Vanderbilt Cup Races

Bell Blvd. between 77th ave and Kingsbury ave., looking south. Rationale. I took that walk almost every day and it sure looks like the lay of the land.

Looking South at the Nibbe farmway bridge during the Oct 10th, 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes.

The #J11 Chalmers-Detroit was driven by W. R. Burns. Finished 1st in the Jericho Sweepstakes.

Been waiting a while for a bethpage photo.  Nibbe bridge looking south on the motor parkway.  Motor parkway sweepstakes. jan 11 1908.  #J11 Chalmers-Detroit was driven by W. R. Burns

This is the Nibbe farmway bridge in Bethpage.  The photographer is facing south.  It is located after the second “deadman’s curve” and was created to connect the west and east sections of Peter Nibbe’s farm.  The racecar was the #J11 Chalmers-Detroit and was driven by W.R. Burns who finished first in the Jericho sweepstakes averaging 46.2 mph.  The photo was taken October 10th 1908.

That’s the Nibbe farmway bridge in Central Park (today’s Bethpage) and we’re looking south because the direction of the various race courses that used this section of the LIMP after the bridge was built was counter-clockwise making the car heading north. Also, the distinctive tree on the right is visible in other photos of the bridge. In fact, isn’t that Peter Nibbe himself just to the left of the tree? The racer is the J-18 Chalmers-Detroit during the 1908 Jericho Sweepstakes with W. R. Burns driving. That would make the date October 10, 1908.

This is a closeup of the Nibbe’s farmway bridge I wished I had obtained back during the Apr2013 mystery. https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/mystery_foto_8_can_you_identify_these_two_motor_parkway_bridges_near_the_hu
This is the farmway bridge above Motor Parkway looking south in Bethpage (Central Park). Deadman’s curve #2 is after the bridge. That could be racer J11 of the Jericho racing team during the Meadowbrook sweepstakes.

Howard, One factor that narrowed the bridge identity was the lack of automobiles and horse and carriages. Think Nibbe charged a fee to the spectators ?

Steve - Nibbes would’ve been 59 in the photo. Are you referring to the (person?) standing by the bicycle below the bridge?

Frank - I have no idea; just trying to inject a little humor into the discussion.

Understood Steve, but now that you mentioned it, I wonder if that’s Peter Nibbe below observing bridge activity on his property/bridge. It’s a long shot but interesting nonetheless in 1908

Great point Al; No cars allowed on this narrow farmway bridge! Admission fees were likely collected on this private bridge. Spectators arriving from CRR trains had to walk at least 3/4 mile to reach this observation point over the Motor Parkway!

Frank, In all likelihood not all the spectators on the Nibbe bridge came by train to the race. Nibble’s farm was quite large with frontage on both Powell Ave. and Plainview Rd. Like some other property owners abutting the race course, he most likely provided parking also for those spectators arriving by automobile.

Howard, Since no one asked, there was a kerfuffle regarding the Parkway/Nibbe relationship. The Parkway had purchased a 100 foot wide strip almost 1200 feet long from Nibbe for the ROW. At the same time they leased a half acre plot fronting on Powell Ave. as a staging area for construction purposes. Without permission, some earth was excavated from the site and used for ramping purposes. Nibbe was understandably upset and the Parkway ended up purchasing the plot and used it as a borrow pit.

More amazing details Al; thanks for sharing!! Seems that Motor Pkwy was making amends by purchasing the “damaged” lot - refilling the hole later was likely difficult in 1908. I’d bet the borrow pit became additional parking spaces for later races

Frank, Doubt thats Nibbe by the bicycle. He most likely had an automobile. He was wealthy enough given that he had two live in house servants at the time.