Vanderbilt Cup Races

Just going to go off the top of my head with a guess this weekend and see how I do.

I’ll say this is Walter Christie in his front wheel drive racer during the Sept. 23rd 1905 American Elimination Trials with George Robertson as mechanician. This looks to be on the Bull’s Head turn at Northern and Glen Cove Rd.

From Mystery Foto #14 Solved: Walter Christie making the Bull's Head Turn during a practice run

This is amazing Howard, thank you for forwarding. We’re witnessing every mode of transportation at once. Sam III would love this one.

From Film of the week: A trip through New York City (1911)

My submissions below, sorry about any redundancies.

From Mystery Foto #14 Solved: Walter Christie making the Bull's Head Turn during a practice run

A remarkable film. My observations about 1911 life in NYC:

Everyone is wearing a hat (observed in a previous post).
All men are wearing suits, and all women are wearing long dresses and, presumably, corsets underneath.
A lot of the women are carrying umbrellas, even though it doesn’t appear to be raining. To keep their faces pure white?
The only Black person in the video is the chauffeur.
Lots of motorcars, but no motor trucks - those are still horse-drawn.
All the cars have right-hand drive, even though the rule of the road is to drive on the right. I think it was Henry Ford who switched the driving position to the left, in the Model T.

From Film of the week: A trip through New York City (1911)

The second picture at the Museum looks like a hand-made creation!

From Favorite Website: Walt Gosden's AACA Forum-Period images to relieve some of the stress

An amazing movie, with almost too much to see! The EMF is a 1911 model, so must have been almost new. The car is followed by a Darracq cab, which was omnipresent in New York. Interesting is the Maxwell cab, which passes the Flatiron Building at 3:03. I didn’t know that Maxwell had built taxis.

From Film of the week: A trip through New York City (1911)

Proprietor Anton Smith of the Motor Parkway Garage had an automobile accident while returning from watching the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race.

From Mystery Foto #77 Solved: The Motor Parkway Garage in Floral Park

Looks like the front wheel drive Christie. Looks closer to the 1905 model during the American Elimination Trial (23Sep1905) driven by George Robertson/Nicholas Leichtener team, taking the turn by Bulls Head Hotel at Glen Cove Rd and Northern Blvd in Greenvale.

George Robertson was the first American to win the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race with Alco Old 16

From Mystery Foto #14 Solved: Walter Christie making the Bull's Head Turn during a practice run

That’s John Walter Christie driving his own front wheel drive Christie Race with Nicholas Leichtener as his mechanician. Since there is no assigned number on the car, I think this was probably a practice run for the American Elimination Trials scheduled for September 23, 1905 prior to the actual Vanderbilt Cup Race. Therefore, I’ll guess the date to be a day or two before that. The location could be the intersection of Glen Cove Road and Northern Blvd. with the Bull’s Head Hotel in the background.

From Mystery Foto #14 Solved: Walter Christie making the Bull's Head Turn during a practice run

Art !!!! ... You are not going to believe this coincidence.  I happened on the same scene just a little bit later, The young man was relieving himself a short distance from his automobile,  I asked him if he knew he was on the Motor Parkway, his answer… NO WONDER !  he thought he was on either the Meadowbrook or Wantagh Parkway,  trying to get to Jones Beach the night before.

From Kleiner's Korner: Mineola and the Motor Parkway, 1908

Funny story Art. Perhaps this location was suggested by his ancestors that traveled the LIMP ( :

From Kleiner's Korner: Mineola and the Motor Parkway, 1908

Driver and Auto Builder J. Walter Christie’s Front Wheel Drive Christie Racer 1905-1906. Lewis Strang Riding Mechanic and Race Car Driver. Keeping American Automotive Racing History Alive!

From Mystery Foto #14 Solved: Walter Christie making the Bull's Head Turn during a practice run

Just as an aside pertaining to a so called “Lovers Lane”, a number of years ago while exploring Dead Man’s Curve in Bethpage on an early June Sunday morning, I came across a parked car on the Motor Parkway roadway, just north of the curve.  Approaching cautiously I saw from a distance two young adults (I believe a male and a female) sleeping in I believe the back seat in party attire.  Not venturing any further I turned around so as not to be accused of being a peeping Tom (or Art).  I realized afterwards it was prom season and that that Lovers Lane might have been the end of a couple’s night out.  But I remember most proms ended with a night at the beach, not the Motor Parkway!  Have a nice day!

From Kleiner's Korner: Mineola and the Motor Parkway, 1908

I can definitely see the loop as a lover’s lane/rest stop; even today (113 years later) remains a secluded area. Don’t know if the loop ever came to fruition but as Greg noted, it’s now a water sump.

From Kleiner's Korner: Mineola and the Motor Parkway, 1908

Sounds good Al.

Just realized the panoramic map is viewed south. LIMP didn’t extend here yet. At the bottom is Westbury Ave, known as IU Willets Rd today.

From Kleiner's Korner: Mineola and the Motor Parkway, 1908

Brian,  Another possible reason for the loop is that the Parkway had sites off the roadway designated as picnic areas, never been able to pin point exactly were they located, At times the night shift Parkway police on motorcycles referred to the areas as “lovers lanes”

From Kleiner's Korner: Mineola and the Motor Parkway, 1908

I’m imagining that the loop may have been an informal area for LIMP travelers to park then take the trolley northward, being that the LIMP terminated at Jericho Tpke. They of course would have to return for their vehicles and pay the LIMP toll.

From Kleiner's Korner: Mineola and the Motor Parkway, 1908

Wow, great finds Art. These pics were buried deep and inaccessible to most, including myself. Thank you for sharing these gems.

From Kleiner's Korner: Mineola and the Motor Parkway, 1908

Since the Nassau County Review article of 12/6/1907 mentions “other buildings and garage”, maybe this could have been the place for a possible automobile service station.

From Kleiner's Korner: Mineola and the Motor Parkway, 1908

Updated above with 3 pdfs. from “The Automobile Magazine” of May and June, 1901.

From Updated: Long Island's First Major Automobile Competition: The 1901 100-Mile Endurance Test