Vanderbilt Cup Races

According to the attached articles, Ernest Keeler’s garage was in Westbury.  I also attached an interesting article about a race in Long Beach along the beach, reminiscent of Howard’s beach race.  The Newspaper’s date & name is in the jpg id.

From Mystery Friday Foto #37 solved: The Oldsmobile headquarters for a 1906 American Elimination Trial racer

Is this the piece that’s left? This would be the exit of the eastern sump on Polaris, right before Bloomingdale.

From Greg O's Garage: A section of Motor Parkway in Bethpage rediscovered

If anyone would know, it’s you Dave!

After noticing they were both sumps now, I considered that they’d be dug out as well. Too bad. Nassau County has been losing more and more pavement by the minute making this discovery in Bethpage that much more special. I’m also happy that the owners are now well-aware of his historic nature of their backyard and as long as they are in the home, it is somewhat safe.

From Greg O's Garage: A section of Motor Parkway in Bethpage rediscovered

I’ve been in there. There’s nothing in there. It’s a sump so they dug everything out. There was one spot along the ballfield fence where a small piece of LIMP remained, I thought I took a picture of it but I can’t find it.

After you go through the first sump, there is another baseball field, then another sump and then the LIMP turns to exit out by Polaris Dr - and I recall a small LIMP piece in that area, right before it reaches Polaris Dr.

From Greg O's Garage: A section of Motor Parkway in Bethpage rediscovered

Brian- (Greg here on Howard’s computer)Myself, Howard, and Art have scoured the Internet and all the hardbound reference books in the office archives searching for a clue, but since the Olds didn’t do so well in the trials, there’s not much info out there on the team. The above article was the closest mention of the team HQ’s that I’ve found.

From Mystery Friday Foto #37 solved: The Oldsmobile headquarters for a 1906 American Elimination Trial racer

Brian- Technically we’re not allowed in there since it’s a Nassau Co. sump.
According to this 1966 aerial, the sump next to the ‘new Polaris Field’, immediately to the east, might also be a great place to explore if accessible.
I might have to make a visit…

From Greg O's Garage: A section of Motor Parkway in Bethpage rediscovered

I never was inside that sump area, Greg. Going by your aerial, it’s possible that the pavement may be existing.

From Greg O's Garage: A section of Motor Parkway in Bethpage rediscovered

This really appears to be someone’s residence with an attached garage, right off a main road. The article above details all but Oldsmobile, deep search in order.

From Mystery Friday Foto #37 solved: The Oldsmobile headquarters for a 1906 American Elimination Trial racer

Question to the MotorParkway explorers;

Has anyone explored the wooded area (circled in red) between the Polaris ball fields in Levittown? If sections were left under the ballfields, it stands to reason there may be an undisturbed section in the woods.

From Greg O's Garage: A section of Motor Parkway in Bethpage rediscovered

You know, I sent in the question about [address private]., with kind of a disclaimer stating that I was apologizing for possibly rehashing something that had been reviewed several times. It’s cool to know it was not. Thank you to Greg for the reconnaissance work, as it was pretty mint to see it for real in 2022. Google Maps is a valuable instrument…I feel better know that I know I use my phone for more than fantasy hockey, my Stop N’ Shop card, and the McDonald’s app.

From Greg O's Garage: A section of Motor Parkway in Bethpage rediscovered

Dave- I did remember the remnants along Arthur Ave at either end of the water reclamation sump (by Broadway and Stewart) but since they are just before Dead Mans Curve, I somewhat lump it all together as ‘the curve’ in my mind. But yes, technically you’re right, I should have said Stewart instead of Dead Mans Curve.
I know the sump along Arthur is fenced off, but have you been inside there to see if there’s any remnants?

From Greg O's Garage: A section of Motor Parkway in Bethpage rediscovered

And David….sorry about your Little League outfield fall! Not sure why they would just build a field over the LIMP instead of ripping it out first?

I took this pic back in 2019 - facing Jerusalem Ave.

From Greg O's Garage: A section of Motor Parkway in Bethpage rediscovered

Then as you pass the tea house and before you get to Dead Mans Curve, there is some more.

And notice how the LIMP stays left of the power lines (when heading east) the entire way throughout. This is a reference to the Caroline Street posts—it doesn’t change 😊

From Greg O's Garage: A section of Motor Parkway in Bethpage rediscovered

Then….as you move further east towards the original McDonalds (Halfway House Tea Room Drive Thru) there is a nice stretch of LIMP.

From Greg O's Garage: A section of Motor Parkway in Bethpage rediscovered

This is what I love most….finding history, and the LIMP is amazing history. Great find Dan.

Greg, you are not correct! There are other LIMP remnants between 107 and Dead Mans Curve.

Pic 1 and 2 - at the site of the Stewart Ave bridge - original pavement remains.

From Greg O's Garage: A section of Motor Parkway in Bethpage rediscovered

That’s the building used by Ernest Keeler, driver of the Oldsmobile entry in the 1906 American Elimination Trial race. I think it may have been located on Old Westbury Road in Old Westbury.

From Mystery Friday Foto #37 solved: The Oldsmobile headquarters for a 1906 American Elimination Trial racer

A real long shot of a guess here but I’ll say its the 1905 American elimination trial held on September 23rd.  Start and finish near Mineola.  Maybe this building was for the Franklin race car driven by Willie Winchester but its just a guess.  The location of the building in the picture might be on Glen Cove rd.

From Mystery Friday Foto #37 solved: The Oldsmobile headquarters for a 1906 American Elimination Trial racer

This is the 9/22/1906 American Elimination Trial. The building was used by the Oldsmobile Race Team - Driver: Ernest Keeler, Mechanician: Henry Clinton. Nice looking building & garage, but not sure of it’s location. This team had car trouble’s in the beginning. One of the screenshots below describes them pulling off the course near Manhasset due to carburetor problems. So maybe this building was along Northern Blvd Manhasset??

From Mystery Friday Foto #37 solved: The Oldsmobile headquarters for a 1906 American Elimination Trial racer

Pete - That must’ve been a nice hike back then, around 1960 I guess. There is pavement still just south of the LILCO/PSEG substation, and just north of there into Butterfly Park. Very difficult & hairy near Madonna Heights and a bit north, but it’s all still there. If you do a ‘Search’ on the main page here, you’ll find images, info of Half Hollow Hills etc.

From Greg O's Garage: A section of Motor Parkway in Bethpage rediscovered

Seeing this reminded me of the section alongside Bagatelle Road that I would hike on as a kid 60 years ago when it was all woods. While it was residentially developed many years ago, I always wonder if anything remains in the backyards of the possibly unsuspecting homeowners on the west side.  Further up the road it crossed over to the east side, passing next to the former mansion which became Madonna Heights.  Fond memories of the halfway hollow hills.

From Greg O's Garage: A section of Motor Parkway in Bethpage rediscovered