Vanderbilt Cup Races

Moving forward to Nov 2025 and this same criminal activity continues online. Truly shameful and irresponsible by all parties engaged. Thanks Howard once again for the alert!

From Fraud Alert Update: Guide to Identifying Authentic Versus Reproduced Long Island Motor Parkway and Roosevelt Field Porcelain Plates

From Greg O.

https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/the_1914_petit_trianon_menu

From Mystery Friday Foto #57 Solved: The Petit Trianon Annex Building

Greg, A bit of information about the Petit Trianon… It was never referred to as the Petit Trianon Inn it when owned by Vanderbilt/Long island Motor Parkway. It was simply the Petit Trianon, Occasionally Restaurant, when operated by Myers but thats it. The confusion came about when it was announced that the Parkway was going to open the Motor Parkway Inn at Lake Ronkonkoma. Selected to operate it was the Hotel Astor of New York City. The management told Vanderbilt “we don’t Inns, we do upscale”. example, ...Greg, please put up the menu. Inn was added by the new operators around 1930.

From Mystery Friday Foto #57 Solved: The Petit Trianon Annex Building

Thanks Al! I tried calling you today for some of these details, but I guess you were out. Thanks for the additional factoids!

From Mystery Friday Foto #57 Solved: The Petit Trianon Annex Building

The annex building was built in 1913. Designed by John Russell Pope, it was built by the Morton-Lange Construction Company of New York City who were paid $10,100. It had 9 bedrooms and a lounge on the first floor and 8 bedrooms on the second. Vanderbilt sold the Petit Trianon Inn property’s around 1930 and the annex building opened as the Motor Parkway Inn with a Rathskeller in the basement. On the door at the bottom of the steps was a sign stating “Persons unknown to us will be required to give a reference” At the time prohibition was still in effect. I seem to recall the restaurant under various ownerships, survived into the 1950’s.

From Mystery Friday Foto #57 Solved: The Petit Trianon Annex Building

The Petit Trianon Inn’s (1911-1958) Annex building (1911-2006), housing for the Inn’s employees, looking Southeast. Both structures were designed by John Russel Pope at the Motor Parkway’s eastern terminus in Ronkonkoma. Walking employees traveled 475 feet (0.09 miles) daily to reach the Inn’s East service entrance, one staircase below ground into the kitchen area. After the Inn’s fire and demolition in 1958 the Annex was repurposed as a restaurant, then later The Park Lake Rest Home for the elderly. The Annex was destroyed in 2006. The residence at 24 Washington Av now occupies the space. Pope also designed the six original toll lodges used on the Motor Parkway

From Mystery Friday Foto #57 Solved: The Petit Trianon Annex Building

To Art. You are incorrect on the southern-most collection. I have 2 posts next to my house south of Tampa. I planted them when I moved there in 2007.  -pat

From An upcoming cover article on Long Island Motor Parkway License Plates and Vanderbilia

This is my first encounter of the ‘39 Grand Prix racers. Somehow they remained elusive after years researching both NY Fairs in the park. The transparent ghost car I’ve seen, photo attached. Thanks Gram for the wonderful article!

The temporary subway spur along Meadow Lake, today’s Van Wyck Expwy, attached below

From InstaGRAM Report: The Surprising Connections Between the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair and Automotive History

Howard Kroplick has added a note to Margo Nutt’s above Comment.

From InstaGRAM Report: The Surprising Connections Between the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair and Automotive History

George Eyston’s Land Speed Record holding car ‘Thunderbolt’ along with a Rolls-Royce Phantom III were on display at the British Pavilion Hall of Metals.

From InstaGRAM Report: The Surprising Connections Between the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair and Automotive History

One more photo.  This time a winner!

From InstaGRAM Report: The Surprising Connections Between the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair and Automotive History

That’s the “Annex” of the Petit Trianon built close by on the same property as the main building at the eastern terminus of the LIMP. It was built around the same time as the Petit Trianon itself in 1911. Sadly, it was demolished in 2006. The architect was John Russell Pope. Originally used for Petit Trianon staff, it later became a hotel, the “Parkway Inn”, with a restaurant on the main floor and a tavern in the basement, the “Rathskeller”. Later on it was a senior citizens home called the “Park Lane Rest Home”.

From Mystery Friday Foto #57 Solved: The Petit Trianon Annex Building

My father, James Melton, collector of antique cars and known as “America’s Favorite Tenor,” participated in the 1939 World’s Fair.

While the theme of the Fair was progress and modernity, the American Jubilee pageant, largely sponsored by Studebaker, celebrated what we’d come from—America’s past glories. My father provided ten antique cars to be driven in the pageant four times a day. The cars on display ranged from an 1896 Ofeldt steam car to a 1916 Packard Twin Six, seven-passenger automobile.

The American Jubilee pageant was an extravaganza, with music by Arthur Schwartz and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a kaleidoscope of American social and political history, from George Washington to “the next president” who would be elected in November 1940. The revolving stage on which the pageant unfolded was 270 feet in diameter, large enough to accommodate horses, buggies, and cars; it was complete with details like real flowers growing in real earth in real gardens.

There were 350 performers in various vignettes about George Washington, Abe Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and “the next president.” Cars from the collection of James Melton were featured in a section called “The Struggle Buggy Days,” which included a tableaux about financier and gourmand “Diamond” Jim Brady and turn-of-the-century singer Lillian Russell. The venue for this exhibit alone held 7,000 people. Admission was 40 cents.

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From Howard Kroplick

Margo, thanks for sharing the wonderful stories about your father James Melton…who was truly ” America’s Favorite Tenor.. and Automobile Collector”. Enjoy, Howard

From InstaGRAM Report: The Surprising Connections Between the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair and Automotive History

This is an amazing article and some excellent research! I never knew about this race and I was fascinated by this account. Thanks for such an enjoyable article.

From InstaGRAM Report: The Surprising Connections Between the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair and Automotive History

Hi Howard,  I want to personally thank you and Greg for a Fantastic day touring your “Museum of Exotic Cars” . This was a personal thrill for me and my brother John. You were so gracious giving us a tour and I enjoyed it very much.  I hope to see you again in the future. You are very knowledgeable and you have a great story for every car.  Thank you Howard.
Mario

From Upcoming car shows, concours and exhibit for the Howard & Roz Kroplick Collection: Updated 4/8/26

So much here I didn’t know. When there were some proposals for an NYC Grand Prix at the former Fair grounds in the 80s my Dad mentioned there had been a race at the 39 Fair but he couldn’t recall any details. He would have loved your feature!
That photo of the race cars divided by those columns is truly fantastic.

From InstaGRAM Report: The Surprising Connections Between the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair and Automotive History

Here’s a photo from the Brooklyn Eagle of one car being prepared for the race.

From InstaGRAM Report: The Surprising Connections Between the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair and Automotive History

Great look at the past, Gram!  Excellent research!

From InstaGRAM Report: The Surprising Connections Between the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair and Automotive History

Pretty cool that the wrought iron fence is still there 120 years later.

From Mystery Friday Foto #56 Solved: The #19 White Racer in the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I’m looking forward to the article as its always good to spread the word about the Long Island Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race.  Thanks go to John Hanc for helping to do this.  Three photos below of my Parkway memorabilia now located 600 miles away in my North Carolina home.  I’m almost 100% positive that its the only collection of Parkway material south of the Mason-Dixon line!  lol

From An upcoming cover article on Long Island Motor Parkway License Plates and Vanderbilia