Vanderbilt Cup Races

Looking West down Jericho Tpke at the #18 Mercedes driven by William Luttgen from the top of the Creedmoor Branch Railroad Bridge in Floral Park during the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race

1904.  Jericho Tpke heading east.  Tulip Ave branches off south.  The photographer is most likely on the embankment of the LIRR trestle over Jericho Tpke.
-joe o

Mystery Foto #34… The location of the photographer is on the LIRR bridge in Floral Park, facing west. This shot was taken during the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The race car is a 60hp Mercedes driven by William Luttgen. As for the mechanician, possibly a Mr. Pfeiffer.

The first U.S. Vanderbilt Cup Race in progress, 1904. Jericho Tpke looking west at the Tulip Ave intersection. The dirt road across from Tulip is today’s Little Neck Parkway on the north side of Jericho. Just four years after this 114-year-old photo was taken, the Centennial Hall building was constructed one block to the left on Tulip Ave., just off the photo. This building still stands today with its tall columns, and is in need of repairs. I was glad to learn it will be restored and re-used as residential apartments. The photo was taken from the former LIRR bridge embankment that once crossed over Jericho Tpke. This stretch of Jericho Tpke divided Queens and Nassau Counties when Nassau was established in 1899. Queens is on the right side (north).

Looking west on Jericho Tpke Floral Park in 1904 from the Creedmoor Railroad bridge,
Tulip Avenue on the left; Little Neck Parkway on right.  William Luttgen in the #18 Mercedes.
Mechanician unknown.

No clue again, but it sure LOOKS like the Jericho Turnpike at Hitchcock Lane (right/north) and Cambridge Avenue (left/south) looking west with the old fence around the Church of the Advent at far left.  If so, Post Avenue would be crossing in the distance.  Sam, III

This is from the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race. You are looking west in Floral Park at the junction of what is now Tulip Avenue on the left - Little Neck Parkway on the right Jericho Turnpike. The driver was William Luttgen driving a Mercedes. Don’t know mechanic - maybe Walter Gosden.

Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park, looking west from the LIRR bridge
1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Mercedes #18 driven by William Luttgen (who often was ticketed for speeding before and after this race).  Mechanician unknown (at least to me).

The photographer is facing west on Jericho Turnpike in today’s Floral Park with Tulip Avenue branching off to the left (south) and Little Neck Parkway intersecting to the right. He is set up on the bridge for the LIRR’s Central Branch which crossed Jericho Turnpike at that time. Heading east in the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race is the number 18 Mercedes driven by William Luttgen. Couldn’t find definitive info about the mechanician but I’ll take a wild guess: Charles Hudson.

Hmm, the orientation is puzzling. Photographer facing east is debatable. Although the race car’s shadow appears to cast on the left side of the racer (photo facing east), Jericho Tpke westbound today still curves to the right, just like the mystery photo. Eastbound today, the tpke is still perfectly straight.

Art - Great news clips of the racers vs police/courts. I was unaware how strict road-use was being enforced, especially during these early years of the auto. But it all makes sense. I’ve read many pedestrians were hurt/killed during this early period, prompting the use of the traffic signal, still nowhere in sight anytime soon.
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Frank, great catch. The orientation is looking west.

Update #1: The orientation of the photographer (looking west) was corrected.

I forgot to note that “sparsely settled” Hoffman Boulevard north of Hillside Avenue is today’s Queens Boulevard, possibly in the vicinity of Kew Gardens/Jamaica.  My father used Queens Blvd. a lot in the late ‘30s-early ‘40s and it actually was still rather sparsely settled, incredible as that may seem today.  Sam (SO old), III

Fascinating pictures from ‘29, ‘32 and ‘35.  Fill up with Ethyl !!