Vanderbilt Cup Races

Art,  Given the relationship between Willie K. and Foxhall Keane… Keene never bought any stock or bonds of the Long Island Motor Parkway,.... unsuccessful to discover why not.

From Nassau County Historical Society Journal: Foxhall P. Keene and His "Life of Pure Delight"

The name Jonah brought me back to our religion classes : )

From Nassau County Historical Society Journal: Foxhall P. Keene and His "Life of Pure Delight"

Two more anecdotes pertaining to Foxhall Keene and a stretch of bad luck.  From Automobile Magazine, Dec., 1902.

Not knowing the meaning of the expression “Jonah” used in both articles, I found this:
“A long-established expression among sailors uses the term, “a Jonah”, to mean a sailor or a passenger whose presence on board brings bad luck and endangers the ship. Later, this meaning was extended to mean, “a person who carries a jinx, one who will bring bad luck to any enterprise.”

And please excuse the last sentence in the second article, a reflection of the times I suppose.

From Nassau County Historical Society Journal: Foxhall P. Keene and His "Life of Pure Delight"

This section starts just north of Sportime, literally right after the northern parking lot ends. This is south of Revere Street and south of the location where we all met a while ago, when we tried to determine the LIMP ROW in this Bethpage zone. The maps of Wayne and Frank agree that at this exact section, the LIMP went through this spot, but they then both say from this point there is a semi-sharp eastern turn that goes just east of 135 now and then north pretty much in line with 135, and we’ll you all know I completely disagree with that.

I definitely think through all of the exploration that we’ve done and remnants found that the LIMP traversed just west of present day 135 up to the point where it crossed over at present day Bethpage Park.

We need an old Bethpage resident to come forward! Someone has to have pics of 135 construction or know for sure the LIMP location vs present day 135. One day!

From Dave Russo re-explores a Bethpage section of the Motor Parkway

Hi Dave - I’ve wondered about this area, too. Between the Sportstime driveway and Rte 135, and to the rear of the deadend home off Revere. Overgrown most of the year, you were able to check it now. Similar to where you looked south of Westbury Ave, LIMP fragments galore.

From Dave Russo re-explores a Bethpage section of the Motor Parkway

Interesting info, Art. I felt like marking some of your finds on the map below. Think the reconstruction of the motor pkwy in 1940 was to improve the bike path, especially at Bell Blvd where that crazy curve was.

From Kleiner's Korner: And Now For Something Completely Different: Part 3 (Motor Parkway 1931 - 1940)

Just fantastic….where do you find these videos and photographs. I remember staying at the Worlds Fair sleeping under the Johnson and Johnson pavilion…what a fabulous newsletter you put together every month…I look forward to ever word,, Thank you.

From Update: Memories of the 1964-1965 World's Fair

The crashed car looks like a 1936 Ford Woody.

From Kleiner's Korner: And Now For Something Completely Different: Part 3 (Motor Parkway 1931 - 1940)

Balmacaan has taken on a second meaning.

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Racer Eugen Bjornstad in a 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza

Added the official Souvenir Map

From Update: Memories of the 1964-1965 World's Fair

Added the official Souvenir Map

From Update: Memories of the 1964-1965 World's Fair

Added these photos submitted by Jay Jarvis.

From Update: Memories of the 1964-1965 World's Fair

The driver is Norwegian -Eugen Bjornstad, the “Scandinavian King Of Speed”.  Titled earned for his reckless and daring driving style all over Europe during the 1930’s.  Participated in the !937 Vanderbilt Cup Race driving an Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 Monza. Balmacaan was his sponsor.

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Racer Eugen Bjornstad in a 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza

Found another three photos of the Zust car.  I just realized that my last comment to Sam about the Zust was after his passing -  if you’re able to look down and keep reading our favorite blog, here’s three more for you Sam! All are from 1908 and are from the Chicago to Paris and NY to Paris Races.  Emilio Sirtori is driving the Zust in the NY to Paris race accompanied by journalist Antonio Scarfoglio.

From Kleiner's Korner: Two Cars that Didn't Make it to the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Thank you Ryan. Be proud of, and remember, your families part in Long Island history!

Thanks to your father, there’s more photos and documentation of one of the more least known lodges than ever before.

From Update: Greg O’s Discovery: The McCamish Family and Their Time in the Meadow Brook Lodge

  The driver is Eugen Bjornstad, a car dealer in Norway.
  He won numerous GP races in Scandanavia plus a timed speed of 186.5 kph to earn the nickname “King of Speed” with his Alfa Romeo.
  The car is an Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza s/n 2111041. Eugen had the car converted to P3 (single seat) configuration and bored the motor to 2600 cc. During later ownership the car had a Ford V8 motor and other mods at various times. Last known location was in Denmark and being restored to Monza configuration.
  In 1937 Bjornstad qualified for the Vanderbilt Cup 20th and retired on lap 60 with a broken transmission.
  Balmacaan is a Scottish hunting estate where the sponsors, the Bradley Martin family resided.
  The entry of this car in this race must be considered quite Quixotic considering the top level of competition entered.

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Racer Eugen Bjornstad in a 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza

The driver is Eugen Bjornstad, who was from Norway. He is pictured in his 1932 Alfa-Romeo 8C-2300 Monza. The photo was probably taken at Roosevelt Raceway where he was entered as “The King of Speed” in the 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The nickname was probably earned during his considerable successes racing in Norway and Europe in the 1930’s and especially for his aggressive style while ice racing. Balmacaan is an estate in Scotland near Inverness and Loch Ness.

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Racer Eugen Bjornstad in a 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza

These detailed alerts and information from this always excellent blog site regarding Coronavirus vaccine availability have been and are extremely helpful. My spouse and I have been able to obtain full immunization with the Pfizer regimen here in the Saint Louis , Missouri venue and are most grateful as we are both well over 65 years old. Thank you Howard Kroplick for all you do. Jonathan B. Richards II in Missouri.

From COVID-19 Vaccine Links

Driver: Eugen Bjornstadt,        King of Speed:  Ice Racing, Norway      
Car:  Alfa Romeo,            1937 Vanderbilt Cup Race start 20th finish 16th
Balmacaan:  hunting estate in Scotland near lake Loch Ness where John Cobb was killed in a water speed record attempt in 1952

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Racer Eugen Bjornstad in a 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza

I remember my father (Bill Cruickshank) telling me about the motor pkwy house when I was younger,but really did not know a lot about it and what my Great Grandfather did,I knew he worked at Republic but not much about a toll keeper and seeing these photos for the first time,If you saw my fathers picture collection of the family you would understand why I never saw them. I want to thank you for the great article and interest in my family’s partake in the history of the motor parkway. My Gr.Grandfather,his wife,both his children and my grandfather are all in Calverton now together again

From Update: Greg O’s Discovery: The McCamish Family and Their Time in the Meadow Brook Lodge