Vanderbilt Cup Races

From Ariejan Bos:

These two men are Elwood Haynes (on the left) and Charles A. Coey. Coey was a (presumed) millionaire from Chicago, who raced with Thomas roughly between 1905 and 1907. He had entered the Thomas, which was raced by Le Blon in the American Elimination Trials for the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup. Haynes was of course the car manufacturer, who had entered a Haynes racer for the same trials, with driver H.N. Harding. The Haynes would end on 3rd place, the Thomas of Le Blon on 2nd place. In the Vanderbilt Cup race itself Le Blon would end on 8th and last place. The photo was shot in front of the Thomas Flyer headquarters: on the photo you can just see a glimpse of a Thomas being prepared, which could very well be the car of Le Blon. As to the day of the photo, I have not a real clue. My feeling says shortly before the Elimination Trials, but it could also be somewhere between the trials and the actual race.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: Edwin Ross (E.R.) Thomas and Charles Andrew (C.A.) Coey at Krug's Hotel

From Tom Saal:

The two men in the mystery photo are E. R. Thomas and C. A. Coey.
A similar photo appears on page 1842 of the Sept. 29, 1906 issue of Automobile Topics in a story about the Vanderbilt elimination trials.
I Xeroxed the story years ago (pre-internet) when I was writing the Pope-Hartford story for Automobile Quarterly.
Tom Saal
North Ridgeville, OH

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: Edwin Ross (E.R.) Thomas and Charles Andrew (C.A.) Coey at Krug's Hotel

We are very proud of John Logerfo’s Arcadia book on Central Park/Bethpage.  Great story, great pictures makes for an interesting read of the history of Central Park/Bethpage.

From New Arcadia Images of America Book: Bethpage by John Logerfo

The Norseman sounds like the perfect plot for a novel…
Thanks for researching this.

From The 1956 Chrysler Norseman Concept Car Lost at Sea Updated 1/13/16

Hi Dave, 
Had to check out the Caroline posts today for a closer look. Physically being there made all the difference. I believe they’re genuine Motor Pkwy posts. There were rectangular and triangular types and both are identical in size to posts in Fresh Meadows. The triangular’s also had the two rust stains where wires once protruded from, as in Fresh Meadows as well. The hole for this style wire (not the spiral) is an exact fit around the wire and can easily be overlooked when the wire is completely missing. Some of the posts in Fresh Meadow still have the little rusted strand sticking out. I think this style triangular post/wire was used away from the roadway where it defined the Motor Pkwy property line, and dressed with denser fencing material to keep the undesirables out, such as bicyclists like me. :D

But I believe those posts do not belong there. I think they’re being used as a makeshift retainer wall for the steep sloping hill in this area. Next to the posts is a heavy weight downed tree, strategically placed adjacent to the backyard fences. The fences on top of the hill are less than 10’ from the drop! Most likely the posts were temporarily placed there by Rt. 135 construction crew upon completion in 1963, to increase stability on top and help prevent terrain from spilling down. Probably an unexpected occurrence or expwy design overlook. The crew had access to this state owned property and the heavy machinery to accomplish this, a problem too much for the homeowners and probably illegal for them to fix anyway.

So where did the posts come from? Checked out some of Howard’s photos of Dead Man’s #2 curve that was located further south (also involved in the 135 construction). The posts down there were similar to the ones up north and all appear made of wood, but that is questionable. Sending Howard some pics of the findings.

PS. I stopped by the east side of 135, and at the dead-end of Carol Dr. (north of the watershed where Dead Man’s Curve #2 was situated nearby), I encountered another NY State area that was sealed off to the public with locked fences. Camera equipped drone came into mind, but considering any remnant hindering the efforts of a major construction project would likely just be swept away clean and/or destroyed. We’ll never know for sure until it’s investigated. See you guys on the trail!

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure" VIX: On to Bethpage State Park Updated 1/14/16

These were some very interesting years to be a teenager near Detroit. Cadillac turned 50 in 1952 and Ford in 1953. Sports Cars were beginning to gain a place in the American way of life. The car companies noticed and Concept Cars were the hit of the Detroit Auto Show.

From The 1956 Chrysler Norseman Concept Car Lost at Sea Updated 1/13/16

From John T:

Love the Norseman piece. You should consider writing a book about the interesting Chrysler cars that appeared and disappeared over the years. Won’t be a best seller but it’d be fun to do

From The 1956 Chrysler Norseman Concept Car Lost at Sea Updated 1/13/16

Thanks for continuing the conversation Frank. Too often it seems people check the link, comment and then disappear when we have really interesting subjects on the table worth further discussion. I recommend some kind of continuous blog for the site. Once a site post becomes older, people dont go back and continue to check and the discussion just dies.

You bring up a very interesting point. How did they determine what locations would get wood and what would get the concrete posts? Obviously we know that south of Central Ave there were (and still are) posts and going into Bethpage Park there were (and still are) posts, so why in this small in between section did they decide only wood?

If you are correct and it was only wood here, it makes it even more interesting that someone would have done this. Love the private seating theory. Doubt the lunch spot one! Especially if they had to hunt for the posts. But then again, some town employees go unsupervised for quite some time! I believe some of the posts did have holes in them. I will definitely take more/closer pics next time. Will check out the hot dog stand in more detail too. I know where it is.

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure" VIX: On to Bethpage State Park Updated 1/14/16

Hi Dave,
Just a thought, the concrete posts could be leftover posts from LIMP construction in the area (1908), that somehow worked its way there, but not leftover from the nearby LIMP.  They used wood in that section of the parkway (sending Howard some pics). It’s possible the posts were used as seating for Farmer Nibbe and neighbors to view the races from a quiet spot, instead of the mob scene on top of the bridges. Also, Rt 135 construction crew may have transformed them into a lunch bench, just outside the expwy work area by the Powell Av exit ramp. They had the heavy equipment to easily do this. Or perhaps the posts that have been missing over the years from Richard Foran’s Motor Parkway ‘Drive-Thru’ Deluxe Hot Dog Stand, once located 1.2 miles south of here on Broadway and the LIMP (the house is still there, check it out with Sam next time). But those posts had the three holes with spiral wire. Did any of the Caroline posts have any holes in them? Truly a mystery.   

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure" VIX: On to Bethpage State Park Updated 1/14/16

Thanks as always, Ron!  Re Motor Parkway Lodges, “the Huntington Lodge located east of Broad Hollow Road (Route 110) in Melville; to date, a photo of this lodge has never been discovered.  At this location, Ron Ridolph found this building. Was this the elusive Huntington Lodge? If anyone has additional information on the building, please leave a comment below.”  Comments are closed now but I’ll add mine here; you might try to gain access to the attic or basement (if any) because many (if not all) early LIMP structures had the name Long Island Motor Parkway branded into the main timbers (as still visible at Mineola).  Check out Garden City, please.  Sure wish we could check out Roslyn.  Keep trying.  Great to finally see current shots of the Cody/110 Sand bridge!  Sam, III

From From the Ron Ridolph Collection: A Long Island Motor Parkway Fan's 70-Year Timeline

I have fond memories of visiting the museum with my dad as a child. We would head out to see my uncle and aunt in Sag Harbor and would stop there on the way. Even recently as I drive past the location I wonder what happened to the buildings and I’m so glad to see the pictures. What happened to the collection?
_________________________________________________________

From Howard Kroplick

Sold off by Clark in several auctions held at the museum.

From Updated: Walter McCarthy Collection: Then & Now- The Long Island Automotive Museum

Great experience and captures of this significant part of global history, with images recorded for future generations to learn and benefit from. High Five Ron!

From From the Ron Ridolph Collection: A Long Island Motor Parkway Fan's 70-Year Timeline

Ron always had and have’s a great collection and interest of the parkway keep up the good work

From From the Ron Ridolph Collection: A Long Island Motor Parkway Fan's 70-Year Timeline

Why would someone put those posts there if not Parkway related? If it were right at the end of Caroline Street one could say maybe at one point it was a barrier or fence of sorts to prevent cars from rolling over. But it’s not. It’s basically just over a fence beyond someones backyard. I can’t see any reason why a regular guy, resident, town worker or 135 road builder would do this! Just makes no sense.

There are several types of posts here. Some square and others triangular. Some taller than others. So that is puzzling, why they would differ.

Sam and I theorized this might have been a “press box” or seating of some sort? Some type of seating overlooking the Parkway or any reason why someone would be watching at this location? Not sure if any race past this point. The posts offered protection and supported “seating”??

At what other point are the posts 190 feet away from the Parkway? None that I know of and this is why I think the Parkway is a little more west (assuming posts are legit). I’m not sure how you guys chart this vs today’s exact spots but I’m sure you are way smarter than me about this stuff. Basically if you guys are right with the exact road placement then the posts have to be fugazi (or fake - for you non Italians LOL). But again, what is the the reason for someone to do this?

And on our Second annual Vanderbilt Day we are definitely going to look for more posts in this sector as I seem to remember there were some others and that would definitely add to the debate, and we also have to stroll onto the east side of 135 and see if anything remains there. This reminds me of the area next to the Meadowbrook and behind commercial buildings on Stewart in GC, as clearly that was also “dug” out and it’s doubtful we’re going to find any road next to 135 as I’m sure it’s buried.

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure" VIX: On to Bethpage State Park Updated 1/14/16

It was a pleasure to have a vehicle in your care at the event again, Howard. I hope your group was treated well. It goes without saying the the Chrysler is a stunner, and I was honored to get to help get it in front of lots of people who clearly appreciated seeing the machine!

From Highlights from the Sunday in the Park Concours d'Elegance at Lime Rock Track

Fantastic post and keep the pics coming. Thanks Ron.

From From the Ron Ridolph Collection: A Long Island Motor Parkway Fan's 70-Year Timeline

Sure, it was a easy one this week, if you knew who the driver was, I found it right away, but I didn’t get a chance to answer, the answers were posted already. At least I know that my answers would be right. I should have done it earlier, when I was online

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Camille Jenatzy in the Historic La Jamais Contente Updated 1/5/16

Not really a mystery I guess, this one must be common knowledge for everyone.
From December 1898 until May 1899 the Comte de Chasseloup-Laubat and Camille Jenatzy fought a battle over the world speed record. The scene of this battle was a straight road stretch near Achères, a village just west of Paris. The first speed record for cars ever was set by Chasseloup-Laubat on December 18, 1898 with a rather conventional looking Jeantaud reaching almost 63 kph. Also Jenatzy would drive a conventional looking electric Kriéger during his first attempts. Early March 1899 Chasseloup-Laubat attained 94 kph with a streamlined Jeantaud. Jenatzy was not impressed and stated that he would attain 120 kph within a month. Maybe not completely that, but on April 29, 1899 he would reach over 105 kph with his electric ‘La Jamais Contente’, a streamlined torpedo-like car with aluminum body, designed and built by the engineer Auscher of the coachbuilding firm Rothschild.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Camille Jenatzy in the Historic La Jamais Contente Updated 1/5/16

Thanks for sharing.Like I’ve said there’s always something to enlighten our minds and you’re the one to do it,even though it might come from someone else

From From the Ron Ridolph Collection: A Long Island Motor Parkway Fan's 70-Year Timeline

Nice to hear your story Ron.  I’ve only been researching/documenting the Parkway since 2003, but hope to continue for some time.  I’ve decided to update my website on an ongoing basis with current photos of what’s left of the Parkway.  Unfortunately, sometimes development causes the pictures to be altered not to our liking as you know, but still there are areas worth monitoring.  Hope you are well and enjoyed the holidays.

From From the Ron Ridolph Collection: A Long Island Motor Parkway Fan's 70-Year Timeline