Long Island at the turn of the last century was a dream come true for early racing enthusiasts: miles and miles of flat open roads. In this interview, Marty Himes relates the history of auto racing on Long Island, from the early days of the Vanderbilt Cup Races to the post-WWII boom in midget car and stock car racing. Marty is himself a racer, starting the day he rolled his home-made soapbox derby car onto the track at Freeport Stadium. Learn more about the museum he has created to preserve the history of this fascinating aspect of Long Island’s history.

The Himes Museum of Motor Racing Nostalgia

Further Research

• Freeport Speedway Alumni on Facebook
• Vanderbilt Cup Races from Howard Kroplick at vanderbiltcupraces.com
• Islip Speedway from LongIsland70sKid.com