Vanderbilt Cup Races

From John Wevers

Is that Little East Neck Road?

From Mystery Foto #11 Solved: Taking a Stroll on the Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Bethpage

Frank—nope, we did the Queens to Melville tour again. Great day. I’ve been to the locations you mention. They are ok and worth seeing but it’s hardly a “journey” like our trip along the more historic route.

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” X: Battle Row Campground

Definitely Plainview Rd overpassing the LIMP here. Maybe it’s the image, but there seems to be quite a bit of sag in the transmission lines from the tower. Crash was worse enough, I hope the plane didn’t make an electrical contact.

From The Day an Airplane Crashed Near the Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge Updated 3/19/16

St Patricks Day parade soon to commence here in Lake Ronkonkoma! As far as this photo, I’m looking east on the LIMP with the Plainview Rd bridging north and south. Not quite sure when these transmission towers were initially erected, but I’ve seen the tower line here in some of your 1930ish images; Howard. So I’m guessing this image is in the early 1930’s. The tower that is seen appears to be in the approximate location of the present tower located near the curved access road into BSP.

From Mystery Foto #11 Solved: Taking a Stroll on the Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Bethpage

No clue but it sure looks like the same view as in the plane crash picture.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #11 Solved: Taking a Stroll on the Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Bethpage

Howard, this accident occurred near the same bridge in this week’s mystery photo. The plane carrying two servicemen hit the power lines by Central Park near Caroline Street. Brian McCarthy may have more information on this. If I recall correctly, I don’t believe anyone survived here. These photos by Tim Ivers are new to me.

From The Day an Airplane Crashed Near the Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge Updated 3/19/16

My guess would be the Plainview Road bridge looking east, about 1935. The LILCO power lines are noted on the right.

From Mystery Foto #11 Solved: Taking a Stroll on the Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Bethpage

Sam and Dave, this is exciting. I’m guessing you guys will be traveling east from the Maxess Rd bridge. If so, an area of interest is north of Colonial Springs Rd, where the LIMP bridge once crossed over (never visited there). Lots of open space here, and away from residential development. This area appearing swampy, could be tough to navigate. Hopefully will be fun. Best wishes on this adventure and looking forward to the updates. Have fun!

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” X: Battle Row Campground

Believe it or not, our second annual “Vanderbilt day” is upon us. We will be making the journey again tomorrow. If there are any locations that anyone feels needs further pics or investigation let me know today!

Don’t worry frank, the Caroline posts are on the list for more research.

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” X: Battle Row Campground

Because this is a parkway bridge and the bend in the road is to the right and then to the left, my guess is the Plainview Road bridge looking East.

The no parking bridge warnings were placed on the bridges in 1930, so for a guess on the photo I’ll go with the early 30’s (1930-35)

From Mystery Foto #11 Solved: Taking a Stroll on the Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Bethpage

Got my copy Howard.  Nice article!

From East Meadow Herald Cover Story: Racing through the Island's past

Didn’t have the time this weekend,am in the process of maybe makiing another move to The Villages in Florida,just driving down to check out renting and looking around to get an idea to what there’s to offer. Right now it very tempting,but it’s only the first day,need to see more to make that big decision

From Mystery Fotos #10 Solved: Road Testing the Motor Parkway During the Summer of 1908

I think the biggest kudos also need to go to Frank and Art for reading comprehension on this one!
It appears I misread the question looking for the location of the PHOTOGRAPHER and NOT the Packards sitting on the turn in the top cover photo! Funny too because in my mind I did notice that’s the location where the other photos were taken from!

Again, fun photo this week! And to have all the supporting photos for the reveal, very nice! For some reason I especially like the perspective of that 1936 aerial.

From Mystery Fotos #10 Solved: Road Testing the Motor Parkway During the Summer of 1908

Identify the location where these photos were taken. Provide a rationale and be specific (ie. between which current roads). Update: See below 1926 Motor Parkway aerials.
Hempstead Plains/Levittown - south of Bloomingdale Road between Wantagh & Jerusalem Avenues.

On what type of structure was the top photo taken? Hint: It was not a bridge.
Water tower

Identify the three automobiles in the photos.
Packards
 
What pioneering characteristics of the Motor Parkway are shown in the photos?
The width of the roadway for passing capabilities, banking of the road surface in curved sections

What is the approximate date of photos? Provide a rationale.  1908 - prior to the opening of the Motor Parkway.  no rails, no bridge?

From Mystery Fotos #10 Solved: Road Testing the Motor Parkway During the Summer of 1908

I guess just simply saying the location Levittown in the Hempstead Plains was a ‘phone-it-in’ answer!  This was a fun one that is quite deceptive.

I think this is the second turn heading East after the grandstand.  I believe the Packards are heading in the West on the LIMP. I could be wrong, because the Bloomingdale Rd bridge should be there unless it was built after these photos.

From Mystery Fotos #10 Solved: Road Testing the Motor Parkway During the Summer of 1908

Howard you do a great job with your web site. Your love of history and tremendous amount of work that you put into what you do is greatly appreciated. I look forward to every new motor parkway post. Hopefully the membership continues to grow. Long Island has tremendous history, the motor parkway being one fantastic example.

From East Meadow Herald Cover Story: Racing through the Island's past

Another great mystery photo. Check out all this open space. I believe all of the photos are in the same general area and facing in the same direction, thanks to the shadows. This is about Jul/Aug 1908 during the rush to complete this section of Motor Parkway, just before the Oct 10, 1908 Sweepstakes and two weeks later, Oct 24 Vanderbilt Cup Race. I believe there are two possible locations: Dead Man’s Curve 1 eastward approach in Bethpage (Central Park) before it turns left towards the north, or the Levittown curve southeastward approach between the Jerusalem Avenue highway bridge and the Bloomingdale Road highway bridge that is not yet built. My best guess is the latter. Besides the flat terrain and culverts under the roadway to address Hempstead Plains flooding, the banked curve in the photo with the 3 vehicles is not as pronounced as the curve at Dead Man’s. Also, there is a storm basin today in this immediate area. The barely visible railroad tracks in the background come in on a diagonal and are not parallel with this roadway stretch, as it is at Dead Man’s Curve. The winding roadway on the left could be Farmedge Rd in Levittown (still there today). The bird’s eye view photo was taken from atop the water tower, where same photographer was captured on the water tower in a separate photo. Some of the latest pioneering techniques used on the roadway are (some not apparent in the photos): under roadway flood control, traffic intersection elimination, pedestrian/equestrian/bicyclist elimination, and high speed banked curves with guardrail protection.  I’m leaving the autos to the experts. Great stuff as always, looking forward to this week’s answers. Howard, I’m sending attachments.
Driver Joe Tracy also tested the new roadway before the races.
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/images/blog/B0196600.jpg

From Mystery Fotos #10 Solved: Road Testing the Motor Parkway During the Summer of 1908

These are three Packards 30 H.P., one runabout and two touring cars driving on the LIMP somewhere on Hempstead Plains. The structure is a culvert, probably the one east of (the future location of) the grandstand. Another photo exists, where one of these Packards (the one with the passenger in the white coat) is passing the Newbridge Road Bridge under construction. As this bridge was finished at August 20th, 1908, these photos must have been made shortly before this date. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to find out the identity of the passengers and what they were doing.

From Mystery Fotos #10 Solved: Road Testing the Motor Parkway During the Summer of 1908

How quickly Garden City seems to be willing to sacrifice their part of this historic roadway in order to play a part in the ongoing malling of america.

From William A. Bellmer Article: "The Long Island Motor Parkway in Garden City"

Great story .l like reading about Long Island ,and racing history .you do a nice job

From East Meadow Herald Cover Story: Racing through the Island's past