Vanderbilt Cup Races

Howard,

I wonder if any of your readers are up for a challenge. Can anyone identify the two cars pictured in the above section of my grandfather’s painting? I’ve been trying to figure it out. Here’s what I’ve come up with.

The wrecked grey car:

Bayard-Clements, Lorraine de Dietrichs and Darracqs each had somewhat similar radiators.

It also resembles a Richard-Brasier (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brasier)— but the 3 of those that were entered all finished the race.

As far as I can tell there was no #123 in the race.

The blue car:

Possibly a Panhard de Levassor that Jarrott drove at Ardennes.

Or possibly the de Dietrich #18 that Stead drove.

In the part of the painting that is cropped, the winning Mors is easily identifiable and there is the wreck of a red car too far gone to even try to guess at.

My opinion: this painting was done in 1948 (for True Magazine, article by Ralph Stein), one of the first race car commissions that my grandfather received after the success of the Esquire series. In later years he became extremely conscientious about portraying the details of a race as accurately as possible. But I think in the early stages of his new career as a “history painter” he was willing to allow his artistic freedom full play. So these may not represent any exact cars, just the types of cars that he knew so well.

Also, in 1948 he probably had not amassed the large archive of photos and other historical documents, so his ability to research all of the contestants may have been limited.

However, your audience consist of people who know much more about this stuff than I do. So maybe somebody will come up with some solid identifications.

I hope you and all your readers have a safe and happy holiday. And thank you, once again, for making this material available to the public!

Regards,

Tim Helck

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 1 - The Race that Brought Willie K. "Racing" to America"

No end to the detail we turn up, eh?  Re Mark’s comment, the “other” Eagle Rock Apts., at Carle Place, are the old Fairhaven complex there, just south of the Jericho Pike on Fairhaven Road, directly across Rudolph Drive (the LIMP RoW) from 284 Rudolf Road, the extant Jericho Toll Lodge (the spellings are deliberate).  I’ve always been bemused by the two Fairhavens sitting alongside the RoW.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #51 Solved: The Garden City Lodge on the move on March 11, 1989

Any Boy Scouts out there?  Here is the press release relating to the above marker at the intersection of the Motor Parkway and Old Country Road.  At one point I researched the scouts that were mentioned but didn’t come with anything.  With additional on-line resources at hand, I might try again.

From Mystery Foto #51 Solved: The Garden City Lodge on the move on March 11, 1989

In answer to my own question, it was Cameron Bradley. The car can be traced back to its original Bar Harbor owners, Edward and Lucy May. The Mays lived in “Keewaydin” on upper Main Street Bar harbor in 1925. It appears that the Whitney family purchased the car from Mrs. May in 1937 and later sold it to Cameron Bradley. Cameron Bradley was the owner of Winter Harbor Maine Trading Corporation in Winter Harbor, Maine. He was also a founding member of the Veteran Motor Car Club of America and a founder and director of the Wolfpen Antique Automotive Museum, in Southborough, Massachusetts.
This wonderful information is thanks to Richard Washburn whose grandfather was the May’s chauffer in Bar Harbor from 1925 to 1946.
The car was last owned by John W. Rich Sr. and went to AACA Museum after his passing in 2011.

From Walter McCarthy Provides the Answers to His Mystery Photo Challenge

A clarification of the name Eagle Rock Fair Haven Apartment, It was known as Fairhaven Garden Apartment back in the ‘70s (I had lived in the Jericho Turnpike complex then) but was change at some point (new ownership?) to just Eagle Rock Apartments now.

From Mystery Foto #51 Solved: The Garden City Lodge on the move on March 11, 1989

George - more info about the marker you put up from my website:
https://www.freewebs.com/limparkway/historical-markers
The next marker does not exist anymore.  It was placed at the intersection of the Motor Parkway and Old Country Road June 6, 1959, a few blocks west of Roosevelt Field.  The marker wad dedicated by Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor, John Burns, and 11 members of the Boy Scouts of America Explorer Post 429 who included it as part of their hike of the Motor Parkway in Nassau County.  The hike was taken in connection with the post’s ambition to earn the Historic Trails Award, a major scouting award which until that time had never been won in Nassau County.  Unfortunately the marker was taken down during the widening of Old Country Road sometime later.  Where the marker is now is anyone’s guess.

From Mystery Foto #51 Solved: The Garden City Lodge on the move on March 11, 1989

I don’t know the bank that occupied the SW corner of OCR and Clinton in the ‘60s. I was born in 1962, and much history occurred in this tiny corner of early Long Island.

From Mystery Foto #51 Solved: The Garden City Lodge on the move on March 11, 1989

George, the mystery photo also shows an Eagle Rock Fair Haven Apartment building on the north side (right side of photo) of Old Country Road (photos below). This building on Laurel Drive is the ONLY building that matches the mystery photo within the Eagle Rock Fair Haven Apartments complex on Laurel Dr. 

The photo with the boy scout and sign was taken just 325 feet east of the mystery photo. Very close to the mystery photo!!

From Mystery Foto #51 Solved: The Garden City Lodge on the move on March 11, 1989

These pictures were from same spot.
First is a picture looking in to Garden city, between Russel road and Pell Terrace, where Motor parkway ran

Second is a picture of a sign that had been at that same place, probably across the street on Mineola side

Hey John Ulrich, be sure to share the answer to your trivia question.
Heres one, what bank stood at the south west corner of OCR and Clinton in the 1960s?

From Mystery Foto #51 Solved: The Garden City Lodge on the move on March 11, 1989

Ditto, Greg. Wishing a Happy Holidays to all! I’m looking forward to 2021….

From Mystery Foto #51 Solved: The Garden City Lodge on the move on March 11, 1989

While it’s a little west of where the LIMP ROW was, it’s close enough. I specifically mentioned Laurel St since the windows of the apartment building matched only the windows on the very last western apartment building.

From Mystery Foto #51 Solved: The Garden City Lodge on the move on March 11, 1989

I remember that day.
I thought it was sad they were moving it.
But now everyone can enjoy it, where it is .

From Mystery Foto #51 Solved: The Garden City Lodge on the move on March 11, 1989

Mike Tucker
Congratulations Howard, well deserved!

Jim Coniglione
Congratulations my friend

Mark Lieberman
Congratulations ????????????

Tom Cotter
Congratulations, Howard.

Janusz Mrozek
Congratulations!

Larry Vigneaux
An honor that could not have been awarded to a more deserving person! Congratulations, Howie! ????

Donald M. Smith
Congratulations

Sharon Oklander Frank
Great honor! Congratulations!

Ellen P Vigneaux
Yeah!

Elio Zarate
Congratulations Howard

Bob Barauskas
Congratulations Howard, a fitting Honor !!!

Jackie Goldstein Glanz
Congratulations!!!!!!!

Thomas Auriemma
Congratulations

Sharon Mandel
Congratulations ????????
Well deserved. So proud of you. ❤️

John Cuocco
Congrats Howard

John R Tucker Jr.
Congratulations Howard!

Danny Mandel
Amazing!

Steve Halsey
Congratulations.

Carmine Auriemma
Congratulations

Jon Geist
Congratulations!!! ????

Jamsheed Banaji
Congratulations!!!

Peter Crifo
A great acknowledgement of your skills and passion, congratulations!

Natalie Burghardt
So proud of you❤️❤️

Rick Shafer
Congratulations ????????

Mitch Hackett
Well done, sir!

Richard D Kaye
Congratulations Howie!!!

Mark DeSantis
Wonderful! You deserve it!

Judi Winters
Fantastic Mazal Tov

Rich Lester
Congratulations - terrific honor.
But who is that in the picture??

JeRita Trapani
Well deserved congratulations

Alane Fagin
Congrats Howard! A well deserved honor and award!

Ellen Wurman Birnbaum
Congrats Howard!

Susan Banco
Mazel ????????

Merrill Morrison
Congratulations!

Marilyn Kroplick
To my brother of alchemy—who manifests magically and mysteriously!!!❤️

James Douglas Ford
Congratulations Howard!

Joe G Stroll
Nice going!

Andrew Sandler
Congrats

Margaret Peckham Clark
Good job Wharton! Congratulations Howard Kroplick!

Larry Clark
Recognition bestowed from America’s top b-school- great honor!

Jonathan Rosenzweig
A very nice and very WELL DESERVED accomplishment. Congratulations!!!

Andy Hartwell
Wonderful

George Burghardt
WOW Terrific!!

Richard Lentinello
Bravo!!!

Natalie Burghardt
Congratulations ????????????Natalie

Clifford M Golub
Congratulations, a well deserved honor for someone who really does what he loves and not for any personal recognition just to fill the needed gaps with a smile to know what he did will enrich others in some little way.

Tom Cotter
Congratulations, Howard!

Toni Kessel
Congratulations

Jimbo Coniglione
Congrats my friend

James Spina
Wonderful and so deserved.

Roger Monfett
Congratulations Howard!

Ray Evernham
Congrats Howard ????????????

Chris
Congrats!

Akmanhasset
Congratulations ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

Stephanie Gress
Congratulations Howard!

Ellie M
What a wonderful achievement! I like your tie. ❤️????????

From Howard Kroplick named to Wharton Graduate Emeritus Society's Honor Roll for his non-profit activities

Not hardly, Al.  In “1894, Alfred Vacheron took part in the Paris–Rouen race with a Panhard 4 hp model which he had fitted with a steering wheel.  That is believed to be one of the earliest employments of the principle.  From 1898, the Panhard et Levassor cars were equipped as standard with steering wheels.”  “In 1898, Thomas B. Jeffery and his son, Charles T. Jeffery, developed two advanced experimental cars featuring a front-mounted engine, as well as a steering wheel that was mounted on the left-hand side. - - - The following year {1903}, the Rambler Model E was largely unchanged, except that it came equipped with a tiller early in the year, but with a steering wheel by the end of 1903.  By 1904, all Ramblers featured steering wheels.  Within a decade, the steering wheel had entirely replaced the tiller in automobiles.”  Now you know.  Sam (the chop-buster), III

From Kleiner's Korner: A 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race Entry

Art, Best research on the Dragon automobile yet. Formation of the Company was on September 11, 1906. The President John Kass Mills, was previously associated with the Oldsmobile Co. First public appearance was on December 1, 1906 at the ACA Automobile Show held at Grand Central Palace in NYC.  When first announced the price was to be $1500. At the show, it was offered at $2000. Believe the Dragon was one of the first automobiles with a steering wheel.

From Kleiner's Korner: A 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race Entry

Art, Best coverage of the Dragon Automobile I have ever seen. First announcement of the formation of the Dragon Automobile Co. was made on September 11, 1906. It already had contracted for office space in New York City.  John Mills, the President, who was previously associated with the Oldsmobile Co., said it would be offered for sale at $1500.  First public appearance was on December 1, 1906 at the Grand Central Palace automobile show but with a price of $2000. Believe the Dragon was one of the first automobiles equipped with a steering wheel.

From Kleiner's Korner: A 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race Entry

March 19, 1989

Motor Parkway’s Garden City Lodge on the way towards its new location at the Garden City Chamber of Commerce on 7th Street. It’s already traveled 1 mile of its 3 mile journey. Ironic, photo’s location is intersection of Old Country Rd and Laurel Dr. looking WNW, just 325 feet west of the former Motor Parkway/Old Country Road underpass, the lodge’s last encounter with its host parkway, both that will never be seen together again.

LILCO electricians can be seen removing wires ahead of the move.

Squeezing the lodge out of narrow Vanderbilt Court must have been a major feat all its own. It’s unknown why this 3 mile route from Vanderbilt Ct. to 7th Street was preferred over the shorter 1.3 mile route by simply utilizing Stewart Ave. to 7th Street.   

Grateful the lodge was spared and preserved for future generations to benefit from.

Fantastic work Garden City, 1989!

From Mystery Foto #51 Solved: The Garden City Lodge on the move on March 11, 1989

Yes, seen these photos
These are great photos
That girl is in a few of them

From 1958-1967 tours of the Long Island Motor Parkway #1: Queens

The Western Terminus picture looking south is from the LIMP segment between the North Hempstead Tpke and 73rd Avenue bridges. It can help date the demolition of the NHT bridge!

That picture shows a straight path that stops abruptly before reaching the photographer. That is consistent to a photographer standing in what once would have been the footprint of graded rise to the NHT bridge. Therefore, this 1958 picture was taken after the demolition of the NHT bridge!

If the facing north photo is the second in the series, then photographer is capturing the straight LIMP segment that existed between the two bridges. Over the years, a “not-the-LIMP” path was created that is curvy and turns west, starting near the circled Queens Greenway pole in the attached 2018 picture shows. (The real LIMP remains shrouded in the woods and starts to climb a grade that once led to the demolished bridge.)

From 1958-1967 tours of the Long Island Motor Parkway #1: Queens

How wonderful to be acknowledged in this way. Congrats!

From Howard Kroplick named to Wharton Graduate Emeritus Society's Honor Roll for his non-profit activities