Vanderbilt Cup Races

Since it’s a “parkway bridge” very close to railroad tracks, I think it’s the LIMP going over Newbridge Road. We are looking north with the Central Branch LIRR in the foreground. Probably around September, 1908. Just a wild guess but could the car be a De Dietrich touring?

From Mystery Friday Foto #15 Solved: The Newbridge Road Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1908

This is the Newbridge rd bridge that carried the Motor Parkway over it.  The photographer is facing north because we know that the Central Railroad tracks were just south of the Motor Parkway.  This picture was taken in August of 1908.  Now onto the hard part.  That car.  I have finally settled on thinking that this car might very well be a 1908 Thomas Flyer model F.  I didn’t attach a supporting photo but through my research enough points of comparison match up.  The way the front and rear fenders curve.  How the headlights sit between the grill and the fenders.  The strapped on spare tire on the passenger side.  And the way the front edge of the curved dashboard lines up with the curve of the hood of the car.  Of course I could be wrong and this is just a Buick model 10 that’s missing it’s front emblem.

From Mystery Friday Foto #15 Solved: The Newbridge Road Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1908

The car is the Hotchkiss belonging to Jefferson deMont Thompson, chairman of the Vanderbilt Cup Commission. Thompson was apparently a Hotchkiss addict, as he is shown in several Hotchkiss cars on a series of photos available in the Detroit Public Library archive. On the mystery photo he is probably inspecting the 1908 race course. A slightly better photo of the same car was published in The Automobile of October 22, 1908 (a week before the race), showing Thompson at the wheel of his Hotchkiss with Major Crowley of the Irish Brigade, in charge of the protection of the Vanderbilt Cup race course.
The Hotchkiss is clearly ‘americanized’ with its roadster-type fenders and what looks like a toy-tonneau body.

From Mystery Friday Foto #15 Solved: The Newbridge Road Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1908

Mark, East Northport post office, but Commack SD, FD, AD.  Not quite as confusing.

In regards to the pavement, when I think about most roads back then, I get that this was an improvement over them - added to the fact you could soon go quite a distance.

From Kleiner's Korner: Constructing Three Motor Parkway Extensions

Bethpage
Stewart Ave Bridge w/ Central RR Branch in foreground
Looking North
August 1908

From Mystery Friday Foto #15 Solved: The Newbridge Road Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1908

Art- I heard from two guys at a vintage car club meet debating of similar crazy situation of Floral Park, School district, Post Office, Police force, property tax, etc. etc. depending on where you live could be a sticky situation. The other evening one of gent I saw who had that debate telling me the other gent was not living in Floral Park as he claimed, closer to Elmont! OH! Something new I learned.

From Kleiner's Korner: Constructing Three Motor Parkway Extensions

Sorry Mark but even though moving away recently I did spend 38 years in the area.  Substation and FD Company 3 are both in Levittown as their addresses show. 

My home (a few blocks north) had a Levittown zip code (but not a Levitt home)but my kids went to East Meadow schools (some actually were in Westbury), paid taxes to East Meadow and water supplied by Hicksville Water District. 
Kind of mixed up but that’s LI!  Lol

From Kleiner's Korner: Constructing Three Motor Parkway Extensions

The photo shows the Locomobile stand at the Chicago National Motor Show, held between 6 and 13 February 1909. On the left of course the winner of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup, which is visible next to the car. The cup on the right was won by George Robertson in the Fairmount Park races on 26 September 1908, just a month before the Vanderbilt Cup. At which event and by whom the smaller cup in the middle was won, is not known to me.

From Mystery Friday Foto #14 Solved: Old 16 at the 1909 Chicago National Motor Show

Hey Art, you forgot where your old neighborhood located? That old Borrow Pit now a electrical substation is in East Meadow! Note the East Meadow Fire Department 3 in the middle of the picture. Levittown located way east of this location.

From Kleiner's Korner: Constructing Three Motor Parkway Extensions

As an avid F1 fan, I’ve always admired Ferrari’s F1 cars. They’re not just machines, they’re works of art on wheels.

From Video of the Week: Ferrari F1 Pit Stop Perfection

I was at the library this past Friday April 7, I was very impressed with the two display cases, it was so professionally presented! I’m glad to know the Tucker Lady as we’re both members of the GNYR/AACA club.

From Greg O's Garage: A New Tucker Display at the Huntington Public Library by Dr. Meredith Jaffe

Great find and information, Art. Think those of us familiar with the LIMP realize that the location of the former Borrow Pit became a Electric Substation for Lilco and now PSEG LI. Below is the definition of Apposite, seems relevant : )

From Kleiner's Korner: Constructing Three Motor Parkway Extensions

The racer is the 120 HP Locomobile, “Old 16”, winner of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup the previous October with George Robertson driving. The date of the photo is sometime between February 6, 1909 and February 13, 1909. It was taken at the Chicago Automobile Show during that week. Also in the photo are two racing trophies on display. On the left is the aforementioned Vanderbilt Cup. To its right is the Founders Week Cup, also won by George Robertson in a Locomobile, although not “Old 16”. That race, also in October of 1908, was run at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia.

From Mystery Friday Foto #14 Solved: Old 16 at the 1909 Chicago National Motor Show

The race car is of course the “Old 16” Locomobile.  Winner of the 1908 VCR.  This photo was taken between February 6th to February 13th 1909.  The dates of the Chicago Auto show where this picture was taken.

From Mystery Friday Foto #14 Solved: Old 16 at the 1909 Chicago National Motor Show

I recognize the racer as “Old 16,” the 1906 Locomobile that was the first American car to win the Vanderbilt Cup race in 1908.

I’m taking a guess here: Is it a New York Auto Show at Madison Square Garden? (This year’s show opens today.)

From Mystery Friday Foto #14 Solved: Old 16 at the 1909 Chicago National Motor Show

On a recent trip to the AACA Museum in Hershey Pa, I saw the award for Preston Tucker from when he was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1999.
So glad to see it in person.
Wish the picture was better but the Award was in a Glass display case.

From Article: Never Give Up. Lessons learned from Preston Tucker, creator of one of the most innovative cars in American history.

Just so wonderful to see this. I hope to get out to see the exhibit in person this month. Meredith is a great lady, sincere genuine enthusiasm for her interests in automobiles. Her Dad was a great friend of mine, I admired his artwork - he was a former G.M. designer in the early 1950s. Excellent to see a female that is interested in automobiles and automobile history - not enough of that at all.

From Greg O's Garage: A New Tucker Display at the Huntington Public Library by Dr. Meredith Jaffe

Agreed, Unfortunate accident. Appears no other racer was involved, and likely not. With the new pneumatic tire development, a blow-out is possible that can be controlled to an extent, but teamed with wooden spokes can quickly diminish control. Steering linkage failure is usually catastrophic. Thanks again Ariejan Bos.

From Mystery Friday Foto #13 Solved: #J13 Maxwell and #G28 Sharp-Arrow competing in the 1908 Sweepstakes at the Bloomingdale Road Motor Parkway Bridge

Will definitely visit to the Huntington Library to see the display of Dr Jaffe’s Tucker Collection.
Pictures of display look great

From Greg O's Garage: A New Tucker Display at the Huntington Public Library by Dr. Meredith Jaffe

Uploaded a few messages about the crash, in The Horseless Age and The Motor World respectively. The exact reason for the crash is not clear, but obviously the car skidded off the track and was wrecked. Possible cause could be a steering failure or a tire blow-out. The day of the accident was 10 November by the way and not 9 as mentioned in The Horseless Age.

From Mystery Friday Foto #13 Solved: #J13 Maxwell and #G28 Sharp-Arrow competing in the 1908 Sweepstakes at the Bloomingdale Road Motor Parkway Bridge