Vanderbilt Cup Races

Joe Oesterle - The 4 sec film clip is attached as a still frame pic. This pic shows strong evidence as the mystery solution, that continues to lean towards Greg Oriero. The main feature of the pic (besides the curve) is the Wheeler farmway bridge #2. I can’t yet confirm this bridge was built on a LIMP slope (as shown in the mystery pic), but if it does, this location would be best candidate thus far, with supporting evidence to boot!.  Anyone with quick access to this location can respond and let us all know. Love the detective work by all, thanks.

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

Another location may be where the LIMP was due north, then curved east across Bagatelle Rd ( Conklin Ave ). If so, then S/O the photo we would see Conklin and the LIMP side by side. But Conklin veers to the east just before the LIMP makes the easterly curve across the unseen Conklin Ave. I’ll need to peruse thru Art Kleiners LIMP site, knowing that he’s hiked around here.

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

Being that I live nearby, making a little field trip and taking some photos of the few locations in Suffolk County is in order. After printing out the 2 close ups, there’s a long hill in the upper right of 1 of the closeups. Area of Dix Hills has highs and lows regarding the terrain.

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

To add to my earlier comment.  My first reaction was Queens.
Why?  Those guardrails look so familiar.  Just like the ones just east of Winchester.
Especially on the pictures regarding building the 2nd bridge.
I am more convinced Greg O. had it right. 
-joe oesterle

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

I stared at this one for a while, and never posted.
But now I am ready to add what I see.
I am leaning with the West of Winchester pick. 
If you look only 4 seconds into the WC Fields Video, you can freeze it atop the Winchester original bridge looking west.  The scene sure makes me curious.
Notice, there almost seems to be a path where fence starts, just prior to the bend to the right.  The same seems to appear just beyond Waldo.  However, it is not as pronounced.  In my opinion, due to the fact we do not have the same downward angle as the view in the film from atop the bridge.
If we were to have “an envelope please” moment, then no doubt, this would be my pick.
I hope someone reads this and responds.
-joe oesterle

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

Pure guess as there are about five locations with turns like this that it could be. I really doubt think it’s Queens and I’m pretty sure it’s not deadmans curve.

My guess is we are looking east over Roslyn road just over Robbins lane bridge and entering what is now the Wheatley hills golf course.

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

Nassau County, Bethpage, Plainview Road.  Curve.

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

I’ll be there with Judy.  Can’t wait to see this exciting presentation. 
Maybe next will be a Vanderbilt Cup Races re-enactment… similar to many of the historical presentations in places such as Williamsburg, Gettysburg, Valley Forge, etc.

From Vanderbilt Cup Races Featured at the 2017 New York International Auto Show from April 14-23

Where did you find this stuff? Fantastic news of the Motor Parkway during its initial development. Blackwell Island is Roosevelt Island. There were unanticipated problems yet to come in the parkway’s design. A great historic piece in Long Island history that later served to develop better roadways throughout the city and suburbs.

From A.R. Pardington: "The Modern Appian Way for the Motorist"- The 1907 Pitch for the Motor Parkway

Howard,
That’s fantastic!  I’ll look for you at the show.  Congrats.
Roger

From Vanderbilt Cup Races Featured at the 2017 New York International Auto Show from April 14-23

First off, it’s not anywhere in the world; it’s on Long Island.  Second, it looks so familiar but could be almost anywhere along the LIMP RoW; I’d vote for the Bethpage area or further east - cedar posts and no widening strips.  The long straightaway with a gentle right curve rising beyond should be the give-away, not Wayne’s “overcrowded” map.  It could just as easily be in Queens looking east from Rocky Hill Road (Springfield Boulevard) towards Alley Pond.  That first close-up is a fraud, a Photoshop jobbie with a color insert!  The car appears to be a Model A coupé (on the LIMP? - HORRORS!); if so, it is 1927 or later.  More than that deponent sayeth not.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

Now that was a pitch if ever there were a pitch !!

From A.R. Pardington: "The Modern Appian Way for the Motorist"- The 1907 Pitch for the Motor Parkway

Incredible find….

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Vanderbilt Cup Race Scrapbook Discovered in Garden City

Very interesting story and find….Enjoy it…

From Tucker 1044 Featured in Newsday's "In The Garage"

Not much to go by here so it will have to be wild guess time. There appears to be a shadow near the right-rear of the car which might indicate we’re looking in a westerly direction. So, if this is true, where is there a 90 degree turn to the north with trees in the background and fields on either side of the parkway? Could this be looking towards the Fresh Meadows area of Queens with the 73rd. Avenue bridge off to the right out of view and the Hollis Court Blvd. bridge behind the photographer? ( future site of Cunningham Park?)  It doesn’t look like the three foot concrete extensions have been added yet, so I’ll guess about 1927-28 for the date.

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

Mystery Foto #12 ... Could it be the Caroussel turn at Nürburgring… I doubt it but since there are about 80 different possibilities depending on the direction of travel I will go out on a limb and say east bound on LIMP east of Dix Hills Park where LIMP bends right between McCullock Drive and East McLane Drive close to present day Northern State Parkway. Or perhaps Big Bend at Lime Rock… Would you believe the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca? Based on the auto in the photo I would say the photo date is in the 1920’s.

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

There’s something about the trees and terrain that says Queens to me. The curve and tree line look like they match the area just to the West of Winchester Blvd. The photographer would be standing on the west embankment of the Wheeler Farmway bridge looking West. The tree line would be where the Grand Central Pkwy is now.

Waldo’s car looks like a 1920’s vintage, so guess on the date would be 1928/29.

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

It would be nice to see some scale architectual models of some of the bridges, lodges and roadhouses of the Long Island Motor Parkway displayed at the upcomming NY Automoble Show with an included wall map that lights up the location.

From Vanderbilt Cup Races Featured at the 2017 New York International Auto Show from April 14-23

A few hints here. A long descending straightaway to the bottom of the hill (where the car is parked), that then begins to ascend just before an almost 90 degree right curve, amidst more hilly terrain. Best guess it’s Central Islip, Suffolk County. If correct, we’re heading east on the Motor Parkway, where the bottom of the hill is today’s Milford Drive. See attached.  This location includes all the above hints. Around 1930s based on the car

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

Can’t highlight racing New York without including The Vanderbilt Cup’s contribution. 
Might the sport return in some form soon?
Best of luck with your part in the exhibit.

From Vanderbilt Cup Races Featured at the 2017 New York International Auto Show from April 14-23