About
The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
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Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
One more Motor Parkway structure- the access from from the parkway to the viewing area for the Charles Lindbergh take off.
From Update2:Mystery Foto #29 Solved:A 1936 Aerial of Mitchel Field,Roosevelt Raceway & the Motor Parkway
Location and orientation of the photographer: Mitchel Field, Garden City, looking northeast
The major roads and railroad: Motor Parkway, Stewart Ave., Merrick Ave., LIRR
Central Branch
The housing complex: Mitchel Field/Gardens
The Motor Parkway structure(s): Roosevelt Field Highway Bridge, Merrick Ave. Bridge
What sport complex(es) can be seen in this aerial? Meadow Brook Polo/Golf Roosevelt Raceway, I don’t think the baseball diamond would qualify as a sports complex.
What is the date of the aerial? Provide a rationale. 1936, Roosevelt Raceway
Kudo question: Link the aerial to five Vanderbilt Cup Races. 1936/1937/1960 Races held there. For the 1960 race, “Old Sixteen” from the 1908 race did a preliminary lap. Still missing one.
From Update2:Mystery Foto #29 Solved:A 1936 Aerial of Mitchel Field,Roosevelt Raceway & the Motor Parkway
-Location and orientation of the photographer
Over Mitchel Air Force looking North Northeast
-The major roads and railroad line
Central RR line, Stewart Ave, LIMP
-The housing complex
Mitchel Air Force Base buildings
-The Motor Parkway structure(s)
Roosevelt Field highway bridge
-What sport complex(es) can be seen in this aerial?
Roosevelt Raceway, Meadowbrook Polo Club field
-What is the date of the aerial? Provide a rationale.
1936. The course looks to be the 1936 VCR course
-Kudo question: Link the aerial to five Vanderbilt Cup Races.
1908, 1909, 1910, 1936, 1937
From Update2:Mystery Foto #29 Solved:A 1936 Aerial of Mitchel Field,Roosevelt Raceway & the Motor Parkway
I own the 1903 Paris-Madrid.
I am considering disposing of some items. If anyone has an interest feel free to contact me.
ALF
From Helck Family Collection: Peter Helck's Illustrated Wagner Envelopes
From Mitchell Field, the current Nassau Community College looking NE. Stewart Ave, then the Motor Parkway run from left to right. The LIMP bridge at Roosevelt Field still stands. The red box shows the faint remnants of the road connector built for the 1908 VCR, to join Ellison Ave in Westbury with the LIMP. Looks like the race track used to revive the VCR’s of the 1930’s is peeking into the picture from the top.
From Update2:Mystery Foto #29 Solved:A 1936 Aerial of Mitchel Field,Roosevelt Raceway & the Motor Parkway
Update #2: Frank Mendyk added the above images of the historical marker.
From Update #3: Mystery Foto #28 Reveals Another Piece of Long Island History in Garden City
And now it runs!
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Howard Kroplick.
John, thanks. I appreciate your contributions to Tucker 1044!
From On the Road to Pebble: The Unique Tucker Cyclops Headlight
While I’m at it, the “Right Corner: Mayan Ruins Mo{to}r Parkway Bridge” photo clearly shows the rectangular features north of Osborne to which I referred and the large field to their east. What is that all about? Also, in the second close-up, “North of Oyster Bay LIRR:- Buildings of the Camp Mills Hospital Complex” probably should read “Between Old Country Road and the LIRR Main Line”. The OB Branch cuts off north further west in downtown Mineola (top center in main photo). Sam, III
From Update #3: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: A 1931 Aerial of the Motor Parkway in Garden City and Mineola
Art - I “happen” to remember; it was my first job back on LI after Aberdeen and was for Theiss, Inc., first in the Dade building basement, then Denton 2nd floor rear. Also, let’s be careful, lest we propagate another myth, to remember, all of you, that there NEVER WAS a bridge over Transverse Road; only the abutments, the so-called (by us, now) Mayan Ruins, were ever built and the depressed roadway was later filled in back up to grade. Sam, III
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Howard Kroplick I
Agree with Sam II, it was just a planned bridge that was never completed.
From Update #3: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: A 1931 Aerial of the Motor Parkway in Garden City and Mineola
Update #1: Bill Bellmer explains why this area was, and still is, referred to as Mineola when it is in Garden City.
From Update #3: Mystery Foto #28 Reveals Another Piece of Long Island History in Garden City
Update #3: Close-ups of the Old Country Road Motor Parkway Bridge, LIRR Mainline Bridge and Mayan Ruins Motor Parkway Bridge added above.
From Update #3: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: A 1931 Aerial of the Motor Parkway in Garden City and Mineola
Sorry I missed this but this aerial also displays the sharpest view to date of the Old Country Road highway bridge and the Mineola RR bridge. Howard, would love to see these zoomed by your methods. Nice aerial shot.
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Howard Kroplick
Close-ups added above.
From Update #3: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: A 1931 Aerial of the Motor Parkway in Garden City and Mineola
Great Job, Bill Bellmer
From Update #3: Mystery Foto #28 Reveals Another Piece of Long Island History in Garden City
Howard,
Any chance you could make a high quality available for download? I’m collecting early Mott aerials for a photo collage of the area and would love to add this to my wall. Dave
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Dave,
I sent you a high resolution jpeg courtesy of Richard Panchyk.
From Update #3: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: A 1931 Aerial of the Motor Parkway in Garden City and Mineola
Interesting info. Never knew there was a spur that extended east from the past Mineola-Hempstead branch. Obviously for coal delivery to the power house. Guess the local farmers made no waste utilizing the refuse for composting and possibly feed for the livestock.
From Update #3: Mystery Foto #28 Reveals Another Piece of Long Island History in Garden City
I’m not knowledgeable concerning any classic automobile. The front end makes me think of the Batmobile for whatever reason.
Silly question perhaps, but what is the purpose of a headlight that only switches on when steering left or right? I guess the headlight will also activate either with a switch or upon low light/darkness?
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Howard Kroplick
Brian, the middle headlight was designed to light up curves on turns.
From On the Road to Pebble: The Unique Tucker Cyclops Headlight
I had family in from out of town and had to miss the event. Looks like it was a great educational day. With only 4 or 5 years before I retire, I’m looking to get more involved in volunteering in historical preservation activities. Please pass along any similar events or any other historical preservation organizations in Nassau county in need of a volunteer.
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Howard Kroplick
Victor, thanks you are now a proud member of the Long Island Motor Parkway preservation Society which entitles you to all the preservation efforts. Welcome!!
From Update #1: Seven Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Members Help to Preserve a Town Landmark
Camp Mills? NO. Camp Mills was east of Clinton and south of the LIRR Central Branch tracks; see <https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Camp_mills_new_york.jpg>. There’s a monument to the Rainbow Division (the 42nd) at St James Street and Rainbow Place (the triangle at Clinton) across from the site of Camp Mills. I asked about the same area, above. Sam, III
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Howard Kroplick
Garden City Village Historian Bill Bellmer has confirmed that the remnants of the Camp Mill Hospital Complex can be seen in the middle of both the 1926 and 1931 aerials. More documentation to follow.
From Update #3: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: A 1931 Aerial of the Motor Parkway in Garden City and Mineola
sam - would you happen to remember who you worked for in the Denton Building?
From Update #3: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: A 1931 Aerial of the Motor Parkway in Garden City and Mineola
1926 aerial of the Mineola Fair and Clinton Road Motor Parkway Bridge added above.
From Update #3: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: A 1931 Aerial of the Motor Parkway in Garden City and Mineola
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