Vanderbilt Cup Races

Frank, Regarding the two views of the Old Country Rd. bridge, I believe the views are the other way around. The descending heights of the remaining cement posts on the north side of Old Country Rd. clearly define the angle of the Parkway going under Old Country Rd. Photos of the Parkway ROW south of Old Country Rd. show it to be level with no elevating of the roadway,  the height consistent with the early photos of the “Mayan Ruins"area. Not generally known is that the Vanderbilt originally petitioned to have the Parkway go over Old Country Rd. He tries to avoid the scenario of going southward, over the LIRR (24 feet clearance), which let to a steep descent in a short distance to the underpass at Old country Rd. That section must have been a favorite of the motorists. I’m sure some of the early autos had a difficult time going up that grade.

From Mystery Friday Foto #45 Still Open for Discussion: A Motor Parkway Bridge Built on a Curve

LIMP - Hempstead Plains now Levittown looking west towards Newbridge Rd.
1908 -1910 Vanderbilt Cup races where held at the location
Grandstands and pit areas for the 1908 cup race now Orchid and Crocus Lane Levittown
The parkway looks new and most likely just completed in either September or October 1908.  Photo was taken from the original building/grandstand at the location
The LIMP Newbridge Rd bridge and the New Bridge Hotel can be seen in the distance

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved:A View of the Motor Parkway looking West from the Officials' Stand/Press Box

Dave - Agreed, these posts are in the same condition/age as Salisbury Dr. Likely also Robert Moses stuff.

From Kleiner's Kolumn: Revisiting the Transformation of the Motor Parkway into Salisbury Park Drive

Dave, I would say the posts were all installed when the Wantagh Parkway was built.
As to why one section had one slit vs. two maybe the elevation of the ground near Stewart vs. Salisbury Pk. Drive had something to do with it.  More research to undertake.

From Kleiner's Kolumn: Revisiting the Transformation of the Motor Parkway into Salisbury Park Drive

The car is either a ‘28 or a ‘29 Model A sport coupe.  The step on top of the rear fender indicates that it is equiped with a rumble seat.  My grandmother gave me a copy of I Know A Secret about 55 years ago.  I recently re-read it, smiling the whole time.

From Mystery Foto #36 Unveiled: Christopher Morley's Cat Teaches How to Draw A Map of Long Island in 1927

Here’s why I’m a tad doubtful these wood posts are original LIMP: the attached pics are from the Stewart Ave bridge over the Wantagh Parkway, just north of Salisbury Park Dr / LIMP bridge. These posts aren’t exactly the same, but quite similar. What do you guys think?

From Kleiner's Kolumn: Revisiting the Transformation of the Motor Parkway into Salisbury Park Drive

This looks like the 1914 Indy 500 in Indianapolis, IN. If I’m correct with that, then the cars and drivers should be: #3 Stutz with Barney Oldfield; #43 Duesenberg with Willie Haupt; #49 Isotta with Ray Gilhooley; #26 Marmon with Joe Dawson; #42 Duesenberg with Eddie Rickenbacker; and the #5 Beaver Bullet with Charles Keene driving.

From Mystery Racers: The 1914 Indy 500 Race

We’re looking west in the Hempstead Plains (now Levittown) with the Newbridge Road LIMP bridge in the distance along with the Newbridge Hotel. This section was used for the 1908, 1909, and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races. In addition to the bridge, we’re also looking at the remains of the grandstand, pits, and parking area. I think the photo was taken from the Press Box / Officials Stand. Since the grandstand is down and the press box was still up, the date is probably around November / December, 1910.

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved:A View of the Motor Parkway looking West from the Officials' Stand/Press Box

Great images, but this isn’t within my purview :~ )

From Mystery Racers: The 1914 Indy 500 Race

*Location & direction of Foto:  A broadly west view in Hempstead Plains/Levittown NY.

*Races held here:  1908, 1909 & 1910 Vanderbilt Cup.

*Buildings & Structures:  Noted on the map attached.

*Date of Foto:  My thoughts - Think this photo was taken from the Press Box. Both the Grandstand & Officials Stand/Press Box were built by Sept 1908 ( the attached image ). The attached image shows no guard railing. But railing must have been erected by Oct 10 ( sweepstakes images show railing ). The sheds I see were likely for the road crews, maybe outhouses? Have to go to the bathroom somewhere. My answer is early October 1908.

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved:A View of the Motor Parkway looking West from the Officials' Stand/Press Box

A few years back I was analyzing this same photo (or one similar) to try and make sense of these country farm roads. As it turned out, Farmedge was spared but Old Bloomingdale is long gone after the Levitt Housing occupation.

From Garden City Archives: The "Snake Turn" of the 1908-1910 Courses of the Vanderbilt Cup Races

Indianapolis 1914
Ray Gilhooley in the #49 auto
Barney Oldfield in the #3

From Mystery Racers: The 1914 Indy 500 Race

These threads seem to be coming thick and fast!  Love it!  Here I go again - see my LIMP Page 3 <http://sbiii.com/limpkwy3.html> for some 24 Sep 1999 pix of this area.  Art K., you’re doing a fab. job; thanks muchly.  Sam, III

From Kleiner's Kolumn: Revisiting the Transformation of the Motor Parkway into Salisbury Park Drive

Hmm.  That open patch seems too small for the grandstand and no sign of the press box.  Pits?  Other clues?  Can’t make out details but that big porch rules out Garden City with the Clinton bridge beyond.  Early construction - see the water pipe at right.  I have to assume that’s the omni-present Ladenburgh windmiill on the horizon.  Pass.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved:A View of the Motor Parkway looking West from the Officials' Stand/Press Box

Another rambling - re Frank F.‘s OCR bridge pix - I lived in Mineola for many years and, back then, potatoes kept sprouting out of my lawn.  The whole area was once dead flat, the vast Mott potato farms.  So just think of what a massive operation it was to raise the grade of E-W OCR and lower the N-S RoW for the LIMP (mostly by hand, at that)!  Sam, III

From Mystery Friday Foto #45 Still Open for Discussion: A Motor Parkway Bridge Built on a Curve

Magnificent presentation of early automotive racing history. Thank you Mr. Kroplick for your continued pursuit of this now century old information. Marvelous and very scholarly work. Preservation of this early industrial history is doubly important in this age of revisionists. Your factual and non-editorial approach keeps proper perspective as we view hard core pragmatists , adventurers and yes , even dare devils , seeking to further personal and business interests—all the while enjoying the thrill and challenge of unbridled speed. Gentlemen start your engines!
____________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick:

Thanks so much for you positive comment. Much appreciated!

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

Many of my missing 2,200 images are LIMP-oriented.  Gotta get busy and extract them from old hard drives and JAZ cartridges (*IF* I can).  Pray for me.  Sam, III

From Sam Berliner III: A 1970 Walking Tour of the Motor Parkway in Queens

Seeing the locust posts still standing reminds me of what my father, born in 1915, says they used to tell him: the problem with locust posts is you can’t tell when they’re worn out.  So what you want to do is put a brick on top of the post; that way you know when the brick wears out the post must be worn out.
He also said his uncles told him how in the late 1800’s, they got a gig supplying black locust turning blanks to the NY City Police Department.  But the PD stopped buying them because they were cracking too many heads.

From Kleiner's Kolumn: Revisiting the Transformation of the Motor Parkway into Salisbury Park Drive

These photos were all taken at the 1914 Indianapolis 500 Mile Sweepstakes on Saturday May 30, 1914. The cars we see are with No.3 Barney Oldfield with Stutz,  No.5 Charles Keene with Beaver-Bullett, No.26 Joe Dawson’s Marmon, No. 42 Eddie Rickenbacker with Duesenberg, No.43 Willie Haupt with Duesenberg and No. 49 Ray Gilhooley’s Isotta. The race was won by René Thomas on a Delage.

From Mystery Racers: The 1914 Indy 500 Race

I’m not second guessing anyone this time, just curious.  Reading Al’s comments, I imagine not even he actually knows, so we are ALL guessing!  How are to find out (if ever)?  Sam. III

From Mystery Friday Foto #45 Still Open for Discussion: A Motor Parkway Bridge Built on a Curve