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.
All Content © 2026 VanderbiltCupRaces.com
Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
Thanks for a glimpse in to what once was…..Enjoyed it…
From The Impact of the Vanderbilt Cup Races: The Long Island Race Tracks
HA! You left out the Roosevelt Raceway, where the VC races were run on 19 June 1960 on the flat, on a twisting road course laid out in the infield and around the trotting track. I vas dere, Cholly (as was Old 16), and even snuck my XK120M drophead Jag out onto the course immediately after the race was over and got in a lap at speed before being chased off. Not much of an auto racetrack but still it WAS one - AND it hosted a VCR! Sam, III
From The Impact of the Vanderbilt Cup Races: The Long Island Race Tracks
‘Tis I, again - what a thread! “Nutting” has been bothering me and the name finally clicked - Gurney Nutting, of course, only one of the finest coachbuilders ever! Hugh - any relation to John (Jack) Gurney Nutting or just an incredible coincidence in this regard? Sam, III
From Updated 2/21/18: Mystery Foto #7 Solved: The Roslyn Motors Lincoln Dealership in 1926
This trophy was the Membership Cup, awarded to the member of the Long Island Automobile Club who recruited the most new members during the year. It was sponsored by Louis T. Weiss, who had won a similar award in the past. Frank G. Webb was president of the club at the time. Allen C. Alderman, a wealthy attorney, who was also a past president of the club, had recruited the most new members.
From Mystery Foto #10 Solved: A 1909 Long Island Automobile Club Membership Cup
Very nice presentation
Ken
From The Impact of the Vanderbilt Cup Races: The Long Island Race Tracks
Hi, Howard,
This was a reminder that in 1982 we “borrowed” the Vanderbilt name at Bridgehampton and ran what we called “Vanderbilt Speed Weeks”, with AAMRR motorcycle road races and a motocross on one weekend followed by SCCA/EMRA sports car races the next. This was to celebrate the track’s 25th birthday. We sort of recreated the Cup for the event, using a picture from the Smithsonian as a guide. Best regards, Earl
From The Impact of the Vanderbilt Cup Races: The Long Island Race Tracks
Very nice to have Mr. Nutting comment : if he is talking about the cars shown in the advertisements that Roslyn Motors took in the NY Salon catalogs being both 1926 cars then Lincoln was trying to pull a fast one on its car buying public. The same illustration for the green LeBaron town car was used in a sales catalog Lincoln issued to be distributed at the Salons for the 1927-28 season (dates for the NY,Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco salons are given in the back of the lavish sales piece) the dates at the front of the catalog say (spelled out ) 1927 1928. Salon Cars. the Judkins two window Berline in the sales catalog is a different illustration and in different colors but is the same car in all details of design as the illustration shown in the NY Salon catalog.
From Updated 2/21/18: Mystery Foto #7 Solved: The Roslyn Motors Lincoln Dealership in 1926
Identify the trophy and its sponsor.
Membership Cup given by the Long Island Automobile Club in 1909
Identify Frank Webb. Link him to the Vanderbilt Cup Races.
President of the Club and Vice-Chairman of the 1909 (maybe others) Vanderbilt Cup Race Commission. A.R. Pardington also was a director of the club.
Identify the winner Allen Alderman. Why did he receive the cup?
Chairman of the 1909 Membership Committee - received the cup for “proposing the greatest number of new members.
Which race car was engraved on the trophy? Provide a rationale. Note: Answer is currently unknown.
Not enough research yet.
From Mystery Foto #10 Solved: A 1909 Long Island Automobile Club Membership Cup
Very nice! Just found the Barret-Jackson auction for this.
Feel like I’m just stating the obvious from the inscriptions.
Identify the trophy and its sponsor
In a ceremony in December 1909, The Long Island Automobile Club presented this trophy to Allen C. Alderman for securing 99 new members into the club in 1909.
Identify Frank Webb. Link him to the Vanderbilt Cup Races.
President of the Long Island Automobile Club And Vice-chairman Of The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Races.
Identify the winner Allen Alderman.
Allen Alderman immediately took over as President Of The LIAC after 1909
Which race car was engraved on the trophy? Provide a rationale. Note: Answer is currently unknown.
Mostly has an Locomobile ‘feel’ to it. Old 16 maybe?
From Mystery Foto #10 Solved: A 1909 Long Island Automobile Club Membership Cup
Amazing restoration work here. Thanks for sharing the progress. I can tell already she’s gonna be a beaut. Can’t wait to see her up close!
From Tucker 1044 Conservation Report III: Putting 1044 Back Together
Looking forward to read through the memoirs on your site, Tim.
From Peter Helck: Memoirs: 75 Years with Palette, Paintbrush and Wheels
Hello, Mike Hofmann.
Is every statement that I expressed with a ? mark incorrect? If so, would you mind being more specific?
This unique overpass, interesting as it is; throws a curveball at me. Being a student of Sam Berliner III and Arthur Huneke’s Railroad History websites, I’m aware of the Stewart/Central RR particulars, etc.
From Updated: Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Central R.R. Motor Parkway Bridge in Queens
The comment above is wrong. Stewart’s CRRLI indeed was operational from 1869-73 & even had a stop called Frankensten that was located where today’s intersection of 73rd Ave and Francis Lewis are. There is a Stewart Rd off of Union Tpke by Bell that also follows this old ROW.
From Updated: Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Central R.R. Motor Parkway Bridge in Queens
Hi guys. I’m sure glad to happen upon “The Queens Library Digital Collection” website. In addition to LIMP images, there’s a whole slew of other collections as well. Take a look through the site, you won’t be disappointed.
On the closer view of the overpass, you’ll see the 1 tree on the N/S of the bridge to the left. Then view further south or S/E. There’s the “V” opening high in the tree tops. I’m thinking that’s the ROW of the Stewart RR? The photographer is on the N/S of the bridge. Maybe standing on the E/S of Bell Blvd? I’m guessing Bell Blvd. is not seen because of the angle of the overpass?
The image describes as the proposed extension of Bell Blvd. Perhaps it should’ve been described as the proposed widening? The 1941 aerial displays Bell Blvd. running north and south. I viewed a 1928 street map also displaying Bell Blvd well established. Really need to explore this area again. Brian
From Updated: Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Central R.R. Motor Parkway Bridge in Queens
Happy birthday! Awesome site Howard. You do a great job with this. Love the LI historical content.
From Happy 10th Anniversary VanderbiltCupRaces.com!
I read the blog now and then. Thanks so much. You’re awesome!
From Happy 10th Anniversary VanderbiltCupRaces.com!
Didn’t have the time again for research, so I’m going with (probably wrong) guesses here since this bridge didn’t seem like it really matches any one of the 3 Nassau/Suffolk steel truss railroad bridges.
What is the location of this Motor Parkway bridge? Provide a rationale.
Oyster Bay LIRR Bridge in Williston Park
When was this bridge built?
1909
When was the bridge first used as part of the Long Island Motor Parkway?
1909
When was this photo taken?
unknown
From Updated: Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Central R.R. Motor Parkway Bridge in Queens
The photo is of the old LIMP bridge over the old ROW of the Stewart/LIRR Central Branch (future Bell Blvd). The bridge was constructed in 1925 for the new section of the LIMP. The bridge was used up until the closing of the parkway in 1938 and then used as a bike path before being taken down. A new bridge over Bell Blvd was then constructed and the ROW was made straight for the new section of the bike path.
The photo was taken 0n 11-15-44
From Updated: Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Central R.R. Motor Parkway Bridge in Queens
The steel bridge over the Central Railroad right of way near Bell Blvd. in Queens
built about 1925. Photo taken in 1928.
From Updated: Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Central R.R. Motor Parkway Bridge in Queens
Fantastic photo of a never-seen-before LIMP bridge. This steel girder bridge (RR?) could be carrying the original-diverted LIMP over the old Central RR (Stewart Rd) in Alley Pond Park, where Bell Blvd passes underneath today. The heavy foliage in the background looks like a park setting, and the supplementary photo (looking south) reveals the same right curve of the CRR RoW.
Continued construction of the LIMP westward from the Rocky Hill Rd terminus (Springfield Blvd) began around 1924, so this bridge was built shortly after, around 1925. Attached is a 1925 blueprint of this bridge revealing similar girder and railing.
Guessing the bridge was used between 1925-1938, then removed after the parkway was officially closed. After re-opening shortly after as a pedestrian/bicycle greenway, the present day bridge over Bell Blvd was constructed to allow a straighter path for the greenway.
Photo was taken sometime before 1938.
The original curved diversion for the Motor Parkway included plans to re-use abandoned abutments of the former CRR to save on construction costs.
From Updated: Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Central R.R. Motor Parkway Bridge in Queens
Page 569 of 1026 pages ‹ First < 567 568 569 570 571 > Last ›