Vanderbilt Cup Races

1. Harriet Quimby
2. Matilde Moisant

Moisant Aviation School, Garden City, about 1911. The Garden City Lodge was built in 1911. Not sure if it was built yet to appear in this sketch, or purposely left out.

https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/first-american-women-flight

From Mystery Friday Foto #25 Solved: The Moisant School for Aviators

Wow Brian! Great memory you’ve got there! It was my Grandfather who did indeed work for Sperry as a gyroscope engineer. I wondered the same thing when I read that, but sadly, there’s no way to confirm it now as both are gone.

I’ve met Bill a few times, most recently, about 4 years ago when he came to the waterfront to meet up with Howard and myself when we had uncovered some Camp Mills blueprints we wanted to give him. A nicer guy you would not meet! He will be missed. R.I.P. Bill.

https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/greg_os_garage_newly_discovered_blueprints_of_camp_mills

From Sad News: Garden City News 6/18/26: William A. Bellmer: The Engineer Who Preserved a Village’s Memory

I also didn’t personally know Mr. Bellmer. Wow, he’s been a resident of Garden City for 85 years. I always looked forward to his shared knowledge here. We’ve a good group of minds here. He worked for Sperry. Recall Greg O. mentioning his father worked at Sperry. Possible that they knew of each other. May Mr. Bellmer RIP.

From Sad News: Garden City News 6/18/26: William A. Bellmer: The Engineer Who Preserved a Village’s Memory

Greg, The drawing is from 1911. It had to do with the appearance of the Moisant Aviation School at Roosevelt Field later that year. Founded by Alfred Moisant. the odd configuration of the the runways was due to Moisant had initially planned circular runways but that did not happen. Thats a pretty good picture of the Motor Parkway over Clinton Ave. at the bottom of the drawing. The first woman to receive a pilot license in the U.S. was Harriet Quimby who learned to fly at this field as did the second woman, Matilde Moisant. both in 1911. Harriet Quimby was first connected to the Vanderbilt Cup Races in 1906.

From Mystery Friday Foto #25 Solved: The Moisant School for Aviators

Not certain on this but here goes:
The concept drawing and year: Moisant School of Aviation, 1911
The Aviator behind the project: John B. Moisant, possibly brother Alfred
Any roads. Is the Motor Parkway in the drawing?: lower portion
First Female Aviator: Harriet Quimby: rode a Vanderbilt Cup Racer prior to the 1906 race

From Mystery Friday Foto #25 Solved: The Moisant School for Aviators

Concept drawing for Moisant Aviation school by John Moisant?
1911 was when the school opened.
I believe we are looking over Garden City/ Roosevelt field at the Old Country Road and Clinton road intersection on the left. The motor parkway is on the right, crossing over Clinton road.
The first female to receive a pilot’s license was Harriet Quimby, who after riding in a Vanderbilt Cup racer wrote an article about her experience in the magazine Leslie’s Illustrated weekly

From Mystery Friday Foto #25 Solved: The Moisant School for Aviators

That drawing was done by Vernon Howe Bailey in 1910 as a proposal for an oval runway in conjunction with the Moisant Aviation School. It was probably at the request of Alfred Moisant, the aviator behind the school. The LIMP runs from lower left to upper right with its curved bridge over Clinton Road. It’s posible that the black line running parallel to the LIMP on the right could be Stewart Avenue. Having learned to fly at the school, the first two women to receive a pilot’s license in the U.S. were Harriet Quimby (first) and Matilde Moisant (second), sister of Alfred.

From Mystery Friday Foto #25 Solved: The Moisant School for Aviators

I’ll take a stab at it and say its the Long Island Aviation Country Club. It was an exclusive private flying club that operated from 1929 to 1948 in what is now Levittown. I think Charles Lindbergh was a member and could have had something to do with its founding. One of the roads running top to bottom could be the Motor Parkway since it was adjacent to the field. Maybe Jerusalem Ave crossing under in the foreground?

From Mystery Friday Foto #25 Solved: The Moisant School for Aviators

I did not know Bill well, met him soon after he took on being the Garden City historian after my close friend Vincent Seyfried left that position. Vin and I were active in the Long Island Historians group and attended meetings together as I was (still continue to be) the historian for the Village of Floral Park.  It was grand that Bill was able to digitize the Garden City collection as well as Vin Seyfreid’s post car collection. Thank you, Bill, for all your effort.

From Sad News: Garden City News 6/18/26: William A. Bellmer: The Engineer Who Preserved a Village’s Memory

Mark - my taxes are about 1/3 of what they were on Long Island.  Other costs are about the same, however.  Getting too crowded down here, but lots of places to explore.  Just have to be careful of the bears and bobcats, and alligators!

From Update: The history of the promised restoration of the Long Island Motor Parkway by the Village of Garden City

Condolences to the entire Bellmer family.  I may not have personally met Bill, but I am certain I’ve come across his research through the years.  And surely his research has helped many others trying to answer questions pertaining to the Motor Parkway and Vanderbilt Cup Races.  The Garden City News truly portrayed the life of a Gentlemen and a Scholar!  Thank you Bill!

From Sad News: Garden City News 6/18/26: William A. Bellmer: The Engineer Who Preserved a Village’s Memory

First woman in the US to get a pilot’s license was Harriet Quimby. She trained at the Moisant Aviation School, founded by aviator John Moisant. Drawing has to be 1910 or before, since Moisant was killed in a crash in 1910. That looks like the Motor Parkway (curved road at bottom) and Clinton Road (straight road at bottom). Harriet Quimby covered the 1906 VCR as a journalist, and she got to ride in one of the race cars during a test run.

From Mystery Friday Foto #25 Solved: The Moisant School for Aviators

...one more

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series:#15 The Smith Farmway Bridge in Lake Success(Update: 4/1/20)

Al, you are precisely correct. The snapshots below show I.U. Willets Rd as it appeared in 1926 before NSP/LIE construction

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series:#15 The Smith Farmway Bridge in Lake Success(Update: 4/1/20)

It was so great to have so many of you come out and support one of my favorite causes. It was great to spend time together just like the old days. I look forward to seeing you at our next meeting. Thank you so much.

From The 1909 Alco Black Beast Attends the Lake Ronkonkoma Serviceman's Memorial Parade

I own a 1915 Harley-Davidson race car run at the PPIE. Its the only known survivor of the 10 racing cars built. Sold to Charles Howard of Seabiscuit fame. For sale @ 3.5 M
John King
707-696-7023
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

From San Francisco’s 1915 World’s Fair and the Dawn of Championship Auto Racing

Frank, I was under the impression that Hollow Lane, off of New Hyde Park Rd. just north of the Northern State Pky. was originally part of the I.U. Willets Rd. and extended to what today is the North Service Rd of the L.I.E.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series:#15 The Smith Farmway Bridge in Lake Success(Update: 4/1/20)

Tom Walsh - excellent observation. I.U. Willets Rd traveled north from the Smith farmway bridge. Attached is a map showing proximity of the two. That abandoned HS road is very interesting.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series:#15 The Smith Farmway Bridge in Lake Success(Update: 4/1/20)

Great site. Regarding the Smith Farmway Bridge on the Great Neck South school grounds: are you certain it was not about 450 feet further east?  On the LIE South Service Road, immediately after the easternmost driveway to the school, but before the One Hollow Lane office building, there has long been an abandoned paved road. With a battered gate marked “No Trespassing N.Y. State” it heads south past a couple of ponds and appears to intersect with LIMP towards the east end of the school’s football field. I have long speculated that this is a remnant of I.U. Willets Road which was long cut off by the Parkway and New Hyde Park Road. But now maybe it was the Smith Farmway. Can you cast some light on this phantom road?

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series:#15 The Smith Farmway Bridge in Lake Success(Update: 4/1/20)

Willie Vanderbilts Deepdale estate in Lake Success/ Great Neck.
Looking south east. You can see the LIMP and Marcus Avenue bridge
Picture taken in 1920- 1940s?
Yes, part of it is still standing and is a private residence.

From Mystery Friday Foto #24 Solved: William K. Vanderbilt Jr.'s Deepdale Estate