About
The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
All Content © 2026 VanderbiltCupRaces.com
Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
Hi Howard,
Congratulations, Pebble Beach is a great Honor to win. That is one great Chrysler you have.
George
From Video: "The 1937 Chrysler's Chrysler at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance "
Congratulations, Howard !
From Video: "The 1937 Chrysler's Chrysler at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance "
Roosevelt field and raceway
From Mystery Foto #82 Solved: Aerial View of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Field on September 1, 1948
Hi Howard:
Well deserved and very happy for you and you must be ecstatic !!!!!!!
Cheers and Best Always, Cordially, Ron Ridolph
From Video: "The 1937 Chrysler's Chrysler at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance "
Howard
you are never too old to have a happy childhood
great car
keep on cruisin
Jay
From The 26 First in Class Winners at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Looking north across Mitchel Field about 1948.
Left to right across bottom Fulton Avenue (Hempstead Turnpike).
Old Country Road left to right across top.
Roosevelt Field in upper left ( forming a right angle)
Stewart Avenue running left to right across center at north edge of Mitchel.
Long Island Motor Parkway left to right just above Stewart Avenue
Roosevelt Raceway at top right
Clinton Road bridge over LIMP at lower left
Rectangle abutting LIMP at center right is Meadowbrook Polo Field
Meadowbrook Country Club is square boxed area at center right
Old Westbury Golf Club center left under Roosevelt Field above LIMP
LILCO gas tanks on Stewart Ave, center left
From Mystery Foto #82 Solved: Aerial View of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Field on September 1, 1948
-Identify the location of the aeriral and key roads and structures.
For roads,along the top left to right is Old Country Road. Bottom right to center is Hempstead Turnpike. Stewart Ave cuts thru the center, paralleled by the old Stewart Central Railroad line. Clinton Road runs the west (left) side of the airfield.
Prominently in the lower center we have the Mitchel Air Force Base. Top left is Roosevelt Field Airport, not the shopping mall. Top right is Roosevelt Raceway in the revised horse racing, not the original motor speedway configuration.
Beginning at the top left corner running south (down) is the Long Island Motor parkway. It curves across Clinton till it runs along the south side of the airport and the raceway.
What is missing is the Meadowbrook parkway, which today meanders thru this scene, even eating up some of the LIMP right of way.
-What is the approximate date of the aerial? Why?
Two bookend dates: Roosevelt Raceway opened as a horse track in 1940. Construction on this portion of the Meadowbrook began in 1953. I could not narrow it down any closer.
-How is the aerial related to the Long Island Motor Parkway, the Vanderbilt Cup Races and aviation history?
How is it not? The Motor Parkway itself runs all thru the image.
Roosevelt Raceway was the site of the 1936 and 37 Vanderbilt Cup Races when it was still a motor speedway.
Roosevelt Field Airport is where Lindbergh left for France, also the 1920 Pulitzer Trophy Race. Mitchel Field held the 1925 Pulitzer Trophy Race.
From Mystery Foto #82 Solved: Aerial View of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Field on September 1, 1948
Howard,
Wow!! What a great honor to win at Pebble Beach.. The best to you and Roz as well the team that put the car together.
From The 26 First in Class Winners at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Roosevelt Field, Mitchell Field, and all that goes along with it.
-joe
From Mystery Foto #82 Solved: Aerial View of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Field on September 1, 1948
Upper Left Roosevelt Field, Upper Right Roosevelt Raceway, Lower Left Hempstead (Hofstra and 1st Presby Church and Cemetery), Lower Right Santini Hospital (or kellenberg depending on the year). Mitchel Field in the center around or just after WWII days. Above that we can still see the Meadowbrook Hunt Club, the Polo Fields and and the Raceway Paddock. Motor Parkway has given way to shrubs and houses but it looks like parts remain on the right hand side of the picture. The Meadowbrook State Parkway is not yet built so it looks pre 1955, but cannot be earlier than 1940 since Garden City houses are going up where the Motor Parkway turned. Roosevelt Field shopping Mall not yet built but the airfield looks closed. I would guess this picture is postwar maybe in a 5 year period between 1947 to 1952. I discovered that If you go north of the Marriott Hotel and make a right onto Charles Lindbergh Blvd you can still see part of the original taxiway on the southeast part of Mitchel Field behind the fence. Definitely pre-jet era also because runway 23 is not fully developed.
From Mystery Foto #82 Solved: Aerial View of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Field on September 1, 1948
CONGRATULATIONS !
WHAT A THRILL to hear them announce CHRYSLER’S CHRYSLER as FIRST PLACE in AMERICAN CLASSICS !
There is no greater automotive award than those from Pebble Beach’s Concourse d’Elegance, and to see Howard, Roz, John and guest rolling up to the winners’ circle to receive their well deserved award was memorable.
From The 26 First in Class Winners at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
-Identify the location of the aeriral and key roads and structures.
Over Roosevelt Field, Roosevelt Raceway and Mitchell Field. Old Country Road across the top, Stewart Ave next to the closed LIMP in the center, and Hempstead Tpke at the bottom.
-What is the approximate date of the aerial? Why?
September 1, 1948
Roosevelt Raceway harness track opened in 1940 and the Meadowbrook Parkway construction didn’t start until 1953. I also identified the aerial and the exact date on one of my aerial database websites that I frequently visit.
-How is the aerial related to the Long Island Motor Parkway, the Vanderbilt Cup Races and aviation history?
The LIMP travels through the center of the photo, and there are portions of a few Cup race courses. There’s plenty of history within the few airfields, but most noteable would be Lindbergh’s 1927 Trans-Atlantic takeoff from Hazelhurst Field where Roosevelt race way is standing in the photo.
From Mystery Foto #82 Solved: Aerial View of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Field on September 1, 1948
Mitchell Field / Roosevelt Raceway / Early 1900’ /30s?
From Mystery Foto #82 Solved: Aerial View of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Field on September 1, 1948
I never expected you to win against that other Chrysler, which is older and the Packard too, both doing the 85 miles. The judges really had to take a lot into consideration for this one and it came out for your benefit, which was well earned and deserved by you
From The 26 First in Class Winners at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
The Aurora Trophy is available for anyone who might be interested in adding it to their collection. I can be contacted at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Thank you all once again for your assistance in identifying this trophy.
From Mystery Foto #81 Solved: A Cup Associated with the 1911 Aurora Trophy Race Won by Mortimer Roberts
CONGRATULATIONS !
What a pleasure to see you all at the Tour, Carmel, and the Concours, and then to bask in your reflected Glory upon the Chrysler being awarded FIRST PLACE in the AMERICAN CLASSIC CLOSED CARS Division !
__________________________________
Bruce, great to see you in California. Thanks for the photos!
From Chrysler's Chrysler Completes the 85-Mile Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance
Wow who compiled that list of guitars that has used Les Paul’s!!!! You may want to edit the list since it did not include one of the best guitarists of his day James Patrick Page. The prototype that inspired guitarists for the last 40 years. Not only that how many signature models have been produced with his name on it. Not to forget one of his guitars was named the black beauty! Wow guess people just don’t know history any longer. Must be a punk rockers blog. Don’t forget Jeff Beck and Joe Walsh too.
From The Black Beauty Meets The Black Beast in Roslyn
Interesting only two pre WWII American cars were chosen by C & D magazine. That magazine is known for its coverage of boy racer sports cars, for them to choose a formal town car as a favorite is astounding! Congratulations Howard!
Also note that both the Chrysler and Packard were worked on by the same shop and wound up in the same semi trailer for their trip to California and the concours. The Packard had major overheating issues before it arrived at the shop which were rectified and it and the Chrysler both drove the 85 mile tour over hill (some pretty big hills) and dale before the show. Automotive Restorations in Lebanon, NJ , its owner Steve Babinsky, and his amazing crew of craftsmen have to be one of the top shops in North America.
From Car and Driver's Ten Favorite Automobiles at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
The Chrysler look’s great, good luck. Congratulations at Pebble Beach
From Car and Driver's Ten Favorite Automobiles at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Yes! Congratulations Howard and Roz on this super rare and difficult achievement. Incredible work by all. That car looks great. Hope to see her soon.
From Chrysler's Chrysler Awarded First in Class at Pebble Beach
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