Vanderbilt Cup Races

Thanks for your opinion.

I actually agree with you that it is more important to maintain the integrity of the community than the historical significance of the site.

But, what happens if the rezoning effort is rejected? What, if anything, will be done with the property? For the last three years, Nassau County has considered purchasing the property as part of the Motor Parkway Trail and working with the community on its development.

Brian Schneider, Assistant to Deputy Commissioner of Public Works in Nassau County, has stated; “Department of Real Estate Planning and Development reached out to Josato, Inc. and their attorney William Cohn several times over the last three years to initiate negotiations for the purchase of the property and were rebuffed each time”.

From Hold the Date 10/3/2012: Public Hearing on Rezoning the Site of the Levittown Grandstand & Press Box

From Mac:

“Henry well said that is my point. We dont need to dwell on some race or parkway.”

From Hold the Date 10/3/2012: Public Hearing on Rezoning the Site of the Levittown Grandstand & Press Box

From Henry:

“Chris:
Excellent point! Our declining population clearly demonstrates there is no need for high density-housing in Levittown.

Mac:
I agree with one statement you made: Levittown itself has secured a place in history.

“Levittown’s place in American cultural history is assured in part by the way each part of it was constructed: the site, the neighborhoods, the community, but most of all the individual houses’
- Peter Bacon Hales, Art History Department, University of Illinois at Chicago

Preserve Levittown as originally planned and developed: A suburban community of one-family dwellings as evidenced by various declarations of restrictions which were filed in the office of the County Clerk of Nassau County.

SPOT ZONING can’t be permitted!”

From Hold the Date 10/3/2012: Public Hearing on Rezoning the Site of the Levittown Grandstand & Press Box

From Mac:

“Chris I agree with you. Howard you are right history is in the eye of the beholder but I hardly believe a three year event held on Motor Parkway from 1908 - 1910 hardly holds any real historical value. If that was the case the same race was held at Roosevelt Raceway for the same amount of time and what happened there? If you want to get the town behind you they need to here facts about how their lives will change. How will this effect them directly? To ask people to get behind an obscure event from 100 years ago that wasnt even originated in Levittown but groundbreaking in Bethpage is a stretch. I would venture to guess 99 of 100 levittown residents would have no idea what you are talking about when mentioning the race or what the Levittwon Motor parkway. My guess is when asked about Levittown Motor Parkway they tell you thats where the town hall is. I do firmly believe this development shouldnt take place. perhaps if thsi historic site is so important and significant you can raise money to buy the land and convert it to a museum. But I dont think you would find enough support.”

From Hold the Date 10/3/2012: Public Hearing on Rezoning the Site of the Levittown Grandstand & Press Box

From Chris Wendt:

“You cannot fight this with the argument that “We don’t want Condos”.
Better if you arm yourselves with data that indicate the “We don’t NEED Condos”.

For example, here are the US Census population totals for Levittown NY, Census Designated Place (CDP), showing a significant and continuing decline in total population:

2010 51,881
2000 53,067
1990 53,286
1980 57,045
1970 65,419

I think this amply demonstrates that there is no need for high-density housing in Levittown, and no need to violate the LPRD zoning. But someone needs to put together the argument and the data, and present it at the hearing, both orally and in writing. Preferably the person or organization to do that will live in the immediate vicinity of the property in question.”

From Hold the Date 10/3/2012: Public Hearing on Rezoning the Site of the Levittown Grandstand & Press Box

From Henry:

“Paul:
The property size is135’ wide and 823.47’ deep.

Previously, the property owner proposed building houses on this property on substandard lots along substandard streets which was rejected at every level from the County Planning Commision, all the way up to the Court of Appeals in Albany, the highest court in New York state. They all upheld the LPRD zoning ordinance.

The owner’s business name has changed, but the property size or LPRD zoning has not. Josato, LLC is now applying for ‘special district’ business rezoning to undermine the LPRD and eliminate the ‘protection against piecemeal developement on scattered parcels which would change the well-ordered character that is Levittown’s trademark’.

Please help protect the LPRD ordinances and Levittown by expressing your disapproval of Josato’s plan in writing to the Board of Appeals, your TOH representatives and by attending the Sept 4 public hearing.”

From Hold the Date 10/3/2012: Public Hearing on Rezoning the Site of the Levittown Grandstand & Press Box

Here is how major publications reported on the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race:

From Harper’s Weekly, “A great American automobile victory…The Vanderbilt Cup race was won by an American car with an American driver at record speed.”

Motor Magazine was effusive in their celebration of this “completely American” success: “An American car, driven by an American, designed by an American, built in an American factory in one of the thirteen original States, won a really remarkable race and the first of the world’s big motor trophies to come to America.”

Other newspapers, such as The Automobile, asserted that, “America has finally come into its own…. ”

Motor Age said, “With Robertson’s victory came the recognition of America, and American cars, as premier factors in future road racing.”

From Hold the Date 10/3/2012: Public Hearing on Rezoning the Site of the Levittown Grandstand & Press Box

James,

Maple Cottage is now a private residence. It can be seen at the very end of Farm Lane in Lake Success and even behind some trees on Lakeville Avenue.

From Then & Now: Maple Cottage- The Locomobile Headquarters for the 1905 and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races

Gram and I visited the spot yesterday. Found the remnants of some broken posts deep into the side of the embankment. Mosquitos found us before we could explore more. Gram was thrilled to be able to drive along the small stretch of the Motor Parkway that survives now as an access road to the pool. We also saw your newly acquired Vanderbilt limo being worked on at the service station on Jericho. Gram noted that its current paint situation gives it sort of a “rat rod” look!

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series:#21 Willis Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge in Williston Park

I’m stumped as to the actual location now though…is it accessible? Visitable?

From Then & Now: Maple Cottage- The Locomobile Headquarters for the 1905 and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races

I was a caddy for nearly six years at the Fresh Meadows Country Club and yes, indeed, that property was a sketchy shared plt between the church and the club…there were remnants of foundations there for a few years and even some abandoned pump and gas station fragments in that same spot.

From The Lakeville Hotel In Lake Success

Hi Howard,
The car you need identified is a circa 1904 - 05 Franklin. Now referred to by current enthusiasts as the “cross engine”, as the engine sat across the chassis, not in line with it. Franklin had an ash wood frame chassis thru 1928 and were always air cooled. They were built in Syracuse , N.Y.
Walt G.

From The Lakeville Hotel In Lake Success

Great research! Fun reading.

From Then & Now: Maple Cottage- The Locomobile Headquarters for the 1905 and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races

I have a medallion exactly like the one illustrated that a friend found at an antique show in Indianapolis last year.

From Seven Upcoming Automotive Events (August 12-13, 2012) & A Mystery Medallion

Thanks for the great article and photos. I was able to zoom in on them with the macbook and see every detail. The number 5 car was getting a gearbox overhaul. On a ground cloth to keep parts clean I can make out from the left, the output shaft with bevel gear and large flywheel. Then there is the countershaft with possibly only two forward gears. Then I see the two wooden horses under the front axle and one has “Loco” written on it. Next is the left fender and strut that was removed for access. Then there is a wooden toolbox and a drain bucket is behind that. Next comes what I imagine is a large circular brake shoe the same size as the flywheel. Then there are some tools and rags, another bevel gear on a shaft and a large wooden box of spare parts with a shiny oil can in front of it. The last item to catch my eye is the wooden step ladder. It is fun to speculate and I like to imagine the chief engineer on the right is showing the owner a broken fastener and asking him to get a supply of new ones. Thanks Howard

From Then & Now: Maple Cottage- The Locomobile Headquarters for the 1905 and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races

I’m guessing it is a depiction of Orville Wright (of the Wright brothers) in a Ford race car with the medallion showing the connection and the friendship between Orville and Henry Ford.  Perhaps the medallion was issued to honor an anniversary of the first flight?

From Seven Upcoming Automotive Events (August 12-13, 2012) & A Mystery Medallion

Mac, since history is very much in the eye of the beholder, a look at the criteria for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places might be helpful:

To be considered eligible, a property must meet the National Register Criteria for Evaluation. This involves examining the property’s age, integrity, and significance.

• Age and Integrity. Is the property old enough to be considered historic (generally at least 50 years old) and does it still look much the way it did in the past?

• Significance. Is the property associated with events, activities, or developments that were important in the past? With the lives of people who were important in the past? With significant architectural history, landscape history, or engineering achievements? Does it have the potential to yield information through archeological investigation about our past?

http://www.nps.gov/nr/national_register_fundamentals.htm

In my opinion, based on these criteria, the start/finish grandstand site of the first American victory in a major automobile race, on the first road built exclusively for automobiles, on a property virtually unchanged from 104 years ago, would easily qualify as a state and national historic place.

From Hold the Date 10/3/2012: Public Hearing on Rezoning the Site of the Levittown Grandstand & Press Box

From Mac:

“I think the idea this is some historic site is nonsense to keep the developer from building. Why wouldnt where the initial groundbreaking be historic? It’s like saying Levittown itself is historic and in reality it is so we shouldn’t build. The last race was held there one hundred years ago and what has been done since? Can someone tell me what the historical significance is? With that said spot zoning cannot be allowed a development in that area could destroy the fabric and history of Levittown. This is not what levittown represents are what should be built.”

From Hold the Date 10/3/2012: Public Hearing on Rezoning the Site of the Levittown Grandstand & Press Box

Jerome,

The Queens Greenway built over the Motor Parkway is still in use and considered a treasure by the community:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/tag/tag/queens+greenway

From Original Survey Maps of the Long Island Motor Parkway Discovered!

From Henry:

“Why has preservation of this piece of American History with a park, celebrating the Long Island Motor Parkway, never been discussed? The historic site should not be compromised.

Open common green spaces in William Levitt’s original plan should be preserved. He had the foresight to build around this historic site, as well as other areas that all play an important role in feeding our water supply.  Legally, while the owner is obligated to invite concerned residents to a “public hearing” to express their views regarding the development of the property, there’s nothing truly “public” about a Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. meeting: It’s like winning the lottery for the lot owner and their lawyers. A fair representation of public concern is inhibited by the meeting time and place. The concerned citizens who are affected by the proposal and would like to participate, may not be able to take time off to attend. Also, the location may be restrictive to the disabled and seniors in the area.

It is the property developer’s responsibility to ‘Be a good neighbor’ and create a plan that adheres to the LRPD zoning ordinance, along with respecting the Long Island Motor Parkway historic site and the neighborhood. This rezoning meeting will affect our community’s future. Please attend the Hempstead Town Hall meeting to voice our opposition to this proposal.”

From Hold the Date 10/3/2012: Public Hearing on Rezoning the Site of the Levittown Grandstand & Press Box