Vanderbilt Cup Races

Thanks Brian.  I’ll update my post and credit you.

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 2 - Motorcycling on the Motor Parkway

Just found this miss captioned image within the photo archive, Art.

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 2 - Motorcycling on the Motor Parkway

Since this re-opened, I should’a named the other Dangerous Place as the crossing of Hempstead-cum-North Village Avenue over the South Shore line of the LIRR at Rockville Centre station.  That was, of course, long before the grade elimination project of ca. 1960.  Wonder why that particular crossing was singled out; I don’t recall it being so bad ca. 1950, when I first started driving there.  Seems to me that the Grand or Milburn Avenue crossing in Baldwin was far worse, obscured by a big store or some such at the NW corner.  Now, closer to the LIMP, who remembers the huge hump of the crossing at the far western end of the OTHER Hempstead Avenue (Route 24, the Hempstead Pike) where it crossed the Main Line at grade immediately south of its Jamaica Avenue (Route 25, the western end of the Jericho Pike) terminus in Queens Village?  LOVE the twists and turns of these threads.  Sam, III

From Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway in Maps - Part IV

The reasoning for the ‘sand condition at the 25 mile mark’ is clearly explained below.

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 3 - Motorcycle Races on the Motor Parkway

    • The location is the historic Roosevelt Field airfield, in or near East Garden City and/or Westbury, Nassau County, NY.  The photographer is facing roughly Southeast.
    • The road along the telephone lines is Merrick Avenue
    • The area in the background is likely a portion of the Salisbury Country Club, later to become Eisenhower Park.
    •  The aircraft is Ryan NYP long distance monoplane, registration: N-X-211, aka Spirit of St. Louis piloted by Charles A. Lindbergh.
    •  The photo was taken on the morning of Friday, May 20, 1927, shortly after the 7:52 AM takeoff.

Link this Mystery Foto to the Long Island Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Races:
    •  The Motor Parkway was located to the west and south of the historic Roosevelt Field airfield. 
    •  For the Vanderbilt Cup Races of 1908, 1909 and 1910, a temporary connecting road was built through the Roosevelt Field airfield property.
    •  Charles Lindbergh was a frequent user of the Motor Parkway entering and exiting at the Garden City Lodge.
    •  The location of the takeoff would later become the site for Roosevelt Raceway and the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races.
    •  The Motor Parkway’s Meadowbrook Lodge and Merrick Avenue Parkway bridge are in the vicinity of the airfield and the photo.

From Update Mystery Foto #27 Solved: Lindbergh Taking Off from Roosevelt Field on May 20, 1927

From Art Kleiner:
Thanks Gary and Brian for educating us on the Peace Monument - interesting that as the following articles indicate there was talk way back in 1909 to have the monument moved due to traffic considerations.  Bergin Avenue has since been renamed Merrick Blvd.  which turns into Merrick Road further east.

Sam, overtime?  Labor of love - lol.

From Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway in Maps - Part IV

Cool history and background of this series. Guardian angels were looking out for the mom, especially the 2 yr old. The LIMP was paved east to Wheeler Rd, Central Islip in 1912. 5 miles from Wheeler to the Petit Trianon was still dirt, going along with the 1912 article. Think the writer meant to say Brentwood, not Bethpage.

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 4 - Motorcycling on the Motor Parkway

Hemmings has posted a link to Walt’s article (see above).

From Hemmings Classic Car: Racing in Riverhead-The Long Island Stock Chassis Competition of 1909

Dave - the proposed dig site is at the newer house at the end of Vanderbilt Ct today. But as Greg commented earlier, I doubt the archaeological dig will ever happen. New
construction has enveloped the old stuff over the years, including the old out house. But I’m always optimistic. I never give up

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

Greg/Al—if this archeological dig ever happens I’m in!

I met the owner of the GC toll lodge a few years ago, she is VERY aware of the history of her house and she made it clear to me that preservation of her house and history are very important to her. I think if this “dig” were proposed from a historical standpoint and any damage would be repaired, I think she would be on board.

Is the proposed dig site on the lodge property or is it on the property of the newer house at the end of the block?

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

From Art Kleiner:
Three more . . .

From Hemmings Classic Car: Racing in Riverhead-The Long Island Stock Chassis Competition of 1909

From Art Kleiner:
Thank you Walt for the article summarizing the 1909 Long island Stock Derby.  The race is just one example of the history of racing on Long Island that most people are not aware of, including the Vanderbilt Cup Races.  But thanks to you and others history has a chance to be remembered. 
I did some follow up research on the Derby and found the race was originally to be run Sept. 21, however was pushed back to Sept. 29 due to various reasons (distribution of prizes unclear, an impending storm).  The local papers played up the race (one noted 75,000 spectators were expected) however, as you indicate the race did not pan out the way it was expected (one paper noted that only 37 people were on the grandstand as many just lined the course to watch), with many businesses and individuals taking a loss.  This and the possibility that spectators would be “taxed” at the 1910 race might have contributed to it not occurring the following year as was planned. 
Walt, or anyone wanting my compilation of articles taken from local and industry trade publications about the Derby, let me know at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).  I have about 25 more.  Some are repetitive but others provide a more local flavor.
Articles shown below are from “Automobile Topics”, “The Long-Islander”, “The Motor World” and the “South Side Signal”.  The first picture is #11, a Buick driven by Louis Chevrolet.

From Hemmings Classic Car: Racing in Riverhead-The Long Island Stock Chassis Competition of 1909

Difficult photo. I’m no expert but quite possibly the end result of a sharp left turn. You can see the center-of-gravity in the rear wheels skidding towards the driver’s right side (dust plume, or maybe exhaust?), being controlled by the front steering wheels. The rear wheels appear leaning towards the right, coming out of the left curve.

From Mystery Foto #26 Partially Solved: Lewis Strang's P46 Renault during the 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes

Below is my answer. No rationale, just my best guess for location on course.

From Mystery Foto #26 Partially Solved: Lewis Strang's P46 Renault during the 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes

Mystery Foto #26… The car is certainly a Renault and possibly one of the Vanderbilt Renaults. (He ordered 10 built for him and friends). So it could be a 1907 Vanderbilt Renault 35-45 HP runabout. It could have been the 1908 Vanderbilt cup with Lewis Strang as driver.

From Mystery Foto #26 Partially Solved: Lewis Strang's P46 Renault during the 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes

The easier part was identifying the car, but spent the weekend trying to unsuccessfully discover the location.

#P46 Renault driven by Lewis Strang on September 10, 1908 in the “The Long Island Motor Parkway Sweepstakes.”

As to where…looks like he’s on a slight left turn along the public road portion of the course. Also noticing a telephone pole, so maybe this is near one of the phone stations along the course. The surrounding terrain does not look like the western portion near Ellison, so Pure guess of somewhere near Bethpage or Plainview circled in the course map.

From Mystery Foto #26 Partially Solved: Lewis Strang's P46 Renault during the 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes

It’s a Renault, possibly 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race, driven by Lewis Strang/Mechanician Anderson. Location is near impossible to solve - hats off to who recognizes the house!

From Mystery Foto #26 Partially Solved: Lewis Strang's P46 Renault during the 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes

Judging from radiator location,I’m guessing car is a Renault GP car from 1907-08.The driver would be Louis Strang.The race location could be either 1908 Vanderbilt cup or American Grand Prize at Savannah.There were two Renaults entered at Savannah,in which case the driver was either Louis Strang or Ferenc Szisz.

From Mystery Foto #26 Partially Solved: Lewis Strang's P46 Renault during the 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes

HI Gary
Yes, Indeed it is from the same event, no doubt about it. Thanks for looking and sharing this with all of this , GREAT!!!
Walt

From Hemmings Classic Car: Racing in Riverhead-The Long Island Stock Chassis Competition of 1909

Walt,  I believe this postcard from my collection might also be from this event.

From Hemmings Classic Car: Racing in Riverhead-The Long Island Stock Chassis Competition of 1909