Vanderbilt Cup Races

Bethpage
Stewart Ave Bridge w/ Central RR Branch in foreground
Looking North
August 1908

The car is the Hotchkiss belonging to Jefferson deMont Thompson, chairman of the Vanderbilt Cup Commission. Thompson was apparently a Hotchkiss addict, as he is shown in several Hotchkiss cars on a series of photos available in the Detroit Public Library archive. On the mystery photo he is probably inspecting the 1908 race course. A slightly better photo of the same car was published in The Automobile of October 22, 1908 (a week before the race), showing Thompson at the wheel of his Hotchkiss with Major Crowley of the Irish Brigade, in charge of the protection of the Vanderbilt Cup race course.
The Hotchkiss is clearly ‘americanized’ with its roadster-type fenders and what looks like a toy-tonneau body.

This is the Newbridge rd bridge that carried the Motor Parkway over it.  The photographer is facing north because we know that the Central Railroad tracks were just south of the Motor Parkway.  This picture was taken in August of 1908.  Now onto the hard part.  That car.  I have finally settled on thinking that this car might very well be a 1908 Thomas Flyer model F.  I didn’t attach a supporting photo but through my research enough points of comparison match up.  The way the front and rear fenders curve.  How the headlights sit between the grill and the fenders.  The strapped on spare tire on the passenger side.  And the way the front edge of the curved dashboard lines up with the curve of the hood of the car.  Of course I could be wrong and this is just a Buick model 10 that’s missing it’s front emblem.

Since it’s a “parkway bridge” very close to railroad tracks, I think it’s the LIMP going over Newbridge Road. We are looking north with the Central Branch LIRR in the foreground. Probably around September, 1908. Just a wild guess but could the car be a De Dietrich touring?

I’m well familiar with this spot as I live less than a mile from there.

This is the overpass for Newbridge Road. It is easily identified due to it’s proximity to the railroad tracks, part of the Stewart Line taken over and later abandoned by the LIRR. Photographer is looking north as the tracks were on the south side of the overpass.

This section was part of the first phase of the construction so this is summer of 1908.

I have no idea who the big wigs are in the car.

This is the Newbridge Road Parkway Bridge in today’s Levittown.  The Central RR tracks ran directly south of the bridge.  Photographer is looking north. 
Sept., 1908.

Newbridge Road. Rationale: The LIMP was parallel to and next to the old Central Rail Road in this area. The photographer is looking north. July-September 1908.

Jerusalem Ave.  Due to the train tracks in front of the LIMP crossing.  Means we are looking north.

This is the Newbridge Rd (Parkway) Bridge in what is now Levittown. We are looking north toward Hicksville. We can identify this bridge because of the Central Branch railroad immediately in front (south) of it. This would be around August 1908, as I think the bridge was completed in September, for the upcoming Vanderbilt Cup in October.

Newbridge Rd Parkway bridge (1908-1948) looking N at Newbridge Rd in today’s Levittown, under construction nearing its completion, likely Sept 1908. The CRR grade crossing is at the bottom. RR crossing sign missing in the photo. The Newbridge Hotel is hidden behind the east embankment on the right, a favorite spot for viewing the Vanderbilt Cup Races from the rooftop. Sorry, do not know either car :(

Since there were only 2 comments posted over the weekend about this mystery photo I’m thinking maybe I’m not the only one whose comment didn’t register for some reason.  I guess the internet glitched on me or the website when I submitted my guess.  I knew what bridge it was but through out a guess that the car was a 1908 Thomas Flyer model F.

David, thanks. I found the lost Comments! Howard