Vanderbilt Cup Races

Greg, Willie wasn’t a reckless spender. In fact he lived well within his means. He didn’t have “real money” until his father died in 1920 receiving an inheritance of $20,000,000 plus dollars. In 1931, during the Great Depression, he took deliver of the yacht Alva, I believe it was the largest yacht in the world at the time… and promptly went on a seven month cruise around the world. He died in 1944 leaving an estate of more than $36, 000,000. Let’s do the math. $20,000,000 in 1920… $36,000,000 in 1944, living the high life in between… The next generation didn’t fare that well because the inheritance tax at the time was 90% .... thats not a typo.

From Greg O's Garage: The 1930 Motor Parkway license plate/season ticket holders Part I

This looks like the Southern State Parkway facing east at exit 13.  The overpass in the foreground carries Elmont rd over the parkway.  In the distance the toll plaza is being constructed shortly before its opening on July 1st 1954.  So, maybe this is May or June of 1954.  I’m typing this just a few hours after traversing this nightmare of a road.  Imagine if this toll plaza was still there?  Paying and being delayed even more to attempt to drive through the so called “blood alley”?  Nassau county’s deadliest parkway.

From Mystery Friday Foto #51 Solved: Widening of the Southern State Parkway near the toll booths around 1954

Eric,
Al, as always, is correct. Willie K’s mother Alva, had an insatiable will to build extravagant estates and was to a certain degree, the beginning of the end. By that time, the later generations were better at spending the fortunes of the Commodore and William Henry, rather than working hard to maintain it. Willie K, and the rest of the 4th+ generations simply furthered the spending spree watering it down to next to nothing today. The preface of the book, ‘William K. Vanderbilt ll A Biography’ written by former Vanderbilt Museum President Steven Gittelman gives a little insight to this.

From Greg O's Garage: The 1930 Motor Parkway license plate/season ticket holders Part I

Im thinking this is the construction of the toll booths on the Southern State Pkwy. We are in Valley Stream, looking west, with the Fletcher Ave (Henry St.). bridge in the foreground. The exit and entrance ramps are nearly completed. The roads on the right, roughly paralleling the parkway are Southern Dr (closest to the cluster of trees) and then Greenway Blvd. The Cross Island may be visible in the distance.
The toll booths are obviously being constructed near the center of the photo. They would be demolished in 1978 (after a public outcry for raising the toll from 10 cents to 25 cents), a year after the state took over control and maintenance of the parkway from the Long Island State Parks Commission. This stretch was constructed between 1925 and 1927, so I would place the photo in that time period.

From Mystery Friday Foto #51 Solved: Widening of the Southern State Parkway near the toll booths around 1954

Eric, My spin on your one upping comment is that it started with Alva Vanderbilt, Willie’s mother.

From Greg O's Garage: The 1930 Motor Parkway license plate/season ticket holders Part I

Frank, There is a picture of a Parkway paper season ticket in the Spring 2000 issue of Long Island Forum magazine. Your library most likely has a copy in their reference section.

From Greg O's Garage: The 1930 Motor Parkway license plate/season ticket holders Part I

I recognize the Foto as an aerial of the Southern State Parkway during its widening. The photographer is in North Valley Stream, looking west. The original parkway (lower left), with E-bound and W-bound lanes now separated by a concrete barrier, became the E-bound parkway, while the new roadway became the W-bound parkway.

The widening project started in 1954, so the Foto must have been taken then, or shortly thereafter.

I recognize Fletcher Avenue (overpass, bottom of Foto) and Greenway Boulevard (right), but not any other roads. Central Avenue would be in the distance, but I can’t see it.

The toll booths on the wide future median are what actually gave it away for me. I was unaware that they were built during the widening project, but I remember when they were there. My dad used to use Greenway Boulevard to bypass the toll. I also remember when the tolls were removed (and a sign was erected that read: “Welcome to Long Island / Toll Free / Mario Cuomo, Governor”).

From Mystery Friday Foto #51 Solved: Widening of the Southern State Parkway near the toll booths around 1954

J Dixon Byrne-
I think I might have commented to you previously. Here is the original county records with costs on your home from 1955 at 25 Crabapple.
-Greg O.

From Greg O's Garage: Clarence Mackay's Harbor Hill estate in Roslyn (now East Hills)

Been following info on the Mackay Estate since childhood. Lived at 25 Crabapple Drive. About 1955. First owners. Original home demolished. It was one of the first built. Played thru out the woods. Wrote a sci-fi screenplay the adventures of seven children transported back in time to the night the of Wales visited Clarence. Thx for the research.

From Greg O's Garage: Clarence Mackay's Harbor Hill estate in Roslyn (now East Hills)

This is great! A lot of prominent figures of the time.

The fundamental problem with LIMP is it was part of a massive one upping contest (by the Vanderbilt grandchildren) that squandered the Vanderbilt fortune that Cornelius and William Henry worked so hard to create. Massive disrespect to their sacrifices.

Yet this is a topic rarely discussed—how come?

From Greg O's Garage: The 1930 Motor Parkway license plate/season ticket holders Part I

Wow! 50$ in 1930 is equivalent to about 833$ today. Al, I’m assuming the paper ticket was proof of purchase and kept in the vehicle at all times. Please clarify. Any photos available of such paper ticket? Great details as always, thanks!

From Greg O's Garage: The 1930 Motor Parkway license plate/season ticket holders Part I

Greg, To make things a little clearer regarding the Season Ticket purchase. The term is a little misleading as it was good for a given calendar year. For most of the Parkway’s existence the cost of such a ticket was around $50.00. The purchaser received a small paper ticket and one plate. If an addition plate was requested ( with the same number) it cost the buyer an additional 25 cents.

From Greg O's Garage: The 1930 Motor Parkway license plate/season ticket holders Part I

I love the show!  But I don’t remember this great episode - it’s neat to see a Tucker out and about! 

There are famous people who are actually decent, and interesting!

From Video of the Week: The episode of Jay Leno's Garage that really had an impact on my life

All couple reasons to deny that something historic exists still; to avoid attracting trespassers, to avoid historic or like designations that in some places prevent demolitions.

From Updated 12/7/2022: Then & Now: The Very Elusive Clody Farmway Bridge in the Melville Sand Pits

I had the pleasure of driving MG TF9052 in 2013. Sadly, Ken passed away not long after that. I spoke with a nephew last year about the car and it was being offered at auction, but he did not have any details. I don’t know who has the car now.

From Update Mystery Friday Foto #24: The 1955 MG TF-1500 #9052's owner in 2000.

Lotus 72. ...
Porsche 959 Dakar. ...
Chaparral 2J. ...
Audi Sport Quattro SWB. ...
Ferrari 250 GT SWB Breadvan. ...
Peugeot 208 T16. ...
Porsche 956. ...

From From the Gary Faules Collection: Drivers and Race Cars from the 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Races

The Bugatti was stored in a garage near the water in Stony Brook in 1944 and was flooded by that years hurricane.  It was red.  The friend was in the army and when he came home was told the car was scrapped due to the flooding.

From Greg O's Garage: The 1930 Motor Parkway license plate/season ticket holders Part I

That’s great Gary! Didn’t know the Guldens were Long Islanders. My only claim to fame is growing up friends with the Fox family in Great Neck. They were responsible for Fox’s U-Bet.

From Greg O's Garage: The 1930 Motor Parkway license plate/season ticket holders Part I

Greg, There were two categories of plate holders. The Season Ticket purchasers and the Official Pass receivers. This group did not pay to use the Parkway, they included political figures, Police officials, Fire Chiefs, etc. Remember, the Parkway ran thru several different municipal jurisdictions.
Toll collectors could tell who was who because of the numbering system. For example, in 1928 plates numbered between 1000-2000 were reserved for Pass holders and in 1929 Pass holders received plates numbered between 700 and 900. I member seeing at least one list at the Vanderbilt Museum headed pass holders Hope this helps.

From Greg O's Garage: The 1930 Motor Parkway license plate/season ticket holders Part I

What happened was sad, and perhaps stupid, but I had to laugh a little at the For Sale sign in the car window.

From Mystery Friday Foto #49 Solved:The 1958 Airplane/Three Car Crash on the Southern State Parkway