Recent Comments

Jan 15 2017 Art Kleiner 11:12 AM

Identify the racer including year, manufacturer, and nickname
1906 90hp Apperson (Apperson Motor Car Company owned by Edgar and Elmer Apperson).  Not sure of the nickname for this, but a 1909 Apperson was called the Jackrabbit.
 
Identify the driver and mechanician in the Mystery Foto.
George Robertson and Arthur Warren.

In which Vanderbilt Cup Race was this racer built for? What happened to the racer? Update: Hint-This racer never made it to the starting line.
1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race, however was first entered in the American Trial.
Racer crashed on a practice run prior to the trial.  Robertson and Warren both hospitalized. 

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The Apperson Jack Rabbit Racer Built for the 1906 American Elimination Trial

Jan 15 2017 Lee Stohr 11:01 AM

Apperson car, crashed in practice for the 1906 American Elimination trials. George Robertson and mechanic Arthur Warren. Other cars that did not start that year were Maxwell and BLM.  Entries withdrawn for that year were Stanley and Wayne.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The Apperson Jack Rabbit Racer Built for the 1906 American Elimination Trial

Jan 15 2017 penny havard 6:25 AM

Marvelous. My father and I used to drive past this everyday on our way to and from our jobs. And to think I never went in even tho I had a 49 MGTC at the time. Would have changed my whole life.

From The Melton Museum of Norwalk, Connecticut (1948-1953)

Jan 15 2017 Bob Swanson 12:57 AM

Mom & Dad used to visit the Melton Collection and that Renault racer was found here in Ridgefield in 1943. William K. Vanderbilt’s daughter lived here in town until her passing in 2011 at the age of 107. Bob

From The Melton Museum of Norwalk, Connecticut (1948-1953)

Jan 15 2017 Hugh 12:56 AM

I remember going to his museum in Florida in the early 190s. It was in an old casino building which made a great setting for displaying his collection.

From The Melton Museum of Norwalk, Connecticut (1948-1953)

Jan 14 2017 Dick Gorman 10:09 AM

Mystery Foto #2….The racer in the photo is a 1906 Apperson Jack Rabbit.
George Robertson was the driver and Arthur Warren the mechanician.
It was built for the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup
but was destroyed in a crash while racing in the American Elimination Trial.
P.S. Most of the answers I use for the Mystery Foto Questions are found with Internet research BUT… I actually remembered the nickname (Jack Rabbit) of the Apperson probably giving a strong indication of my age.
P.S.S. And for only $5000 you could buy replica of the racer for yourself!!!

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The Apperson Jack Rabbit Racer Built for the 1906 American Elimination Trial

Jan 13 2017 Colleen 2:03 PM

To me it looks like the Alco Black Beast,
Howard Kroplick owns now

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The Apperson Jack Rabbit Racer Built for the 1906 American Elimination Trial

Jan 13 2017 Chuck Rudy 8:28 AM

I will have to guess at this one.  Perhaps it’s the 50 hp 1905 Haynes driven by Frank Nutt in the American Elimination Trial but deemed not worthy after finishing 4th, which should have put them in the race.

Perhaps this is the car as noted on the Old Motor site.  http://theoldmotor.com/?p=28549  if not…...I will sit back and learn a bit as I can not find any info pertaining to the mechanician nor the nickname for the racer.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The Apperson Jack Rabbit Racer Built for the 1906 American Elimination Trial

Jan 12 2017 Gerry Crosson 1:30 PM

Hello from Gerry Crosson of the Vanderbilt Museum.  You might be interested to know that at the “Book Revue” bookstore in Huntington Village, just north of the intersections of Routes 25a and 110 is about 25 years worth of copies of the “Long Island Forum” magazine on the upper floor Clearance section.  These date from around the 1950’s to the 1980’s and are on sale for $0.75 apiece.  It would be a shame to see this set broken up.  Any possibility the North Hempstead Historical Society could take a look and offer to buy the entire set for its archives? The set could be loaned to a local library if the Society has no room in it’s offices or museum.  As you know, the “Long Island Forum” publication is a valuable resource for any scholar of Long Island history. The society could buy the set probably at a much reduced price if an offer to buy the entire set intact is made.
Thanks.

From New York Post, January 3, 1925: "Vanderbilt Recalls Days When 30 Miles An Hour Was Speed" Part I

Jan 12 2017 frank femenias 1:30 AM

Dave, thanks for the info. Jasper’s Motor Parkway house (located south of the Mayan Ruins walls) is situated ~520 feet to the south end of the walls. He is out of range of the slopes pertaining to the Mayan Ruins bridge. In fact, his house sits at the very beginning of the curve towards the Clinton Rd bridge. A very slight upgrade towards the south end of his yard is expected. Overall, he is on level ground. 

Dave, I own an older version of Android, nothing special. But with any phone, if you go to the zoomed photo with the red circles that Howard posted (while zoomed OUT to the max, this is important), THEN click the zoomed photo for the zoom feature, and THEN zoom in even further with your fingers to the max. This will produce the clearest possible image of the sign and the year in its upper third of the sign. Take your time viewing. The ‘9’ and ‘3’ are clearly there, and the only digits that can possibly fit between them are ones ‘1’. Check it out!

 

From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City

Jan 11 2017 Dave Russo 5:42 PM

I’m not sure what kind of pixels you have on your phone Frank! I can’t make out any date at all! But clearly you are gifted with this stuff!

I clearly see a whale blowing water out of his blow hole on the old pic of the abutment. No doubt. Maybe they dug this so deep they struck water!

Art, this is all in your hands now. No pressure. Hurry up 😊

Unlike the Caroline St. posts location, we might actually be able to figure something out at this site!

From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City

Jan 11 2017 frank femenias 9:04 AM

Dave - Strange carving on the wall indeed. The vertical lines don’t correspond to side swiping with a vehicle. It appears the image of an Indian boy with feather on his head facing north, arms extended forward and carrying a large knapsack. Is this where the Mayan name was derived from? A strange historic Indian burial ground site, casting spells to those who interfere. I’m ready to start digging :D

From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City

Jan 10 2017 Brian D McCarthy 1:21 PM

Oh my gosh, here I am again. Frank, besides being a expert mapper, you being able to make out the year on the sign amazes me.

Art, if you can work it out, I definitely want to be there when the time is right.

We may set a new record on the amount of comments for a blog!

Dave, you asked for a discussion about this location. And a discussion you received.

From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City

Jan 10 2017 Ted Reina 12:29 PM

What a challenge and determination that was and it was accomplished,with a few struggles along the way,when you put your mind to do something,you just do it,no matter what it takes. Enjoyed this mystery very much.Thanks for sharing the extras with us,it was very interesting and a very amazing event

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved:Alice Huyler Ramsey & Her Maxwell Prior to Her 1909 Transcontinental Journey

Jan 10 2017 Art Kleiner 8:49 AM

Okay - I’ll take the challenge.  Will contact the homeowner once the snow melts and will see if he’ll permit some of us to take a road trip to explore further (that is, to “dig” up some more clues to put an end to all this haggling! lol).

From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City

Jan 10 2017 frank femenias 3:24 AM

Brian, you have a good lead there! Check the east abutment at its south end under the brush for the sign. If it’s not there, it could be in Garden City Public Works buried deep.

From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City

Jan 09 2017 frank femenias 11:05 PM

1913!! The upper third on the bridge’s sign reads 1913 in larger numerals, only through Howard’s zoomed photo. I was able to observe this using the phone. The larger PC screen was actually more difficult to read.

Brian, you may be correct. P.O. Zinzi’s accident report indicates the car was travelling east (actually south) when it lost its tire causing it to overturn. This stretch of roadway runs north-south. It’s assumed the car is resting on the closest shoulder (west shoulder) if he was heading east. If this is true, that would make the abutment sign on the east abutment.

From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City

Jan 09 2017 Brian D McCarthy 9:35 PM

Thanks, Dave. All those times I’ve been in those backyards during work, but never thought of having a camera.My photographic memory only takes me so far, lol. I agree, let’s form our own quicker version of a Oak Island Team! Comment #23, over and out.

From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City

Jan 09 2017 Dave Russo 8:10 PM

Brian, yes I was walking/facing south on the video. And you’re right. According to the old pics it says when facing south the sign was on the left (east). I highly doubt that sign is still there (I don’t even think it’s the abutment) but I say we pressure Art to call his “vine” friends over there and persuade them to let us explore!

From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City

Jan 09 2017 frank femenias 6:42 PM

I’m about to learn something new this week but she’s from New Jersey. It must’ve taking many hours to reach Long Island back in those days, possibly an entire day.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved:Alice Huyler Ramsey & Her Maxwell Prior to Her 1909 Transcontinental Journey

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