Vanderbilt Cup Races

Art, I disagree that Parkway entrance ramps might have been a good place for a hold up. Thats the only area of the Parkway where there was lighting and motorists could receive help from the nearby lodge keepers who had telephones and were armed. The newspapers stated the robbery took place off Willis Avenue near the Roslyn Rd. entrance to the Parkway, a well thought out isolated location because there is no access to the Parkway between Willis Ave, and the LIRR and the two 300 foot long ramps. one down from Willis Ave. and the other up over the LIRR blocked a good view of the area.

From Kleiner's Korner: Motor Parkway News of the Final Month of 1925

Go get ‘em Greg and Al - looking forward to listening. 

I’ll power up my Motor Parkway era Zenith radio to listen!  Or will listen in my car if out on the road.  I may even bump into a Radio Central tower somewhere while riding along the Parkway.

From Greg O. and Al Velocci discuss the Long Island Motor Parkway on LI News Radio 103.9 FM

Roosevelt Air Field in Garden City/Westbury looking NE. The famous hangar #16 in the top left corner gave the mystery away. #16 housed Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St Louis plane before his historic departure towards Paris in 1927. Old Country Road is hidden behind the hangars, Clinton Rd is off frame to the left. Possibly a dedication for WWI flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker in early ‘30’s

From Mystery Friday Foto #3 Solved: A Busy Curtiss Flying Field

Thank you Frank and Lou!  Makes sense, Frank, about why the entrance ramps might have been a good spot for a hold-up. 

I’m always amazed at where the Motor Parkway pops up in news articles, trade journals (i.e., construction, engineering etc.), novels, etc.  Makes doing the research enjoyable as always new to find out.  Glad you both like what I present.

From Kleiner's Korner: Motor Parkway News of the Final Month of 1925

Always so interesting. Thanks for taking the enormous amount of your time to assemble these articles.

From Kleiner's Korner: Motor Parkway News of the Final Month of 1925

Curtiss Flying Field in Garden City, NY. Later renamed Roosevelt Field.

From Mystery Friday Foto #3 Solved: A Busy Curtiss Flying Field

Great news articles, Art, of Motor Parkway activities 100 years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed them. Regarding the thieves stealing $400 ($7,600 today), it seems the bandits then were focusing on Motor Pkwy entrance ramps, targeting wealthy travellers, while committing their crimes on local streets that provided more escape routes. It’s just a thought. Keep it going, Art!

From Kleiner's Korner: Motor Parkway News of the Final Month of 1925

I think this might be opening day at Curtiss Flying Field on May 15, 1921. The plane could be a Curtiss JN-4. As for the cars, I’m sure there are a few Ford Model T’s.

From Mystery Friday Foto #3 Solved: A Busy Curtiss Flying Field

I’m not sure of any of the questions, but not only does this look AI generated I have to ask why one hanger has a sign that reads “FOX NEWS?”

From Mystery Friday Foto #3 Solved: A Busy Curtiss Flying Field

I found this picture and article of the unrestored 1962 Ford Cougar 406 and it looks like it needs a lot of restoring.

From Mystery Friday Foto #1 Solved: Another ‘Name That Car!’ The 1962 Ford Cougar 406 Concept

An early look at Roosevelt Field.  Cameraman is a little east of Clinton Avenue, facing North by Northeast.  Looking to the hangers near Old Country Rd.

From Mystery Friday Foto #3 Solved: A Busy Curtiss Flying Field

This was a lot of fun. I especially enjoyed the wonderful illustrations. Thanks for publishing this little bit of automotive history.

From From the Helck Family Collection: A Henry Austin Clark Jr. Brochure 'What Makes It Great?'

I remember the Speedway oh so well. When I was a boy our village of East Rockaway had an organization for youth run by the retired members of the Nassau County Police. Mr Lavity was in charge of our local group Called the PBC (Police Boys Club). He ran softball games and drove us to the beach and Freeport Stadium throughout the summer season. The retired county bus was a big old GMC from the thirties or forties painted in deep blue and the roof was Orange like the other police vehicles on the force. The races at Freeport were my favorite. I seemed to remember them on Tuesday Friday and Saturday nights but I may be mistaken. Some of the kids were Elvie Hickam, Steve Rothaug, and Renee Menandez who later became a Nassau Police officer himself. I was the youngest of the group. We were supposed to sit in the bleachers with other village PBC groups at the second turn but we always seemed to sneak away and get to the top rows of the seats on the first turn that overlooked the pits. We liked that because the drivers were always fighting with one and another over accidents and other discrepancies. Most of the wreck occurred on that turn and the pit track entrance was right there.

Bruno Bracky a mailman by trade was a constant winner and he must have been a good fighter because he was not a big guy like many of the stock car drivers from local auto shops. My Dad knew Bruno Brackey when we had lived at my Grandparents house in Far Rockaway. The Brackey’s lived on the same Street and Bruno’s Daughter Caroline was in my first grade class So we always rooted for him in the black and white #71 and a few other cars that he drove. The actual owner of the cars he drove lived in East Rockaway down in Bay Park. My Mom knew the wife of the owner of cars but that info is long lost.

From InstaGRAM Report: The Racing History of Freeport Stadium

Greg, Always wondered where postcards of the Motor Parkway and the Petit Trianon were sold from. I now know of a one location and that the Petit Trianon itself. They were sold at the reception desk and as a courtesy, if so desired by the buyer, they would be mailed from the Ronkonkoma Post Office for an additional one cent. But even bigger news, one could also purchase a “flag” which was a pennant featuring the Petit Trianon. Never even knew there was such a thing. Anybody ever see one ?  Income from these and possibly other souvenirs constituted about 1percent of the yearly gross income.

From Mystery Friday Foto #2 Solved: A Large Automobile Gathering at the Petit Trianon in Ronkonkoma

Excellent article and photos Gram. My father took me to Freeport Raceway a few times every summer for 4 or 5 years. I loved it. We would sit on the first turn and as others have said we were covered in soot at the end of the night. I still remember the smell of the burning rubber and roar of the engines. I went to elementary school with Ed Brunnhoezl Jr. in Levittown. His father was also a driver.

From InstaGRAM Report: The Racing History of Freeport Stadium

Upon research I found originally the Cougar was painted Blue as shown in the color photos.  It was later painted Candy Apple Red by George Barris for the Movie Under the Yum Yum Tree.

From Mystery Friday Foto #1 Solved: Another ‘Name That Car!’ The 1962 Ford Cougar 406 Concept

Fantastic article, Gram!  I grew up in Valley Stream close to the Freeport Stadium but don’t think I ever went there as my parents were not racing enthusiasts.  I believe the closest I got was a slot car track in Freeport after which my uncle took me and my cousins to a White Castle.  Guess you can’t forget those burgers. 

Al G. - here’s a story I found on ESPN from 2018 about Gurney and the Freeport Stadium.  There’s also a NY Times article from Oct. 13, 20214 that also mentions Gurney and Freeport.

From InstaGRAM Report: The Racing History of Freeport Stadium

Thanks Brian for the additional research and your field trip to the location.  Glad to have some “boots” on the ground up on LI!  Happy New Year!

From Kleiner's Korner: Two Family Members Building the Motor Parkway

Just Click to Download File Above, the video is there. Notice how elevated the area is, Rosevale Avenue is seen at the end.

From Update: 12/11/2025: A 17--year old Parkway Inn Lake Ronkonkoma sign mystery likely solved

These photos are of my visit there. Even though Rosevale Ave doubled in width since the past, I still tried to copy the mystery foto. If not the trees, we would be able to see the Nursery School House. So I went into the small woods, hilly but level closer to the school property. Took a photo and a short video. Video may not play, but it just shows the woods area. Looked for evidence of tower remains, but none.

From Update: 12/11/2025: A 17--year old Parkway Inn Lake Ronkonkoma sign mystery likely solved