Vanderbilt Cup Races

This appears to be in Levittown.  This could mean our favorite pavement is hiding under the surface.  All three races using the LIMP passed this location.
-joe

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: A Long Island Motor Parkway Footprint East of Jerusalem Avenue In Levittown

Polaris ball field in Levittown/Hempstead Plains/Island Trees. Similar footprints nearby in New Polaris field one block to the east, and at Laurel Lane elementary school 3? blocks to the west.  I’m confident the Motor Parkway is just under that layer of grass, better preserved than at the school, where it’s slightly exposed and crumbling away. The 1908-10 Vanderbilt Cup Races once roared through here with thousands of spectators attending, flooding the roadsides and bridges for a close look. Those who could afford it were lucky to have a seat at the nearby grandstand, after walking through a muddy field from the train

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: A Long Island Motor Parkway Footprint East of Jerusalem Avenue In Levittown

Levittown, site of the Grandstand and Pressbox by Orchid and Crocus Street is my guess, home of the 1908 1909 and 1910 races. Other footprints are numerous. I like to hike around Dead Man’s Curve and explore behind Roosevelt Field.

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: A Long Island Motor Parkway Footprint East of Jerusalem Avenue In Levittown

I think the photo was taken in Levittown in the area surrounded by Crocus & Skimmer Lanes, Orchid & Blacksmith Roads. The 1908, 1909, & 1910 races all ran through this section. I think the LIMP road surface is just slightly below the grass thus not allowing for a substantial root system to develop causing a difference in coloration. Two other “footprint” areas that come to mind are just north of deadman’s curve near Sophia Street and in the vicinity of Maxxess Road.

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: A Long Island Motor Parkway Footprint East of Jerusalem Avenue In Levittown

What abouT the fiberglass full size Tucker reproduction with a 71 ford engine, chassis and front seat. One is in Yespilanti mi. Musuem but I believe three are out there somewhere.

From Hemmings Motor News: "Tuckered Out- Here are all the Tuckers on public display in the U.S."

Levittown
Jerusalem Avenue looking east near Orchid Rd.
1908-1910 races passed this way.
Footprints would indicate the presence of pavement underground.
Other similar footprints are directly west along an undeveloped path between houses almost to Newbridge Road.

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: A Long Island Motor Parkway Footprint East of Jerusalem Avenue In Levittown

Glad the weather held out!

From Three Long Island Clubs and Three Tuckers Visit Tucker 1044 at Waterfront at Roslyn

levittown

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: A Long Island Motor Parkway Footprint East of Jerusalem Avenue In Levittown

Polaris Field near Jerusalem Avenue in Levittown.  I’m recusing myself for the rest of this question to be fair.

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: A Long Island Motor Parkway Footprint East of Jerusalem Avenue In Levittown

Perhaps it’s best to say that the LIMP closed as a business on Easter Sunday 1938.
In an July 1st article, The New York Times reported that this last deed transfer was an outright gift from Lakeville Holding and Development and not surrendered in lieu of back taxes.
The World’s Fair roadway concept was a faint echo of Regional Plan Association’s unsuccessful proposal to use the LIMP as the backbone of a Queens to Farmingdale “freeway,” in its modern sense. The RPA had decried the piecemeal breakup of the LIMP, the last piece of which was this transfer.

From The Day the Long Island Motor Parkway in Nassau County Actually Closed

Hello All.
*Location:  Photo is facing east on Polaris Field between Jerusalem Ave and Drainage Basin.
*VCR races: 1908 & 1910
*Footprint Theory: The stretch of the LIMP from today’s Pintail La east thru Levittown was constructed in a manner to avoid road flooding, with drainage culverts situated thruout. At some point after the LIMP was closed, both sides of the parkway had to be filled in/leveled off to offset flooding problems for the Levitt homes. It appears there’s not enough topsoil on the old pavement. So the grass doesn’t green up nicely at these locations.
* Other Footprints: There may be footprints at:
                              * New Polaris Field e/o the Mystery Foto
                              * Laurel La School west to Crocus La
                              * Crocus La west to Drainage Basin.
                              * Skimmer La west to Heron La
                              * Heron La west to former School location ( Pintail La )

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: A Long Island Motor Parkway Footprint East of Jerusalem Avenue In Levittown

The correct spelling of the realty company’s owner was “Lannin”.

From A 1923 Property Map of Nassau County Highlighting the Motor Parkway

-Identify the location of this Motor Parkway footprint

Looking East from Jerusalem Ave at the outfield of the Polaris Drive ball field.

-Which Vanderbilt Cup Races were held on this section?

1908, 1909, 1910

-What do you believe is the reason for the footprint?

Possibly due pavement remnants under the ground cover.

-Where are other Motor Parkway footprints?

The same can be found everywhere, but most notably in that area to the East and West (some seen to the East of Crocus Lane)

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: A Long Island Motor Parkway Footprint East of Jerusalem Avenue In Levittown

I beg to differ. The LIMP in Nassau is still there and open to all! Free of charge!

Go and explore and enjoy it. Nassau is the best section as so much of it is still “original” bringing you back in time.

From The Day the Long Island Motor Parkway in Nassau County Actually Closed

As neat looking the Clinton Rd overpass was, I probably would have chose to drive thru the East and West openings of the bridge. You would be off the roadway, but there looks to be more room on each side than the middle opening. The bridge was built well, but the middle opening looks narrow.

From The Day the Long Island Motor Parkway in Nassau County Actually Closed

Yes, push for the historic markers!
By the way Howard, I met you at the site when it was being constructed.
This one was too easy for me to reply.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: The Long island Motor Parkway Historic Site Kiosk in Bethpage State Park

It seems rate of population growth was unexpected, thus bringing quick improved changes to existing arterial roadways, disregarding historical standings. This is where most of the LIMP remnants were lost. With toll free parkways now in use, it seemed irrelevant to save LIMP remnants, remnants that are now yearned today.

From The Day the Long Island Motor Parkway in Nassau County Actually Closed

The kiosk is located at the edge of the parking lot for the picnic grounds at Bethpage State Park for visitors and riders along the Bethpage Bikeway.

The kiosk was erected by the NYS Department of Transportation as part of its extension of the Bethpage bike path north along the old route of the Motor Parkway and through Trail View State Park.

The one and only Howard Kroplick.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: The Long island Motor Parkway Historic Site Kiosk in Bethpage State Park

Great pictures What a memorable day for all of you all to see the Tuckers and them to be their.                  “HAPPY MEMORIAL Day”

From Three Long Island Clubs and Three Tuckers Visit Tucker 1044 at Waterfront at Roslyn

Location also looks like the parking lot at Bethpage Park looking north, but the shadows don’t match. I’m sticking with Garden City looking west.

From Mystery Foto #21 Solved: The Long island Motor Parkway Historic Site Kiosk in Bethpage State Park