Vanderbilt Cup Races

My mom brought me there most weekends. We’d get a couple of slices of pizza, coke colas and go to track. It was the first race track I ever went to and I was in love with the place. Oddly enough, I never raced there!

I raced at Islip, Bridgehampton, Mitchel Field and many other tracks in our country. It broke my heart to see a Home Depot in the same location

From InstaGRAM Report: The Racing History of Freeport Stadium

You’ve got the beginnings of a great book here documenting the racing history of Long Island as a vital part of the automotive and Motorsport scenario as it developed in America. That said, the contrasts and similarities of what occurred on the east coast and the west coast are fascinating.

From InstaGRAM Report: The Racing History of Freeport Stadium

I once read a story about the famous race driver Dan Gurney where he said his father took him to Freeport and he caught the racing bug there!  My dad used to take me there every so often and I caught it too but never became as famous as Dan Gurney ????.  My buddy and I did get to meet Marty Himes at his museum and I now have that famous “Stock Car Races” sign hanging in my garage.  Great memories of Freeport.  I now go to one of the last city speedways in Nashville and it too is struggling to survive and I’m sure that many kids will have great memories of it too!

From InstaGRAM Report: The Racing History of Freeport Stadium

In the late 1960’s I recall attending races at Freeport Speedway. I remember a claiming race group called the Bomber Class. These were unmodified cars mostly Ford, GM and Chrysler products scavenged from junk yards for $25 or less. Everyone ran an oversized right front tire to improve handling. The Dodge and Plymouth boys always seemed to have a handling advantage as they would secretly tighten up the torsion bar suspension! Fond memories.

From InstaGRAM Report: The Racing History of Freeport Stadium

Interesting history to Tucker 1046. In the fifties Oldsmobile was the King of the Road with it ohv Rocket 88 engine, but what intrigues me more is the 390 ford with Mercury chassis. In Yespalanti Mi. There was a Tucker Movie prop car made out of fiberglass and that car had a front Ford engine and complete chassis from what I was told was a 1971 Ford. I wonder if that prop car was inspired by the later version or generation 3 of Tucker 1046.

I believe that prop car is now on display in Hershey Pa. The car was drivable but the vehicle was only meant to be looked at from a distance. Only the drivers door opened with hardware store externally mounted hinges. The bench seat was from the 71 ford donar car as well as the dash panel-less ford steering wheel and steering column.

Is it possible some or many of the Corvair designers and engineers had backgrounds with the Tucker Corporation? In the area of Yespilanti (Preston Tuckers home town) is a transmission factory that made corvair, tornanado, cord, Pontiac tempest and a few other off the beaten path trannys.

From Postcards of the Long Island Automotive Museum: Tucker (1948)

1962 Ford Cougar 406 Concept Car for the Ford T-Bird. Engine was 406 CI thus named the 406.  Believed to still exist unrestored with a private collector in the Detroit area. Originally painted in Candy Apple Red.

From Mystery Friday Foto #1 Solved: Another ‘Name That Car!’ The 1962 Ford Cougar 406 Concept

A few years back I would stop in at the original Museum building/grounds when traveling out East. As the old museum got closer to being taken down I would look up at the handful of remaining white wooden letters about 10 feet up on the front of the building. I really wanted one, but settled on the more reachable brass doorknob & lock assembly from the front entrance. Glad to see your rescued “S” Howard !

From Postcards of the Long Island Automotive Museum Main Building

Was there in 1957 me then 12 yrs. old, later in 1980 before closing, Remembered seeing the winning New York to Paris Thomas Flyer unrestored then restored by and on displayed at the Harrah Collection Museum later years.

From Postcards of the Long Island Automotive Museum Main Building

So proud of Long Island’s racing history and the fact that you have embraced this legacy.

From InstaGRAM Report: Racing Programs of Freeport and Islip Speedways

Howard - That is a fascinating video of the repair of Turn 2. You need to get a chunk of that original surface that the Black Beast actually raced and won on. Ken

From Video of the Week; Behind the Bricks: Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayTurn 2 Repave

Private Collector

From Mystery Friday Foto #1 Solved: Another ‘Name That Car!’ The 1962 Ford Cougar 406 Concept

1962 Ford Cougar 406

From Mystery Friday Foto #1 Solved: Another ‘Name That Car!’ The 1962 Ford Cougar 406 Concept

That’s the 1962 Ford Cougar 406 concept car. Some say it was a potential prototype for a redesigned Thunderbird; others claim it was a possible design for the yet to be named Mustang. Rumor has it that the car might still exist. See attached info that I downloaded from http://www.kustomrama.com.

From Mystery Friday Foto #1 Solved: Another ‘Name That Car!’ The 1962 Ford Cougar 406 Concept

I grew up in Merrick, and from our house we could hear the stock cars. They raced at Freeport every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. Occasionally we would attend the races. I remember seeing stock cars, 3/4 midgets, and the “Crasheroo” demolition derby. It was a lot of fun!

I live in West Islip now, and am often in Bay Shore. Newins Ford is still in business, at the same location!

From InstaGRAM Report: Racing Programs of Freeport and Islip Speedways

A great article to start off the new year. Love these looks back into Long Island’s racing history. I remember going to Square Speed Shop with my Dad to get auto parts.

From InstaGRAM Report: Racing Programs of Freeport and Islip Speedways

Greg, A difference between the Mineola and the Ronkonkoma lodges is that the Ronkonkoma lodge straddled the Parkway while the Mineola lodge did not.

From Mystery Friday Foto #62 Solved: The Jericho Turnpike Motor Parkway Bridge

A happy and healthy New Year to all!

From Mystery Friday Foto #62 Solved: The Jericho Turnpike Motor Parkway Bridge

A favorite Motor Parkway bridge photo carrying Old Country Rd above in Mineola, near the Mineola toll booth before the lodge construction. Photo is looking north

From Mystery Friday Foto #62 Solved: The Jericho Turnpike Motor Parkway Bridge

From Al Velocci - thanks Al.  I’m copying your comment that you put on my latest Motor Parkway employee post here as it pertains to W.M. Hendrick. 

“Art, Found a payroll entry for Wallace Hendrick dated Aug, 19, 1910. Employed as a “transitman” and paid $95.00 per month, paid bi-monthly.”

From Kleiner's Korner: Two construction engineers and a "monkey" who added their talents to the Motor Parkway

Art, Please try again, tried your number, told not available.

From Kleiner's Korner: Two Family Members Building the Motor Parkway