Vanderbilt Cup Races

Able to fit this in your ‘Black Beast’ garage? It’s pack as is?

From Updated 12/7/2023: A Slice of Automotive History- a 1984 Tritan A2 Aerocar #5 is coming to the Waterfront at Roslyn Collection

Looks like they are building the main grandstand for the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup race.  The photographer is facing west and we also see the press box being built on the right.  Since we also know what direction the racers drove in, we know the orientation of the photographer.  The picture was probably taken in August or September of 1906.  The property across from the construction was the Hitchcock estate and is now a cemetery.

From Mystery Friday Foto #46; The 1906 Grandstands Under Construction

Looking forward to seeing this in person!

From Updated 12/7/2023: A Slice of Automotive History- a 1984 Tritan A2 Aerocar #5 is coming to the Waterfront at Roslyn Collection

Actually, there are two structures under construction: the grandstand for the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup race on Jericho Turnpike in Westbury and the associated press box / officials stand across the street in Old Westbury. Since the grandstand was on the south side of Jericho Turnpike, the photographer was facing west when he took the photo, probably in September, 1906. Behind the officials stand was the property of Thomas Hitchcock (Broad Hollow Farm) with its one mile horse track. Today, the Hitchcock property is the site of Queen of Peace Cemetery.

From Mystery Friday Foto #46; The 1906 Grandstands Under Construction

Hi, thanks for your interesting info about these plates. You mention that there are only about 90 known. New total is 92. I recently purchases two of the 1931 style plates.
thank You,
John Daino .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

From Updated: My Long Island Motor Parkway License Plate Collection (11/7/2025)

Thank you, Howard, for this look at a great book-find at Hershey! Looks like that’s starter Fred Wagner putting himself “on the line” waving in Louis Wagner as #10 raced over the finish line, in 1906. See Fred’s story at “Residence of the Starter of Five Vanderbilt Cup Races—Fred Wagner—Rediscovered in Smithtown” on VCR at https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/the_residence_of_the_starter_of_five_vanderbilt_cup_races_rediscovered_in_s

From A 1906 Souvenir Scrapbook sold at the 2023 Hershey RM Auction

Greg, Actually, there was a vehicle adapted for delivery of pizza back in the day. In the 1960’s it was known as the Ferrari Breadvan. Earlier, much earlier, my Uncle Alfa, ( I was named after him),  had adapted one for pizza delivery insulating the cabinet section. With:  MOMMA MIA PIZZERIA on both sides, he had it painted red with a white stripe down the middle and had a decal of a prancing horse on the hood signifying speedy delivery.

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved: Approaching the Merrick Ave. Bridge

Greg, I think we’re onto something!

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved: Approaching the Merrick Ave. Bridge

Just came across this bizarre website. Please accept me in this group! :D

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved: Approaching the Merrick Ave. Bridge

Art-
The Black Beast, while good for delivering milkshakes cold and well-shaken, might not be as good as a pizza delivery vehicle as there is no room for a pizza-warming oven. The speed of the Beast is problematic as well as the cheese tends to slide around on hairpin turns. Joe Tracy did have a patent for his ‘anti-cheese slide device’ fitted to the #7 Locomobile in 1905, but was deemed unsuitable when a spectator was severely burned by flying cheese on the Westbury turn.

However, there may be other cars better suited for pizza delivery. Maybe one day Howard can address this glaring hole in the car collection and find something, anything, that might be perfect for getting pizza to the masses in under 30 minutes.

Any ideas Howard?

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved: Approaching the Merrick Ave. Bridge

Art, ah yes, the famous chicken story. I was saving that for my next book on the Parkway, so… short story version now. At Deepdale Vanderbilt maintained large flocks of show fowl. His chickens won many awards. It was the dream of many chickens to be part of that fame. Unable to enter the Parkway at the entrance gates, ( no animals allowed), they would secretly “cross” the Parkway trying to get to Deepdale and sneak into the coops. It became such a problem that Vanderbilt opened a chicken facility in the Brookville/Muttontown area and… named the entrance road Chicken Valley Road hoping to draw chickens to this site. In fact ...Vanderbilt had flyers printed up highlighting this facility and had lodge keepers hand them out to chickens that showed up at the lodges.

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved: Approaching the Merrick Ave. Bridge

Thanks Al, now we have the “real” story!  But I’m still trying to find out why the chicken crossed the Motor Parkway.  Maybe it was trying to find out what road was Vander-“built”!  I knew there’s a connection between Howard and pizza!  Maybe the Black Beast or one of Howard’s other cars could be used to deliver pizza these days!  You never know!

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved: Approaching the Merrick Ave. Bridge

Art, Partly right, First, that is not my uncle on the right, it is THE Robert Moses checking out the competition, He had been just dropped off by a uber driver, Moses never had a driver license. While there, he noticed a bus passing under the Merrick Ave, bridge, It was at this time he decided to build lower height bridges on his Parkways, Moses also noticed that the uber driver gassed up before leaving, Hmm… thats is a good idea, As he was making notes, he detected an aroma of coffee from the lodge, going inside he spoke with the Lodge Keeper a Mister Dunkin Starbucks who pointed out that baked goods, fruits and sandwiches
were also available,  once again…. out came the notebook. Now… my uncle, Alfa Lancia. yes, he was part on the scenario but at the turn in Mineola, Sitting on the northeast corner of Jericho Tpke. and Willis Ave. is the Mineola Diner, At the time of the races it was a pizza parlor selling slices for five cents. Howard’s grandfather owned Krug’s Hotel at the time. At the end of the race the owners of the Black Beast who used the hotel as their headquarters, failed to pay their tab and .... long story short, thats how Howard ended owning the Black Beast.

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved: Approaching the Merrick Ave. Bridge

Not so preposterous. The chap in the foreground is standing besides the Meadow Brook lodge (out of view), likely a relative/guest of gatekeeper Sidney Jones at the time, whom was offered convenient sleeping quarters in the lodge the night before the big race. With no electricity, the “guest” is likely running on coffee after managing to heat up a cup on top of the lodge’s coal burning stove.

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved: Approaching the Merrick Ave. Bridge

looking east over merrick ave.  Ladenburg windmill, newbridge and stewart bridges can be seen

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved: Approaching the Merrick Ave. Bridge

Looking east over merrick ave.  Ladenburg windmill and newbridge ansd stewart bridges can be seen

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved: Approaching the Merrick Ave. Bridge

Many years ago I made my first visit to the Himes Museum. Marty and Reggie were wonderful in showing me around. I remember leaving with such excitement that I couldn’t wait for my next visits as there was far too much to see. My next visit was on a very hot August summer day when to my excitement I was told that it was Marty’s birthday; we’ll guess what, is was mine also. I was at Riverhead Raceway on November when it was announced that Marty had passed. Sad to know that this great man is no longer with us. I am truly honored to have spent time with Marty and Reggie.

From Update- Sad News: We have lost a Long Island racing icon and good friend Marty Himes

While the Gold Coast of the North Shore of Long Island garners the most attention from Babylon east to Bayport many of these same gentlemen had lavish country estates along the great South Bay. To name a few of the better known ones Southward Ho, Souithside Sportsmans Club, Bayard Cutting’s Westbrook, Vanderbilt’s Idle Hour and Commodore Bourne’s Indian Head Hall which was reputed to be the largest estate on Long Island.

From YouTube: The Top 15 Gold Coast Mansions of Long Island

Rita and I stopped by the memorial service Saturday and the Islip Speedway truck and Marty’s Ford race car were parked out front and a Suffolk police cruiser was parked on the shoulder w/ lights flashing. Inside were photos and banners of Marty and the museum, including the famous Wheaties cover photo. Marty we hope you got the checkered flag into heaven and your many friends were waiting for you. RIP

From InstaGRAM Report; Marty Himes and his Racing Career

The date of the picture is October 30th, 1909 and was taken during the Vanderbilt Cup Race.  The car is a Mercedes driven by Spencer Wishart who finished 4th when the race was called.  We are looking east at the overpass that carries the Motor Parkway over Merrick ave (Whaleneck ave).  In the distance we can see the windmill of the Ladenburg estate which substantiates this location.  The gentleman in the foreground is probably standing right in front of the Meadowbrook toll lodge.  I’m going to guess that the tall shadows he’s standing by might be the entrance sign post to the parkway.  This guy is standing within the boundaries of the course.  Unlike the rest of the observing public who are behind the fencing.  And with the billy club being held in his right hand his occupation is of course a law enforcement officer.  So if donuts were available to be had for breakfast in 1909 I’m going to say that’s what he ate for breakfast that morning.

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved: Approaching the Merrick Ave. Bridge