Vanderbilt Cup Races

Walt, 
Thank you for your article on the Locomobile.  I was fascinated by the 6 fender design.  I was unaware of that style.
Happy New Year!
Roger Price

From Walt Gosden Article: A Vanderbilt Locomobile

Very informative. Thank you Walt.

From Walt Gosden Article: A Vanderbilt Locomobile

I think we’re looking south (or slightly southwest) on the LIMP at the intersection with today’s Half Hollow Road in the Dix Hills / Half Hollow Hills area. After the LIMP closed in 1938, it is from this point heading east to Lake Ronkonkoma that Suffolk County continued to maintain and improve the road that would eventually become CR67. Behind the sign toward the Nassau-Suffolk border, much of the LIMP right-of-way would be sold by the county, subdivided, and developed or left to nature for us fanatics to explore.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: A 1940 view of the Motor Parkway at Half Hollow Road in Dix Hills

This seems to be a real trip by fictional characters. THE LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR DISCOVERS AMERICA by C.N. & A.M. Williamson, 1916.

From UPDATE - Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race in Literature and Entertainment (Part 2)

Great information, Thank You.

From Walt Gosden Article: A Vanderbilt Locomobile

Never mind the poor chauffeur who was exposed to the elements! How better to accentuate the differences in the classes.

From Walt Gosden Article: A Vanderbilt Locomobile

Guessing here - Somewhere in Commack - possibly east of Commack Road looking east.  Or Harned Road extension that connected the Motor Parkway and Jericho Turnpike.  In 1941 the latter was given to the Town of Smithtown the sign indicating Suffolk County was not responsible.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: A 1940 view of the Motor Parkway at Half Hollow Road in Dix Hills

Thanks to Al Velocci’s comment above, I’ve updated this post to include information about the first mention of the Motor Parkway in a work of literature.  Thanks Al!

And Happy New Year’s to all!

From UPDATE - Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race in Literature and Entertainment (Part 2)

This is just a stupid wild guess. Since the present-day Vanderbilt Parkway/Motor Parkway in Suffolk County is a county route (CR 67), could this be the western end of the present road? If it is, the photographer would be looking south. Behind the sign (and the ladies) would be a section of the (closed) Motor Parkway sold to private developers, while behind the photographer would be a section that was sold to (or taken by) the county and became the present highway.

I’m curious who the ladies are.

Happy New Year to all!

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: A 1940 view of the Motor Parkway at Half Hollow Road in Dix Hills

Art, I believe the earliest reference to the Motor Parkway in a fiction work was in 1914 in The Auction Block by Rex Beach.

From UPDATE - Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race in Literature and Entertainment (Part 2)

I imagining some of these writings being factual, especially the enemy troops marching into NYC via the LIMP, maybe some military vehicles too. Nearest bridge to Smithtown was over Deer Park Ave. Maybe the author had knowledge of the planned but never built bridges :  ) Fun & interesting research Art, thanks.

From UPDATE - Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race in Literature and Entertainment (Part 2)

Art,  In 1909 The Parkway purchased some 3 plus acres from John T. Wooley on the east side of Lakeville Rd. , The Great Neck Lodge was built on part of that acquisition. Wonder if that route was chosen because of their previous relationship ?

From Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2024!

Additional documents pertaining to the Wooley holdings in Great Neck.  First map is from 1906, second map is from 1914 and the article is from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle of March 13, 1906.

From Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2024!

Thanks Al and Frank -
Frank - I simply used the 1200 pounds of turkey times the amount per pound found in today’s supermarkets to get the current dollar amount Willie would have to pay today.  However, including the cost of inflation against Willie’s original amount would get the figure that you obtained.  FYI - The amount per pound back in 1906 was $.167 and today its around $1.45 as I showed above.

From Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2024!

Art, another great find! Thank you for sharing the article. I’m getting $5,838. in 2021 vs $200. in 1906. I really don’t know who’s correct.

Al, could Mrs. Wooley’s property (approx 1.4 acres) been once situated at Deepdale Estate’s NE corner? I’ve often wondered about this obvious cut in the property line for years. I once saw an elementary school on this property on an old map.

From Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2024!

Art, I always wondered about John Wooley’s hire as as the Superintendent of Deepdale. His wife did not approve of Willie K. She owned a small strip of land on Lake Success that Willie offered a very generous amount for but she refused to sell because it had been her family’s home since the Revolutionary War. I believe that property was the only privately held piece on the Lake that Willie was not able to acquire.

From Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2024!

Ted, you are unforgettable in a good way! Merry Christmas and Happy 2022!

Enjoy,

Howard

From Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2024!

Dee, thanks for the comment. It is agreed by most Renault historians that there is no accurate documentation of the original owners for the extant Renault Vanderbilt racers. i consider this the definitive article on the the subject: https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/article_the_vanderbilt_renaults_by_marvin_mcfalls

Dee, if you wish to share images and information on your surviving car, please forward them to me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

From Video of the Week: Jay Leno & Donald Osborne driving the 1907 Vanderbilt Renault Racer to Marble House in Newport

Ted! Glad to hear from you again. Wishing you and yours a safe and healthy 2022 in the sunshine state.

From Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2024!

This is Willy K’s actual car and that’s him in it.
That’s NOT your car! Please do Not try to rewrite history and make out that your car is the actual Willy K Vanderbilt Renault!
There are many differences i can point out to prove that Willy K’s car is NOT the car you have.
The color for one, the engine cylinders are not painted black like your cars, the wheels are different, the bonnet mesh style/weave is different, all the accessories are different- horns trim spares and details. The suspension is also very different. I won’t go into details on that one, cerfice to say an expert can tell immediately by looking at the two cars.
People are watching. I am the owner of one of the surviving cars. I am not from the U.S
I am in Australia and the car i own has been here for at least 100 years. It is irritating to hear people say only five survive.

From Video of the Week: Jay Leno & Donald Osborne driving the 1907 Vanderbilt Renault Racer to Marble House in Newport