Vanderbilt Cup Races

I think the mystery photo shows Levittown, 90% completed, with the exception of the removal of the L.I. Country Club Airport’s clubhouse and double hangar, where the undeveloped backwards “L” can be seen. The Wantagh Parkway is running diagonally near trhe bottom right corner, and the traffic loops are for the entrance and exit of Hempstead Turnpike.  I can’t pick out any large structures other than the hangar.  If I’m correct, the wide thoroughfare at the bottom and to the right of the “L” would be Orchard Road, and the barely visible skinny white line to the left of it would be all that was left of the old Vanderbilt Raceway roadway (that had become the Motor Parkway).  My guess is that the photo would was taken in 1950, looking east.  (I humbly bow to anyone who says I’m all wet.)  I always thought that after Mr. Levitt constructed the first portion of Levittown, he bought the airport property and immediately bulldozed the clubhouse and hangar before completing construction of the streets and houses on its site, as well as developing the area to its east (top) north (left) and west (bottom).  If my photo identification is correct, he left the airport structures standing until the very end of the process.  A great photo! Where was it found?

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: An Aerial of East Meadow and Levittown Circa 1949

Is it just me or does this seem to have been one of the worst ideas EVER. Dank, dark and dirty doesn’t even begin to describe the mess that would have resulted.

From The Union Turnpike/Long Island Motor Parkway Pedestrian Underpass

Nice sign, guys!  Three weeks ago I submitted my application to the Town of Hempstead Landmarks Commission for a sign to mark the location—in what is now Levittown— of the L.I. Country Club Airport.  Guy Ferrara, pres. of the Valley Stream Historical Society, said it’s a long process and that I just have to sit and wait for some sort of reply.  (In 2005 Guy was successful in having the Town of Hempstead erect a sign to mark the location of Curtiss Airfield and he filled me in.)

From Vanderbilt Cup Race Historical Marker Installed on Jericho Turnpike In Westbury

Levittown looking East Southeast. Hempstead Turnpike and remnants of the LIMP are seen slightly diagonal/vertical through the photo. Hempstead Turnpike used in the 1904 race and the LIMP in the 1908-1910 races. Buildings of note would be the Long Island Aviation Club still standing. Judging by lack of trees, I’d place the date around 1949.

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: An Aerial of East Meadow and Levittown Circa 1949

Identify the aerial’s location and orientation: My current home town, Levittown, looking east.  Wantagh Parkway is on the lower right running from the photo’s right edge to the bottom edge.

Identify the roads in the aerials that were used for four Vanderbilt Cup Races:
Hempstead/Bethpage Turnpike (1904), Motor Parkway (1908, 1909, 1910)

Identify the large buildings in the aerial: Not sure if these count as large buildings nowadays, but the hanger and clubhouse of the LI Aviation Club and various shopping/village centers and pools erected by Levitt. 

What year was this aerial taken? Provide a rationale.  1947-1948
1) My house would be in the photo just east of Wantagh Parkway and west of Newbridge Road, but it wasn’t built until 1954/55 and not shown in the photo.  FYI - although now in Levittown my development was not part of Levitt’s land purchases - supposedly the farmers who owned the property did not want to sell to Levitt - and when it was actually built (area called Westbrook Park) it was part of East Meadow.
2) Back to the rationale - houses in the development just south of me (still east of the Wantagh Parkway) were built in 1948 but also aren’t shown. 
3) Levitt bought the property of the LI Aviation Club in 1948 and demolished it in 1949, but it is still showing in the photo. 
4) Homes just south of the Aviation Club were built in 1947/1948 and are shown in the photo.

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: An Aerial of East Meadow and Levittown Circa 1949

It looks as if additional documentation on the cars and their performance in the race may be found through the newspapers on the fulton history website at http://www.fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html using for the search the following terms—-

“nassau sweepstakes” mitchell 1908

From Did This Mitchell Racer Participate in the 1908 Nassau Sweepstakes?

From Sharon M:
Hi Howard,
Congratulations on your recent award!!! 
All the best!

From The Roslyn Times: Local historian wins award

Congratulations Howard.  You are clearly the most deserving of all.

From The Roslyn Times: Local historian wins award

The photo shows Levittown around 1947. The hanger and club house of the Long Island Aviation Club are in the pic. Of course the Motor parkway was used for the Vanderbilt Cup events.

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: An Aerial of East Meadow and Levittown Circa 1949

Levittown looking east I would say 1965, as the homes are intact north and south of Hempstead Tpk. Bordered by the Wantagh Parkway at the western side (bottom of picture) to 107 and Wantagh Avenue….But toward the top of the Picture has got to be the Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway, which places my logic toward the mid 1960s. Clearly you can see the LIRR ROW and the Motor Parkway bridge over Newbridge Road leading into Carnation drive in the area of the Old Grandstand and Pressbox. But I can also follow Wantagh Avenue south to North Jerusalem Road to the Southern State Pkwy maybe even beyond to Jerusalem Ave where the farm was. Also Upper left is the Old Grumman Airfield where Wantagh Ave Meets 107 and I also can see middle right of the picture Center Lane going south to Chase lane which lets out on Loring Road. Waaaay too much more to mention, but I bet its definitely the mid 60s because of the SOB expressway. Great Stuff !!

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: An Aerial of East Meadow and Levittown Circa 1949

Levittown.  Obviously after 1947.

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: An Aerial of East Meadow and Levittown Circa 1949

Another absolutely stunning car.  I’d never heard of WASP, but love what I see.  I do wonder if any others still exist.

From Mystery Auto Foto #40 Solved: A 1924 Wasp Touring Car Built in Bennington, Vermont

All nice, but the Studebaker is stunning!

From Highlights from the 10th Annual Hemmings Motor News Concours D'Elegance

Seeing the original pic that accompanied the link, my initial reaction was, “Doesn’t EVERYONE keep their tourer in their living room?”  Sam, III

From Mystery Auto Foto #40 Solved: A 1924 Wasp Touring Car Built in Bennington, Vermont

Hey, not a bad guess!  Been away but can’t resist this last tweak.  Ariejan might be wrong - a LIRR locomotive running light (no cars) is still a train if running under orders.  Also, may I point out that there WAS a crossing diamond sign AND a warning bell.  Clearly Fournier’s fault.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #39 Solved:The First Documented Automobile Railroad Crossing Accident in the USA Update

From Gary Hammond:

Hi Howard,
I remember first seeing this car about 30 years ago up at the Bennington Museum, Bennington, VT.  I was surprised to see it there amongst the museum’s great collections of pottery and Grandma Moses paintings.  Buried somewhere here at home, I have a slide or two that I took of it that day.  It’s a WASP, built in 1925.  It was a gift to the museum by Henry Dodge in 1982.  The star who bought a car was Douglas Fairbanks Sr.

Here’s the information provided on their website:
“It was designed and built by Karl Hamlin Martin (1888-1954) of Bennington, Vermont.  Model is Series B, body style, Rickshaw Victoria, vehicle identification #1.  Dark green body, off-white canvas top, chrome hood, red leather upholstery.
Karl Martin realized an ambition of long standing when he produced the first Wasp touring car. Even while serving in the Naval Aviation Department during World War I, Martin pursued automotive design work and after his discharge from the Navy in 1919, he moved to Bennington where he began construction of the first group of six cars.

The first Wasp, barely completed in time of National Automobile Week in New York, was exhibited at the Commodore Hotel in January, 1920. It was received by the public with enthusiasm for its startling and unusual design and fine craftsmanship. Douglas Fairbanks Sr., upon seeing the car, bought one on the spot.

Spectacular in appearance, the Wasp was constructed of the finest materials and components available. A Wisconsin T head engine, such as powered the Stutz with a Bosch ignition, powered the car. A chrome nickel, heat treated frame on Timkin axles combined with Rudge Whitworth wire wheels gave the car strength, stability and speed. For the 1924 season a Continental six-cylinder engine of greater power was combined with a four speed transmission with overdrive which, on the fourth Speed, gave the car quietness and smoothness at even higher speeds. The coachwork was crafted in Bennington under the careful, direct supervision of Karl Martin.

As a result of monetary problems and slow sales due to a post war business slump, the company failed and the last Wasp, now displayed in The Bennington Museum, was produced in 1925. Although the company lingered on, producing custom woodwork and special castings, its doors closed permanently in 1932, a sad end to Vermont’s first true automobile manufacturing company, the total production of which was only 16 cars. While only a small number when compared to the giants of the industry, it is quite creditable considering that many companies at the time produced only one or two cars.”

The museum’s website also shows the front and back of a stock certificate for the company, and mentions a brochure/booklet which is also in their archives that was issued by the company in 1920 promoting the car.  Also the museum’s collection includes some correspondence, five original color drawings of the car (I copied only one), unfinished headlights, and photos.

Two comments that I have that differs from your statement is that according to the museum the cars cost $5,000, not $5,500, and 16 cars were produced, not 12.  So which is right?

See the many attachments!!!!
Gary

From Mystery Auto Foto #40 Solved: A 1924 Wasp Touring Car Built in Bennington, Vermont

You always find or get things that we never knew about,when it comes to history,well that’s your job I guess,it makes life more interesting.Thanks for all this info and to the people who send it to you.

From John E. Roosevelt Family Photo Album: The 1909 Long Island Stock Car Derby

Mystery car is a Martin Wasp, built in Bennington, Vt. and housed in the Bennington Museum. This car is the rare 6 cylinder model from 1922 and may have been owned by the builder Karl Martin. Douglas Fairbanks bought one for his wife Mary Pickford . Best wishes, Bob

From Mystery Auto Foto #40 Solved: A 1924 Wasp Touring Car Built in Bennington, Vermont

$50,000

A massive fortune in those days.

Quel cochon!

From The First Documented Automobile Railroad Crossing Accident in the USA as Reported in France in 1901

Congratulations on your win Howard! Long island was represented well at the Hemmings Concours, and fellow Classic Car Club of America members Jerry Beard of Massapequa had his 1937 Lincoln V12 convertible victoria with body by Brunn there, and Joe Cannazzario of Seaford had his 1934 Lincoln V12 roadster with body by Dietrich there as well.

From Highlights from the 10th Annual Hemmings Motor News Concours D'Elegance