Vanderbilt Cup Races

From Gary Hammond:

Here’s my Hammond’s Historical Happenings on this photo:

The Long Island Aviation Country Club was officially dedicated on June 29, 1929 at Hicksville.  Forty aircraft would be kept at the field.  Although there wasn’t an “official” entrance from the LIMP to the LIACC, it doesn’t surprise me that an “unofficial” entrance might have existed.  With prominent aviation personalities such as Charles L. Lawrence and Chance Vought serving as President and Secretary-Treasurer, along with charter members such as Amelia Earhart, Charles A. Lindbergh, Major Alexander de Seversky, publisher James M. Patterson, his daughter Alicia Patterson, John Hays Whitney, Harry Guggenheim, and Grover Loening, one would believe that a few strings could be pulled to provide access to the Club from the LIMP, especially on special occasions!

Although the New York Times reported on June 29, 1929 that the U.S. Navy dirigible Los Angeles flown by Commander Charles E. Rosendahl , Chief of the lighter-than-air branch of the Naval Air Service, would fly up from Lakehurst, N.J., “and dip the giant ship over the club grounds”, I doubt that this photo was taken then.  Why?  The profile of the LTA (lighter than air) ship is probably not of a large rigid airship, such as the 658 ft. long dirigible Los Angeles, but that of a smaller non-rigid blimp, such as the 128 ft. Vigilant, which was christened on June 25, 1929, and crashed November 20, 1930.  Also the landscaping around the LIACC clubhouse seems “grown” and showing much wear – something which I doubt would have looked that way opening day.  Also notice the shape and proportion of the fins at the rear of the ship; more like a blimp (see photos).
Unless the photo is actually dated, I would guess the occasion shown took place a year later, on Sunday, June 8, 1930, when it was reported that 500 members of the LIACC attended an air meet at the field.  As reported in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle a number of the members were taken up for flights in the Goodyear blimp Vigilant, which had arrived from Aberdeen, Maryland.

This would not be the only time that a Goodyear blimp would stop and call Long Island home in the early 1930’s.  The following year the Goodyear blimp Columbia spent the fall of 1931 cruising around N.Y.C. and L.I., and taking up passengers.  It was first listed on September 20, 1931 as being based at Grand Central Air Terminal (aka Holmes Airport), Jackson Heights, Queens (opened March 16, 1929).  Among the times specifically mentioned when Nassau residents might have seen the blimp flying close by was on Saturday, October 17th, when a “Great Four-Field Flying Circus” took place between Floyd-Bennett Field (Brooklyn) / Roosevelt Field / Curtiss-Wright Field (Valley Stream) / and Glenn Curtiss Field (aka North Beach, Jackson Heights, Queens).  It could have been seen again on December 21, 1931, when the Columbia visited Roosevelt Field.  Unfortunately, on Saturday, February 13, 1932, the blimp crashed, ending its L.I. visit.

I’ve attached 3 images I got off the web:
• comparison size and shapes of USN airships, including the Los Angeles and a blimp (lower image)
• the Goodyear Blimp Vigilant
• and a Goodyear blimp at Holmes airport (see Abandoned & Little- Known Airfields)

Hope I’m right,

Gary Hammond

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: Motor Parkway Parking Space Adjacent to Long Island Aviation Country Club

Hello all. This isn’t as difficult as last weeks mystery, but I’m not so sure of my proposed answer. I believe this aerial photo was taken after the LIMPS closing. I’m assuming the aviation club modified the guardrails on the north and south side of the LIMP with a “swinggate” so the members could access the club property. It also appears that the guard rails don’t continue west and east of each swinggate? While perusing thru the AIRFIELDS-FREEMAN website, there is a paragraph mentioning a “stratosphere laboratory plane & good year blimps” attracting crowds in The Long Island Aviation Club property. The shadow of a blimp is obvious in the mystery photo, and I read that airships are ideal for aerial photography because of their relative slowness. Photo date 1939. I have don’t have an answer for the homebase or operator of the dirigible. You really do find some great photos, Frank.

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: Motor Parkway Parking Space Adjacent to Long Island Aviation Country Club

Since Willie K. directed that no Motor Parkway entrance to the airfield be permitted, the entrance may have been made after the closing of the parkway.  Documentation also points to the airfield having 3 Goodyear blimps in 1939, so I’ll guess that to be the year.

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: Motor Parkway Parking Space Adjacent to Long Island Aviation Country Club

Willie K opposed to LIACC access from the parkway, but here we are, BUSTED! Everyone caught red-handed and all license plates recorded on camera. Send in the paddy wagon. Originally, I didn’t think of a ‘special day’ but that makes more sense. I have a hunch the blimp’s presence could be for opening day at the 1939 World’s Fair in Flushing Meadow’s Park’s Valley of the Ashes, one year after the Motor Parkway closed.  The LIACC airfield could’ve been used as a refueling station for the blimp. The field was large enough and accommodating.
Two unresolved problems with this theory;
1. Why not use the original airport road for access from Jerusalem Rd instead?
2. The missing tennis court adjacent to the country club building shows no sign of demolition. The grass appears greener than ever. Could this photo been taken at LIACC’s opening in 1929, before the tennis court installation, and the Motor Parkway still open for business? Nah, I’m going with my first theory

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: Motor Parkway Parking Space Adjacent to Long Island Aviation Country Club

Sorry to chime in so late - missed this one.  That’s no Dodge; Dodge radiator shells did not “dip” in the top middle, under the badge.  Model A Fords did but that’s no A.  The badge appears to be that of a Chevy; 1927 Chevys had that dip!  Your so-called Chevy appears to have a Buick badge.  The actual key to the ID is the distinctive small notch in the shell/hood edge, like Packard or Chrysler Imperial 80 or Star, but far smaller.  I do believe we have a 1925 Buick there.  Unrelated to the cars, my Dad watched a huge stone RC church being picked up bodily, swung around 180°, and moved northwest across Hoffman/Queens Blvd. in that general area ca. 1914.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #14 Solved: A Motor Parkway Sign at Queens Boulevard and Grand Avenue Circa 1928

Just for comparison, the Nassau County 1926/1950/2000 aerial photos are at http://sbiii.com/limpnaer.html and my original 2005 proposal for the LIMP Row trail is at http://sbiii.com/limpncpk.html .  Sprague had it easy!  Sam, III

From The 1944 Proposal for "A Nassau County Park at Salisbury" in East Meadow

Second thought - Goodyear blimp that overflew 1939-40 World’s Fair?  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: Motor Parkway Parking Space Adjacent to Long Island Aviation Country Club

Oops!  Wrong link - the entrance image is on my Central Nassau page, http://www.sbiii.com/limpcnas.html, which IS posted.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: Motor Parkway Parking Space Adjacent to Long Island Aviation Country Club

The dedication was on 18 May 2003 - I vas dere, Cholly!  Much more at <http://sbiii.com/limpopen.html#wpkmarkr>, half way down at “Williston Park Marker”.  Sam, III

From Thursday's Presentation:“My Hunt for the Vanderbilt Cup Races & the Long Island Motor Parkway"

Well it looks like it’s time for a few more educated guesses. For several years in the late 1930’s, the L I Aviation Country Club held an annual airshow where airplane manufacturers were invited to show off their latest planes. Three Goodyear blimps were reported to have attended the 1939 show, one of which could have been the"Mayflower”, piloted by Jack Boettner. Today’s photo could have been taken from the “Mayflower” showing its own shadow. If it is the “Mayflower”, its home base was New Bedford, MA and St. Petersburg, FL. If the photo was taken in 1939, the LIMP had already closed by that time so the L I Aviation Country Club might have been using the roadway (illegally?) as an easy access from Jerusalem Ave.

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: Motor Parkway Parking Space Adjacent to Long Island Aviation Country Club

HA!  I *KNEW* I’d seen that entrance before; it was posted on my site on a page I have yet to restore http://sbiii.com/limpwnas.html - Western Nassau - I’ll do it and page 2 now) and is credited to some guy named H. Kroplick, http://sbiii.com/limppix/rff-limp.jpg !  Near-total recall triumphs yet again.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: Motor Parkway Parking Space Adjacent to Long Island Aviation Country Club

I said I was going to get back to this. I see two possible entrances,one on side and the other on other side of motor parkway. One at the left upper,the other at the center on the other side,they both have openings

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: Motor Parkway Parking Space Adjacent to Long Island Aviation Country Club

WOW, indeed!  You must be thrilled!  Best detail on the mounting of the twin spares I recall seeing.  Thanks, Brandon!  O.K., HK, before and after - are any of those houses in Hicksville still around?  Sam, III

From Amazing Photos of the Alco Black Beast During the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

August 1939, a huge air show featuring 3 Goodyear blimps, aircraft and both invited and uninvited guests.  The LIMP had closed two years before but the roadway was still there and there looks to be a path between it and the rear of the Clubhouse.

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: Motor Parkway Parking Space Adjacent to Long Island Aviation Country Club

You’re right about that Rogerj

From Amazing Photos of the Alco Black Beast During the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

You’re right about that Frank,are they bicycles or motorcycles and why are they their? Good for mystery weekend. Bicycle would’nt be very practible.

From Amazing Photos of the Alco Black Beast During the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

The cars in the photos the one on the left is a 1928 Buick, the car on the right is a 1925 Chevrolet, Superior, Series K, coach. I have a photo of that exact car.

From Mystery Foto #14 Solved: A Motor Parkway Sign at Queens Boulevard and Grand Avenue Circa 1928

Howard,
Wow, how fortunate that those terrific photos of the Black Beast are available.  They’re incredibly sharp for their age.  I really enjoyed them.  Thanks for posting them.
Rog

From Amazing Photos of the Alco Black Beast During the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Always knew there was an entrance there but now can’t remember why.  Instantly thought it had to be the R34 coming in to land at Mineola on 06 Jul 1919 but the cars appear to be of a later date, say 1928-30.  Also, the shadow, although it may well be foreshortened, looks far more like a blimp (Type B, limp) than a rigid airship (dirigible); the fins are far to big in proportion to the gasbag.  Good one, Howard; I look forward to the denouement.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: Motor Parkway Parking Space Adjacent to Long Island Aviation Country Club

Could be a US Navy blimp from Lakehurst NJ

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: Motor Parkway Parking Space Adjacent to Long Island Aviation Country Club