Vanderbilt Cup Races

From Gary Hammond:

Did you know that at the “1986 IAMC [International Automotive Media Competition], held as Automotive Journalism Conference at the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada” Clark’s article was the winner of the Imperial Palace MOTO Award for “Newspaper Writing - Column”.

Gary

PS We had a great time up in Oyster Bay - what a collection!

From Henry Austin Clark, Jr. and the Motor Parkway: "one for the road" (Circa 1985)

I would never even guessed it was on Long Island,had no idea,until I saw these pictures

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: Alfred Eisenstaedt's Photos of the Long Isand Aviation Country Club in 1937

From Gary Hammond:

Airfield - Long Island Aviation Country Club - opened June 29, 1929, closed May 1948
Year - 1937, part of a large series of photographs taken by Alfred Eisenstadt for Life Magazine

Building in the background - Clubhouse of the LIACC

Aircraft - Fairchild 24-H Deluxe, registration NC16871, c/n 3200, built by Fairchild Airplane Manufacturing Corp. at Hagerstown, Md., in 1937.  One of 25 aircraft built, powered by a 150 hp in-line Fairchild Ranger 6-390 engine (built in Farmingdale).  The Deluxe model included plush upholstery, roll-down windows, wing flaps, and extra instrumentation, however the added weight of the extras resulted in it being a three-place aircraft (seats only 3).
One of the Life photos taken inside the building shows a blackboard with the listing of all the aircraft and owners at the field - NC16871 is listed, however the owner’s name is blocked out by someone standing in front of the listing - only “...er, Jr” can be made out.

The above photos are part of the Life photos series.  Shows clubhouse, hangers, aerials w/LIMP, the actual Life photo, 2 closeups of mechanics with a/c showing Ranger engine & LIACC logo on back of coveralls.

Gary Hammond

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: Alfred Eisenstaedt's Photos of the Long Isand Aviation Country Club in 1937

Mitchell Field, approx. 1938. Looks to be NCC current Union Hall.

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: Alfred Eisenstaedt's Photos of the Long Isand Aviation Country Club in 1937

It looks like the Long Island Aviation Country Club and clubhouse (1929-1948) in now Levittown, with the two taxiways accessing the dual hangar, once located besides and north of the LIMP and right across the Levittown Grand Stand site, just west of the Jerusalem Avenue Motor Parkway highway bridge. If so, Motor Parkway in the photo would be running east-west right behind that hangar through the glass windows. That single prop could give a closer estimate in year. Guessing 1930s
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/the_long_island_aviation_county_club_and_the_motor_parkway/

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: Alfred Eisenstaedt's Photos of the Long Isand Aviation Country Club in 1937

Great post.  I moved to Albertson in March of ‘60.  Walked to Herricks Jr. High along the old Searingtown Rd,“hanging” with some friends on the 3’ high walls that were put up, I guess, after a bridge was taken down.  Kids just sneaking smokes and tales of rolling tires down the hill to Searingtown Rd. NOT ME THOUGH!!!  I think a VFW is now on an area where the LIMP once was.  Ain’t history fun.  Bob Andreocci

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” III: Searingtown

Long Island Aviation Country Club, Hicksville
1937
Clubhouse
Fairchild 24H

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: Alfred Eisenstaedt's Photos of the Long Isand Aviation Country Club in 1937

Howard;
      Thank You for today, for an enjoyable, educational,, interesting afternoon.
To answer the questions, starting with the last. The airplane is a Fairchild UC-61 Forwarder with a Ranger inverted inline 6. If You want to see that same model airplane, come to the Bayport aerodrome.  That airplane was also available with Warner Radial engines.
      I do not know what the building in the background is.
      I would guess 38 or 39. Location, Roosevelt Aviation school at Roosevelt Field.
    Stay Well.  Paul Emmert

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: Alfred Eisenstaedt's Photos of the Long Isand Aviation Country Club in 1937

I have a round 5 gallon Elliscoand sons inc.with a plate with company name and a rectangular and an oval emblem on plate good cond what is it worth

From Mystery Foto #86 Solved: Antique Five Gallon Can Manufactured by George D. Ellis & Sons, Inc.

I know this section well, Dave. About midway in it becomes real muddy during wet weather (I would do LIPA inspections throughout the ROW). I’m guessing the passageway under the LIMP bridge is now the road into the existing school? I remember the old photo from one of Howards farmway bridge series.

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” III: Searingtown

Hi Howard,

Austin Clark’s column in Old Cars was headlined, “Young Nuts and Old Bolts.” I have suggested to a number of people that a book about Austin Clark, similar to the book, “For the Love of Old Cars” would make for great reading. And, half of the book could reprint all of his old articles for Old Cars. Young Nuts and Old Bolts was the first thing I would read when the new issue of Old Cars would arrive in the mail.

Happy to see your weekly emails again.

Best wishes,
Phil Alderman

From Henry Austin Clark, Jr. and the Motor Parkway: "one for the road" (Circa 1985)

This photo is a 1937 image of the hangars at L. I. Aviation Country Club located right off the Motor Parkway in what was then Hicksville. Now the area is part of Levittown. The plane in the foreground is a Fairchild 24H. The plane inside the hangar appears to be a Stinson Gullwing. I think the building in the background could be Meadowbrook Hospital.

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: Alfred Eisenstaedt's Photos of the Long Isand Aviation Country Club in 1937

Too easy!  Long Island (a.k.a. Hicksville) Aviation Country Club, Hicksville, NY, at 40.74N/73.53 W.  It wasn’t just near the LIMP, it was directly adjacent to it and Blyman’s farm, between Woodbury Road & the L. I. Rail Road.  1937.  The 60’ x 200’ hangar, dissasembled and re-erected in downtown Bethpage, still standing between the LIRR and the intersection of Schneider Lane and Revere Avenue, opposite the southern end of Lexington Avenue.  Fairchild 24H.  ‘Nuf?  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: Alfred Eisenstaedt's Photos of the Long Isand Aviation Country Club in 1937

Howard,
Thanks for all that good stuff about Austin Clark.  I have fond memories of Austin and his museum in Southampton.  I used to visit there whenever I could.  He could be seen in his coveralls working on the cars.  The auctions were fascinating too.  Thanks again.
Rog

From Henry Austin Clark, Jr. and the Motor Parkway: "one for the road" (Circa 1985)

I worked for austie for four years at the museum when it opened,he knew his old cars no doubt,but i never saw him work on one! i was with him in the 1911 mercer at the bridge in 1950’ we are in the program.im told the mercer went to auction and sold for 2.3 mil but didn’t meet the reserve.i think austie’s son still has it.

                                                Gene Martin

From Henry Austin Clark, Jr. and the Motor Parkway: "one for the road" (Circa 1985)

Mitchell Field in Garden City,

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: Alfred Eisenstaedt's Photos of the Long Isand Aviation Country Club in 1937

Mitchell Field about 1937. building is now Nassau C.C. Stearman. And the hangers might now be Aviation Museum.

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: Alfred Eisenstaedt's Photos of the Long Isand Aviation Country Club in 1937

1937 photo of a Fairchild 24h in front of a hangar at the Aviation Country Club in Hicksville.

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: Alfred Eisenstaedt's Photos of the Long Isand Aviation Country Club in 1937

There are such interesting information on this blog. I want to put some information together for my grandchildren. I think it’s so interesting to have been poor girl from Brooklyn , to have been raised with the good Shepard sisters,that took us to Madonna Heights ( before it was a schoo (1961-62) for day in the country. I got to romp on the grounds and swim In the pool of the rich and famous. Just like rich kids that went to boarding school.i would love any photos that can be share. Thanks Lori fiorelli .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    1412 s.park ave Sanford fl 32771

From Was the "Bagatelle" Mansion in Half Hollow Hills Built by a Vanderbilt?

1.  Country Club Airport, Hicksville
2.  1937 or later
3.  Club House and pool
4.  Fairchild 24H, first built in 1937

Thanks for the great website.  When I was a kid we lived on Edna Avenue - I remember hearing the AC engines being run up at Grumman before take-off and also the pilots waving at me as they made their final over our back yard.

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: Alfred Eisenstaedt's Photos of the Long Isand Aviation Country Club in 1937