Vanderbilt Cup Races

Sandy Hollow Fire Dept—
I remember that from when I was a little boy—
Really neat !!!

From Mystery Friday Foto #39 solved: Henry Austin Clark, Jr's Sandy Hollow Fire department captain badge

Two articles from “The Automobile” magazine reporting Oldfield’s attempted suicide and retirement from racing.  (July 11 and August 15 issues).  Obviously both were incorrect.

From Greg O.'s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection- Barney Oldfield and the "Green Dragon"

Queens.  Union Tpke is center.  LIMP is lower left, heading east.  Hollis Ave bridge, the swerve at the old railroad tracks, (today’s Bell Blvd).  You can see the spot where the tolls used to be at Springfield Blvd.  The Grand Central passes over Union Tpke.  Making this picture most likely in the late 1930’s/

From Mystery Friday Foto #40 Solved: A 1941 aerial over Hollis Hills, Queens

The photographer was over the Fresh Meadows / Hollis Hills area of Queens looking east. Major roads include Grand Central Parkway, Springfield Blvd., Union Tpke., Hollis Hills Terrace, Bell Blvd., and of course the LIMP. Structures include LIMP bridges over Springfield, Bell, Hollis Hills Terrace and under GCP (hidden). Hard to see but the toll lodge at Springfield Blvd. might be there also. Bell Blvd. was built on top of the old abandoned Central Railroad R-O-W. Since the LIMP appears to not have any cars on it and Union Tpke. looks like it has been completed, I’ll place the date around 1941.

From Mystery Friday Foto #40 Solved: A 1941 aerial over Hollis Hills, Queens

One more report of a new automobile race course to be established on the Hempstead Plains.  This one in “The Automobile” of October 3, 1907.

From Kleiner's Korner: Long Island's Other Proposed Motor Speedways

The photographer is facing east, hovering over Hollis ct blvd in the foreground which is running horizontally at the bottom.  The dominant road in middle of the photograph running from top to bottom is Union tpke.  Bell blvd is in the middle running left to right and intersects the Long Island Motor Parkway where the parkway curves a little.  The Long Island Motor Parkway is on the left running vertically from top to bottom.  You can clearly see its overpass still intact going over Hollis ct blvd on the bottom left.  Other LIMP overpasses are not easily identifiable and may no longer be in existence when this picture was taken.  That diagonal right of way where the LIMP and Bell blvd form a triangle is the old Central railroad of Long Island.  The existence of the Grand Central Parkway at the top of the picture dates it after its opening in 1933.  Also, the condition of the LIMP near Richland ave and 210th st (middle left side of picture) doesn’t look so good.  It looks ripped up.  So this dates the photo after the parkway’s closure in 1938.  So I’ll just guess and say the picture was taken around 1940.  This was a tough one for me but when I saw the Alley Pond Trackfield on the upper left part of the picture I knew I nailed it.

From Mystery Friday Foto #40 Solved: A 1941 aerial over Hollis Hills, Queens

The last section.

From UPDATE - Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race in Literature and Entertainment (Part 2)

One more literary work titled “The Tangled Web” included Long Island and the Vanderbilt Cup Race in its story.  I’m not sure if it was mentioned already, but here’s an excerpt.  The story was written by Ethel Watts Mumford Grant and appeared in “The New Broadway Magazine” of June, 1908.

From UPDATE - Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race in Literature and Entertainment (Part 2)

Article re: Tom Cooper’s accident resulting in his death.  From “The Automobile”, December 1906.

From Kleiner's Korner: Other Vanderbilt Cup Race Personalities

Looks like the western section of the LIMP in the Hollis Hills section of Queens. The photographer is looking east.

Major E-W roads, LIMP, Union Tpke., Hillside Ave. Major N-S roads: Hollis Court Blvd., Bell Blvd.

I see the LIMP overpass over Hollis Court Blvd. at lower left. The RR ROW crosses the LIMP at upper left, near the jog in the parkway.

Approximate date: 1940, because the parkway appears to be abandoned but the bridge is intact, and there’s not a lot of development in the area.

From Mystery Friday Foto #40 Solved: A 1941 aerial over Hollis Hills, Queens

That is Hollis Hills/north Queens Village, facing East. The parkway is to the north, the main road in the center of the photo is Union Tpke. You can see the original Creedmore facility in the distance.

From Mystery Friday Foto #40 Solved: A 1941 aerial over Hollis Hills, Queens

Noreen- Correct information on Cantrell, a manufacturer that has been covered here.

In the posts cover photo, a Cantrell woody is positioned in front of the Oheka Castle entrance gates.

https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/long_island_automobile_manufacturers_body_builders_2_j.t._cantrell_of_hunti

From Greg O's Garage: Wrecks of The Long Island Motor Parkway including a racer practicing for the 1925 Indy 500

Great information Art, thank you. We know that parkway sections have been restored through out as exercise paths, but the parkways role for automobile testing is more than enough reason to continue with restoration. I can imagine the section they wanted to utilize in the early 1950’s, just east of Winchester Blvd.

From Kleiner's Korner: Speed Trials on the Long Island Motor Parkway

The caption on the woody wagon photo states that the driver was from Huntington, NY. J.T. Cantrell and Company of Huntington was a builder of many of the woody wagons of the day, using the chassis of a variety of cars. The photo looks similar to a converted 1938 Packard, as seen here:  https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/j-t-cantrell-company

From Greg O's Garage: Wrecks of The Long Island Motor Parkway including a racer practicing for the 1925 Indy 500

Excellent post as usual Art! Love it!

From Kleiner's Korner: Speed Trials on the Long Island Motor Parkway

Very interesting!  I was wondering who built the “Jay-Eye-See”, and then I spotted the J.I. Case Co. mention - much better known for its tractors, and other agricultural machinery.

From Kleiner's Korner: Speed Trials on the Long Island Motor Parkway

I just came across an original program book of the 1912 Vanderbilt cup race in Milwaukee. What is the current market for Vanderbilia ? Thank you

From Premium Vanderbilia Estimated Market Values

Hello again Mr. Kleiner:
Thanks for posting these three photo images at Greencastle , Putnam County , Indiana. Based on the automobiles in the second and third images I would guess the Sinclair station at about 1941 from the Ford parked at the far left pump. The street scene would appear to be about 1954 or possibly 1955 based on the cars parked round the Court House Square. Note the GM brand hearse parked at the right curb. Possibly a Flxible bodied Buick combination coach. Carefully examined photo images can tell us so much of the past. BYW the college at Greencastle is DePauw Universary , a well respected liberal arts college. Be well, Jonathan B. Richards II at Chesterfield, M:issouri.

From The Alco Black Beast will challenge the Port Jefferson Hill again next Saturday

HOWARD:  EXCELLENT ARTICLE ON THE HILL CLIMB AND AUSTI’E CLARKS PLAY TOYS. I WAS THERE ONCE A A KID, AND STILL REMEMBER IT.  AND STILL HAVE MY MODEL A AFTER 60 YEARS.  GREAT ENTERTAINMENT THIS WEEK.  ARTIE.

From Mystery Friday Foto #39 solved: Henry Austin Clark, Jr's Sandy Hollow Fire department captain badge

Austin Clark’s in his Chief T 1953

From Mystery Friday Foto #39 solved: Henry Austin Clark, Jr's Sandy Hollow Fire department captain badge