Vanderbilt Cup Races

Can’t argue with Walt, obviously, but I never called him Austin, only Austie, and never once did he correct me.  Only those in his social circle called him Austn.  I can not claim to have been close friends but we did know each other and downed a few, just the two of us together, into the wee hours at local spiritous beverage dispensaries after events.  Probably Austi"x” was too much of a gentlemen to set me straight.  And then there’s that printed invitation.  All this just makes me miss him all the more; what a great guy (in spiteof those plaid jackets)!  Sam, III

From Highlights from the Long Island Jewish Medical Center Drive-By Parade, Sunday, June 14, 2020

Correction - “he never called or referred to himself as Austie” - typo.

From Highlights from the Long Island Jewish Medical Center Drive-By Parade, Sunday, June 14, 2020

Austie was a favorite name used by many friends and people who thought they were his good friend as a term of endearment. Bev Kimes always referred to him as Austie but when speaking to him called him Austin. When he called me to set up an “Iron Range” date to inform people that is would be happening, or we worked on Vanderbilt Cup Race reunions together for the L.I. Old Car Club he never called or referred to himself as Austin. I am not trying to be nit picky just want all to know him better. One thing you never did was call him Henry! He would frown if you did that and correct you to call call him Austin.

From Highlights from the Long Island Jewish Medical Center Drive-By Parade, Sunday, June 14, 2020

I just went through about 50 pieces of correspondence between Austin and Peter Helck found in the Helck Family Collection and found Austin was the name he used when signing letters to Peter.  One was signed Austie but this was actually written by someone else for him.  Peter often noted Austie on the letterhead when filing them.

From Highlights from the Long Island Jewish Medical Center Drive-By Parade, Sunday, June 14, 2020

Despite the lack of Roman numerals, I thought you might like this Sam III.

From Fraud Alert Update: Guide to Identifying Authentic Versus Reproduced Long Island Motor Parkway and Roosevelt Field Porcelain Plates

From Art Kleiner:
Some info. on the Nassau Power & Light Company (which evolved from the Roslyn Power and Light Company and then into the Long Island Lighting Company).  The plant on Power House Road in Roslyn was closed during its expansion in the early 1900s.

From Open Discussion: Powerhouse Road

This one has me a bit stumped, so this is another best guess from me especially since time was a bit short this weekend. Thought this might have been our favorite photographer in his Buick, but that’s certainly not his Buick!

I’m guessing this is Joe Tracy in his Locomobile, being paid $60 to make some initial test runs on the new Motor Parkway on Sept 6th 1908 before the opening of the parkway. Another guess is the photographer is on top of the Jerusalem Ave bridge looking East.

From Mystery Foto #25 Currently Under Dispute: Joe Tracy Testing the Motor Parkway in September 1908

Sam , most interesting to see the press preview form 1948. I worked for Austin for several years at his house in his library and never did I hear his wife ever call him Austie. he didn’t object to people calling him Austie but when he introduced himself it was always as Austin. He never owned a Bugatti Royale. The only Bugatti I recall him having for many many years was the type 35 race car that he bought at the estate sale of the cars that Wallace Bird of Oyster Bay owned.

From Highlights from the Long Island Jewish Medical Center Drive-By Parade, Sunday, June 14, 2020

thank you for all the information and the photographs Howard, as well as the advice you provided to my friend who was interested in the LIMP plate that sold . He grew up on long island and always wanted one of those plates and now owns one. Life is short so sometimes you have to step up to the plate ( no pun intended) and get what you have always wanted before it is to late. Happy Father’s Day , may you have many many more of them . I look forward to the day when we can all once again have Motor Parkway clean up crew events, and perhaps meet at the Waterfront Garage sometime to exchange hellos in person and experience the warm friendships that we have developed all due to our interest in long island history and a paved road of long ago. Keep well all, we are together in spirit as kindred souls.
Walt Gosden
_____________________________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Walt, thanks so much for the kind words and optimistic forecast!

From Fraud Alert Update: Guide to Identifying Authentic Versus Reproduced Long Island Motor Parkway and Roosevelt Field Porcelain Plates

I think we might be looking west (based on the car’s shadow) in the vicinity of Bloomingdale Road in the Hempstead Plains (today’s Levittown). The Bloomingdale Road bridge had not yet been built. The driver could be Joe Tracy in his Locomobile during the summer of 1908 when he was testing the LIMP for the upcoming race, which he subsequently won.

From Mystery Foto #25 Currently Under Dispute: Joe Tracy Testing the Motor Parkway in September 1908

oh, Oh
So maybe my LIMP Plate with mt street address number isn’t an Original? ????

From Fraud Alert Update: Guide to Identifying Authentic Versus Reproduced Long Island Motor Parkway and Roosevelt Field Porcelain Plates

Howard, Happy for you, Shorty couldn’t be in a better place. Cant wait to see it.

From 1963 Ford Mustang III 2-Seater Concept Show Car Finds a New Home on Long Island

All super interesting and useful—but someone who knows for sure please tell us which are the genuine items and which are the fakes!

From Fraud Alert Update: Guide to Identifying Authentic Versus Reproduced Long Island Motor Parkway and Roosevelt Field Porcelain Plates

Beautiful car! Congratulations to the new owner.

From 1963 Ford Mustang III 2-Seater Concept Show Car Finds a New Home on Long Island

Hello, I am the great grandson of Henri Matile, who drove on Renault, find attached some of the photos of my grandfather.
To read to you,
Regards,
Frederic Matile

From Hemmings Classic Car: The Vanderbilt Cup- America's first internationally recognized road-race

Wow!

From Update: The 1946 VMCCA Jubilee Anniversary at the Mineola Fair Grounds

1930 plate is genuine, the purchaser realized this I’m sure. 1935 plate has all the signs of a fake, plus it’s bid is $26. Some of the markings on the reverse look to be made with a center punch & hammer. Fakers are stuck using new grommets, old grommet would crumble with installation. I don’t really go on eBay, but I wonder if it’s just one individual reproducing plates?

From Fraud Alert Update: Guide to Identifying Authentic Versus Reproduced Long Island Motor Parkway and Roosevelt Field Porcelain Plates

You can see that the postcard image was captured further west/at Mineola Ave than the 1906 photo race photo. Remember the question of the train being so far from the main line and bridge? Nassau Power & Light utilized a RR siding, this also allowed for spectators to arrive by rail; good plan.

From Open Discussion: Powerhouse Road

North service road to the Long Island Expressway, I-495

From Open Discussion: Powerhouse Road

Yes Power House NY25D. I have no info on it but appears it came after I.U. Willets by its straight course.

From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A 1952 Aerial View of Lake Success