Vanderbilt Cup Races

From Robbi S:
“I’d like to thank you for the work you did! I did take a cursory look at the area nearest the school but have not yet found any remains.”

From Then & Now: The Motor Parkway near Burrs Lane, Half Hollow Hills

Just to the south of the bridge is a parking lot behind a business on Spagnoli Road. If anyone has a tall truck or other vehicle, someone could take a photo looking over the fence from that lot.

From Update: The Last Intact Motor Parkway Bridge in Suffolk County in the Melville Sand Pits

Perhaps a committee could be formed to look into ways of approaching the owners and working with them to preserve this historic
bridge.  Money is tight nowadays but perhaps Suffolk County could buy a strip of land parallel to the old LIMP Right of Way along the edge of the sand pits near the public road.  The historic bridge could be moved onto that strip and it could be part of a bicounty LIMP hiking and biking trail.  Groups like the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities (my former employer) and the Vanderbilt Museum (my current one) may offer help to this project.

From From the Ridolph Collection: The Motor Parkway Bridge in the Melville Sand Pits

Maybe a committee should be formed to look into ways of approaching the owners about preserving the LIMP bridge. Money is tight nowadays but perhaps the two counties could buy a strip of land parallel to the old LIMP route, move the bridge onto it, and make it part of the bi-county
LIMP Hiking and Biking Trail.  Groups like the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities (SPLIA) and the Vanderbilt Museum (my employer) might furnish some helpful advice regarding this.

From Update: The Last Intact Motor Parkway Bridge in Suffolk County in the Melville Sand Pits

I second Walt’s comment about Austin’s name.  I first met him in the early 1960’s just after Castro had appropriated the Cuban American Sugar company which was the origin of the family’s fortune.  We had many drinks together over time - during which he told me about his career as a spy during WWII.  He claimed to have been stationed in London.  His job was to frequent the bars and finger people with loose lips.  He claimed to have been picked for the job because his looks were ‘ordinary’.  A mutual friend said he looked like a grown up Campbell Kid.  Perfect. I vividly remember a ride in the Packard Twin-Six at the museum.  Also a show at Floyd Bennett field where he rounded up an assortment of enthusiasts (me included) and took us home to Glen Cove for an impromptu party to the intense annoyance of his wife.  I met Peter Helck at that party and have a nice letter from him as a souvenir of the occasion.  The most knowledgable old car guy I ever met.

From Old Cars Weekly Article: "Always Austie: Remembering old car hobby icon Henry Austin Clark, Jr."

I worked for Austin as his librarian at his home in Meadow Spring for two straight years in the mid 1970s and during vacation time from teaching until his demise. Although he is referred to as"Austie” in articles and in person by some he never called himself that name during the nearly 25 years we were close friends. He always introduced himself as Austin when he called on the phone or met someone for the first time. We shared many ‘adventures’ together: attending AACA annual meetings in Philadelphia,SAH meetings at Hershey, trips into MADSACAS, IMPA meetings in NY City or to Jimmy Ryans jazz club on 54th St. until it closed because they sold the building. Iron Range Days were by invitation (phone call or post card) that Austin enlisted my help to do, and were open to friends who could in turn invite friends they could trust. It was great to go to luncheons at the Main Maid Inn to join Rudy Creteur of Rollston or be on the same team of people with him (including Walter McCarthy) in the Long Island Old Car Club that for decades hosted runs and dinners to celebrate the anniversaries of the various Vanderbilt Cup Races.The last major one we worked on was in 1988. I was the one who made up the bid paddles for him for his last car auction. This year marks the 20th anniversary of his passing, and I still miss my friend Austin. He was my mentor and an inspiration.

From Old Cars Weekly Article: "Always Austie: Remembering old car hobby icon Henry Austin Clark, Jr."

It is likely the owners want the option of taking down this historic bridge in the future without inference from the public.

Howard

From Update: The Last Intact Motor Parkway Bridge in Suffolk County in the Melville Sand Pits

I drove through this intersection commuting to work from 1977 to 2001 and never knew it was part of the 1905 Vanderbilt Race Course. Thanks for preserving this important moment of Long Island history.

From Then & Now: The 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race "S Turn" in Albertson

Perhaps, like a lot of property owners, they are reluctant to have people wandering around on their property because of potential liability in case of an accident or injury.  Or maybe they are afraid that they will be asked about restoring it etc.

From Update: The Last Intact Motor Parkway Bridge in Suffolk County in the Melville Sand Pits

Hello,
How come the owner will not let you on the property to check? It doesen’t seem like that big of a deal. The history aspect of it seems large enough to allow you acess?

From Update: The Last Intact Motor Parkway Bridge in Suffolk County in the Melville Sand Pits

From Mitch Kahn:

“As a kid growing up in Glen Oaks I’d squeeze through the fence where 74th Avenue dead ended at the southwest corner of the golf course and was fascinated by this “road with no cars”. Only years later did I learn what it was.”

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series: #12 The Vanderbilt Farmway Bridge in Queens

From Joey Tabaco:
“This was the 1st section of the LIMP that we found as preteen kids in the mid 50s, right behind LIJ and what is now the North Shore Towers Golf Course. The LIMP roadbed was still intact but the underpass at the bridge had already been burried.”

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series: #12 The Vanderbilt Farmway Bridge in Queens

maybe the owners of the sandpit had their own idea of what an “intact bridge” consisted of. i. e. the evidence of a deck.

From Update: The Last Intact Motor Parkway Bridge in Suffolk County in the Melville Sand Pits

It looks GREAT!!!

From Highlights from the 3rd Clean Up the Old Bethpage Motor Parkway Bridge Day &Tonight's LIMPPS Meeting

The old pictures add so much to any written commentary. The yesterday and today shots tell as story all their own.  Just terrific.Thanks
        Respectfully
            Noel Gish

From Presentation "Motor Parkway: From Round Swamp Road to Broad Hollow Road" on Tuesday, December 6th

Really kind of a shame all that beautiful area has been torn up. That must have been some estate for Willie K.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series: #12 The Vanderbilt Farmway Bridge in Queens

Howard great job on the film where are some of the European cars that were in the race?

From Film "The Greatest Vintage Automobile Event Ever Held on Long Island"

When was it that the Marmon Wasp threw a rod? I thought it was on the parade lap, no? Whatever, it did throw a rod at some point and is currently being rebuilt.

From The Dramatic Story of the Marmon Wasp During the 2011 Indy 500 Parade Lap

Very proud of everyone who donates their time and energy to keep alive such a valuable part of our automotive history.
Thank you

From Third Clean Up the Old Bethpage Motor Parkway Bridge Day Scheduled for Saturday, December 3, 2011

Hi Howard, I drove your ALCO in England in 1988 when Ed Hubbard owned it . I was working at Ivan Dutton’s Bugatti shop. The Alco was at Ed’s museum on the Fruit Farm, right next to Stanly Mann’s Bentley shop.
The LIOCC held a reenactment lunch and tour of the Vanderbuilt Cup race at the Maim Maid Inn about 1988. Old 16 was there with Jerry Helk. Austin Clark asked him to bring the car. Austin owned the car years before and sold it to Peter Helk.
One evening ,30 years ago, I was told to stop by tap room on the corner of 106 and 25A to see the pictures of the Vanderbuilt Cup race routes.They were hung hi around the perimeter of the room so I was looking up at them when an elderly lady,very well dressed, said to me ,“what are you looking at”? So I turned to explain to her about the race routes. She said,“oh, I remember that. My father took me to them when I was a little girl.” I must have talked with her for an hour in awe.  There’s more to that wonderful visit of chance. Jeff

From A Vanderbilt Cup Race Physician and the Jericho Friends Meeting House