Vanderbilt Cup Races

Art:

Thanks for the information. The residents who live on this strip oppose any development. Last year, I made a presentation to the Nassau County Planning Commission and strongly recommended that this area would make a perfect historical greenway park.

Enjoy,

Howard

From Film "The Levittown Vanderbilt Cup Race Grandstand"

Wow - what a find; can’t wait to see more!!!

From Original Survey Maps of the Long Island Motor Parkway Discovered!

Thanks for the Levittown clip, Howard.  As a Levittown resident, I’m keenly aware of the Grandstand area and go back every once in a while to keep tabs on what’s happening there.  Over the last few months I’ve found out that the developer that has been looking to put homes on the site for the last 20 years or so is at it again.  They would like to erect 4 homes on the Crocus Lane side of the grandstand area - I have friend who is a Town of Hempstead Councilman keeping tabs on it for me, and I hope to be notified when any zoning hearings are held.  Levittown has some special regulations that have to be approved before building (so as to keep the flavor of the suburbs), even outside of the Town regulations, so hopefully any development, even only 4 homes, will be blocked. 

This was taken from the Levittown Tribute back in Feb. ‘09:

“President Morrow also read a letter from attorney William Cohn, representing the Josato Company (formerly Terra Homes), asking the LPOA to arrange a special meeting at the Levittown Library with residents adjacent to the section of the Old Vanderbilt Motor Parkway near Crocus Lane to discuss the company’s new plans for building four houses on the property. All require variances for insufficient lot width. The company has unsuccessfully submitted various plans since 1984. The LPOA voted unanimously against this latest proposal at its Oct. 14, 2008 meeting. In this instance, as in the past, the variances again conflict with the standards set forth in Levittown’s unique zoning law, the “LPRD” (Levittown Planned Residence District). President Morrow advised that the LPOA would ask the library for this accommodation.”

From Film "The Levittown Vanderbilt Cup Race Grandstand"

Howard—I have the original sheet music of “Somewhere in the World” from The Venderbilt Cup as sung by Elsie Janis. There’s a nie B&W portrait of her on the front cover but, alas, no car illustrations at.
Cheers,
Dave Brownell

From Hear the Star of the Broadway Musical "Vanderbilt Cup" Sing!

Hi Peter;

Great to hear from you. We need to team up your Mustang with my 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350-H!

Howard

From Alco-6 Racer Captures a "Most Outstanding" Award at the Greenwich Concours D'Elegance

Hi, thank you for all..

Can you tell me the name of the wife of Harry Grant?

From Driver Profile: Harry Grant -Winner of the 1909 & 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races

Hi Pat:

Great to hear from you. Hope all is well in Florida.

I definitely would like to receive the photo. Please send it to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Enjoy,

Howard

From The Motor Parkway Bridge over Broad Hollow Road in Melville

Hi John:

The current engine in the restored Alco-6 Black Beast Racer is believed to be the one used in its last major race in the 1911 Elgin Trophy Race. The prior engine used in the Vanderbilt Cup Races was replaced just prior to the 1911 Indy 500 Race. I am not sure if the Elgin Race had the 600 cid max like the Vanderbilt Cup Races.

Thanks for sending the Greenwich photos! Much appreciated!!

Howard

From The Alco-6 Black Beast Racer Brochure for the Greenwich Concours

Hello Howard
I would like to attend/participate in the July 26 event at roosevelt field,and intend to bring newly restored and rare (4 roadworthy samples left in USA) 1956 Jaguar XK 140 MC Coupe with factory installed automatic transmission.
I will however be out of the country for a few weeks from 20 June and may not get a chance to submit my entry application until my return on 15 July. Can this message be acepted as myprovisionary entry?
Thank you for your consideration.
Best regards
Dr. Klaus W. Nielsen

From 2009 Vanderbilt Centennial Events

Hey Howard

Love your toy, mines a ‘65 Mustang convertible.

Want to trade???

Best,

Pete Bilella

From Alco-6 Racer Captures a "Most Outstanding" Award at the Greenwich Concours D'Elegance

Thanks for the comments.It was a fun event.

Howard

From Alco-6 Racer Captures a "Most Outstanding" Award at the Greenwich Concours D'Elegance

Please advise why the March 4, 1996 “Autoweek” article reprinted in the brochure prepared for the 6/6/2009 Greenwich Concours mentions that the Berliet-ALCO chassis was released with a 580-cid 6-cylinder engine, which was within the 600-cid Vanderbilt Cup engine size limit. This conflicts with the stated engine size (680-cid) of the car displayed at the 6/6/2009 Greenwich Concours. I have available 4 photos (taken with flash fill) of this car at Greenwich the morning of 6/6/2009. Please advise if you are interested in viewing them. Thank you very much.

From The Alco-6 Black Beast Racer Brochure for the Greenwich Concours

I am distantly related to the Whitney family and currently doing some research of my geneology. My grandmother was Daisy Whitney born in Maybinton,S.C. on October 10,1888. She was instrumental in my interest with our family history. I have many old letters and notes from family reunions that she wrote and would like to pass all this on down to my children. Any information on any relatives of the Whitney family would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

From Six Degrees of Separation: The Vanderbilt Cup Races and the New York Mets

Hi Howard.

Thanks for the photo credit. In the old B&W photo, who is the man in the car? I can tell you it is not Fisher. I have never seen a picture of Weidley.

From The Premier Vanderbilt Cup Racer that Never Raced

Howard:
Thanks for sharing your terrific day.
Be well,
Tom

From Alco-6 Racer Captures a "Most Outstanding" Award at the Greenwich Concours D'Elegance

Howard, I have in my collection another picture of the Broadhollow Road LIMP bridge. It’s from further to the left, and closer. It was taken in 1945. Since the parkway had been closed about 7 years, no maintenance had been done. The “entrance” words are almost indistinguishable by this time. Let me know if you would be interested in having a copy.  -pat

From The Motor Parkway Bridge over Broad Hollow Road in Melville

George:

Thanks! I enjoyed giving the presentation.Over $200 was raided for Child Abuse Prevention Services.

Howard

From Video: "Alco-6 Black Beast Restoration Update"

Malcolm:

Great to hear from you! I showed an initial proof of the film to Jerry Helck last week. He remembers this race when he served as Tracy’s mechanician at the age of 15. I hope to post the film later this month.

Howard

From Joe Tracy and Old 16's Last Great Victory

Hi Howard.

A point on driver’s championship standings in the early days: they were fabricated after the fact. There is a long story behind this, but AAA PR directors (Val Harsnape in the ‘20’s and Russ Catlin in the ‘50’s) both practiced revisionist history for whatever promotional advantage they thought they could derive from doing so. This is a big controversy among auto racing historians, but the truth is that the first official national championship determined by points (previously, some Motor Age had selected, subjectively their choice of champion) came in 1916 with Dario Resta. With WWI the next championship did not come until 1920. Even then, Catlin tried to change the result at some point during the 1950’s to move Tommy Milton into the champion’s slot. The whole thing is unfortunate because much of this confusion persists today.

From Eddie Rickenbacker: America's Ace of Aces and Vanderbilt Cup Participant

Hi Howard.

Congratulations! Bette Noir looks beautiful!

From Alco-6 Racer Captures a "Most Outstanding" Award at the Greenwich Concours D'Elegance