Vanderbilt Cup Races

Assuming both cars were from the same manufacturer and were being prepped for the same race, it could only be 1906 Itala or 1908 Thomas racers. Since the additional photo looks like it might be the garage area of Krug’s Hotel, Mineola on the corner of Jericho Turnpike and Willis Avenue, I’m going with Thomas racers since Krug’s was their headquarters for the 1908 V.C.R. and probable site of the photo. The #12 car was driven by George Salzman.

From Mystery Foto #50 Maybe Solved: Two Thomas racers being prepared for the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I’m guessing that the “dip of death” was at or near Whitney Pond (and the stream that flows out of it towards Manhasset Bay) and the intersection of Northern Boulevard and what’s now Community Drive, and that the hill is Spinney Hill.

There was a terrible accident a number of decades ago on Spinney Hill, when a car full of prom-attending high school seniors was headed eastbound down Spinney Hill too fast, and couldn’t manage the curve.  I’m told that the tragedy led to the parents at Manhasset High School holding the prom (called “The Frolic”) for graduating classes at the high school itself.

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 4 - Vanderbilt Cup Race Illustrations of "The NY World" - "DANGER"

Here’s the link:

https://www.illustration-magazine.com/

From Illustration Magazine: The work of Peter Helck. (112 pages)

Just click on the red lettered NEW ILLUSTRATION #74 in Howard’s article. Will take you to magazine site.

From Illustration Magazine: The work of Peter Helck. (112 pages)

How do I oredere the 112 page book on the works of Peter Helk ?

From Illustration Magazine: The work of Peter Helck. (112 pages)

Never heard of this magazine, looks wonderful. What a great way to see some of Helck’s work and read about him. Will order, probably subscribe.

From Illustration Magazine: The work of Peter Helck. (112 pages)

This image is of a corner of Levittown when I grew up and still live.

Levitt built up to the south side of Orchid in Phase 1 with Cape Cod houses. Orchid Rd only went down to Carnation Rd where it curved to meet. Orchid was extended west in Phase 2 which left a bit of a kink in the road. The homes on the north side of Orchid are all ranch style

The houses on the west side of Carnation went down on the LIMP ROW. Somewhere I read a post from someone who grew up there who said the bank of the LIMP curve was in his back yard. I note the “park” but it is just a piece of land without even a bench to sit. I don’t know why this was left undeveloped like that. No pavement is visible there today.

When I was young we used to walk the abandoned ROW to get to the sump. Roadway was plainly visible until the houses were built on it.

The Pintail School (now torn down but for the parking lot and building slab and surrounding fence) was built on the ROW. I always found it curious the ROW curved a bit south before Pintail Lane and the fence around the property curved to match the border. The fence is still there and to this day you can see this. Just an obscure fact I don’t want to die with me.

From Update: Mystery Foto #49 Solved: A 1947 Aerial of Levittown and William J. Levitt

That’s amazing Manhasset history Howard, much thanks

From Video of the week: The Strathmore Vanderbilt Country Club in Manhasset

William Chester’s 1906 Manhasset property was +-2,400 acres in size!

From Video of the week: The Strathmore Vanderbilt Country Club in Manhasset

My rational:
The radiator, cap, suspension components, Leaf spring connection points, all match. Most compelling is the ‘V’ shaped frame cross member in front of the radiator (added support for the starter crank as well) that is unique to the Thomas.
The numbers have appeared to be repainted before the actual race, with the race photo numbers looking more quickly put on as compared to the more carefully painted mystery photo numbers.

From Mystery Foto #50 Maybe Solved: Two Thomas racers being prepared for the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

My guess on these is that they’re the #12 and 19 Thomas racers in the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race at the team’s Krug’s Corner HQ. George Salzman was the driver for the 110hp #12 Thomas.

From Mystery Foto #50 Maybe Solved: Two Thomas racers being prepared for the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Howard, With so much on Levitt this week, surprised no one mentioned their Vanderbilt connection. In 1937 Levitt purchased “Fairmont” at Manhasset which was the country estate of Virginia Graham Vanderbilt from 1927 to her death in 1935. Levitt named the project, Strathmore Vanderbilt at Manhasset. Her mansion was not destroyed but later on became the Strathmore Vanderbilt Country Club, still there.

From Update: Mystery Foto #49 Solved: A 1947 Aerial of Levittown and William J. Levitt

Thank you Howard and Roz for updating the LIMP community.

From Walking the "reconstructed" Motor Parkway from Springfield Boulevard to Winchester Boulevard in Queens

The 22-foot wide reconstructed LIMP roadway IS an advancement towards improving escalating Brooklyn-Queens Greenway activities. However, leaving the two original 3-foot extensions in place would have better preserved the historic Motor Parkway with actual artifacts. Phase 1 construction (0.8 miles) lasted months, but Phase 2 (2.0 miles) will be longer. I suspect they’ll be an attempt to level off the steep hill just east of the Clearview Expwy. I doubt the original Motor Parkway Right-of-Way (west of the Clearview Expwy) will ever be disturbed, as per Brian McCarthy.

From Walking the "reconstructed" Motor Parkway from Springfield Boulevard to Winchester Boulevard in Queens

Tucker versus Alcos?

From Photos of the day: Tucker 1044 at the opening of the Savoy Automobile Museum and a Family Feud "Tucker versus Alcos"

Great catch, Greg. Wonder if there ever was auto manufacturers playing against each other? Like celebrities playing for charities.

From Photos of the day: Tucker 1044 at the opening of the Savoy Automobile Museum and a Family Feud "Tucker versus Alcos"

No problem Art, always glad to look for answers if motivated. Great find with the location & background of the 1616 Levitt Building. Below is a present day aerial, 1950 aerial ( couldn’t find a 1938 aerial on the Stony Brook Collection ), and a 1947 Hagstrom. Maybe Levitts Building is one of the few just immediately west of Deepdale Dr, on the 1950 aerial. On the Hagstrom, I marked X on Levitt & Sons properties ( 3 seen ). One of them are near Deepdale Dr. 1615 Northern Blvd used to be Lustgarten.

From Update: Mystery Foto #49 Solved: A 1947 Aerial of Levittown and William J. Levitt

After reading the comments, both positive and negative, I have to admire how that stretch of road has been preserved.  Howard, you’ve done a fantastic job of encouraging the restoration.  Otherwise, it’s possible that it could be lost forever if nothing was done to preserve the road.
Thanks for your dedication.
Rog

From Walking the "reconstructed" Motor Parkway from Springfield Boulevard to Winchester Boulevard in Queens

Howard - thanks for the correction.  The Onderdonk building was given to the Strathmore Association in 1936, the same year the building at 1616 Northern Blvd. was starting to be used by Levitt.  Attached articles are from “The Manhasset Press” of Nov., Dec. 1936 and July, 1938. 

Other articles I’ve read discuss future Levittown homeowners getting in line at Levitt offices - perhaps the 1616 building is the one referenced in those articles.

From Update: Mystery Foto #49 Solved: A 1947 Aerial of Levittown and William J. Levitt

Art, the Levitt building referred to in your Comment is a different building than the Levitt headquarters building seen with the staff. As shown in these 1935 Library of Congress photos, Levitt used the Horatio Onderdonk Building for their Strathmore project in Manhasset. After all the residences were sold, it was given to the civic association which still owns it today on Onderdonk Avenue. The building is a landmark of the Town of North Hempstead.

https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ny0337.photos/?sp=4

From Update: Mystery Foto #49 Solved: A 1947 Aerial of Levittown and William J. Levitt