Vanderbilt Cup Races

Dec 17 2010

The Bethpage Challenge Part III: The Second Deadman’s Curve

After exploring aerials, maps, surveys and construction photos of the Central Avenue/LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge over the last two days, Part III of "The Bethpage Challenge" will provide evidence of the location of the "Dead Man's Curve" shown in this postcard.

Views of Central Avenue/LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge

Yesterday, we left off with this image of a car driving on the north side of the Central Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge in October 1908 beginning to take a curve and head east. Reference points: The small house and shed off Central Avenue on the right, the large cluster of trees behind the house, the guardrails of the Motor Parkway and the large "L-shaped" tree on the left in the middle of a small family cemetery.

This postcard of a racer practicing for the 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes shows the Central Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge looking south. Reference points: The small house and shed off Central Avenue on the left, the large cluster of trees behind the house, the Motor Parkway guardrails and a telephone pole along Central Avenue.

Views of the Stymus Property Looking South West

After the Central Avenue/LIRR Bridge, the Motor Parkway headed east through the William Stymus family farm. Hey, check out the barn in this "Section 21" photo taken on June 6, 1908- the official Motor Parkway ground-breaking day. The barn sure looks like the one in the postcard. Reference points: The barn, the large cluster of trees behind the house, and the hilly terrain.

Just a few weeks later, this photo was shot from the same location. Importantly, the ramp for the north side of the Central Avenue/LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge can be seen on the top right.

Here the #N3 Buick making the curve after the Central Avenue/LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge during the 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes on October 10, 1908. Note the guardrails for the completed Motor Parkway in this section ended at the bottom of the bridge ramp.

This photo was also taken during 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes. Eureka, check out the crowd in front of my favorite barn along the Motor Parkway.

Views of the Stymus Farm Looking East

As seen in this photo taken during the summer of 1908, the movement of topsoil and excavated material was a slow and tedious process. Many wagons were required since the two-horse wagon had a capacity of only three cubic yards. In the distance can be seen the Sytmus Farm. Several of the buildings are still standing today on Stymus Avenue.

This is the completed Motor Parkway through the Stymus property in October 1908. Note the warning sign and guardrails at the big "curve" heading back to the north.

Conclusion

This final photo shows a 1908 race car after making the curve, almost matching our target postcard. Accordingly, I believe this confirms the location of the second Bethpage Deadman's Curve at the Stymus property.