Vanderbilt Cup Races

The photographer was over East Garden City looking northwest towards Mineola. In the center is the Roosevelt Field Shopping Center with the recently completed Meadowbrook Parkway to its right. Other points of interest are: remnants of the Meadow Brook Club polo fields; freight cars along the LIRR Central Branch; various Mitchel Field structures south of Stewart Avenue; possible remnants of the old golf course along Clinton Road; and maybe a few hangars left over from Roosevelt Field (airport) along Old Country Road. Since Meadowbrook Parkway looks completed but there are no cars on it and it officially opened on October 13, 1956 and Macy’s (grand opening August 22, 1956) appears to have customers’ cars parked in its lot, the date of the photo is probably between those two dates. LIMP structures still intact at this time were the bridge over the LIRR Mainline, the Old Country Road bridge, Garden City Lodge & adjacent office building, several roadway segments and possibly the Roosevelt Field access bridge from Stewart Ave. As to the mystery car, I’m not sure but it could be a 1938 or 1939 Delahaye type 165 (replica?). I do know where the photo was taken: at McCall’s Motorworks Revival 25th. anniversary exhibit at the Monterey Jet Center in California, probably last Wednesday or Thursday (partial credit?).

From Mystery Foto #34 Solved: Newly Opened Roosevelt Field Shopping Center on October 3, 1956

This is great. Congrats Howard. Well deserved. You work very hard trying to preserve the wonderful LI history. People like you bring awareness to people like me and my son. And without people like Howard history just fades and disappears which is unacceptable. Thank you for all of your work.

From Newsday:On the trail of LI's lost history A grand statue,vintage cars-he's saving them from oblivion

We read this with joy and pride in a man we consider epic to our passions and interests. You were and will always be a hero to my son Gram who literally glows in your accomplishments.

From Newsday:On the trail of LI's lost history A grand statue,vintage cars-he's saving them from oblivion

Looking northwest at Roosevelt Field.
Meadowbrook Parkway Cloverleaf on right.
LILCO checkered silo on lower left.
Macy’s store at the new mall in center. Mall was “outdoor”.
Approximate date: 1956.
LIMP bridge to Roosevelt Raceway still there.
Automobile looks remarkably like a 1938 Hispano-Suiza
Also enjoyed the Newsday feature today on our favorite LI historian.

From Mystery Foto #34 Solved: Newly Opened Roosevelt Field Shopping Center on October 3, 1956

-Identify the location and orientation of the aerial
Newly-built Roosevelt Field Mall looking North West

-Identify the significant buildings and structures

-Based on clues in the photo, what was the approximate date of the aerial? Provide your rationale.
Mall is new/Meadowbrook still not open- October 3, 1956

-What Long Island Motor Parkway structures in the aerial were still intact on this date?
LIMP Office, Manager’s house, Garden City Lodge

-Bonus: Gary Monti and Bill Barto need your help in identifying the below unique automobile
Unsure of the car…

From Mystery Foto #34 Solved: Newly Opened Roosevelt Field Shopping Center on October 3, 1956

Just loved this story.  Best to date!

From Newsday:On the trail of LI's lost history A grand statue,vintage cars-he's saving them from oblivion

Thank you Howard for your help. Sharing history is the best part of discovering it!

From Frederick Gilbert Bourne- President of Singer Sewing Machine & a Long Island Motor Parkway Director

Great to see Newsday gave some well deserved recognition to Howard.  Hoping to see Howard at Pebble Beach Concourse d’ Ellegance today.

From Newsday:On the trail of LI's lost history A grand statue,vintage cars-he's saving them from oblivion

Excellent write-up Howard, and congratulations for the recognition of all your toils. It’s always nice to get good press!

TG

From Newsday:On the trail of LI's lost history A grand statue,vintage cars-he's saving them from oblivion

Roosevelt Field and environs looking north-northwest.  LILCO gas holder, General Bronze, LIMP Toll House and Super’s house, George Dade’s building at LIMP on northeast side of Old Country Road where I worked ca. 1960, original open RF Mall.  Girl Scout HQ not yet built.  First houses on Raymond Court.  RF hangars.  Mitchel housing.  LIRR spur to Arma.  Macy’s opened in 1956 and Gimbel’s in 1962 so between the two dates.  Both lodge and Super’s house still there then.  Too much eyestrain for more.  Figoni and Falaschi body on ca. 1938 Delahaye 135 an I mistake me not.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #34 Solved: Newly Opened Roosevelt Field Shopping Center on October 3, 1956

Ugly aside - La Salle had the iniquity of refusing admittance to Jewish students and other minorities (not that they ever admitted it, of course).  Sam, III

From Frederick Gilbert Bourne- President of Singer Sewing Machine & a Long Island Motor Parkway Director

Mystery Photo #34.
Looks like Roosevelt Field Mall, looking northward. Motor Parkway bridge crossing over Meadowbrook Parkway in the lower right hand corner of photo or that maybe a freight siding of the LIRR.
Not sure what oil company owned the large oil tank, but you can see the Long Island Railroad’s Central Extension right of way in the bottom of the picture.
Date of photo, looks like the early 1960’s?
One building on the bottom maybe a paper company served by the LIRR. or Double Day Publishers?
Neighborhood to the left of the photo with the curved streets is Mott Section.

From Mystery Foto #34 Solved: Newly Opened Roosevelt Field Shopping Center on October 3, 1956

Certainly is a familiar location and a unique car,which I have no idea what it is,but it does have a front grill like a Bagarrte,which I’ll check out and get back to ya.

From Mystery Foto #34 Solved: Newly Opened Roosevelt Field Shopping Center on October 3, 1956

Great memories for me on this one. As a kid it he early 70’s, LaSalle had a day camp in the summer. I was lucky enough to go and even as a little kid loved the old mansion.

From Frederick Gilbert Bourne- President of Singer Sewing Machine & a Long Island Motor Parkway Director

The Cup is massive…..big enough for a kegger, ice and all…...no doubt that one stood in the middle of a room as the centerpiece.  The ‘36, ‘37 Vanderbilt Cup needs a bit more loving…..it is part of the lineage and the break in time was worth study in auto design, speed and importance of technology and how much it had advanced since the dawn of speed.

From Tazio Nuvolari in Victory Lane After Winning the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I gave it a try and was getting nowhere,so I gave up,it was too complicated for me,I did come across some of the names said,but didn’t know who was who.

From Mystery Foto #33 Solved: Cornelius Vanderbilt IV, Donor of the 1960 Vanderbilt Cup Trophy

With a name like “Shinbone Alley”, I wanted to see if the path still existed. This road is now Shinbone La, Smithtown. Runs N/O Vanderbilt Motor Pkwy, and it’s just S/O Redleaf La. After viewing older maps of this area, Shinbone Alley use to continue well S/O the LIMP.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The 100 Planned Bridges Over & Under the Long Island Motor Parkway

Ed,
The license plate on the Oldsmobile is from 1910, the first year New York State issued license plates. That year the plates had white numbers and letters riveted on to a dark blue base. The 1911 and the 1912 plates were also undated. The 1912 plate had a porcelain-enamel finish, red background with white numbers and letters. 1913 was the first year New York issued dated plates.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Photos from the John E. Roosevelt Family Photo Album (1909-1910)

The photos from the Roosevelt family photo album are priceless showing racing how it was.  Thanks.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Photos from the John E. Roosevelt Family Photo Album (1909-1910)

Franz Heim in the Heimwagen, prior to the 1921 AVUS Rennen:
http://i66.tinypic.com/244tlyh.jpg

From Search: Information and Photos of Franz Heim. Submitted by Kurt Heim (January 9, 2015)