Vanderbilt Cup Races

Art, The “spray nozzles”/July 3, article. That economy test started and finished in Roslyn at what used to be the George Washington Manor. It went east past the mill up to today’s Northern Blvd,. turned right onto Glen Cove Rd., south to Jericho Tpke., west to Roslyn Rd. and then north to the starting point. The gas tanks were sealed to prevent cheating.

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 5 - Motorcycling on Long Island Roads

-Identify the make, model and year of the Mystery Auto
1924-1931 Bugatti Type 35 grand prix Racer with a straight 8 with supercharger; The same engine that Mike Caruso cut in half and in his 1937 sprint car. See story on Car: http://hixnews.com/1904/Hixtory.htm

-Identify the Long Islander who was the original owner
Wallis Bird from Long island

-Identify the Long Islander who was the second owner
Henry Austin Clark

-What is the estimated value of the Mystery Auto?
1 million

-Kudos question: Where can the Mystery Auto be found today?
In some private collection or Maybe Howard’s place??

From Mystery Auto #28 Solved: 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Owned by Wallace Bird and Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

Fred Willets?

From Mystery Auto #28 Solved: 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Owned by Wallace Bird and Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

the car is a Bugatti type 35, year perhaps 1935-1936, original owner was Wallis Bird of Oyster Bay, NY; second owner was Henry Austin Clark Jr. who bought it at the auction of the Bird estate cars in 1962. ( Austin attended the sale in his maroon Phantom I Roll-Royce that was built in Springfield, Mass. by RR of America. )
I do not follow or know or care about current values of cars. I have no idea where the car is today.

From Mystery Auto #28 Solved: 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Owned by Wallace Bird and Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

1925 Bugatti Type 35 Roadster
Wallace C Bird 1st Long Island owner
Henry Austin Clark Jr 2nd Long Island owner
3.3 million dollars
Total guess Vermont

From Mystery Auto #28 Solved: 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Owned by Wallace Bird and Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

These were items I had selected for an exhibit I curated for the 75th Anniversary of Charles A. Lindbergh’s Transatlantic Flight of May 20, 1927, back in 2002 at the L.I. Studies Institute and later at Sands Point Preserve.  The fabric shows the pinked edge of the original doped linen fabric from the plane, which had to be replaced after the flight.  To my knowledge these items had never been exhibited before I dug them out of the Nassau County Museum’s collections.  The Guggenheim - Lindbergh connection continued throughout their lifetimes.
_______________________________________

Howard Kroplick
Gary, wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

From Update Mystery Foto #27 Solved: Lindbergh Taking Off from Roosevelt Field on May 20, 1927

Great find, Gary, for Lindbergh fans everywhere.The fabric seems to be canvas but with a sheen, possibly hand stitched?

From Update Mystery Foto #27 Solved: Lindbergh Taking Off from Roosevelt Field on May 20, 1927

Just found these photos of tickets for the CAL Reception - note the mention of the LIMP; also fabric from the Spirit sent to Daniel Guggenheim

From Update Mystery Foto #27 Solved: Lindbergh Taking Off from Roosevelt Field on May 20, 1927

That’s a 1925 Bugatti Type 35. The original owner was Wallace (or Wallis) C. Bird who lived at the Oyster Bay “Farnsworth” mansion and bought the car new while on his honeymoon in Paris. The second owner was Austin Clark, of L. I. Automobile Museum fame, who bought the car at the estate auction of Mrs. Bird in 1962. It was sold at the 2017 Scottsdale auction for $3.3 million so I guess that’s the approximate value today. If you want to see it today, you’ll have to go to the Brumos Colllection in Jacksonville, FL.

From Mystery Auto #28 Solved: 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Owned by Wallace Bird and Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

Mystery Foto #28
-Identify the make, model and year of the Mystery Auto
Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix, chassis no. 4487, year 1925

-Identify the Long Islander who was the original owner
Mr. Wallis Clinton Bird

-Identify the Long Islander who was the second owner
Henry Austin Clark Jr.

-What is the estimated value of the Mystery Auto?
upwards of $3 million

-Kudos question: Where can the Mystery Auto be found today?

From Mystery Auto #28 Solved: 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Owned by Wallace Bird and Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

The car is a 1925 Buggati Type 35 Grand Prix. 
First LI owner was Wallace Bird (Farnsworth Estate - second pic), second LI owner was Austin Clark.
The car was sold in 2017 for $3.3 million to its current owner, The Brumos Collection (third pic), which opened this year in Jacksonville, FL which is where the car is currently exhibited. 
https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/the-brumos-collection-opportunity-meets-racing-history

From Mystery Auto #28 Solved: 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Owned by Wallace Bird and Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

Identify the make, model and year of the Mystery Auto?
• 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix

Identify the Long Islander who was the original owner?
• Wallis C. Bird

Identify the Long Islander who was the second owner?
• Henry Austin Clark

What is the estimated value of the Mystery Auto?
• In excess of $3.3 million.

Kudos question: Where can the Mystery Auto be found today?
• The Brumos Collection, Jacksonville, FL.

From Mystery Auto #28 Solved: 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Owned by Wallace Bird and Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

Gary - Quite possible on photo location, or further east at today’s Old Northern Blvd, at the top of the hill (just south of Northern Blvd and Middle Neck Rd), also looking east. I don’t have info yet to verify either location. 

Brian - Great pic! The 1902 bike photo follows the “Safety Bicycle” frame design still in effect today. First developed in late 1880s, it continues today as the improved two-wheel design for rider stability. The only minor flaw I can see in the 1902 bike is the short front wheel fender, ending at the front fork, and needing to extend further to the front wheel for water/mud prevention. Still an amazing bike for 1902! Thanks for sharing this!

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 5 - Motorcycling on Long Island Roads

Here’s views from one of the 1908 race films on the site here. Described as Jericho Tpke, one of the scenes show the fence curve, but in a panoramic view. So many spectators there to know if a road is intersected at Jericho : ) !

From Mystery Foto #26 Partially Solved: Lewis Strang's P46 Renault during the 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes

Sounds good, Art. I like diagrams, like below :  )
                                                 

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 5 - Motorcycling on Long Island Roads

I believe the 2 views of “making the ascent of Manhasset Hill” is on the Flushing and North Hempstead Turnpike (present day Northern Blvd) looking east towards today’s Whitney Pond, which was called Mitchell’s Pond in the 1906 E. Belcher Hyde Atlas of Nassau County, Double page 3.  Your thoughts?

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 5 - Motorcycling on Long Island Roads

From Art Kleiner:
Good thinking, Brian.  You might be correct but here’s some material found in “Motorcycle Illustrated” from around 1912.  Possibly the last article may relate to why they wouldn’t be allowed in an economy test as all cycles might need to be equipped equally!

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 5 - Motorcycling on Long Island Roads

Using the nozzle like you would a primer bulb.

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 5 - Motorcycling on Long Island Roads

I’m figuring ‘small spray nozzles’ were cleverly hidden fuel reservoirs that can add fuel to the tank during a Economy Run, or an additive to give the bike more pep for hills.

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 5 - Motorcycling on Long Island Roads

Elise I just saw your comment and will try to reach out.  I am sorry to hear about Bill.  we had a lot of fun together.  I also played on Bill’s drums when I would come to play with Bill.  We also played in the gardens.  When we were older my grand father would pick Bill and I up from boarding school together sometimes since our school weren’t far apart.  I was on Long Island last week and tried to find the old house but so much has changed.  The Foxland of my youth was a wonderful place and I have fond memories of it.  My grandfather worked for the Holidays for around thirty years.

From From the Grace Holloway Family Album: Photos of the Old Westbury Home Built by Driver Foxhall Keene