Vanderbilt Cup Races

-Identify the two drivers and their greatest victories

Jim Rathmann, left, winner of the 1960 Indy 500.
On the right is the instantly recognizable, late, great, amazing Caroll Shelby and if you don’t know who he is or what he’s done, you might need to have your auto enthusiast membership card revoked!!

-Identify the correct name of the race that they were promoting

1960 Cornelius Vanderbilt Cup Race

-What was the location and date of the race

Roosevelt Raceway on June 19, 1960

-Who manufactured the trophy?

Unclear to me who manufactured the actual trophy, but the donor of the trophy was Cornelius Vanderbilt IV, nephew of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.

On an added note, I came across an awesome picture of the two in Old 16;

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/60/e3/b3/60e3b3464c5165654ca220a0c7c8b853.jpg

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: Jim Rathmann and Carroll Shelby at the 1960 Vanderbilt Cup Race

The drivers are Jim Rathmann (1960 Indy winner) and Carroll Shelby (1959 winner at LeMans).  They were promoting the Cornelius Vanderbilt Cup Race.  The race was held once, on June 19, 1960, over a course set up in the parking lots and access roads of Roosevelt Raceway.  I cannot find the manufacturer of the trophy.  My guess is Cartier.  Thanks for the challenge, Howard.

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: Jim Rathmann and Carroll Shelby at the 1960 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I enjoyed that bit of automotive history.  Thanks for posting it.

Ken

From Walt Gosden Article:"Going 114 MPH on the Motor Parkway in a Model S Mercedes in 1928"

Great reading, lot of interesting info.

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Roadside Signs in Lake Ronkonkoma in October 1930 (Updated: 1/28/2015)

Never got a chance to do any more research on this. You guys did a great job on this, enjoyed the two film clips. Hope all. Is well with all this snow. I have to dig out of my house now. Stay warm and be safe.

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Roadside Signs in Lake Ronkonkoma in October 1930 (Updated: 1/28/2015)

Adding this piece of evidence to my date of 1930 - the Chesterfield billboard was used in 1930 and developed by the husband and wife team of Otis and Dorothy Shepard (that’s Dorothy’s portrait in the billboard).  The team also created the Wrigley’s Doublemint twins ad campaign in 1939.  Howard - see additional documentation being sent.

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Roadside Signs in Lake Ronkonkoma in October 1930 (Updated: 1/28/2015)

“Chesterfield cigarettes – After all….. it’s TASTE”. lol!
Little sign below Chesterfield – “Ricks Oil Change and 2 part Gas? (lube?)?”
“Lucas Paints at Joseph Fiala Inc.” – the rest is too blurry
“Motor Parkway à”
“Patchogue, Mr. Bath Petsble?, Ramon Novarro, Jack O Lantern?, Let’s Go Mets?, Jeanette …….?,  …..Vaudeville?
“USE MARX’S RHEUMATIC REMEDY for Rheumatic Lupus….?,  Skeleton N……?, OTTO MARX – Chemist, Lake Ronkonkoma à”
“Camels’ Cigarettes?”

The signs appear situated at a busy T intersection (solid yellow line in the center) en route towards Lake Ronkonkoma and Patchogue.
The only T intersection I was able to find that faced in the correction direction was in Lake Ronkonkoma at Central Islip Blvd and Rosevale Ave, facing East at the Lake (possibly behind those signs), one block NW of the LIMP. Wild guessing, it’s close to mid ‘30’s with asphalt pavement on the road. Is that the lake behind the Camels’ sign on the right? Veery Sneeaky!

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Roadside Signs in Lake Ronkonkoma in October 1930 (Updated: 1/28/2015)

  What is the exact year that this photo was taken? 1930 - movie playing at the Patchogue theater (“Call of the Flesh) opened in Fall, 1930.

  What was the likely location of these roadside signs?
Since the advertisers were on the south shore, perhaps Sunrise Highway (Sunrise Trail).

  Where was the Motor Parkway sign pointing to?  North to Ronkonkoma Lodge or Petite Trianon.

  Provide details on any of the advertisers. Howard - see more in the material I send you in Kleiner’s Korner under separate cover. 
Lucas Paint/Joseph Fiala’s Paint Store located at 199 Railroad Avenue in Sayville. 
Otto Marx - Chemist/Pharmacist - Came to Lake Ronkonkoma in 1922 and served the area until 1956.  Located on Hawkins Avenue. 
Patchogue Theatre - sign advertises the movie “Call of the Flesh”, starring Ramon Novarro in his first talking movie, opened in 1930. 

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Roadside Signs in Lake Ronkonkoma in October 1930 (Updated: 1/28/2015)

The photo was taken in 1930, probably in November because that’s when Ramon Novarro’s latest film “Call of the Flesh” (released on 8/16/30) was being shown at various theatres in Suffolk County including the Patchogue Theatre which had been built only five years earlier. Joseph Fiala had a paint store at 199 Railroad Avenue in Sayville at the time and also did home redecorating. Otto Marx ran a pharmacy on Hawkins Avenue in Ronkonkoma for many years. Chesterfield and Camels (partially hidden on right) were two of the “big three” cigarette brands (along with Lucky Strike). With regard to possible locations of the photo, the only road that makes sense is what was called at the time “the road to Ronkonkoma”. Today we know it as (going north from Sayville) Railroad Avenue, Lakeland Avenue, Ocean Avenue, and Rosevale Avenue where we find the beginning (or end) of the Long Island Motor Parkway. But exactly where on this road? At the intersection of Veterans Highway or Sunrise Highway? NO, neither had been built yet. I’m guessing the northwest corner of Lakeland Avenue and Church Street in Bohemia since Church Street was a well used road even then and was a main route from there to Patchogue. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see these billboards along Lakeland Avenue closer to the Sayville LIRR station.

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Roadside Signs in Lake Ronkonkoma in October 1930 (Updated: 1/28/2015)

I suppose everyone knows Chesterfield was a cigarette brand—targeted at women. The other signs are unknown to me.

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Roadside Signs in Lake Ronkonkoma in October 1930 (Updated: 1/28/2015)

prob.Commack Rd.,south of Motor parkway. Sign is pointing north and the sign for the Patchogue Vaudeville puts it around ‘22 to 24. Also the style of the Chesterfield sign.

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Roadside Signs in Lake Ronkonkoma in October 1930 (Updated: 1/28/2015)

Thank you for posting the 1941 photo of the Horace Harding/Francis Lewis Blvd. intersection. Although I was born in 1948 after Francis Lewis Blvd. had been extended through Cunningham Park, I remember the lampposts and traffic lights, which were in use throughout the City at that time. Notice that the traffic light has only two beacons; red and green, without a yellow caution light. When the light turned from green to red, both the red and green would flash at the same time for about one second to provide a caution. The old cast iron style of lampposts are coming back in the City now, although I surmise that they are not really cast iron. I also distinctly remember the traffic jams and multiple lights at this location where Horace Harding, Francis Lewis and Hollis Court Blvds. intersected before the expressway was built. And soon after the expressway fully opened at this location in 1960, the Blue Bay Diner opened on the corner from which the photo is taken (1962), and Bishop Reilly was built due south abutting the south service road (1962), which is where the driving range is in the photo. Because I lived only four blocks north of the intersection, I essentially “grew up” at the location.

From The Fresh Meadows Golf Driving Range near the Motor Parkway Western Terminus

Why won’t the owner of the sandpits let you on the property to take some pictures?
________________________________________________________________
From Howard Kroplick

Eric, good question. I assume they are concerned they will somehow lose control of the bridge.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #53: Clody Farmway Bridge in Huntington (Melville Sand Pits)

I see what you mean Mitch. Thanks for the correction. They were teeing off towards the south in 1941! I had it sideways. I now wonder how many golf balls ricocheted off the N Hemp Tpke bridge over the years. Teeing there must have ended when construction continued on Francis Lewis Bl south of HHB. Those photos and aerials speak a thousand words and were fortunate they’ve recorded history as time goes by. Thanks again Mitch and Howard

From The Fresh Meadows Golf Driving Range near the Motor Parkway Western Terminus

I’m thinking maybe these advertisement signs would’ve been posted on the E/S of Rosevale Ave, Lake Ronkonkoma, somewhere between present day Portion Rd and the present day interesection of the LIMP/Rosevale Ave. Figuring the Motor Pkwy sign is arrowing south towards the LIMP, and Patchogue is basically south of where I’m figuring this location is.The time period , I don’t know Chesterfield cigarettes are’nt as popular now? I took a look on wikipedia.

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Roadside Signs in Lake Ronkonkoma in October 1930 (Updated: 1/28/2015)

Your absolutely right Rob. A breakdown of an older fashioned tire valve stem, as laid out in parts on the table.

From Saturday Search: A 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race Wooden Post?

May be a valve installation tool.

From Saturday Search: A 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race Wooden Post?

Year was 1930.
My best guess for the location would be in Sayville at Montauk Highway and present day Lakeland Avenue (If you are westbound).  Lakeland turns into Ocean Avenue, leading to Lake Ronkonkoma and the LIMP terminus. The arrow is pointing to the right (northbound).
The billboard behind the LIMP sign shows the Patchogue movie theater advertising a Ramon Novarro movie “Call of the Flesh” and a Jack Oakie film, which played there in 1930.
The next sign, “Otto Marx Rheumatoid Remedy” advertised for Marx’s Pharmacy, located in Lake Ronkonkoma. Joseph Hala had a paint store in Sayville and featured Lucas Paints.
The last sign advertised Chesterfield cigarettes.

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Roadside Signs in Lake Ronkonkoma in October 1930 (Updated: 1/28/2015)

The “device” appears to be a tire valve stem.  Perhaps the post was part of a Continental Tire and Repair Station along the course?

From Saturday Search: A 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race Wooden Post?

1st closeup shows things going on in Patchoque 2am on May, I think 1980, May be live Vaudville..2nd closeup, I can’t make out what it says, but it’s in Ronkonkoma 2 miles away. 3&4 close ups ?  Motor Parkway sign is pointing, that you can get to those places on Motor Parkway, I wish the signs were clearer, I could do better than this. The signs are on a road going north and south. I’m going to try to do some research on these signs and get back to you.

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: Roadside Signs in Lake Ronkonkoma in October 1930 (Updated: 1/28/2015)