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
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Recent Comments
That’s a 1966 TDX “all plastic car” constructed by Pat Amendolia (possibly Joe’s father?). The car had no metal frame; both the body and chassis were plastic. It was featured in the December, 1968 issue of Motor Trend in an article by Bob Fendel. The car’s name is derived from the nick-name of the youngster leaning on the car in one of the smaller photos. Her father Pat called her “Tee-Dee” and the “X” is for experimental.
From Mystery Foto # 8 Solved: The 1966 TDX Plastic Car Created and Built on Long Island
Howard, last year’s Open Houses had with your divine intervention?? manage to have mostly excellent weather, however this Sunday Open House weather looks questionable (unless you can pull off another intervention??). Most likely it will be wet, your collection will be indoors with assess through the hallway/garage doors??
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Howard Kroplick
It is rain or shine! The cars will be safe and sound in the garage.
From Hold the Date: Tucker 1044 Open House on Sunday, February 24, 2019
As Al explained, the ‘paychecks’ had a twofold purpose. Unless their foreman were fluent in English & Italian, the tags acted as identification. Yes, eventually everyone will know each other besides having the tag. After what occurred with Carlo Triola, misplacing one’s tag does cause pay issues. And he needed to retain The Protective Company to recover his lost wages. This ‘paycheck’ was a crucial item to the laborers.
From Mystery Foto #6 Solved: A Rare Long Island Motor Parkway Paycheck
1966 TDX
http://thetdx.com/the story.htm
From Mystery Foto # 8 Solved: The 1966 TDX Plastic Car Created and Built on Long Island
1966 TDX concept car. Driver has a 180 degree view, all reinforced plastic except
for front frame rail, wiring, and drive shaft. Motor Trend Magazine did the article
and several guys with ties to the plastic industry were the builders and sponsors.
From Mystery Foto # 8 Solved: The 1966 TDX Plastic Car Created and Built on Long Island
A great many thanks to Al for most closely identifying the Mystery Photo tag as a machine shop tool tag as I stated rather than an employee identifying pay tag. Employees during that period were generally readily known to their foremen and team leaders who would escort them to payroll services who also knew who was on the payroll musters and that such tags were not used for pay issuance purposes
The question remains where might the many other tags be or did they get repurposed for either of the major war efforts? It is most likely that most others were recycled for their brass when the government requested.
Al stated that he knew of only one other, which is not uncommon for such item/artifacts. Very neat find! Thanks again Al.
From Mystery Foto #6 Solved: A Rare Long Island Motor Parkway Paycheck
I held off on guessing the location, but I pretty much recognized the background, having run the track in the 70’s-80’s and lived in Bridgehampton for 15 years.
Thanks!
From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Two Pegaso Z-102s Parked at the 1953 Bridgehampton Races
I was working for Austin part time in his library in Glen Cove when he went to take the photos ( on 4 x 5 sheet film) of the Alco. And we had conversations of that when he recalled how the chassis came from Ohio etc. when it was discovered /owned by a collector there.
From Henry Austin Clark, Jr.'s 1974 Photos of the Alco Black Beast
Weather forecast as of now for the Feb. 24th Open House, 80% RAIN. Any rain date?
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Howard Kroplick
Mark, the event is rain or shine. Currently, Sunday’s forecast is the that rain will stop in the morning with temps in the 50s.
From Hold the Date: Tucker 1044 Open House on Sunday, February 24, 2019
I’m afraid Bill is right about the Mercedes Cabriolet A. The side panel stripes-cum-grilles on the hood/bonnet made me think 220S but the window and top/head proportions do look 300S (see <http://sbiii.com/merbzpix/cabrioas.jpg>). Sam, III
From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Two Pegaso Z-102s Parked at the 1953 Bridgehampton Races
Jeff Becker
The car in front is a 1954 Pegaso Z 102. I suspect they are in the parking field for one of the early street races at Bridgehampton. Probably 1954. I guess that’s Ocean Road in the background.
Need a better closeup to get the other sports car in the photo.
From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Two Pegaso Z-102s Parked at the 1953 Bridgehampton Races
Bill Hollingsworth
The Pegaso Z-102 in the foreground was at the time considered the fastest production sports car in the world, also the most expensive. The photo looks to be 1953 or later as the Ford station wagon looks to be a 1953. The car hidden behind the Pegaso could be an Alvis. The white car being blocked could be a Bertone bodied Arnolt Bristol. My guess for the car behind the Bristol would be a XK120. The last car, parked along the fence is 1952 Mercedes Benz 300 Coupe. There are two MGTC’s on the other side of the fence with the Ford. Where? Could be the Hamptons. 1953-4
The second car is also a Pegaso. Sports Car Market says approximate market value of the coupes is $550,000.
That was fun. Good photo.
From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Two Pegaso Z-102s Parked at the 1953 Bridgehampton Races
Very pleased that Howard decided to use my Pegaso photos. It occurs to me that these beautiful Spanish thoroughbred coupes with strong V8 power could be the Pre-Mustang Mustangs…. just ten years ahead of time. Amazing that back in ‘53 they were driving these around as if they were normal, regular cars.
From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Two Pegaso Z-102s Parked at the 1953 Bridgehampton Races
I think one’s an Aston Martin of some kind based on the insignia on the back, the other an Alpha or something else Italian, possibly in Salisbury Park sometime after 1951 due to the ‘52 or ‘53 Ford wagon in the picture.
From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Two Pegaso Z-102s Parked at the 1953 Bridgehampton Races
Re: mystery photo, The car is a 1953 Pagaso model Z102 built in Spain by Empresa Nacional De Autocamiones, a truck manufacturer. The car had a 4-0verhead camshaft V-8 engine and 5-speed gearbox. Photo is the parking area at the Bridgehampton sports car races in 1953 0r1954. The only other car I can Identify the the 1954 Ford station wagon.
From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Two Pegaso Z-102s Parked at the 1953 Bridgehampton Races
The dark color car is a 1951-1956 Pegaso Z102/Z103? Berlinetta GT coupe by Touring
From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Two Pegaso Z-102s Parked at the 1953 Bridgehampton Races
The dark color model is 1951-56 Pegaso Z-102, the light color is 1952 Pegaso Z-102 ‘Cupola’. Other informations is unknown to me?
From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Two Pegaso Z-102s Parked at the 1953 Bridgehampton Races
Dunno about the garbage in front and behind but the true sports car is probably a 1936-39 vintage SS-1 (now Jaguar) tourer half hidden in between. The one at left rear is a more modern classic, a ca.-1957-59 Mercedes 220S Cabriolet A. HAH! Might that lump in front be a Bertone body? Sam, III
From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Two Pegaso Z-102s Parked at the 1953 Bridgehampton Races
As some of you know, I attended the 19 June 1960 running of the so-called “Vanderbilt Cup Race” on the flat, twisting road course laid out in the infield and around the Roosevelt Raceway, a trotting track. Jerry’s Dad’s Locomobile “Old 16” was there and the old car race was probably more exciting for me than the Cup race itself (no $5 bills in the mud, either). When the Cup race was over, the security guards must have gone home and my buddy noticed that little oversight. Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained, so we slipped out onto the track and started doing some very creditable laps in my XK-120M Jag until we were stopped and unceremoniously escorted back off the track. And all that with a stock drophead, mind you, not even a roadster, let alone one in racing trim! So, yes, Jerry, even though this clearly isn’t what you meant, I did see a VCR! There’s even an unusual pic I took of Old 16 that day at <http://sbiii.com/automot1.html#old16>. Sam, III
From Jerry Helck: Anyone Here Ever Seen A Vanderbilt Cup Race?
Theodore FRAYER was my father. Which of Lee’s children is your relative? I enjoy and appreciate all your efforts with historical aspect of our family.
From Profile of Driver Lee Frayer by his Great-Great Grandson
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