Vanderbilt Cup Races

Hi Sam!
This is Fresh Meadows, Queens, near the final terminus of the LIMP. Horace Harding Blvd runs left to right across the top. Francis Lewis Blvd runs top to bottom. Hollis Court Blvd runs top to right diagonally. Fresh Meadows housing development in the lower left.

Abandoned roads: North Hempstead Turnpike and Hollis Court Blvd (also a smidge of the Creedmoor Parkway right-of-way for the abandoned Stewart rail line).
Other structures: North Hempstead Turnpike LIMP overpass.
Approximate date: 1948. Construction of Fresh Meadows was completed in about 1948; LIMP overpass was removed in about 1955, with the completion of PS179, which does not appear here.
The only thing I’m wondering about is, what are the two parallel lines in the upper left, at the foot of 64th Avenue: the foundation for PS179 or the remains of the LIMP?

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

LIMP Western Terminus, Fresh Meadow.  North Hempstead Turnpike, abandoned.  Hollis Ct Blvd, abandoned.  I think you can also see part of the old LIRR, also abandoned.  LIMP bridge over NHT is there.  Picture appears to be at least the 1940’s, after the parkway closed.
-joe o

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

I won my class with my 1957 Corvette drag racing 1/4 mile on the front straightaway at Bridgehampton Raceway NY. It was a sanctioned race, & yet it is never mentioned in the history of that great track.
There was no return Shute back to the pits, so we had to run around the whole track to
get back to the pits, & the trophy stand. That was as much fun as winning my class trophy.

From LI Business News "LI Votes for a Race Track" & Film "LI Drag Racing"

They certainly did do a great job of cleaning up, because I was their about the middle of March and it didn’t look anything like what it looked like on March 30, only hope it will stay that way. I’ll keep you posted on that

From Then & Now: Deadman's Curve in Bethpage (1908-2014) Updated: April 8, 2014

…..And then there were many photos of the bridge. Never knew there was a pedestrian path under there. (the atlas doesn’t indicate a bridge, only monuments in this area) The path is still accessible where Kingsbury meets the GCP. I’ll be exploring there soon. Thank you Howard, Al, Greg, and all involved for displaying the wonderful photos and for the new discovery.

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

I never would have gotten this one, I wasn’t even thinking of Queens

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

You’ve got a lot on your plate but I’d enjoy a restoraton’s status update. 

____________________________________________________________

From Howard Kroplick:

Ken, we should have an update by next week.

From Presentation: "Chrysler's Chrysler: History, Discovery and Restoration", Malverne, NY

Hi Guy, yes I remember the railroad bridge very well. When the last one was torn down a teenager 2 blocks from my house got a small piece of it that was cut off and had a rivet in it. This was later donated to the Historical Society, and is on display in their small museum.

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

1940 Alley Pond Park heading eastbound under Robert Moses’ original GCP bridge, after the Motor Pkwy closed in 1938 for bicycle and pedestrian use. The bikes are heading west towards Rocky Hill Lodge (possibly still standing). This may be the only image available of this early bridge besides a Harvey Kidder painting that was sketched on the opposite side at the bottom of the hill.

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

Too many possibilities for me to sort out but here’s a very uneducated guess.

I believe its the Queens bikeway which opened in 1938 but to me looks later based on the cars on the bridge and the bikes.  Since the bridge is going over the Parkway could it be the Grand Central Parkway?  I would say photographer is facing east.

Howard - finding posts is easier than your photos sometimes.

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

Walter, thanks for contributing your personal knowledge of the earliest era of the history of LI motor sports. Remember The Bridge (the last gasp?) Guy

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

This is going to be a very memorable and historic day for a lot of people, something not to missed

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

This looks like the bridge carrying Grand Central Parkway over the Motor Parkway in Queens. I believe the photo was taken in 1940 although it could have been taken shortly after the LIMP closed to vehicular traffic in April, 1938 and converted into a bicycle path. Technically, it could even have been taken as early as 1933 when that section of the G.C.P. was completed if some kids had dared to challenge the automobile traffic with their bikes. I think the photographer is facing east.

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

-Identify the location of the photo

Immediately West of the Grand Central Pkwy on the LIMP bike path in Queens.

-What direction was the photographer facing?

East

-Identify the bridge

An original GCP Robert Moses bridge over the LIMP (before the GCP was widened in 1961 in preparation for the 1964 World’s Fair)

-What is the earliest date that this photo could have been taken? Why?

Due to the bicycles being on the LIMP in the photo, the earliest possible date would be July 9, 1938 when the LIMP section in Queens officially opened as a bike path. However, judging from the 2 cars on the GCP overpass, it appears the date for this photo is most likely in the early 1940’s.

Howard, were you or Al able to uncover any more information on the mystery ‘bikeway bridge’ in the foreground?

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

The only question I can answer is about the date.  Since the parkway was closed in 1938, that would be the earliest date that would have bicyclists using it.

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

This is a tricky one. First off riding bicycles on the parkway, since when? then the cars on the bridge, look to be like the late 30s early 40s, very questionable about that.

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

Great job. The two best parts was when you said you didn’t know how to drive a stick shift, when you bought the Shelby, that was really a classic one. I learned before I got my license, on my parents 1948 Plymouth Deluxe, when I was able to reach the pedals, at about 8 or 9 years old, even before that, sitting in my dad’s lap shifting, the column shift. The second best was, how you bid for the Chrysler, how close was that not to getting it? Pure luck I’d say and much to your surprise.

From Presentation: "Chrysler's Chrysler: History, Discovery and Restoration", Malverne, NY

Nice photo, Frank. This has a “Queens” look to it. I believe this is Alley Pond Park. The photographer is looking east towards the bicyclists and the Grand Central Pkwy behind them. Has to be post 1938, or the bikes would’ntbe allowed on there. I like the side railings on both sides of the LIMP. Is it me, or is there possibly a path underneath the LIMP in the vicinity of the railings?

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

The Grand Central Parkway bridge over the LIMP in Alley Pond Park taken in 1940.
The LIMP had been closed two years earlier and Queens was using it as a bikeway.
The widened shoulders are visible.

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

LIMP crossing under the Grand Central Parkway.  Looking to the south, as the parkway heads east.  Bicycle path opened immediately after parkway closed, so 1938.

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