Vanderbilt Cup Races

Any thoughts on the ridged field after he makes his escape? Or is that segment likely filmed elsewhere?

From Documenting W.C. Fields on the Long Island Motor Parkway in 1925

Okay. This 1930 something photo is in Bethpage. The road extending from the bottom right towards the middle left is Round Swamp Rd. (The brick yard is east of the curve ).  The LIMP is in the upper part of the photo,  with the bridge over Claremont Rd in the near distance.

From Mystery Photo #4 Solved: A 1928 Aerial of Old Bethpage and Melville Looking North

What a presentation that was,so much to know and yet to find out about,if it’s not too late already and to try to preserve it

From "Champion of the Parkway" Presented at the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society Meeting

Hi Howard   I was reading an article in Newsday today,Classic Car Doctor by Steve Linden and was thinking about you and your Chriysler being restored,about the things that can go wrong in the process of it,that it would cost more than it’s worth and the car will not be original,like what you were saying last nite. So what it boils down to,don’t piece meal it together and have it come out wrong after paying for it,get the whole thing done the right way and have piece of mind and the car will be be back to it’s original condition again. Some people don’t find out until It’s too late,but luckily you found out at the very start

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle I: Restoration Begins

From Jim Barnes:

“Great program last night.”

From "Champion of the Parkway" Presented at the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society Meeting

Thanks so much for your work here. I teach Gatsby every year and giving this great novel this context is priceless. What an overwhelming house!

From Willie K's Mother's "Beacon Towers" Castle in Sands Point

Just watched that 21 minute film,very good coverage,as usual,thanks alot

From "Champion of the Parkway" Presented at the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society Meeting

Looking forward to tomorrows presentation to hear the answers to those questions and probably a few more.

From "Champion of the Parkway" Presented at the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society Meeting

As always,great pictures and explanatoin of them. As I saw there wasn’t much change from 1908 till now,except for sidewalks and houses. That was some sharp turn. By the way Howard,I’ll be at the Old Bethpage Restoration on Thursday nite.hope to see you for another nite of histoy in the making

From Mystery Photo Solved #3: The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on Ellison Road (Avenue) in Westbury

Another great connection to the Motor Parkway…..Look at all of that rural splendor around it…. Thanks John for sending this to Howard….

From Film: W.C Fields Driving On the Long Island Motor Parkway in "Sally of the Sawdust"

Priceless automtive history jumping off the screen. Thanks Howard !

From Update: The 1946 VMCCA Jubilee Anniversary at the Mineola Fair Grounds

Awesome pictures Howard. If the spectators had only realized what danger they were in standing by the roadside like that. The young kid watching the race from behind the tree at the corner seems to be the wisest one. :D

From Mystery Photo Solved #3: The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on Ellison Road (Avenue) in Westbury

Man, I was way off with this one.

From Mystery Photo Solved #3: The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on Ellison Road (Avenue) in Westbury

Pretty sure I can make out the 2 steel towers that are on either side the limp in the 1938 photo. It’s still the same configuration.

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #9 Garden City Lodge

What fun! The “now” photo is on Ellison Ave and Woodcock Road just south of Jericho Tpke in Westbury. If this is the correct location it would have to be about 500 feet south of here, closer to Ellison Ave and Robin Road where the curve in the road is, as seen in the 1908 picture with George Robertson driving the #16 Locomobile. The photographer seems to have no significant location as he/she is only slightly elevated off the ground a few feet, and is on the side of the road that is not the LIMP. There are other possibilities on the course like Manetto Hill Rd in Plainview between Library Lane and Washington Ave in either north or south direction. Also Woodbury Rd between Jericho Tpke and Bristol Dr heading south. Westbury would also be my best guess for the photos location considering most spectators would crowd the western end of the course first because traveling around in those days was hard. Based on the size of the crowd and all the vehicles parked alongside Jericho Tpke to the north (the main road), Westbury sounds good to me. I look forward to see what other clues there were that I missed. Happy Motoring.

From Mystery Photo Solved #3: The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on Ellison Road (Avenue) in Westbury

As always, I really enjoyed the film and the automotive history.  It’s fascinating to realize that I was only 2 years old when all this took place, living nearby in Manhattan.  Great fun to see the Old 16, and realize that it’s still running, and still an active part of automotive history. . . . . . . . .

From Update: The 1946 VMCCA Jubilee Anniversary at the Mineola Fair Grounds

Thanks for posting.  Very enjoyable.

From Film: W.C Fields Driving On the Long Island Motor Parkway in "Sally of the Sawdust"

fascinating stuff Howard, thanks as always!  growing up in Garden City and visiting my dad’s office right there on 7th Street (it’s actually in 1 of the pics!) i never realized the history i was around until i started following your page within the last few months.  i am now obsessed!!

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #9 Garden City Lodge

Gram wants you to know that he loved these pictures and the timeline is fantastic. The information is easily cause for a nice small roadtrip today. Any thoughts on what the seemingly abandoned road or railway leading up toward the current location of the toll house is? Gram loves exploring over there!

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #9 Garden City Lodge

That was close. If not for them deciding to move it and restore it , all we would have left of it would be the old pictures.

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #9 Garden City Lodge