Vanderbilt Cup Races

My 1st guess would be Sept 1908, about a month before the first race, traveling east on the straightaway in Levittown toward the grandstand. The structure is a drain culvert for passing water under the roadway (maybe the same culvert as the one in the 2 photos that the 2 boys were playing near in the 1950s photo from a previous mystery photo. Looks like the road to the left could be Division Avenue which did not quite make it up to the roadway at the time. I Can’t name the cars, sorry about that.  My 2nd guess was going to be Deadman’s Curve #2 at section 23 traveling east into Bethpage Park, but there are no water towers on the bend so i’m going to stick with my 1st guess. Good one, very little reference points to work from.

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.
Hempstead Plains, what is now Levittown

On what type of structure was the top photo taken? Hint: It was not a bridge.
Banked turn, possibly a culvert.

Identify the three automobiles in the photos.
All 3 are Packards

What pioneering characteristics of the Motor Parkway are shown in the photos?
Width of the roadway and the ability to pass other vehicles and also displays banked road surface on turns.

What is the approximate date of photos? Provide a rationale.
The inspection team tested the roadway just before opening in October 1908

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

From Greg O.:
Did another fun, quick Google Earth screen capture. Always love the aerials!

• Where was the location of this aerial and its orientation?
• Just about opposite of the mystery photo from last week! Over Westbury looking South-West. Future Salisbury neighborhood of Westbury in the center near the top of the photo.

• Which Long Island parkway(s) were under construction?
• Northern and Wantagh State Parkways

• Identify the Long Island Motor Parkway bridges and landmarks in the aerial?
• Roosevelt Field Bridge, Meadowbrook lodge, Newbridge, Stewart and Carmen Ave bridges beyond that.

• What other Long island landmarks can be seen in the aerial?
•  Roosevelt Raceway built for the 1936 & 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races. The oval Roosevelt Raceway track for midget races can be seen in front of the grandstands. Looking closely I can make out the edge of the alee of trees from Phipps’ Westbury House ending at Jericho Tpke.

• What is the estimated date of the aerial? Provide a rationale.
• Spring/Summer 1939 since the parkways look just completed and there is plenty of foliage.

From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: Northern State Parkway and Wantagh State Parkway Under Construction

Howard:  Great job, you know if you won at Westbury Gardens you would win in Florida.  congratulations

From Chrysler's Chrysler Honored with Three Awards at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance Updated: 2/29/16

Really enjoyed reading about the weekend in Boca!

From Chrysler's Chrysler Honored with Three Awards at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance Updated: 2/29/16

Love the crispy Fairchild aerials, they’re definitely ahead of their time. However Roosevelt Raceway gave this one away. Hard to hide that humongous structure. Facing SE at Carle Place/Westbury/E Garden City, around 1938 during construction of this section of Northern State Parkway (the white diagonal roadway in the foreground). The Wantagh State Pkwy may also be under construction as well (1927-1938, the white diagonal roadway in the background), also the first highway route to Jones Beach’s opening in 1929! The completed interchange of Meadowbrook State Pkwy will not appear here until 1956. The Long Island Motor Parkway in this photo is closed, or about to close (Apr 1938), due to Robert Moses’ fierce competition with a toll free highway system pictured here under construction

From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: Northern State Parkway and Wantagh State Parkway Under Construction

Nice mystery photo, Howard!

Where was the location of this aerial and its orientation
Looking southeast in Nassau County (Garden City, Westbury, Carle Place, East Meadow, Hempstead Plains)

Which Long Island parkway(s) were under construction?
Northern and Wantagh State Parkways

Identify the Long Island Motor Parkway bridges and landmarks in the aerial?
Meadow Brook Lodge, Merrick Ave. Parkway Bridge, Stewart Ave., Carmen Ave., Newbridge Ave., and possibly Old Country Road Bridges. And somewhere off to the east in the picture would be the Newbride Road bridge.

What other Long island landmarks can be seen in the aerial?
Salisbury Links, Roosevelt Field (including Midget race car track), Meadowbrook Polo Fields and Club House, Ladenberg estate, Meadowbrook Racetrack (now the location of the East Meadow School District Admin. Office), Central RR., James Cinch Smith estate.   

What is the estimated date of the aerial? Provide a rationale. Note: Previous posting of this aerial has been removed until Monday night.
Contrary to other postings, I believe the date is 1937-1938, not 1939.  According to newspaper clippings (Kleiner’s Korner) construction of this section of the Northern State Parkway was done in 1937 and 1938 with the official opening on Dec. 10, 1938.  However, as I’ve noted before, you can’t believe everything you read!  The Midget Car Races at Roosevelt Field was in August of 1939, and as the mystery picture shows the track, could the track not have been built soon before the race actually took place (say the spring of 1939) or maybe prior to 1939?  Either way, close enough? 

From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: Northern State Parkway and Wantagh State Parkway Under Construction

Easily a cornerstone of my whole life on Long Island. I was always heading to “that park in Roslyn” for a spell of rest and relaxation.

From George Robertson: The Vanderbilt Cup Race Driver Who Helped Beautify Roslyn

Congrats again (getting to be “as usual”)!  Harley Earl was 25-26 and working for his father when Don Lee bought the business in 1919; wonder if the Pierce was done under J. W. Earl or Don Lee.  Sam, III

From Chrysler's Chrysler Honored with Three Awards at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance Updated: 2/29/16

Good mix of easy and hard!  Location and orientation - over Hicksville looking WNW.  Parkway(s) were under construction - No. State (upper right to upper left to lower right), Meadowbrook (far left), and Wantagh N. extension.  LIMP bridges and landmarks - Roslyn Road and lodge, LIRR Main Line, Glen Cove Road and lodge and super’s house, Ellison Ave., Whaleneck Rd, Post Ave. at right - pass - too many!  Other LI landmarks - endless - the Jericho Pike, ‘38 VCR course, Mitchel and Roos. Fields, Old Country Rd., LIRR Main Line, Hempstead Tpke. lower left, Meadowbrook Club and RR station, what was much later my house in Mineola, - - - AAAUUUGGGHHH!  Estimated date - 1938 - when Wantagh was extended to No. State.  WHEW!  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: Northern State Parkway and Wantagh State Parkway Under Construction

Hello, history buffs. Just want to say I had partial assistance in my response to this mystery ( 4/16/11 Blog “Midget Auto Racing” )

Aerial location/Orientation: Overlooking Garden City, Westbury, East Meadow in a S/E direction.

Pkwys under construction: Wantagh Pkwy, definitely Northern State Pkwy.

LIMP data: Roosevelt field, Merrick Ave, Newbridge Ave, Stewart Ave, Carmen Ave, Westbury Ave, Wantagh Pkwy LIMP bridges.

Landmarks: Roosevelt raceway, Meadowbrook Polo Club, Clubhouse just opposite of Central RR, Salisbury Golf Club, Ladenburgh property. Mr. Kroplicks future childhood home.

Aerial date: 1939, time of the Midget Auto Racing and continuing construction of the Northern State Pkwy.

It would be neat to have a time machine for a day. This site and others are the next best thing.

From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: Northern State Parkway and Wantagh State Parkway Under Construction

The plane is flying over East Wiliston / Mineola with the camera pointed southeast toward Westbury & Carle Place. The parkway in the foreground is the Northern State with the Wantagh near the top. The LIMP bridges are (east to west) Roosevelt Field, Merrick Ave., Newbridge Ave., & Stewart Ave. along with the Meadowbrook Lodge. You can also see Roosevelt Raceway, Salisbury Links golf course, and the Meadowbrook Polo Fields. The date of the photo is probably sometime in 1938 since that section of the Northern State didn’t open until December 17th. of that year and the small midget car track is visable on the site of the Vanderbilt Cup Races held the two previous years.

From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: Northern State Parkway and Wantagh State Parkway Under Construction

great picture

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #15 & #16 The Brentwood Lodges at Commack Road

thats great wow meeting jay leno

From Chrysler's Chrysler Honored with Three Awards at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance Updated: 2/29/16

Hope to see you there

From Hold the Date 4/28/16: Presentation: New York Automotive Licenses, License Plates & Registration

Ok here goes we are looking at the Northern Parkway intersecting with the Wantagh Parkway looking southeast from the Objectors Bend possibly down to the southern state.  Due to the Race Track at Roosevelt Raceway the year is 1936. In this picture is the Motor Parkway over Ellison Avenue (Merchants Concourse), the Ladenburg Farm and the Newbridge (East Meadow Avenue) Bridge, Stewart Avenue conntcting with the Motor Parkway. North is St Brigid’s Church and the Holy Rood Cemetery. By Eisenhower Park is the Train Station and overpass over Meadwobrook Club Road, with the Salisbury Clubhouse before it was toxic. I cant seem to find the house from 1905 located in Eisenhower Park but it must be there. Hicksville is in the upper left corner. Looking carefully you can see the Motor Parkway Bridge over the Wantagh Parkway towards the upper middle of the picture and Hempstead Tpk in East Meadow and Levittown potato fields and possibly North Bellmore toward the top right. Middle right is the Meadowbrook Club and Polo Field. Across Merrick Avenue from that appears to be the swamp that they made into the Man made Lake at Eisenhower. Soooo much stuff to see in this picture and…..no i didnt need to look at the previous posts for help, im from this part o’ town.

From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: Northern State Parkway and Wantagh State Parkway Under Construction

hi I’ve been looking at W K V III as my grandfather acted as his valet for all his tour of europe,africa etc until his car accident . my grandfather was sent ahead by train rather than travel in the car luckily. i have only one photo of my grandfather and a few letters he wrote while on tour with them and am trying to see if there are others of the tour,hunting etc .chris.

From A Father's Day Tribute: Willie K. and His Children

What a victorous weekend. A wonderful reward for years of dedicated work.
Love the way you looped in your family! I am a friend of your sister Marilyn.

From Chrysler's Chrysler Honored with Three Awards at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance Updated: 2/29/16

Congratulations! A trifecta at Boca, who knows what will happen at Amelia. 2016 is starting out well for you and Mrs. Chrysler’s Chrysler.

From Chrysler's Chrysler Honored with Three Awards at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance Updated: 2/29/16

Thanks for sharing this with your “Florida Family”. The car is great and was fun riding in it. But you’re terrific!!

From Chrysler's Chrysler Honored with Three Awards at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance Updated: 2/29/16