The sun., 1908-08-30
FIRST AUTOMOBILE PARKWAY
ELEVEN MILES WILL BE READY
FOR Vanderbilt cur RACES.

NO Road In the World Like That Helms
Built on Ions Island Planned tilti.
mateIy to BE fO Miles Long-Not for
A Racing Only-Flrst section Concrete.
Ever since automobiling came into vogue
in this country Americans have dreamed
OF the time when they would have read
upon which theys might speed their cars
at will free from the dangers OF grade
railroad crossings, from careless drivers
OF horses and more especially from zealous
country constables lying in wait with tin
stop watches along measured stretches to
nab any luokless motorist who might ex-
ceed the speed limit. This dream Is fact
becoming reality. for construction work
upon Americas first exclusive automobile
highway. the Long Island Motor Parkway
Ia now under way in Nassau county
1t Ia expected that about eleven miles
of cement roadway will be completed in
time TO allow ecvcral weeks Of practice ~
the drivers OF racing cars that will con-
pete In the elimination trial on October 10
to select the American team for the Van
derbilt cup race on October "a The
elimination trial and tho cup race ore not
to be run entirely on tho parkway, but
will be decided over a circuit OF about
tw,~ty-ilve miles made up OF the ccm-
plete,. eecticn OF the parkway and parts
Of the public highways OF Nassau county.
Not only will the Long\ Islsnd Motor
Parkway be the first exclusive road for
automobiles ever built in this country
but it is also the first undertaking Of the
kind in the world. The Brook lands auto
mobile racing course in England cannct
be compared to 1t, as II is a circular track
built. maintained and used solely and
entirely as raceccurse. On the contrary,
the Long Island Motor Parkway Is destined
to be an automobile highway, occasionally
given over to racing, rather than a course
devoted solely to speed events.
The idea OF special road or highway
where automobiles could be driven at speed
was first publicly broaohed at a dinner
given on November 0. 1905. to Robert Lee
Morrell Of the Automobile Club Of America
who as chairman Of the Vanderbilt cup
commission had carried the second Van
derbilt cup race and the American elmina-
ton trial to a suoces5ful conclusion. Wind
sor T. White. head OF the firm that max kes
the White steam caro-. then president OF the
National Association of Automobile Manu-
facturers and one Of the SPEAKERS at the
dinner. made the suggestion that slch a
road be built during a ooeech in which he
narrated some OF the diffioultieo attending
the construction OF a road racing oar in
this country.
He knew whereof he spoke. for his firm
had entered steam racer in the Vanderbilt
cup race that year. He told Of the trouble
his firm had had in trying out the car in
the vicinity Of the factory at Cleveland
before it was taken to Long Island for the
preliminary practice over the circuit on
which the elimination trial and the VAN
derbilt cup race took place. Employees
Of his concern had searched the State OF
Ohio for stretch of road good enough
TO run a racing car over at sceed While
there were few stretches of good roads
there was not one five miles long anywhere
near Cleveland where the racer could be
tried out without interference from police
officers or country constables ...
He expressed the conviction that the
automobile manufacturers of the United
States would. never succeed In producing
car capable Of winning a great inter
national road race until they had a road Of
their own upon which racing cars could be
driven at will without danger Of arres'.
The suggestion made by Mr. White wes
enthusiastically received by those present.
among whom were Winthrop e. Scarritt, a
former president OF the Automobile Club OF
America; s. T. Davis. Jr., and A. l.. Riter. en-
trant and designer respectively OF the Loco
mobile racer; Robert Graves, entrant OF the
Mercedes; George NJ. MaoWilliam. entrant
Of the Darracq that won the Vanderbilt cup
that year; E. Rand Holander Of the firm that
entered the Fiat racers. Andre Massenat,
entrant OF the Panhard; E. +. SchwarzSopf.
who acted as estmaster; Alfred Reeves and
Peter Fogarty. 1t was agreed that the idea
was excellent, but the expense Of construct