About
The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
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Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
To add to my post I am happy that the owners kept the outline of the portico in the front door overhang and kept much of the styling (house width, window placement size and style) of their “historic” residence. Seen from Woodlawn Rd the old house outline is still there.
From Mystery Friday Foto #6 Solved: The Lake Ronkonkoma Lodge Structure
Very cool. Always fascinating when there is a Hollywood connection.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Actress Paulette Goddard in the 1930 Duesenberg J Murphy Convertible Sedan Berline #2448 J-399
That’s the Ronkonkoma Lodge for the LIMP. It was built in 1923 and located about 1/8 mile west of Lake Ronkonkoma. After the LIMP closed in 1938, it was moved about 150 feet north, off the LIMP right-of-way, and continued to be a residence for the last LIMP toll collector. The photo was taken around 2007 according to a previous blog post here.
From Mystery Friday Foto #6 Solved: The Lake Ronkonkoma Lodge Structure
A fascinating look back in time. I guess there is a beneficial purpose for AI afterall.
From Video of the Week: New York City 1880: The Lost World of the Gilded Age [AI Reconstruction]
Interesting! Thanks for sharing.
From Video of the Week: New York City 1880: The Lost World of the Gilded Age [AI Reconstruction]
The Ronkonkoma Lodge was built in 1922 where it stands today. It served as living quarters for the Gatekeeper and his family.
There was a significant expansion performed in 2012, adding a second story and expanding the first floor to the rear of the property. The photo was taken sometime before the this expansion.
The attached image, while from Google Maps, is what you would see if driving out of Woodlawn Rd to Motor Parkway. Too bad they lost those trees!
From Mystery Friday Foto #6 Solved: The Lake Ronkonkoma Lodge Structure
In this painting the flow and movement of the picture seems to stagnate. The wheels of #18 race car are perfectly round but other versions of this painting notice how the wheels are not round but forward moving ovals due to photographic recognition with slow film. The results is kinetically stimulating.
From Mystery Friday Foto #5 Solved: A Mystery Racing Painting of George Robertson in 'Old 16'
notice how the wheels are not round but forward moving ovals due to photographic recognition with slow film.
From Mystery Friday Foto #5 Solved: A Mystery Racing Painting of George Robertson in 'Old 16'
Quality time on the Motor Parkway! Thanks Brian!
From Kleiner's Korner: A Father and Son Connection to The Motor Parkway and Camp Upton
Imagining the conversation between them lol. Hey Dad, you want to work together in Construction? Well, I don’t know Son. My specialty is Tailoring. What the heck, let’s give it go! But yes, Dad started too late for building roads. But quality time spent : )
From Kleiner's Korner: A Father and Son Connection to The Motor Parkway and Camp Upton
Old 16 winning the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Peter Helck
Old 16, 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race, George Robertson
Esquire Magazine
Peter is the grandson of George Robertson - thanks for sharing Peter!
From Mystery Friday Foto #5 Solved: A Mystery Racing Painting of George Robertson in 'Old 16'
Yes Al. But he certainly did some work on the Parkway in some manner and used that experience as he developed hus career. That was my point.
From Kleiner's Korner: A Father and Son Connection to The Motor Parkway and Camp Upton
The painting’s title is “Robertson Comes Through” by by Peter Helck. It depicts a scene fom the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race with George Robertson driving the “Old 16” Locomobile. Originally commisioned for a 1944 issue of ESQUIRE magazine, it later was used on the dust jacket of Peter Helck’s book “The Checkered Flag”. Peter Shriver is George Robertson’s grandson.
From Mystery Friday Foto #5 Solved: A Mystery Racing Painting of George Robertson in 'Old 16'
“Robertson Comes Through”
Peter Helck
10/24/1908 Fourth Vanderbilt Cup race on Long Island, won by Geroge Robertson
George Robertson
Locomobile “Old 16”
1944 Peter Helck created a series of famous paintings depicting the thrill of auto racing for Esquire Magazine.
This painting was the cover of Peter Helck’s book The Checkered Flag.
From Mystery Friday Foto #5 Solved: A Mystery Racing Painting of George Robertson in 'Old 16'
Art, Could not find a record of employment of a Miller in the few Parkway payroll records I have of that time. Note the article does not say Rodney Miller was an employee of the Parkway. Perhaps he worked for the contractor of the Motor Parkway Inn, maybe for the builder of the Parkway ROW in that part of Suffolk County. I know its a stretch but he might have been hired by the Andrew Brothers Construction Company of Mineola who were oiling that part of the Parkway in 1911. All three possibilities fit the time frame of the March 29, 1912 article.
From Kleiner's Korner: A Father and Son Connection to The Motor Parkway and Camp Upton
Here’s Willie K.‘s 1912 NY registration for the 31665 plate on the car in the photo.
From Mystery Friday Foto #4 Solved: A Mystery ALCO Touring Car
A fun/happy feeling - especially when I couldn’t sleep! Dana has the gift and spirit!
Ann
From Song of the Week:Lyric Video “Along” by Dana Kyle Kroplick
My dad was stationed at Camp Upton for awhile before transferring to the 101st.
From Kleiner's Korner: A Father and Son Connection to The Motor Parkway and Camp Upton
Nice work. Great Motor Pkwy discussion thanks to Al, Greg, and Gerry! Much details were revealed in a limited amount of airtime. Hoping to hear more in the future of Motor Parkway’s operations and its influence on early Long Island
From Greg O. and Al Velocci discuss the Long Island Motor Parkway on LI News Radio 103.9 FM
My guess is that it is a circa 1909 Alco with a sporty body. It clearly has the Berliet style wheel hubs (the text unfortunately unreadable), but the radiator filler tube is already American style. The cover in front of the rear wheels is only for the front part of the rear springs, no sign of a chain. The engine seems to a 6 cylinder, judging by the length of the hood. Interesting are the front wings, which remind of the wings used on the 1905 Mercedes racers.
On the basis of my information I do not believe that the car was a former race car, but I cannot exclude that.
From Mystery Friday Foto #4 Solved: A Mystery ALCO Touring Car
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