New York City for gearheads?

Hello fellow gearheads, We're taking a trip to the big apple in a week. Anybody know of some cool race car themed sites to take in. We are going to take in all the regular sites but I've been searching online and can't really find anything. Thanks.

i <3 e21s. they are just such cool little cars, they always struck me as like a cross between a 2002 and an e24. i want one.

sorry i know nothing about new york

I think the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) still has some cars from its permanent collection on display, like the 1946 Cisitalia. It's worth seeing even without the cars.

I suppose you could try to figure out where Jerry Seinfeld's garage is, and then go hang around to see if he shows up in one of his vintage Porsches.

I keep hearing rumbles that the folks out on Long Island now think turning The Bridge into a golf course (with the resulting pollution required to keep turf grass alive in sand) might have been a mistake. Rumors exist that most of the original surface remains as whatever golf people call access roads between the holes' tees. Maybe a lil' spy mission out there to see what's going on?

EDIT:

There isn't much. Like Stewart said Moma has an impresive collection, but call them first to see which if any pieces are being shown and at which location. Ferrari has just opened a new store at the corner of Park Ave and 55 street if you'd like to bring home a little something.

friedgreencorrado wrote: I keep hearing rumbles that the folks out on Long Island now think turning The Bridge into a golf course (with the resulting pollution required to keep turf grass alive in sand) might have been a mistake. Rumors exist that most of the original surface remains as whatever golf people call access roads between the holes' tees. Maybe a lil' spy mission out there to see what's going on?

Not much of it is still there. The bridge and not a whole lot else, or at least what the public can get onto (although I doubt they actually have gates--they could though) A good buddy of mine caddies out there. He makes.... A LOT of money doing it. I was astounded.

How well can you act?

http://classiccarclubmanhattan.com/

I've never actually been inside, but I have walked by on the other side of the street. It's not exactly on the beaten path, but they've got a nice wide-open showroom on the first floor with a lot of stuff hanging out. You could either waltz in and pretend to be interested in becoming a member, or just go in and ask if you can oggle the cars for a while. Either of those might get you some up-close time with some sorta-interesting cars.

Other than that... Walk Park Ave in the 50s on the west side of the street. Audi "experience" type store down at 48?-ish, very underwhelming, but they did have an R8 convertible before I knew they existed. There's also a Mercedes dealer, Maybach? and a Ferrari/Maserati dealer further north.

Really, NYC is not a car town, unless you count cabs. MoMA may have some automobilia in their collections, but it's not given that it will be out.

If you're looking for fun things to do that are more off the beaten path: Consider the Top of the Rock instead of the ESB - I've never had to wait and I think it's cheaper. You don't get quite the view that you get from the ESB, but you get a very nice view of the park and the best feature in NYC, the ESB itself! (If you decide to skip my advice and go to the ESB, buy your tickets online in advance and thank me later)

Skip SoHo, swing east into the LES, which is a really happening place right now. Lots of interesting little places, instead of the H&M, American Apparel, etc that clog broadway in "SoHo". If you want a SoHo experience, stay west of Broadway. Skip the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex while you're down here.

You'll go to Central Park of course, but do yourself a favor and explore further than the southern corner with the horse drawn carriages. The Ramble and other more remote parts of the park are very interesting.

If you really want to feel like you're a local (don't worry, we can tell you're not), venture into Brooklyn. Williamsburg is a hipster scene to behold, even (and especially) if you're not into that. It's only one stop away from Manhattan and has some excellent beer spots.

And a few pointers from a local, so you won't accidentally make us want to strangle you (said with a great deal of both truth and humor):

Do not amble slowly five abreast down the sidewalk.

Do not stop completely on a busy street corner, in the middle of the sidewalk, and consult your map. Put your back up against the building and make yourself small - a hundred people need to get by you. (in the next ten seconds)

Do not bring your seven piece matched luggage set on the subway during rush hour.

When exiting the subway, do not stop and block the stairs when you get to street level. We understand that you need to look around to get oriented, just do it a few feet in any other direction so that people can get by :)

And wow. What a massive post to say this:

New York doesn't give a rats ass about (race) cars.

Yeah, not really a car town. Still, it's probably the most awesome place in the world. My favorite part? Chinatown, probably, although each neighborhood has its own feel. Go, walk, explore.

Funny, I technically live in Chinatown (though I'm on the TriBeCa edge, so I generally say TriBeCa).

If you go to Chinatown (recommended), do it right. Visit Canal St, east of Lafayette, but then swing south and east. It gets really interesting as you head towards East Broadway. Start at the bottom of East Broadway and head up to the Manhattan bridge and find your way back along Canal.

stuart in mn wrote: I think the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) still has some cars from its permanent collection on display, like the 1946 Cisitalia. It's worth seeing even without the cars.

I just went through the MOMA a few weeks ago. The Cisitalia is still on display, as is a Vincent Black Shadow, and some automotive ads, but not much else. It's free on friday nights from 4pm to close (8pm I think). They don't really have signs advertising that it's free, but just walk up to the ticket counter and they will have plenty laid out for the taking or just ask for some. Because it's free it's probably a little more busy than usual, but still not what I would consider crowded.

Bob

peter wrote: Funny, I technically live in Chinatown (though I'm on the TriBeCa edge, so I generally say TriBeCa). If you go to Chinatown (recommended), do it right. Visit Canal St, east of Lafayette, but then swing south and east. It gets really interesting as you head towards East Broadway. Start at the bottom of East Broadway and head up to the Manhattan bridge and find your way back along Canal.

Lucky. When I was in New York this winter, I had a good walk my first evening. I was staying on 32nd St. and first walked up through and around Times Square. Then I took a train down to Chinatown for dinner. After eating, I just started walking uptown. Stopped in the Village to hear some music, wandered through SoHo and finally got back to my hotel around 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning. I shot a ton of photos the entire time. In my option, that's the way to see New York--just start walking and have fun.

Oh, I do have a car thing to--kinda. Take a train to Brooklyn and then walk back over the Brooklyn Bridge. There's a pedestrian walkway above the roadway, and the view is awesome. And it's free, too.

How far is new jersey motorpark? They have the first rally america rallycross next weekend.

2.5 hours south.

peter wrote: If you're looking for fun things to do that are more off the beaten path: Consider the Top of the Rock instead of the ESB - I've never had to wait and I think it's cheaper. You don't get quite the view that you get from the ESB, but you get a very nice view of the park and the best feature in NYC, the ESB itself! (If you decide to skip my advice and go to the ESB, buy your tickets online in advance and thank me later)

If you do this there is also a new Lego store opened just across Rockafeller Plaza. I would skip the Empire State Building as well. The lines are really long most of the time.

peter wrote: Skip SoHo, swing east into the LES, which is a really happening place right now. Lots of interesting little places, instead of the H&M, American Apparel, etc that clog broadway in "SoHo". If you want a SoHo experience, stay west of Broadway. Skip the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex while you're down here.

peter wrote: x100 This area has made an unbelivable change. I don't know where they put the winos and whores but if you are looking for a nice little place to eat with good food and music you can't go wrong here. Burgers, spanish, asian, middle eastern is all here in small shops where the owner's are usually in the place making everyone fell at home. Many well known people often perform in some of these bars under other names.

peter wrote: If you really want to feel like you're a local (don't worry, we can tell you're not), venture into Brooklyn. Williamsburg is a hipster scene to behold, even (and especially) if you're not into that. It's only one stop away from Manhattan and has some excellent beer spots.

If you do venture in to Brooklyn there is also the http://www.mta.info/mta/museum/ (shameless plug).

If you are looking for something don't be afraid to ask. Just remember a few things. We aren't as rude as we seem, we are just trying to get somewhere and not everyone knows where everything is. I have a couple little maps because part of my job is to give directions but alot of people came here from somewhere else and don't know much outside of thier own neighborhood.

friedgreencorrado wrote: I keep hearing rumbles that the folks out on Long Island now think turning The Bridge into a golf course (with the resulting pollution required to keep turf grass alive in sand) might have been a mistake. Rumors exist that most of the original surface remains as whatever golf people call access roads between the holes' tees. Maybe a lil' spy mission out there to see what's going on?

Even the old Chev. bridge is still on the front straight, makes me kinda nostalgic

It's been many years since I was in NYC, but I remember the cheapest form of entertainment I found was taking a ride on the Staten Island ferry - it's free, and you get a great view of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. You have to get off at the other end but then you can go through the waiting room and get back on to return.

Nassau Coliseum!

Chances are they'll be a autocross happening from one of the three clubs that frequent that venue...

September 19-PCA

September 5-BMW

September 26-NYR SCCA

October 2-PCA

October 16-BMW

October 24-BMW

October 30-BMW

We went here during our last visit: http://www.thehighline.org/

Again, no relation to cars, but still pretty cool. (Trains are kind of close to cars, right?)

paul wrote:

friedgreencorrado wrote: I keep hearing rumbles that the folks out on Long Island now think turning The Bridge into a golf course (with the resulting pollution required to keep turf grass alive in sand) might have been a mistake. Rumors exist that most of the original surface remains as whatever golf people call access roads between the holes' tees. Maybe a lil' spy mission out there to see what's going on?

Even the old Chev. bridge is still on the front straight, makes me kinda nostalgic

Yeah, I think racetracks get seriously discriminated against when it comes to their historic value. Riverside and the Bridge should have both been on the National Register of Historic Places, instead of being destroyed. I'd rather see them become some sort of car guy state park (since you can't update anything once they're on the Register, you couldn't keep the barriers up to current spec for racing) then another stinking housing development.

Didn't mean to hijack the thread, but I really can't think of anything else that someone here hasn't already mentioned. A friend of mine at work from NYC (who is also an enthusiast, and claims that's part of the reason he wanted out ) often says that to most New Yorkers, a "car" is something yellow with a light on the roof.

friedgreencorrado wrote: to most New Yorkers, a "car" is something yellow with a light on the roof.

No, that's a cab. A "car" is black and the driver wears a uniform. :)

peter wrote:

friedgreencorrado wrote: to most New Yorkers, a "car" is something yellow with a light on the roof.

No, that's a cab. A "car" is black and the driver wears a uniform. :)

ROFL! I stand corrected, sir. Thank you.

Drive alll the way out to Bridge Lane, Bridgehampton.

Make a right on Ocean Dr

Make a right on Sagaponack Rd

Another on Sagg(aponack) Main st

And back onto Bridge lane.

And you just traced the course of one of the Vanderbuilt cup races, one of the first race programs in America.

Sadly, you can't catch air off the bridge anymore like they did back then...

Then go to Riverhead Raceway. A little 1/4 mile oval. Nothing special, but its the last track on Long Island, Where there used to be 50+

NY is NOT auto frendly what so ever.

If you have a car, Go drive the Palisades to 9W north onto 218 north, Which is the Storm King Highway. It goes past West Point, and is an Excellent ride.

If you want look at a map and find 7 Lakes Drive. It hooks up with the route to Storm King, and is also a excelent ride.

Fried- I am still planning on scoping out whats left of the bridge. Just wating for time to come together...

BobOfTheFuture wrote: Fried- I am still planning on scoping out whats left of the bridge. Just wating for time to come together...

Cool! I'm just really curious about how the locals feel about the place. I found an old article (2002!) talking about how some may have changed their mind.

http://www.september8th.com/news_bridge1.htm

I'm wondering if there's still some sentiment for it, or if the feeling's worn off in the past 8 years.