Vanderbilt Cup Races

Bravo Howard. Job well done. Wonderful film.

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

I was raised in the Quaker church in Westbury.The pictures brought back memories of cold winter Sundays in the old meeting house. Thanks for the memories.

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

Walter:

Thanks again for the film and your assistance in identifying the cars.

Which of the cars were owned by Austin Clark but were listed under employee’s or friend’s names? The 1915 White Calliope was ccertainly one. Right?

Howard

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

Jeremy:

I was thinking the same thing when putting the film together. Where are these cars 57 years later?

I also notices that the spectators’ cars parked on Jericho Tunpike are now highly collectible!

Howard

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

Howard is not only researching & writing about our history and heritage. He is showing us how we are a part of it and how we all belong to history. Long Island history, American history, world history. It was absolutely my pleasure to be a part of this work. Thanks Howard!

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

Hi Howard, Great job on the 1954 film!  All captions were correct as noted in the program, but it should probably be noted that Austin Clark owned 8 or 10 of the cars at the event.  He would loan cars to employees and friends for special events to make the event more successful.  Regards,  Walter Mc

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

Wonder how many of those old cars are still around esp the 1897 Delahyde Brake and the early 1909 Mercedes.

Some of the other cars that were not tagged looked familiar though id need to go through some pricing and manufactures catalogs to track them down. Thankfully you can do this easily on Google since they digitized alot of early books.

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

From Ramona:
“Great footage. I enjoyed it. My grand daddy serviced Ward Melville’s vehicles back in the day. Thanks for sharing !”

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

Paul:

Thanks for the amazing photos. I will feature them next week.

Howard

From What Hampered the Marmon Wasp During 2011 Indy 500 Parade Lap

Hi Jim: It is a pleasure. I hope to have a film of the event with your grandfather driving the 1910 Simplex Speed Car.

Howard

From The 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race on October 9, 1954

Hi Ken:

The Motor Parkway was a concrete surface later covered by asphalt. The Motor Parkway was on top of the Old Bethpage Motor Parkway Bridge.

Howard

From Heavy Equipment Crew Visits the Old Bethpage Motor Parkway Bridge

From Ann:

“Great job on the cleanup on the bridge at the Restoration Village. My son has been excited about being a part of the clean up.”

From Heavy Equipment Crew Visits the Old Bethpage Motor Parkway Bridge

I remember and saw the car when it was stored at the Long Island Automotive Museum and took photographs of it when it was there in storage. The paint was checked, but there was no paint loss, and if the paint was still in the condition now as it was then, you would preserve and conserve it , not repaint it. A rare car indeed, but not for the faint of heart as a restoration project, and I would estimate between $300k to $450k to restore the car properly - the plating alone will be $25K.

From Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum Selling a Special 1937 Chrysler Imperial

Its been SOOOO rewarding to be a part of the revitalization of the LIMP as it passes through Old Bethpage Village.

Can’t wait to hook up with the next phases as they come to being.

From Heavy Equipment Crew Visits the Old Bethpage Motor Parkway Bridge

Great job to all who have participated. Thanks for saving a piece of history!

From Heavy Equipment Crew Visits the Old Bethpage Motor Parkway Bridge

great job of work. Congratulations to all who participated.  What was the original paving material used on the Vanderbilt motor parkway?  I suppose something might be considered to restoring the road way at least to prevent the return of unwanted growth.  Also, I suppose a dumb question did the original parkway go over or under the bridge?

From Heavy Equipment Crew Visits the Old Bethpage Motor Parkway Bridge

Howard, thanks for posting these memorable photos.  I remember being there with my Dad and Grandfather.  I was almost 10 years old.

From The 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race on October 9, 1954

From Dave M:

“Although I probably will never see the overpass in person, it is great to see history preserved.

Howard, you bring a lot of joy to peoples’ lives.

Have a nice Thanksgiving!”

From Heavy Equipment Crew Visits the Old Bethpage Motor Parkway Bridge

From Jeffry S:

“Hope all is well. I just viewed the video you and the Black Beast being chauffered around Indy by Emerson Fittipaldi. I can only imagine that it was truly an experience of a lifetime!! “

From More Memories: Return of the Alco Racer to the Indy 500

All Long Islanders, historians and car enthusiasts alike, are deeply indebted to the efforts of Tom Abbe for preserving the heritage of the Quaker’s role in the Underground Railroad and the importance of maintaining historical buildings along the route of The Vanderbilt Cup Races.

From Preserving the Maine Maid Inn and the Vanderbilt Cup Races