-Where was the Vanderbilt Cup trophy (city and state)?

-What year was the photo taken?

-Can you identify anyone in the photo?

Tough one again, but got it…I think!
The Vanderbilt Cup, and race, were at the Panama Pacific International Exposition (possibly the Pennsylvania Building?) in San Francisco, March 1915. As per their mark on the bottom right corner, Cardinell-Vincent were the official photographers of the PPIE. The stern-looking gentleman behind the cup could be William Bailey Lamar, one of the commisioners of the PPIE. The 1912/14 V.C.R. winner, Ralph DePalma right, front (although I keep wanting to change his profession and call him Brian DePalma).

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race Officials, Committee & Drivers in San Francisco

Well,like I said before it did bring back some memories. I knew he has a big collection,but didn’t realize how much,I guess I didn’t look hard enough when I went to his museum,I’ll have to go back and take a better look and find out more.

From An Evening With Marty Himes- Stock Car Driver, Museum Owner and Auto Racing Historian

I didn’t understand the figure 8 until I read about the demolition derbies - then it made perfect sense!

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: Islip Speedway in the 1960s

Forgot another question; fuel system.  What shape is it in?  I’m curious because on my Packard 243 I’m having to have the whole fuel system essentially scoured to remove decades of varnish, etc.

Ron

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle V: Summer's Progress

If I recall correctly, the trapped moisture was something that dates back to when the car was new?  Was something done to prevent it from happening again?

Also wondering; besides body components, what else is being done?  Chassis, engine and remaining drive train, etc.?

Thanks,

Ron

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle V: Summer's Progress

As we see Ralph De Palma standing on the right and the photograph has been taken by an official (!) photographer from San Francisco, I cannot but conclude that we are watching an official moment after De Palma’s victory in the Vanderbilt Cup race of 1914, held in Santa Monica. Also I have the impression that Edwin Pullen, winner of the American Grand Prize, is standing next to De Palma. As these events were held only 2 days apart on February 26 and 28, it could be a combined ceremony. However, if the flowers were his prize, then they must have been really expensive!

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race Officials, Committee & Drivers in San Francisco

I’ll be there, Marty’s an Long Island motorsports hero.

From An Evening With Marty Himes- Stock Car Driver, Museum Owner and Auto Racing Historian

Ah! So that explains a small mystery for me. I was driving along Glenwood Landing Rd. through Glen Head a couple of weeks ago and spotted this huge horse sculpture, I couldn’t stop due to some crazy people in an SUV right on my tail but I was wondering what that huge statue was doing there. It was probably the establishment that refurbished it. Mystery solved!

From Update: A Historic Event: A Motor Parkway Director's Horse Returns to Roslyn

Ken , I relate to your feelings . I feel the same way…. I long for times past.The openess . Progress isn’t my cup of tea. Not when such beauty gets torn down to make just a bunch of cookie cutter boxes….Something seems off about it all…
Howard, thanks again for another historical gem of a story…..

From Update: A Historic Event: A Motor Parkway Director's Horse Returns to Roslyn

From Florence O.

Interesting story on the horse sculpture.

From Update: A Historic Event: A Motor Parkway Director's Horse Returns to Roslyn

Howard:
    Is Foto Nr 37 Islip Speedway, that is My guess. Is that the 1/8th mile drag strip on the right side of the track?  I remember being there to see Richard Petty with 43Jr, a Hemi Cuda drag car. I think that was the first figure eight race in the country. I am sure Marty Himes remembers, the first time at Freeport that they ran the girls against the guys. Hopefully a Macho event. The ladies blew the guys away!  Freeport was Long Island History.  It was a different kind of first date for a lot of us!
    Stay Well, Thanks!  Paul Emmert.

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: Islip Speedway in the 1960s

1) It is Islip Speedway.

2) The picture was taken in 1962 or later, because that was when the figure-8 was added to the track.

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: Islip Speedway in the 1960s

Thanks for the Mackay horse statues presentation—a nice success story.  I always feel a little sad when I think of all the beautiful mansions that have been torn down to put in streets and build new homes.  Of course, I’m living now on a street that did not exist until the 1950’s when the mansion that stood there was torn down and the estate property was divided into building lots and streets put in, so I guess I shouldn’t complain.

Ken

From Update: A Historic Event: A Motor Parkway Director's Horse Returns to Roslyn

Islip speedway. Figure 8 track and drag strip. I believe demo derby originated here.the reason for aerial photo was to promote the place and the new figure 8 track

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: Islip Speedway in the 1960s

It looks like the Islip Speedway. This track was opened in 1947, and closed in 1984. It became famous in the 1960s when ABC Wide World of Sports televised the figure 8 races and demolition derbys there.

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: Islip Speedway in the 1960s

Hello Howard,
That looks like the old Islip Speedway. The photo can’t be any earlier than 1962 since that’s the year they added the figure-8 races.
Regards,
Steve

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: Islip Speedway in the 1960s