Vanderbilt Cup Races

This is another one wouldn’t of gotten, so I didn’t even bother with it

From Mystery Foto #63 Solved: The Abandoned Motor Parkway and North Hempstead Turnpike in Fresh Meadows

Well, this is Fresh Meadows. The 2 roads that are certainly abandoned for automobile traffic are the LIMP and N Hempstead Tpke. You can see the path remnants of the tpke on both sides of Francis Lewis Blvd going east into Cunningham Park, and west under the LIMP overpass. That path angling west and east south of the tpke must be the Central RR remnants. Approx. 1950, well after the LIMP was in operation. And from what I read, the LIMP overpass was demolished later in the 50’s. If this photo was near 1960, you would see the Clearview Expressway cutting through Cunningham Park, east of Francis Lewis Blvd. The portion of Hollis Court Blvd that angles north and south would be taken over by the Clearview, too.

From Mystery Foto #63 Solved: The Abandoned Motor Parkway and North Hempstead Turnpike in Fresh Meadows

Motor Parkway Western Terminus, Fresh Meadows facing North. Tree-lined Horace Harding Blvd (Nassau Blvd) on the top left. Abandoned are Motor Pkwy, North Hempstead Tpke (Booth Memorial Ave), and the N Hemp Tpke LIMP parkway bridge (1926-1955/6). Hollis Court Blvd (Queens Rd) still in one piece on the right side of this aerial. Francis Lewis Blvd (Cross Island Blvd) and Peck Ave’s are present. The Fresh Meadows apartments (1950) replaced the Fresh Meadows golf course. P.S. 179’s (P.S. 4) building foundation (1955) in the process of being set. I’d say this is approximately 1955.

From Mystery Foto #63 Solved: The Abandoned Motor Parkway and North Hempstead Turnpike in Fresh Meadows

-Identify the location of the aerial.

The LI Motor Parkway Western terminus in Fresh Meadows…or at least it used to be.

-What are the two abandoned roads in the aerial?

The Motor Parkway and North Hempstead Turnpike…and the eventually-to-be demolished Hollis Hills Terrace when the Clearview Expy gets built.

-What other structure(s) can also be seen ?

The North Hempstead Turnpike LIMP Bridge

-What is the approximate date of the aerial? Explain your reasoning.

Francis Lewis Blvd, Peck Ave. and the apartments to the West all were built in the early 40’s as was the northern embankment of the bridge taken down, so my guess is 1948-ish since there looks like more overgrowth in 1951 aerials.

From Mystery Foto #63 Solved: The Abandoned Motor Parkway and North Hempstead Turnpike in Fresh Meadows

May be way off but here goes:
Glen Oaks, circa40s, early 50s, following construction of Glen Oaks Village.
Abandoned Motor Parkway and Underhill Avenue?

From Mystery Foto #63 Solved: The Abandoned Motor Parkway and North Hempstead Turnpike in Fresh Meadows

Hi Howard,

Rather late reaction, but I had forgotten about it and came across it today. The car on the upper photo is a 1904 Matheson. Was this a reconaissance trip? The next year Matheson would compete with a car (unsuccessfully though) in the trials for the Vanderbilt Cup.

Wish you good weather on the day of the ceremony!

Regards and thanks for all of your work to keep the spirit alive!

Ariejan

From Vanderbilt Cup Race Historical Marker Unveiling Ceremony to be Held on Saturday, April 26, 2014

From Stephanie G:

Congratulations Howard and Roz!

Thanks for sharing your wonderful news.

From Chrysler's Chrysler's Specifications

From Stephanie G:

Congratulations Howard and Roz!

Thanks for sharing your wonderful news.

From Chrysler's Chrysler's Specifications

Heshy, you are Major League.  Somewhere, P.K. is beaming.
Best always,
H
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From Howard Kroplick:

H, Papa Phil is definitely smiling!

From Chrysler's Chrysler's Specifications

Thanks for the quick response Howard. Now I’m off to Tappan Beach. I guess I won’t be seeing you until 4-23 at the Bethpage Library. See ya.

From Chrysler's Chrysler's Specifications

I’m sure it’ll steal the show!

From Chrysler's Chrysler's Specifications

The two roads: Hollis Court Blvd. and North Hempstead Tpke.
This is very near where I grew up as a boy in the 50s. The intersection ws between Horace Harding Blvd., Francis Lewis Blvd. and Hollis Court Blvd. Hollis Court Blvd. through the intersection was eliminated when the LIE and Clearview Expressways were built. The remains south of the area became Hollis Court Terrace. The LIE and Clearview at this location opened in 1960. N. Hempstead Tpke. was cutoff when Fresh Meadows was built in the late 40s, although the remains continued north of Horace Harding Blvd (LIE). The name was changed to Booth Memorial Ave sometime later. I remember my 5th grade teacher taking us on a field trip to the construction site in 1958.

From Mystery Foto #63 Solved: The Abandoned Motor Parkway and North Hempstead Turnpike in Fresh Meadows

Howard,  this means so much for the Long Island motoring heritage. Thanks for your dedication.  It would be great to build on your hard work by organising our clubs for a east coast version of Pebble Beach.  John MBCA

From Chrysler's Chrysler's Specifications

That bridal path leads directly to the actually Alley Pond, now a badly drained swamp. My mom’s family would picnic there in the late 30s and early 40s. There is a small enclave of homeless people (a hobo camp of sorts) now camped out right to the side of that Grand Central overpass. It the late 50s and very early 60s hobo camps dotted this area of the Vanderbilt, especially near what is now the area of the Clearview Expressway.

From Mystery Foto #62 Solved: The Grand Central Parkway Bridge over the Motor Parkway in Queens

I look forward to seeing you and Chrysler’s Chrysler at Pebbble Beach Concourse and in Carmel following the Tour if you take it on the run along Big Sur.

What a great addition to Pebble Beach, this fabulous “ONE OFF.”
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From Howard Kroplick:

Bruce, I would not miss the 60-mile Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance on August 14th. Cars are made to be driven.

From Chrysler's Chrysler's Specifications

Congratulations and good luck!  What more can I say.

From Chrysler's Chrysler's Specifications

Wow! That’s awesome. Wish we could be there! We WILL be at the upcoming Floral Park celebration honoring The Vanderbilt Cup Race heritage. Your efforts to reinforce the whole heritage of Long Island and its position in the history of the automobile is never anything less then stellar.
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From Howard Kroplick:

James, thanks so much!

From Chrysler's Chrysler's Specifications

Does this mean that the car might be ready before you go to Pebble Beach and that you’ll show it, or it might be best to wait until after, not to rush things to much, it’s only 4 months away and a lot of arrangements to make?
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From Howard Kroplick:

Ted, Pebble Beach will be the first show for Chrysler’s Chrysler.

From Chrysler's Chrysler's Specifications

From Christopher G:

Thank you so much for the wonderful presentation you did last night on the Vanderbilt Cup Races for our Buick Club. It was so informative and also fascinating - especially to see those Buick race cars!

I showed my son Anthony the book I purchased from you on the Vanderbilt Cup Races and he was excited to see the images of all the old race cars.

From The Seven Buicks of the Vanderbilt Cup Races

Very informative presentation about the Buicks in the Vanderbilt Cup Races, I learned something from it. The questions you asked, you knew that I knew what the answers were, so I didn’t bother giving the answers, the camera, checkered flag and the pits. Enjoy another day looking at that one of a kind and only car like that tomorrow.

From The Seven Buicks of the Vanderbilt Cup Races