Vanderbilt Cup Races

Correction, I confused ‘lodge’ and ‘toll booth’.  I assumed the current house was the latter.  My mistake. 

I guess there wasn’t another structure in that area then?

From Then & Now: The Ronkonkoma Lodge

Howard,
I took a ride at lunchtime today and stopped by the Ronkonkoma house at Woodlawn.  What I found really interesting was the fact that the front lawn - parallel to the current pavement yet elevated above it- was flat.  The lawns of the homes running on both sides of the house were also flat.  What I am saying is, based on the photo of the overhanging section of the original structure, the front lawn of the current house is probably the original parkway road surface.  It looks like the neighboring yards all were flat and part of that roadway too.  Today of course, the flat stretchs are broken by driveways but it was obvious that the yards all were aligned and level.

Just thought that was interesting! I wonder if you dug down in the lawn a little ways if you might find pavement!

By the way, where was the lodge in relation to the current house?  Further east?  West?  Just curious.

From Then & Now: The Ronkonkoma Lodge

This week I was going through old letters that my father had in a desk drawer and found a letter from Harry A. Clark, Jr. to my grandfather thanking hime for two old dusters my grandfather had dontated to the Museum in August of 1953.  In return for the donation, was a Patron’s Pass which was good for permanent admission to the Museum for my grandfather and one other person.  They were only given out to people who helped the Museum without personal benefit. 

My family was planning a trip to Sag Harbor in October and thought this would be an opportunity to check out some of our history. 

Sad to see the Museum was closed.

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

Thanks Howard! The photos are wonderful. We are going LIMP exploring with maps and photos in hand. Just bought your LIMP book!
Sara

From Then & Now: The Jericho Turnpike Motor Parkway Bridge and the Mineola Lodge

George Arents Jr was 5th at The 24 hours of Le Mans race 1960, on a Nart Ferrari 250 GT SWB n° 18, #1931GT, with Alan Conell Jr!
Hervé

From Driver Profile: George Arents Jr.

I visited the automotive museum with my family during a vacation in Hampton Bays in 1961, and I still recall the experience fondly. I loved the exhibits, and recall the fire engine ride through the adjoining woods. It is a shame that the facility closed.

From What was the Long Island Automotive Museum?

From Robert Miller describing his discovery:

I crawled inside the underpass/overpass several years ago and took some prints of the abutments—you can see 1911 cast into them—somewhat lime-encrusted, but legible.  There’s also one of the tubular metal railings which adorned the top of the bridge on the side, which has tossed under when it rotted off its uprights.

From The Lost Bridges of the Motor Parkway: The Wheeler Farmway Bridge in Queens

Hi Art:

Thanks for the link!

Howard

From A Map of the Long Island Motor Parkway & Queens Historical Sites

Steven, my website has additional info. regarding the location of the Motor Parkway with maps and pics. Feel free to take a look and contact me for more info.

Howard, hope you don’t mind me sharing here.
http://limparkway.webs.com/

From A Map of the Long Island Motor Parkway & Queens Historical Sites

Jean-Yves:

Good catch! The photos are now correct.

I have received many compliments on your website banner for VanderbiltCupRaces.com. Thanks, again!

Howard

From Starting Lineup- The 8 "N" Cars of the 1908 Nassau Sweepstakes

Hi Howard,
The picture show for #N6 (Cadillac) is actually the #N5 (Mitchell).
And the second picture for #N5 looks like the Cadillac #N6…(?) not sure, hard to say…

From Starting Lineup- The 8 "N" Cars of the 1908 Nassau Sweepstakes

Hi Jim:

Thanks for the memories!

Howard

From In Search of the Nassau Boulevard Toll Booth: Part III

Hi Andy:

Here is a link to the Then and Now for the Ronkonkoma Lodge:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/wednesday_september_15_2010_then_and_now_tthe_ronkonkoma_lodge

Howard

From The Ronkonkoma Lodge in 1930

Hi Bob:

Thanks for the feedback. I will provide history on the logo this weekend.

Enjoy,

Howard

From Cradle of Aviation to Host Vanderbilt Race Centennial Exhibit in October

Love the new banner on the website!

From Cradle of Aviation to Host Vanderbilt Race Centennial Exhibit in October

Hello
In one of your pictures of Vanderbilt cup races you show a Christie car No17 as being the 1906 car is this correct? as I thought that the 1906 Christie was the first V4 racer can you confirm which is correct please.
i am in the process of writing an article for a car club magazine on J Walter Christie

Cheers for now

Denis

From Was the "Man in the Leopard Coat" the Inspiration for Jay Gatsby?

Hi Tom:

I had no idea. Many high-society spectators and friends of the Vanderbilts wore their lastest fashions at the races.

Howard

From Was the "Man in the Leopard Coat" the Inspiration for Jay Gatsby?

Is that the largest sting ray ever? wow.

From Film "William K. Vanderbilt Jr.'s Eagle Nest Home"

Who did you originally think it was? Otherwise great to hear and identify the actual person. That is some coat!

From Was the "Man in the Leopard Coat" the Inspiration for Jay Gatsby?

Hi Larry:

How many cards do you have?

Howard

From Postcards from the Long Island Automotive Museum (#1-6)