Vanderbilt Cup Races

My vote goes to the Levittown section, where the original grandstand stood.  It is more central than the Bethpage and Great Neck sections.

From Opportunity to Provide Input on the Motor Parkway Trail

What is meant by “developed”? Perhaps restoration of all the remaining roadway with it’s features - maybe a couple of bridges; rest stops for hikers, interpretive kiosks or even a toll house/museum. Think Big.

From Opportunity to Provide Input on the Motor Parkway Trail

Nice to see the piece about Christie, Howard.

His work on tank suspension systems was remarkable.  A grossly underrated genius.

ROBERT

From Driver Profile: John Walter Christie: Front-Wheel Drive Pioneer

The US Army rejected the Christie design. Notice the angled front end. In the actual event, the Russians adopted the design for their tanks during WWII. The angled design was much better than the customary vertical design in deflecting or reducing the impact of shells, which played a major role in the Battle of Kursk. So in an odd way, Christie had a major role in WWII.

From Driver Profile: John Walter Christie: Front-Wheel Drive Pioneer

What should be saved in LI? Any portion that would provide the public with the easiest access. I guess Great Neck South would be closed to the public for most of the time. Would Bethpage also be closed most of the time?  Is there any way to join the right of way on the State bicycle path that cuts through Woodbury (the old right of way for the never built Bethpage State Parkway) with the remains of the parkway as a deadend spur?

From Opportunity to Provide Input on the Motor Parkway Trail

Talk about diligence and passion, I loved it, one of the best.  Hope to visit next summer when the Black Beast is in action.

From "Black Beast" a Hit on Broadway

Keep in mind that if any of this land is owned by a municipality and has been used for recreational purposes, selling it off could be considered an alientation of parkland.  Alienations of land are not just for land that is designated parkland, but could include land that by use is considered parkland. 

Here is the link:
http://www.nysparks.state.ny.us/publications/
Look under Guidance and Policy Documents

From Opportunity to Provide Input on the Motor Parkway Trail

The easternmost section, east of Bethpage State Park that Sam mentioned, would also be a nice segment as long as we mark the short on-street section from Bethpage to Battle Row so people can find their way to it. I believe the section within BSP is already going to be renovated as part of the state plan to extend the Bethpage Bikeway so we need to check on the status of that project and if in fact they are still going to cover the entire original route through the park and make the proper repairs to the 60 or so foot missing part of that banked curve. The state already installed a new opening in the fence at Joann and Schoolhouse where the parkway exits the park. And we recently spotted some intact pavement north of the old Botto fence under the decades of overgrowth that was cleared, chances are more is buried under the leaves and soil. The sections east of BSP are also on county owned parkland and do not have any LIPA poles located on the right of way.

Great Neck South HS would also be a great site but only if we can make it contiguous all the way over to Herricks HS, which would cover a few miles.
The old right of way (and much of the original roadbed) already exists, we just need to figure out how to get safely across the Northern State Parkway.
I think we’ll need more funding for that, but we can only hope that we’ll find it sooner rather than later. Once we have an agreement with LIPA, that segment merely needs stripping and resurfacing in most spots. The type of power pole there are typical wooden poles used along roadsides.

The area west of Bethpage State Park including Deadman’s curve is still my favorite for reasons including connectivity to contiguous pathways at Bethpage Bikeway, historical and engineering significance, and threat of loss by neglect or encroachment. One adjacent house seems to have part of his yard extended onto the west side of the curve by a few feet.

Of course extending the trail eastward from the Wantagh Parkway is also a good idea for trail connectivity but it has little original roadway and little danger of loss of right of way at this point. So while we’d be thrilled to see any segment built, that just west of Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway section including the curve will remain my personal first choice.
Thanks again!

Denis

From Opportunity to Provide Input on the Motor Parkway Trail

I favor Great Neck South (Lakeville to Northern State) at the west end and Battle Row Campground (Round Swamp to Sweet Hollow-Spagnoli) and Old Bethpage Village Restoration (Sweet Hollow-Spagnoli to the County Line) at the east end.  Those segments are simply gorgeous and also require relatively little work.

Also, are we restricted to only one segment?  If only one, I’d prefer the east end.  Where does this leave us in regard to the urgencies, such as Deadman’s Curve?

Of course, the northern (Botto) segment in Bethpage State Park is already 98% clear and improved and magnificent, so we should help the State to monument their segment and open the fence at JoAnn and Schoolhouse at the same time as the County presents the pilot section.

Having so stated, I am truly thrilled that ANY segment will be upgraded and offered up for the public to enjoy.

From Opportunity to Provide Input on the Motor Parkway Trail

Hi Robert:

Thanks so much for the New York Times article. The speeding incident happened one day before William Luttgen drove in the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race.

Enjoy,

Howard

From Driver Profile: William Luttgen Part I: The 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race

We want to thank you, on behalf of all of our members, for the incredible presentation that you gave yesterday.

Howard, your enthusiasm, and your “you are here” - on Jericho Turnpike or Glen Cove Road - descriptions of the racing action, interspersed with a perfect selection of contemporary film clips, made for an extraordinary experience for everyone attending. You made the whole era alive and vibrant.

Thank you, too, for all your effort in bringing your Beast into Manhattan. We can appreciate what it took to do that.


Warmest regards,

Bruce and Genia

From "Black Beast" a Hit on Broadway

Times have changed.  Here is an interesting tidbit published in the New York Times on October 7, 1904:

ARREST WORMSER CHAUFFEUR.

Banker’s Racer, Policeman Said, Was Going Thirty Miles an Hour.

Special to The New York Times.

  Jamaica, N.Y., Oct. 6. - Chauffeur William Luttgen, who is in the employ of Isidor Wormser, Jr., one of the entrants for Saturday’s automobile race over Nassau County roads was arrested here this afternoon for overspeeding.  Luttgen is an expert chauffeur.  In a huge racing car with a large white perforated front, upon which the number 18 had been painted in figures 18 inches high, Luttgen and a machinist had been over the course and were returning to the city. 
  Even if it be proved that No. 18 exceeded the speed limit, it will not be barred out of Saturday’s race, it is said, as the owner was not in it, and as the machine was not on the race course.

From Driver Profile: William Luttgen Part I: The 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I have one of the Warner Auto-Meter like the one on your web site (link below), except the housing is black. It has a serial number 85204 on it. Is there any way to find out what kind of car in went on.
Thank YoRick

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/picture/blog_images/speedometer-_Warner_edited-1

From The "X" Mercedes Comes to Roslyn for the 1905 Race

Great news Howard, 
Its about time.  However, I’ve been told by my local Town of Hempstead Councilman that even though the funding for the master plan was approved (and now having been awarded), there is no guarantee that funding will be available for actual construction. But I guess that will be our next fight.  At least we’ve won Round 1!

And thanks for the on-going updates to the blog - much appreciated.

From The Long Island Motor Parkway Trail Update- July 10, 2009

Thanks Al, for the info on 74th Street. I would’ve gotten back sooner, but I lost this page, and forgot where I posted! Thanks Howard, for providing the link to “Recent updates to older posts” in your latest email. Without that, I would never have gotten back! PS: is it possible to search for posts by poster’s name or email address?

From Motor Parkway from Little Neck Parkway to Marcus Avenue Part II

Outstanding! Good luck!

From Howard Kroplick and the "Black Beast" Invited to the Chowder Society

A professional shot of this trophy would be great for your book!

From The 1910 Massapequa Sweepstakes Trophy Makes an Appearance

Besides the car, it is interesting to see the “Keystone Kops” of that era.

From Film "100th Anniversary of the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race"

Have you folks ever seen HistoricAerials.com ?  It’s a neat little resource.  (if you haven’t already checked it out)

From Motor Parkway from Little Neck Parkway to Marcus Avenue Part II

Howard,
Looking at this foto—yet again, as the tracks were on the West side of Broad Hollow Road, this ivew then must be looking South? 
Page 54 of “The Cross-Island Line”, Vincent Seyfried, shows the trolley line on the West side by Walt Whitman’s birthplace, which would put the smaller opening to the West, the right side of the above picture, ergo looking South?
Any fotos further South, or East crossing Ruland Road area?
Edith

From The Motor Parkway Bridge over Broad Hollow Road in Melville