Vanderbilt Cup Races

1906, 1907, 1908 and 1909 races.
Looking north; East Meadow and Westbury areas.
Hempstead Tpke running left to right across bottom.
Lake visible in center, fromer Salisbury Park.
LIMP right of way visible at Merrick Avenue in center
Old Country Rd. left to right across top
Holy Rood Cemetery at top center.
The old Meadow Brook Golf course at bottom left

From Mystery Foto #14 Solved: East Meadow/Westbury: Location for Six Vanderbilt Cup Race Courses

The three lines cutting through Eisenhower Park are the LIMP, Stewart Ave and the LIRR right of way (from north to south). I believe the well-maintained golf course is the Meadowbrook Club. If so, the entrance to the club at the north end had a train trestle that went over the roadway. The trestle still remains next to the Meadowbrook Parkway, although overgrown. It is readily visible in the winter when the leaves are gone.

From Mystery Foto #14 Solved: East Meadow/Westbury: Location for Six Vanderbilt Cup Race Courses

How did it look? in good shape I hope,maybe know with the couch gone they won’t hang out there as much.

From The Amazing North Hempstead Clean-Up Day of the Motor Parkway in East Williston

Greg, good news! My friends and I removed the couch yesterday from the site.

From The Amazing North Hempstead Clean-Up Day of the Motor Parkway in East Williston

The LI-Republic Airport Historical Society, located in the Republic Airport Terminal Building, salutes you for this marvelous tribute to Sherman Fairchild and his aerial camera and Farmingdale built FC-2’s. We will tell our members and world-wide Facebook viewers about this wonderful site.

From The Amazing Fairchild Aerials of Long Island

Hi Frank, It is actually a Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society license plate. If anyone wants information on how to obtain one, send an email to me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .

From Smiles, Thumbs Ups and Rides at the Heckscher Museum of Art

Get outta here! How did you get a #8 LIMP pass plate? OMG

From Smiles, Thumbs Ups and Rides at the Heckscher Museum of Art

Sure was two great days and again I learned a little more about the limp. As I said to you already that was the best presentation I’ve been to yet,but there’s more to come that will probably be better,especially with all the new people that haven’t been to one yet and all the questions too,really interested people.

From Smiles, Thumbs Ups and Rides at the Heckscher Museum of Art

Excellent aerials. The limp roadway looks haunting at night over the bridge. No roadway lighting, driving along open farmlands, just rely on your headlights and hope for the best. I would imagine the private limp police were more present at night because of poor lighting, ready to assist drivers. Too many open spaces and long distances between exits making for dangerous conditions. Does anyone have pictures of what the limp patrol cars looked like?

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #32: Clinton Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge in Garden City

There is still a small section of Rocky Hill Rd existing in Auburndale, if you follow Springfield north to 48Av. There must be some historical structures still left all along that route.

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Birthplace of Gridlock- Springfield Boulevard and the Motor Parkway

I also agree with Tom and Frank on those hills on the on the Bike Path in Queens,it knocked the wind out of me when I went their one day to look at the remains of the Motor Parkway.I walked one way and ran up the hills,walked down the hills at a very slow pace to catch my breath. I’m not one to do this very often

From Motor Parkway Trails #1: Brooklyn-Queens Greenway

You guys are good….congratulations!

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Birthplace of Gridlock- Springfield Boulevard and the Motor Parkway

Agree Tom on those hills, and they should not be taken for granted with kids on bikes. That hill under the GCP is a killer ~8% grade that even adults are seen walking their bikes. :D I used to ride by on Union Tpke from Woodside, and passing through the area, that Wheeler bridge by the tennis courts always stood out, like it represented something but not sure what it was. Thanks to Howard, Sam, Art, and Robert, their websites answered a lot of questions. I’m glad the area was preserved by NYC as it’s still a wonderful walk back in time, a porthole to the past.

From Motor Parkway Trails #1: Brooklyn-Queens Greenway

As both an avid cyclist and a local historian, the more I learn about the Motor Parkway Bike Path in Queens, the more special it becomes for me.

From a purely cycling standpoint, though, it should be noted that this bike path, with its many hills, can be a bit challenging for casual riders and children.  Expect a combination of short-but-steep hills with little or no space to build up speed and long, gradual ascents, which can knock the wind out of anyone who hasn’t been on a bike in a while.

In any event, if you’re in good enough shape, don’t miss this one, if only for the history!

From Motor Parkway Trails #1: Brooklyn-Queens Greenway

Thankyou, Edith.  We’re all fortunate to have you interested in these topics.

From Mystery Foto #11 Solved: The Motor Parkway in Wheatley Heights/Wyandanch/Half Hollows Looking West

Looking into it a little further, since I can never leave well-enough alone, I’ve confirmed my own guess as the section between Springfield Blvd and Alley Road, (Winchester Boulevard) before the second Winchester Blvd bridge was built in 1931. The exact year of the aerial is 1924.

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Birthplace of Gridlock- Springfield Boulevard and the Motor Parkway

I’m stumped, so I’m going with my best, semi-educated guess here…

I’m unsure about the year, but after 3 days(!) of staring at the aerial, this looks like the section just to the East of Springfield Blvd, (Springfield being the road going North/South on the left?) Since that area changed a lot throughout the years, I’d need another 3 days to try and figure out the year! Early 1920’s would be my closest guess…

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Birthplace of Gridlock- Springfield Boulevard and the Motor Parkway

I love the bike path through Cunningham and Alley Pond Parks, particularly the bridges over which it travels.  Its ironic that Robert Moses thought he was hurting Willie K by deeming the Motor Parkway in Queens would be but a humble bike path rather than a highway, and now it is the most original section, immortalizing the LIMP.
Thanks also to those NYC Mayors who supported the maintenance of the “Bike Path” in the seven decades following the transfer of the LIMP to NYC.

From Motor Parkway Trails #1: Brooklyn-Queens Greenway

Robert Moses was far more interested in form then function - he didn’t care if a highway was unusable, and he despised mass transit.  But hey, his brick decorating of a bridge looks good.

Ron

From Motor Parkway Trails #1: Brooklyn-Queens Greenway

Howard:
Thanks for the terrific post!!  It was great that you were able to connect with the Lee family.  Hope all is well with you.
Tom

From Profile: Frank Lee, Mechanician for the Alco Black Beast