Vanderbilt Cup Races

Thank you all for your comments and kind words of support through the years.  Its been a pleasure working with Howard, Al Velocci and the rest of you to keep alive the memories of the Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Races.  And a special thank you to the late Sam Berliner whose many pages depicting the route of the parkrway encouraged me to make this a labor of love. 

The town I am moving to NC is named Leland, near Wilmington.  You can be sure I’ll be researching local automobile races and remnants of old racing tracks in the area such as Fireball Raceway Park.

From Update: Highlights from the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society meeting at Waterfront at Roslyn

The Walter Christie Automobile Company was formed mainly to promote Christie’s Taxi.  There were other Christie companies, few of which lasted very long.

From Greg O's Garage: From the Helck Family Collection: Stocks and Bonds

I believe that Christie’s signature on that stock certificate is not real.  Attached is how he signed his name before WWI.  He rarely ever used John when he signed things, until later in his life, when dealing with government contracts.

From Greg O's Garage: From the Helck Family Collection: Stocks and Bonds

The Christie Stock Certificate book was a part of the Tredwell Collection of Christie material.  I think blank certificate pages were given out over the years for fun.  Austie Clark and Floyd Clymer apparently received one each.  31 stock certificates are gone from the book.  The rest are blank.  The Tredwell Collection was passed on to Enrique Klein and after his passing, it passed on to me.  I also have Christie’s adopted son, Edward’s papers.  Besides photos in the NAHC and the Henry Ford and a couple Christie Fire Engines, there is little else of original Christie material remaining.  If anyone knows of more, I would love to know about it.

From Greg O's Garage: From the Helck Family Collection: Stocks and Bonds

I believe Petersen is related to Barney Oldfield.  Thats Oldfield at the wheel and at one time he owned that Christie race car.

From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Barney Oldfield in the 1909 Christie Racer which established the 102.6 mph Indy lap record in 1916

Marty has taken a lot of “dents and dings” in his racing career. There’s no doubt he will recover and come back better than ever. He is truly a friend to the racing community and we are lucky to call him neighbor. Get well soon Marty!
Very Truly,
Paul Drago
Hicksville, NY

From Update July 20 2021: A visit to see Marty Himes and the Himes Museum of Automobile Nostagia

Mystery Foto #28…
The driver is Barney Oldfield at the wheel of the front drive, 1913 Christie.
As for accomplishments, I believe that Oldfield used this Christie to turn the first lap at Indianapolis at over 100mph.
At least four Christie cars were in the Vanderbilt cup races in 1905 and 1906.
Wayne Carroll Petersen is the great, great nephew of Barney Oldfield.

From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Barney Oldfield in the 1909 Christie Racer which established the 102.6 mph Indy lap record in 1916

Yes it was very nice to see you all especially THE Walt Godson looking healthy, will see some of you guys tonight, hopefully? Sorry Art is leaving here on Long Island and fleeing to NC, it’s the norm these days, big bucks for the old homestead and a move to affordable living there. Art been nice with me! Even though I know most of the story about Howard cars he added some amusing trivia about his getting his Shelby Mustang and having Carroll Shelby sign the sun visor! SOMEDAY THE BETHPAGE LIBRARY!!??

From Update: Highlights from the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society meeting at Waterfront at Roslyn

Such a wonderful story about your father, Art. Undoubtedly a multifaceted man. He was probably too busy to be interested in the Motor Parkway : ) Your grandparents are from Eastern Europe, I recently found out my paternal grandfather was Eastern European. I ended up as McCarthy, long story : )

From Update: Highlights from the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society meeting at Waterfront at Roslyn

That’s Barney Oldfield in the 1909 140 HP Christie racer whose main accomplishment was being the first car to have a 100 mph lap at the Indianapolis Speedway on May 28.1916. Barney was Wayne’s great great uncle. The only link to V. C. R. that I could find was that Walter Christie had entered similar front wheel racers in the 1905 and 1906 V. C. races and the 1906 American Elimination Trials.

From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Barney Oldfield in the 1909 Christie Racer which established the 102.6 mph Indy lap record in 1916

It was a fabulous day and I really enjoyed seeing everyone and paying tribute to Art. Thanks to Howard and Roz for their hospitality. It was obvious that everyone had a great time.

From Update: Highlights from the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society meeting at Waterfront at Roslyn

Bummer, Marty.  Hope to see you back soon shopping at “Curby’s”

From Update July 20 2021: A visit to see Marty Himes and the Himes Museum of Automobile Nostagia

Mitch, Yes, at the beginning the Parkway had no speed limits, didn’t ask if you had a driver’s license, didn’t really care if the vehicle was properly registered. A speed limit of 40 MPH was first put in place in 1913.  Notices of such were placed on signs leading to Parkway entrances, on brochures and on flyers given to motorists on entering the Parkway. Problem was there wasn’t any way to enforce the speed limit, that is until 1924 when the Parkway established the Police Force, by the way, a year before Nassau County established theirs. No tickets were issued of course, speeders of less than 50 MPH were given warnings, those above that figure were escorted off the Parkway.

From Mystery Foto #27 Solved: Tommy Zinzi policing the Motor Parkway in front of the Meadow Brook Lodge

The photo of Marty from the Long Island Antique Power Association July 2019 event in Riverhead with his memorabilia and his old stock cars setup. Was looking forward to go again this weekend event to say hello to the old boy, BUT! Hope he’s able to fully recovers from his injuries so we all can say HI MARTY again?

From Update July 20 2021: A visit to see Marty Himes and the Himes Museum of Automobile Nostagia

The driver is the famous Ohio born Barney Oldfield, Freestone tires from Akron Ohio.
A front wheel drive, NYC based, Christie.
Thank you for taking good care of the Clarence Peter Helck archives and sharing them along the way.

From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Barney Oldfield in the 1909 Christie Racer which established the 102.6 mph Indy lap record in 1916

Wishing Marty well and a speedy (of course speedy) recovery. I met him at the museum and at Lime Rock when he was racing a midget in the vintage events held in September. Always enjoyed speaking with him.

From Update July 20 2021: A visit to see Marty Himes and the Himes Museum of Automobile Nostagia

J. Walter Christie front drive Christie.
Barney Oldfield purchased the front drive Christie from Walter Christie in 1912.
Oldfield gave Firestone tires big exposure with the “My only Life Insurance are Firestone Tires”.
Barney Oldfield ran the front drive Christie 1912 through 1916.
In 1916 Christie was placed on display across the country.
Oldfield was about at the end of his career.  He raced the “Golden Submarine” 1917 and 1918.

From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Barney Oldfield in the 1909 Christie Racer which established the 102.6 mph Indy lap record in 1916

List of Boyd Tucker colors

From Special Guest Post by Meredith Jaffe: Boyd’s Crystal Art Glass Tucker Figurines

A great day! So nice to see everyone again!

From Update: Highlights from the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society meeting at Waterfront at Roslyn

A perfect day! Warm but with a great breeze off the harbor. SO happy to be there for Art, and wish him well. It was just so nice for me to see everyone again after the past several years enduring recovery from heart surgery. Great to be among friends who are kindred spirits in the interest of the history of long island ! Thank you Howard and Roz for making this the best time I have had in years. Thanks to all who were there for being the gracious people who you all are.

From Update: Highlights from the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society meeting at Waterfront at Roslyn