Vanderbilt Cup Races

Thanks Steven.  Some maps are taken from newspaper archives which sometimes aren’t digitized clearly at the source.  I have a few more map posts coming up in which I’ll try to increase the resolution.

From Kleiner's Kolumn: The Long Island Motor Parkway in Maps (Part III)

Wonderful research, Art. I sure do wish the maps were larger and readable in many cases. Is this possible? Regards, Steve

From Kleiner's Kolumn: The Long Island Motor Parkway in Maps (Part III)

Harry Grant
August 1960
AACA

From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: Joe Tracy & Jerry Helck in Old 16 at the 1945 Franklin County Fair

Sam, The location of the Parkway ROW on the 1911 NYT map is pretty accurate. Prior to the determination to end the Parkway at Lake Ronkonkoma, the ROW to Riverhead was south of the lake with a spur to the Inn. The Parkway had already acquired several parcels of land just south and east of the Lake prior to that decision.

From Kleiner's Kolumn: The Long Island Motor Parkway in Maps (Part III)

Found this;

From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: Joe Tracy & Jerry Helck in Old 16 at the 1945 Franklin County Fair

I’m revising my guess. The date would be June 1946 with Joe being 73 and Jerry being 16.

From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: Joe Tracy & Jerry Helck in Old 16 at the 1945 Franklin County Fair

I’ll say that’s a 69 year old Joe Tracy and a 12 year old Jerry Helck in 1942.

From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: Joe Tracy & Jerry Helck in Old 16 at the 1945 Franklin County Fair

Just a few last minute guesses: I think that might be Joe Tracy and Jerry Helck. The photo may have been taken in September of 1948 on the 40th. anniversary of the Locomobile’s Vanderbilt Cup win. That would make him 75 years old and Jerry at 18.

From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: Joe Tracy & Jerry Helck in Old 16 at the 1945 Franklin County Fair

Oh, why not guess?  Joe Tracy and Jerry Helck?  SCCA?  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: Joe Tracy & Jerry Helck in Old 16 at the 1945 Franklin County Fair

I blew up the 1911 NYT map but it’s too blurry to read; the eastern terminus and Lake Ronkonkoma seem oddly displaced, relatively.  Thanks again, Art, for this fab. thread.  Sam, III

From Kleiner's Kolumn: The Long Island Motor Parkway in Maps (Part III)

Mystery Foto #50… In the photo the driver is Joe Tracy and the mechanician is Jerry Helck. But I don’t have any other answers regarding ages and date taken.

From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: Joe Tracy & Jerry Helck in Old 16 at the 1945 Franklin County Fair

Nice film . The track layouts in 1936 and 1936 from Nixon- Racing The Silver Arrows. Also from Nixon- Rex Mays took 3rd in an Alfa, J. Thorne 6th in another Alfa. Fastest lap Rudi Caraccioli in a MB at 84.5 MPH. The 36 race was interesting an American car, the Bird Pistion Special , Mauri Rose driver 6th, MB and AU did not compete.

From Film of the Week: An Amateur Color Film of 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Being a sculptor myself, I’m very impressed with his detail and accuracy.

From Alexander Buchan's Kinetic Sculpture: The Checkered Flag

Hi Howard.  Thanks for another great topic.  The Bullitt Mustang holds continuing fascination for many people across the world.  I really hope that a museum such as The Henry Ford or The Petersen buys this car.  Ford has had decades of promotional benefit from its association with Bullitt.  Maybe they can now give something back.  I am in the UK and saw the car at Goodwood in 2018 but I totally support the prevailing view that this is a hugely important car that must be kept in the USA.  And, no, I don’t think that it should be restored.  Conservation and mild use is the way to go.

From Market Watch: Steve McQueen's Bullitt Mustang

Timothy - The above map is upside down, with south up. The Meadowbrook Pkwy now runs along the southern section of the old polo fields. Just to the north of MSP is now mostly occupied by Meadowbrook Pointe condos.

From Kleiner's Kolumn: The Long Island Motor Parkway in Maps (Part II)

Nice find, thanks for sharing. Admiring all the open land in all directions; not a building in site on early Long Island. Fire truck at 4:05!

From Film of the Week: An Amateur Color Film of 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Race

What beautiful work!

From Alexander Buchan's Kinetic Sculpture: The Checkered Flag

Here’s a shot of the racing scene in the play.  Picture is from The Theatre Magazine sometime in 1906.  One car is the Peerless Green Dragon which was driven by Barney Oldfield in the 1914 and 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Races.

From Audio: "The Little Chauffeur" from the 1906 Broadway Show "The Vanderbilt Cup"

Although not the best quality, still a great film. You never know what you’ll find if you just keep looking. Some good shots of the Auto Union. Hard to tell if it was Rosemeyer or not.

From Film of the Week: An Amateur Color Film of 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Race

David Stephan - In regards to RHR following Queens Ave/46 Ave, was RHR’s western terminus at Parsons Blvd? This is interesting news.

From Kleiner's Kolumn: The Long Island Motor Parkway in Maps (Part II)