About
The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
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Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
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Near Rocky Hill Road entrance.
From Mystery Friday #14 Solved:The Motor Parkway Sign at the Western Terminus at Fresh Meadows
Where was this sign located? What was the orientation of the photographer?
Photographer looking Southerly at the sign on the Southeast corner of Horace Harding Blvd and the Fresh Meadows entrance to the LIMP.
What was the date of the photograph? Provide a rationale.
1935 -as per VCR; The “50-Mile Drive” was actually only 44 miles. The Motor Parkway toll was dropped from $1.00 to $0.40 in 1933, when business dramatically declined due to the opening of the Northern State. Parkway.
The only known ground level photo of the sign and entrance.
Kudos question: Identify the truck.
Too tough to tell, but a guess would be an early 1930’s 1 1/2 Ton Ford snow plow truck.
From Mystery Friday #14 Solved:The Motor Parkway Sign at the Western Terminus at Fresh Meadows
After a one year hiatus, Sam and I resumed our annual Vanderbilt Day tradition. He’s a little older now, and a little more “cool” so getting him to come with daddy on an all day exploration mission isn’t as easy as it once was, but welcome to parenting, I understand this is typical.
From Sam and Dave's "Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day"- #1 The Start in Lake Success
Great idea using the bikes, easier for exploring over all. And we all get to see Sam growing up every year, Dave!
From Sam and Dave's "Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day"- #1 The Start in Lake Success
Also Mark Lieberman clarified for me, outside during the demo, showed him a photo of this blue Tucker convertible ‘secret? prototype’ that some of you may have known about, “FAKE-BOUGHT STUFF FROM US”!! looked up another day, information about this, yes it’s a fabrication of real recondition parts and mostly remanufactured parts done at later date? A FAKE!!
From Update:Tucker 1044 Highlights from the Simeone Museum's Tucker Day
Keep up the good work! Really enjoyed the effort! Need to revisit
Pinelawn through Bagatelle and a visit to Maddona Heights….
From Sam and Dave's "Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day"- #1 The Start in Lake Success
“Typically canvas”? I don’t think so. I’ve seen an awful lot of antique cars and rarely ever saw canvas fenders, even on racers. Anyone? Sam, III
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: High-Resolution Photos of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Oh, TOO funny! There are several pix on line with the RH duals. Do you think I EVER noticed that before? Sam, III
From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: A Unique 1906 Transverse V-4 Christie Front-Wheel Drive Engine
Whoa! Oldfield front view. Look at that right front wheel - DUALS! Plus a shock absorber or snubber {?}. Counter-(Anti-)clockwise running on an oval dirt, Belgian block, or brick track, I presume. Sam, III
From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: A Unique 1906 Transverse V-4 Christie Front-Wheel Drive Engine
Barney Oldfield, Master Driver of the World & America’s Legendary Speed King with Walter Christie engineer and builder of the front wheel drive Christie Racers. Barney was the first to lap the Indy over 100 mph in a Christie Racer on May 28, 1916 @ 102.623 mph. A recreation of the Christie is being built as the original was scrapped. Thanks to all for keeping American Automotive Racing History Alive! http://www.brownfoxbooks.com, www;firstsuperspeedway.com
From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: A Unique 1906 Transverse V-4 Christie Front-Wheel Drive Engine
And the fenders were typically canvas
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: High-Resolution Photos of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Howard, I now know more about this Mark Lieberman and his Nostalgic Motoring Ltd. Impressive! I understand now why he’s the one who try to explain my question about why the Air Cooled Franklin engine was converted to a water cooled engine.
MARK LIEBERMAN REALLY KNOWS ABOUT THE TUCKERS!!
________________________________________________
Howard Kroplick.
Mark, agree!
From Update:Tucker 1044 Highlights from the Simeone Museum's Tucker Day
Rich - P. S. - You can see the fenders and rod better in Howard’s Jun 17 2013
Mystery Foto: #20 Solved: Grave’s Garage in Mineola- Headquarters for the 1908 #3 Mercedes - in the last two pix. Sam, III
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: High-Resolution Photos of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Rich - happy April 1st! Seriously, though, that’s not a pole protruding forward; it’s an illusion caused by the camera angle exactly matching that of the front fenders and what you see is the bead of the two fenders and the transverse rod (or pole, if you wish) between them, connecting them and running across in front of the radiator. Sam, III
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: High-Resolution Photos of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Looks like one of J. Walter Christie’s front wheel drive engines which he drove in the 05 and 06 Cup races.
From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: A Unique 1906 Transverse V-4 Christie Front-Wheel Drive Engine
What’s protruding from the front of the vehicle? Looks like a poll supporting something…
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: High-Resolution Photos of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Mystery Foto # 13… the race car is a Christie V4 (20 liters, I believe) driven, of course, by John Walter Christie. The mecanician was perhaps George Robertson or Lewis Stang. The year was 1905 or 1906. The huge transversely mounted engine drove the front wheels with crankshaft mounted spur gears and telescopic U-Joints on each end of the crank. The unique engine used 8 (eight) atmospheric inlet valves per cylinder and one mechanically opened overhead exhaust valve per cylinder!
From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: A Unique 1906 Transverse V-4 Christie Front-Wheel Drive Engine
This one of J Walter Christie’s early front wheel drive V4s, that he personally demonstrated and raced, without much success. A brilliant designer and builder, he went on to design the early bogey wheel design for tanks which was rejected by the US, and went on to be used by the Russians.
From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: A Unique 1906 Transverse V-4 Christie Front-Wheel Drive Engine
I’m not sure but it appears all or most exhaust pipes on these early autos were on the port side (mechanician side) keeping smoke away from the driver. The Mercedes likely executing the turn while downshifting creating the excess smoke. I dont see any distress in the photo, they’re succeeding the curve except the mechanician possibly adding more smoke from his cigarette. The cigarette could be photo distortion
Jenatzy’s death was a surprise to me years back being unrelated to racing. I doubt I’ll ever forget the irresponsibility involved.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: High-Resolution Photos of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race
1044 looks fabulous in the video. I haven’t seen her in person yet but likely a superb restore. In the video, I can’t find any faults anywhere, amazing all the lines meet perfectly. Excellent work by all and the dedication to get this accomplished. Congrats Howard and to all involved.
From Update:Tucker 1044 Highlights from the Simeone Museum's Tucker Day
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