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The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
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Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
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A new source I’ve found to research are the archives of The NY Daily News. Here are some articles related to the Alley Road (Winchester Blvd.) Motor Parkway Bridge. Starting from the Feb. 18, 1931 issue.
From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series: #8 Alley Road Bridge (Winchester Boulevard) in Queens
From my late grandmother’s photo album—unlabelled, but probably ca. 1910, probably somewhere in the northeast USA [maybe Long Island; Vanderbilt Cup??]. Perhaps a National racer—note number on side of the tank and the rear spare tire, among other things. I’m including all the related photo images—note what appears to be airborne balloons in one general view.
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A wonderful painting of Howard Kroplick in the Alco Black Beast by Joe Pep
mystery pix—probably ca. 1910, northeast USA [Long Island?] unlabelled, from my grandmother’s albums.
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A wonderful painting of Howard Kroplick in the Alco Black Beast by Joe Pep
Amazing accurate depiction of the Black Beast by Dick Gorman! Thanks for this rare view of the racer.
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A wonderful painting of Howard Kroplick in the Alco Black Beast by Joe Pep
From Walt Gosden
Hi Howard,
Nice to read the Vanderbilt Cup Races weekly post today. Just a point of information - that Lincoln town car in the Vanderbilt museum collection is definitely not a 1931. It is a model L ( that series ended in 1930) and the Lincoln is of the 1926-28 era no later. The flat radiator shell style is a signature of the model L Lincoln since Lincoln’s were first made in the very early 1920s. Willy K would have ordered his car through the NY Lincoln dealer , which had a number of showrooms and service centers starting in Manhattan and extending out to long island ( one of which was near you and we did a story on March 20, 2019 , Roslyn Motors- that was located across the street from the clock tower). It would be either in Manhattan or at one of the dealer locations east on long island where WKV III would have had that car serviced when needed. Dealerships located in Roslyn, Flushing, and Southampton).
Walt
From Greg O's Garage: The Vanderbilt Museum and mansion tour
Thanks for the corrections, Al. I’ll send them to the editor!
From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series: #8 Alley Road Bridge (Winchester Boulevard) in Queens
Racer/owner Howard Kroplick behind the wheel of his legendary 1909 Alco-6 Locomobile racer (The Black Beast), which won the 1909 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races here on Long Island. Superb detail by the artist! I believe this painting was produced during or after the filming of “Men who built America.” Location is at intersection of I.U. Willets Rd and Guinnea Woods Rd looking west during the summer of 1910. I need to research the artist though.
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A wonderful painting of Howard Kroplick in the Alco Black Beast by Joe Pep
Great article, I get the Herald Courier and have the article. I just drove my Model A past there this past Sunday. I have never seen the photos of the Lakeville Rd. & Jericho Tpk . turn in the races. Living in NHP all my life, and great to see NHP in the Vanderbilt News this day and age. Artie.
From Then & Now: New Hyde Park Turn
Art, Starting with the headline, ....Vanderbilt did not build the bridge, New York City did. plus it was built the other way round, of stone not steel, If there was a stone bridge there in 1899 somebody else built it….. Parallel the LIRR for more than 50 miles ? How come nobody told me about the rail line along the Commack Spur ? ....... The bridge was not acquired in 1937, NYC already owned it…. The Parkway ROW thru Queens was not transferred to the Parks Dept. but acquired directly by Moses as the City Parks Commissioner. (he wasn’t going to let anyone else have a say in the future of Queens section of the Long Island Motor Parkway ROW.).... The Motor Parkway never had a toll lodge at Winchester Blvd. BUT… what the Parkway did have at that location….was a temporary entrance ! When the Parkway was extended west of Rocky Hill Rd. construction was from east to west. This way the Parkway was opened in the sections completed. There were at least 2 temporary entrances for east bound motorists during the construction phase, one at Winchester and the other at Commonwealth. There probably were others. What’s disappointing about this whole scenario, is that the article was copied verbatim by the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on Nov. 4th.
From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series: #8 Alley Road Bridge (Winchester Boulevard) in Queens
Can’t believe everything you read, once again, Al. Care to elaborate in your next comment to set the record straight?
From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series: #8 Alley Road Bridge (Winchester Boulevard) in Queens
Art, there are several errors in the Brooklyn Citizen article dated Oct. 28, 1940.
From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series: #8 Alley Road Bridge (Winchester Boulevard) in Queens
Might it be someone with the initials “HK” driving the Black Beast. Pretty cool pic.
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A wonderful painting of Howard Kroplick in the Alco Black Beast by Joe Pep
After reading through the article, they realized this was the 2nd parkway bridge built over Winchester ( the reference to the original stone bridge built in 1889 ) We all know the original bridge wasn’t built in 1889. Feel like the removal of toll house was the bungalow type lodge with living quarters at Rocky Hill Rd. Wonder if it became a residence somewhere nearby?
From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series: #8 Alley Road Bridge (Winchester Boulevard) in Queens
*Race Driver: Howard Kroplick, a gentleman of many interests.
*Race Car: 1909 Alco - 6 “Black Beast”
*Artist: Robert Carter. Howard was delighted to find a painting of he and the black beast while perusing the internet. Robert’s painting was inspired by Howard’s role as Alexander Winton in the History Channel Series- The Men Who Built America. I believe Henry Ford challenged Mr. Winton in a race to see how well his Ford could perform. Robert left Henry in the dust.
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A wonderful painting of Howard Kroplick in the Alco Black Beast by Joe Pep
The White racer was the only “steam car”, not the only “non-gasoline car” as stated many times in these pages. The car burned gasoline in its vaporizing burner.
The Stanley factory built two cars intended to compete. Today there at least eleven good and better Stanley Vanderbilt Cup replicas which can be regularly driven. Jay Leno’s was built by Carl Amsley. At http://www.stanleyregister.net/VCR.html one can view a very fine listing.
From Mystery Foto #58 Solved: The White Steamer at Bulls Head Corner in Greenvale in 1905
This last paragraph in this article tends to answer yes. Taken from the “The Brooklyn Citizen” of Oct. 28, 1940.
From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series: #8 Alley Road Bridge (Winchester Boulevard) in Queens
The Alley Road Bridge (Winchester Blvd.) was demolished as a WPA project in 1940. Demolition took 2 1/2 months including “grading and beautifying the embankment, removal of the one and half story toll house”. Was there a toll house there?
From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series: #8 Alley Road Bridge (Winchester Boulevard) in Queens
Pretty sure when my boys were younger, one of their Hot Wheels Tracks was sort of like a Dip of Death design : ) The screenshots below show that this location is still curved and hilly.
From Kleiners Korner: The 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race "Dip of Death"
That looks like the famous author and “One-of” automobile collector driving his equally famous ALCO Black Beast racer. Could the artist be Robert Carter?
From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: A wonderful painting of Howard Kroplick in the Alco Black Beast by Joe Pep
Thanks Tim - the cartoon was in the Oct. 6 edition of The NY Evening World so accounts of the accident that day probably were probably not as accurate as they would be today without today’s technology. Or the paper just wanted to create a bit more sympathy (or readership)!
Also, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading through Peter’s documents and seeing the material provided to Howard. I’ve come to appreciate his talent, appreciation and dedication to detail, appreciation for the automotive industry and generally how he was so loved by his admirers. Quite an individual. Thanks.
From Kleiners Korner: The 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race "Dip of Death"
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