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
Recent Comments
From Art Kleiner:
Thanks Mike - yes, I enjoyed researching it. Especially when I first saw it in “True Detective Mysteries” magazine. I wasn’t sold on it as “True”, but with so much local detail (and of course it being in the NY Times), I was convinced. The article spanned 3 issues with lots of information, and seemed like a TV drama scanning through it.
But sorry, I first thought Crawford was a NC detective, but looked him up and saw he starred in “Highway Patrol” as Dan Mathews. Now if you said Joe Friday (Jack Webb) I would have known right away!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broderick_Crawford
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Friday
From Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Bellmore Bank Robbery
Very interesting story Art! I too grew up just a 10 minute walk from the Newbridge Road Bridge. The event took place long before Broderick Crawford and the Highway Patrol were around. He would have nabbed them for sure!
From Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Bellmore Bank Robbery
Did a little more digging, and discovered that the Jones Variety Store was located at 251-255 Elm Street in West Springfield, placing it about 1.7 miles away from where Storrowton Village is located at the Big E (Eastern States Exposition).
From Mystery Painting #21 Partially Solved: A Work of Art from the Long Island Automotive Museum
Do you have any other vintage humorous automobile postcards? Please add them to the Comments section.
From Kleiner's Korner: Humorous Postcards from the Helck Family Collection
I’d promised a BIG treat but it somehow didn’t post; let’s try again. I grew up with this hysterical automotive sporting print above my grandfather’s mantel, so I knew it at least since 1937 or so. It’s been remounted and now hangs above mine. The image itself is about 20” x 30” and is titled “The Meet at the Black Swan”. After I took a really bad pic of it through glass, it occurred to me to look on line; it turns out to be rather famous and is credited to Stuart Travis, ca. 1901. It’s chock full of great details. In the vernacular, ENJOY! Sam, III
From Kleiner's Korner: Humorous Postcards from the Helck Family Collection
Look carefully at this last DeDion Bouton card; there are two three-wheeled Camionettes shown, plus the two vis-à-vis and a steam autobus! Now, why would a fully-caparisoned Pierrot be driving the buggy? Also, why is the ad label spelled “Camioniette” (with a second “i”)? Such fun! Sam, III
From Kleiner's Korner: Humorous Postcards from the Helck Family Collection
As a lover of old advertising and cars, this collection of auto-oriented postcards was excellent. The last card with ‘amazed horse’ and sucking baby was priceless.
I went through hundreds, if not thousands of cards at Nassau County Photo Archives, and these shown are quite classic and humorous.
JF Purcell
Oceanside, NY
Volunteer, Nassau County Photo Archives.
From Kleiner's Korner: Humorous Postcards from the Helck Family Collection
Art, Since you asked….., the information about the license plate number came from a publication called “The Motor” published by Motor magazine in late 1904. It lists almost all of the vehicle registration numbers which were first issued by New York State in 1903. Most frustrating though is that the identity of the vehicle the plates were attached to, are not listed. By the end of 1904 approximately 10,000 automobiles were registered in New York.
From Kleiner's Korner: Humorous Postcards from the Helck Family Collection
From Art Kleiner:
Al - you never amaze me - now how did you find who was issued the license plate number? And thanks to the others submitting comments.
From Kleiner's Korner: Humorous Postcards from the Helck Family Collection
From Art Kleiner:
Found a magazine article regarding the making of “Sally of the Sawdust” noting that interiors made at the Paramont LI studio and exteriors along the Motor Parkway and other locales on LI.
From a publication I’ve never heard of: the Overland Monthly and Out West Magazine (August, 1925). Published using various names between 1868 and 1935.
From Film: W.C Fields Driving On the Long Island Motor Parkway in "Sally of the Sawdust"
From Art Kleiner
Two aviation related additions.
Aeronautics (March, 1909)
Aircraft (June, 1911)
From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: A Bleriot Monoplane Racing a Vanderbilt Cup Racer in 1910/1911
Somehow missed the previous 18 Mar post. ‘51 Glen - I vas dere, Cholly! Thanks for the memory! Re old auto humor, I have a “big” treat for you folks, a’comin’. Sam, III
From Kleiner's Korner: Humorous Postcards from the Helck Family Collection
Tobey R
Your post reminded me of this favorite. It’s full of humor.
From Kleiner's Korner: Humorous Postcards from the Helck Family Collection
So thrilled that I rode shotgun once! Glad the Black Beast is back on the road.
From The Alco Black Beast Roars Again!
Art, New York license plate # 644 was issued to William S. Rogers in 1904. At the time he lived at 200 W. 56th St. in NYC. Note. Only the # was issued to him, it was his responsibility to have a plate made up. Only one plate was required and it had to affixed to the rear of the vehicle. Some automobile owners did also mount a plate on the front. New York began issuing license plates in 1910.
From Kleiner's Korner: Humorous Postcards from the Helck Family Collection
Howard, good luck with the repaired Black Beast. I’m looking forward to the live stream of the parade.
From The Alco Black Beast Roars Again!
One post card gives a Brief history of Duryea automobiles.
While in Reading Pa I saw this plaque to Charles Duryea for a Race he won Climbing MT Penn and though it was worth sharing.
From Kleiner's Korner: Humorous Postcards from the Helck Family Collection
st.fiesta19
And a tucker in the back!
From The Alco Black Beast Roars Again!
camarocore
Crazy collection in that building.
From The Alco Black Beast Roars Again!
Ray Evernham:
The Beast! I was lucky enough to get a ride in this incredible car while shooting AmericarnaTV with Howard.
https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/behind_the_scenes_velocity_channels_americarna_vanderbilt_cup_race_episode
From The Alco Black Beast Roars Again!
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