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The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
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Greg, My notes of the tests indicate he spent a good part of one day mostly on foot checking the curves, the banking and the cement paving which he didn’t like. Thought the grooving (for drainage) was to deep and might create heat problems and or premature wear for the tires. He also made notes on corner flag men, ( on both sides going under bridges) crowd control and fencing.
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
Al-
You mentioned Friday, Sept 4th as Tracy’s testing day, but as per his invoice, it was 2 days of testing, correct?
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
Frank, The Plains were never completely flat, actually quite undulating along with creeks, streams, ponds, etc. The back nine holes of the Red Course at Eisenhower is a good example with it’s water holes and many grade changes. Some photos of the Parkway under construction clearly show culverts built under the ROW. The Parkway was built with a maximum deviation of two degrees in grade level. In order to accomplish this, some segments of the ROW had to be filled in and I’m guessing some leveling of some of the terrain.
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
Only NY 106 was extended to the Stamford-Oyster Bay Ferry. NY 107 went to Glen Cove, and still does.
From A Walt Gosden Special: Signs of the Times Part I
Delaying the free Win 11 upgrade and remaining on Win 10 for now. My answer didn’t go through as well. Always looking forward to answers by the savvy. Great site to learn Motor Parkway history.
Al, amazing details as always, and Grand Stand’s location. I always assumed the Hempstead Plains was entirely flat. In the photos you could see for miles away
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
It’s okay, Howard. Thanks for letting us know : )
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
FYI, I believe the server was down for a period of time over the weekend. Sorry everyone.
Howard
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
Thanks, Steve & David. Glad everything is going through fine, now : )
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
I also submitted an answer like Steve Lucas but it did not go through. So I don’t think it was a problem with Steve upgrading his system. A little frustrating since I think I actually nailed the answer. Otherwise, keep up the great work.
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
Howard, Joe Tracy conducted the tests on Friday September 4, 1908. The tests were conducted on only that part of the Parkway in the vicinity of where the grandstand would be built as there was much construction going on, especially with regard to the bridges. I believe that the only curve (8 degrees) he took during the tests was the one at station 95+00 and at 60 MPH. With regard to the grandstand, the site was carefully selected. It was the most level section on the Hempstead Plains of the Parkway portion of the race course By building it where they did grandstand race viewers were able to see the race cars easily more than a half mile in both directions where in past VC races one was lucky to see about 200 feet of the race, more if you climbed a pole.
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
Hello Brian—I had also submitted an answer and noticed it apparently didn’t go through. I just recently upgraded my system from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and thought that might have been the cause.
Steve Lucas
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
Perhaps there was a glitch in the sending of my answers to this mystery on Sunday, but everything seemed to go through okay. Know this is meant to be fun and not taking too seriously. Us history buffs have lots of pride, maybe I more so : )
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
Great mystery foto Frank & congrats to the solvers. Not sure what happened, but I did submit my mostly correct answers on Sunday. Anyway, I stated that the photographer was positioned on the Jerusalem Ave HWY Bridge in Hempstead Plains viewing west. In the distance to the left, I noticed the Newbridge Hotel, which was located just north of the LIMP & west side of Newbridge Ave. Due to the grandstand, press box etc not seen, I guessed this was August 1908 ( both the LIMP and the grandstand etc were completed in September 1908 ) Also thought they may be The Spooner & Wells Firm documenting images of the newly built LIMP in their 1907/08 Buick 10. Below are the screenshots I submitted on Sunday.
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
Great observations Greg, nice work! Test driving the Motor Parkway in 1908 for $62.30 is worth $1,850 today. Great pay for just two days work
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
Photo is taken from the Jerusalem avenue motor parkway bridge, looking east in Hempstead Plains, what is now Levittown.
Based on another submission on this site, I am going to guess the driver is Joe Tracy who ” made several test runs in September 1908 on the Motor Parkway in the #9 Locomobile which finished 10th in the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race and would later win the 1908 race as Old 16. “
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
A final note about Joe Tracy’s testing in Sept ‘08.
The mystery photo was taken late in the day due to the long shadow of the western setting Sun. It is also noteworthy that Tracy and Poole are both wearing hats.
In the second photo of the two during testing, this was taken from the top of the Jerusalem bridge looking east. In that photo, there is minimal shadow from an overhead sun, and they are not wearing hats. This could show that both these testing photos were taken on different days being they tested for two days as per the payment invoice from Tracy.
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
This photo, originally submitted by Art K. for the June 22nd, 2020 mystery photo is a tricky one!
Joe Tracy and Al Poole on one of the two days they spent testing the LIMP just after completion.
I believe the solution is within these first two photos below. Yellow lines indicate the matching tree formations, and the red line indicates the Newbridge Hotel. Thus making the mystery photo looking west from the top of the Jerusalem bridge as correctly stated from the June 2020 mystery photo.
Another thing I take note of with the first two photos is a matching dip in the LIMP just beyond the grandstand location.
The 3rd photo, which has been referenced as a possible solution, is what I believe to be improperly captioned and actually looking west, taken from just east of the Jerusalem bridge just at the point where the LIMP turns southward and NOT looking east from the grandstand location as stated.
https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/mystery_friday_foto_25_a_new_automobile_course_where_records_may_be_broken
This is my final answer Regis, no life lines needed!
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
Going with Carmans facing west.
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
Also, Could be the Merrick Ave bridge looking east as well.
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
Carman Ave Bridge looking west. I believe thats the Ladenburg estate in the distance on the right. Oct 1908 due to the new pavement. Guessing its Willie K in the photo but Ive got nothing on the car.
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
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