Vanderbilt Cup Races

Mystery Foto # 43…I can only identify Automobile A with the round radiator.
Let’s call it a 1904 National, Model C.
Couldn’t find the other two.

From Mystery Friday Foto #43 Solved: Three automobiles in the Hicksville Public Library Archives

Rather straightforward I would say, though it is possible that the year (and thus the model) are slightly different:
A. National 1906 model D
B. Pope-Toledo 1904, the 24hp model
C. Maxwell 1905 model L

From Mystery Friday Foto #43 Solved: Three automobiles in the Hicksville Public Library Archives

National ,Corban and Maxwell

From Mystery Friday Foto #43 Solved: Three automobiles in the Hicksville Public Library Archives

In 1953, when I was five years old, my parents bought what was a newly constructed “up and down” house on 199th St between 51st and 53rd Avenues. The area can be seen in the views looking north from what was then Horace Harding Blvd and its intersection with what was then the end of Francis Lewis Blvd. 53rd Ave and 201st St is visible as well. It shows my Public School, PS 162, which stands out because it was, and still is, three stories high. When I was older in the late 50s, I’d take my bike on what we called the “Vanderbilt Parkway” from its beginning at Peck Ave all the way to Creedmor. Another sidelight is that I first learned of Robert Moses in 1953, just after we moved into our new home. The original right of way for what was to be the Clearview Expressway was Francis Lewis Blvd. My parents and all of the families along 199th St. picketed against the proposed route because 199th St. was to become a “service road”; we’d have to move just when we moved in. For whatever reason, having nothing to do with our picketing, the right of way was changed to 204th St., which was one of those odd and very wide “street” thoroughfares. I remember well the specialized vehicles that lifted and then moved houses that were along 204th St. to new locations. As for the Clearview Expressway, it initially ended at the LIE in 1960 and eventually ended at Hillside Ave. in 1964 when construction was completed. Of note is that the expressway was intended to go all the way to Idlewild as a through route for commercial traffic as part of the northern bypass route of the City. It never made it because of political considerations. So, to this day, trucks must use the LIE to the Van Wyck to get to JFK.

From Greg O's Garage: Robert Moses and the battle to acquire land for Cunningham Park

Howard,
Automobile A looks like a Franklin to me.
Rog

From Mystery Friday Foto #43 Solved: Three automobiles in the Hicksville Public Library Archives

As a Floral Park “Queens Kid” you are on my turf here! My Mom’s side of my family all owned houses stretching from Hollis and Hollis Woods right on east to where I grew up in Floral Park on the Queens?Nassau border. All through the late 50s and into the early 60s me and my friends would bike ride to Alley Pond Park and cruise the old and abandoned Motor Parkway from the east end crest overlooking Creedmore all the way west and then north to Horace Harding near Fresh Meadows (where St Francis Prep was eventually built.)
That triangle you note was the last wooded area of Cunningham before the parkway turned north to its starting point at Horace Harding. And it is in that exact sliver of forest where we would always encounter a relatively large group of hobos set up in makeshift tents and lean-tos usually sitting around a campfire. That group of quiet but friendly men disappeared as work began on the Clearview Expressway, disrupting our bike adventures and the solace of the woods in this sliver of Cunningham.
The larger expanse of Cunningham which ran along Union was basically cut off from the beautiful homes in Hollis Woods by the Grand Central Parkway. Hollis Woods swept down the “hillside” to Hillside Ave which remains as the northern boundary to Hollis.
The pond you note had long disappeared by the time of my childhood but that section of baseball field always flooded in the rain. Cunningham had no real ponds and lakes compared to the numerous watering holes in Alley Pond Park. Interestingly, most of those Alley ponds are now gone or swampy lowlands.
Anyone looking to a massive foil to the plans of Moses need only take the Clearview to its southern end at the congested juncture of Hillside Ave where its momentum is stopped by Queens Village. It is right there that Robert Moses’ power was broken, so to speak.
On the plus side, I’m ever grateful he carved out the forested respite of Cunningham which exists and thrives to this day.

From Greg O's Garage: Robert Moses and the battle to acquire land for Cunningham Park

Interesting to see the photo with a small lake that appears to have been filled in

From Greg O's Garage: Robert Moses and the battle to acquire land for Cunningham Park

Always like the then and now pics,,,

From Mystery Friday Foto #41 Solved: The M-35 Allen-Kingston, winner of the 1908 Meadow Brook Sweepstakes

Nice work Art! Thanks for sharing. This information is buried deep and inaccessible to all

From Kleiner's Korner: The Vanderbilt Cup Race and other Speedways in New Jersey

Wonderful research!

From Kleiner's Korner: The Vanderbilt Cup Race and other Speedways in New Jersey

I think the event may have been the dinner given by the Antique Automobile Club in Philadelphia in 1951. Among the guests at the table, I think I see George Robertson, Joe Tracy, Glen Ethridge, Al Poole, Ralph DePalma, Ralph Mulford, and Montague Roberts.

From Mystery Friday Foto #42 Solved: 1949 AACA Racing Camp dinner featuring Vanderbilt Cup Race drivers

Hello,
  I have the above plate. Any interest in it?  Your prompt response is greatly appreciated.
  best regards,
  Alfred Rodia

From 1933 Long Island Motor Parkway License Plate sells for a record $4,434 on Ebay

Greg, If you ever run across any correspondence mentioning Walter Christie, I would be very interested.
Best regards,
Lee Stohr

From Greg O's Garage: Famous signatures found in the Helck Family Collection

This is a great way to elevate everyone’s awareness of the importance of the LIMP. Can’t wait for your backstage interviews? maybe a picture of Howard on the stage with the map, after the show?

From Update #3-Behind the Scenes: The Long Island Parkway planning map in David's new play starring Ralph Fiennes as Robert Moses

This is wonderful. The map is such a great centerpiece to the setting of the play and such a part of our lives as those who grew up on the sidelines of the road that defined our cherished Long Island heritage.

From Update #3-Behind the Scenes: The Long Island Parkway planning map in David's new play starring Ralph Fiennes as Robert Moses

Thanks for sharing, Howard.  Great to the see the vanderbiltcupraces.com making it to Broadway (well at least to the Hudson Yards!).

From Update #3-Behind the Scenes: The Long Island Parkway planning map in David's new play starring Ralph Fiennes as Robert Moses

Here’s an article about a 100 hp Simplex, built at a cost of $8,000 that was tested on the Long Island Motor Parkway in August of 1912.  From “The Daily Home News (NJ) ” August 5, 1912.

From Kleiner's Korner: Speed Trials on the Long Island Motor Parkway

You’re not kidding Art!
I’ve been going through it now for a year and a half, and every time I reach into a storage box, there’s always a new, undiscovered gem!

From Greg O's Garage: Famous signatures found in the Helck Family Collection

Having seen and gone through some of Peter Helck’s correspondence (believe me it would take years to go through every piece) it is truly amazing to be able to see the details he kept of his personal and business affairs.  I give much credit to Greg and others who have provided this glimpse into Peter’s life.  Thank you.

From Greg O's Garage: Famous signatures found in the Helck Family Collection

I any interest in this plate. Let me know.

From 1933 Long Island Motor Parkway License Plate sells for a record $4,434 on Ebay