Vanderbilt Cup Races

Looks like Roosevelt Field when it was still an open air mall, my guess around 1958.Other than the Pontiac on the right, I didn’t have time look over the cars.

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved: The Open-Air Roosevelt Field Mall in 1957

Sam revered you in the same respect, Al. It was obvious that he enjoyed participating with everyone on Howard’s site here. He’d also let it be known if something was right or wrong, no mystery there : )    RIP Sam III

From Sad News: The Passing of Sam Berliner III

Henry Renard was my uncle. My dad (8th grade at the time) has a scrapbook with original photos and articles he clipped from local papers on midget racing.

From Midget Auto Racing at Roosevelt Raceway in 1939

Very sad to hear about Sam’s passing
He definitely was one of the pioneers in chasing Long Island motor Parkway
RIP

From Sad News: The Passing of Sam Berliner III

Again a nice set of photos, of which several are unknown to me. No real corrections this time, only a few additions. The postcard with Mme. du Gast shows her in her Panhard car during the Paris-Berlin race of 1901, where she would end on a respectable 33rd place. On the photo with Salleron and his Mors he is passing the Mercedes of Jenatzy with no.86, who would end on 14th place. On the photo with Warden’s Mercedes the car with no.78 on the right is the Panhard driven by the Belgian gentleman-driver De Crawhez. Interesting is the photo with Mme. du Gast passing a car which must be Storero’s Fiat with no.44. Fiat photos of this event are rare and this is the first one I’ve seen of a Fiat during the race. Storero was a man closely associated with Fiat from the early years, until he started his own make in 1912.

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 3 - The Race that Brought Willie K. "Racing" to America"

RIP Sam. It was great working with you on my LIMP photo journal series 1999-2002. What a loss for our world and our cause

From Sad News: The Passing of Sam Berliner III

Condolences to the Berliner family. Very sorry to hear this. Sam will be missed by the many lives he has touched, and his works will always be remembered. Sam III
graciously shared his world experiences, and in return helped educate many with his demeanor. I’m going to miss this guy

Sam below at the Loco wheels, helping cleanup/restore #35 at the Eisenhower Park display in 1969.

From Sad News: The Passing of Sam Berliner III

Howard, Sorry to hear about the passing of Sam Berliner. I first met Sam at my toll lodge book signing in 2004.  It wasn’t long before I realized after Robert Miller, he was the most knowledgeable person of the Motor Parkway. More importantly, he generously shared all that he had uncovered. I hope his web site continues to be available.

From Sad News: The Passing of Sam Berliner III

I first met Sam when he used to stop in to see Guy Roese in Mineola at Guy’s house at the corner of Garfield and Horton Avenues. and at the repair station that Guy owned on Jericho Turnpike that is now Randy’s Cleaners , opposite the north end of Chaminade High School. I recall him going to Guy’s house once and Guy and I were under a 1940 Cadillac model 75 formal sedan Guy just bought and he and I were putting an exhaust system on laying on the ground on our backs. Sam’s comment was :you guys will never give up” We would talk about pre WWII cars and his love of the Chrysler Imperial CG of 1931. All of this in the mid 1960s to early 1970s. SO sad to read of his passing, he did much to keep L.I. Motor Parkway history alive.

From Sad News: The Passing of Sam Berliner III

I think we’re looking at the southeast corner of Roosevelt Field Shopping Center so the view would be to the northwest. The cars from left to right are: 1956 Chrysler, 1953 Dodge, 1953 Chevrolet, 1956 Ford, 1951 Ford, 1956 Pontiac, and maybe a 1950 Nash. It’s difficult to tell but the parking lot could still be unpaved and there are no stripes so I’ll guess the date to be late 1956, soon after the opening. Attached is a photo I found from 1965 taken at the same angle.

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved: The Open-Air Roosevelt Field Mall in 1957

Howard,  Just completed my book on the Petit Trianon Inn including the annex. Hope to have ii published later this year.

From 1958-1967 tours of the Long Island Motor Parkway #6: Petit Trianon in Lake Ronkonkoma

So sorry to hear.  Sam brought great joy and passion to his historical work.  It was both enjoyed and appreciated.

From Sad News: The Passing of Sam Berliner III

The Mystery Photo was taken at the new Roosevelt Field Shopping Center in 1956.
Photographer is shooting from southwest to the northeast direction.
The first six cars from closest to farthest are:
1956 Pontiac Star Fire
1949 Ford
1956 Ford
1951 Chevrolet
1953 Plymouth
1956 DeSoto

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved: The Open-Air Roosevelt Field Mall in 1957

Although I physically never met Sam, I had plenty of emails with him over the past few years covering many topics. It was quite obvious how intelligent he was, and he certainly mixed in his personality/humor into most correspondence.

RIP SBIII

From Sad News: The Passing of Sam Berliner III

Since I’m a Californian, I have no idea about the mall.  I might be able to identify the cars, however.  From the right (a) ‘55 Pontiac, (b) ‘49 Ford, (c) ‘55 Ford, (d) ‘54 Chevy, (e) ‘53 Olds (or maybe a Pontiac), (f) ‘56 Chrysler. . . . . . . . . Date of the photo is probably circa 1958-59.

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved: The Open-Air Roosevelt Field Mall in 1957

This looks like Mid Island Mall, later renamed Broadway Mall in Hicksville.

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved: The Open-Air Roosevelt Field Mall in 1957

As a kid who grew up near the lake, I vividly remember the grand concrete staircase that went nowhere, and always wondered what grand structure must have once justified these grand steps. Thanks so much for keeping this history alive.

From 1958-1967 tours of the Long Island Motor Parkway #6: Petit Trianon in Lake Ronkonkoma

The car on the far left of the Mystery Friday Foto #6 is a 1956 Chrysler Windsor four-door sedan. The “V” emblem on the lower quarter confirms that it is a Windsor.

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved: The Open-Air Roosevelt Field Mall in 1957

Sam was a most interesting person who will be missed by many.  Besides The Motor Parkway, Sam was passionate about many aspects of his surroundings.  I would encourage others to view Sam’s many web pages, even if just to get an idea of the dedication Sam brought to his many passions and his desire to share his knowledge.  Thanks Sam for bringing so much to us.  RIP.

Here are just two of Sam’s sites to get you started.

http://sbiii.com/rr.html
http://sbiii.com/longisld.html

And I thought it appropriate to share these two items from Sam’s website at this time.

From Sad News: The Passing of Sam Berliner III

Roosevelt Field, Garden City. The cars are facing south so the photographer is facing southeast. The cars right to left: 56 Pontiac, 50 or 51 Ford, 56 Ford, 54 Chevy? I believe this was taken in 1957 because the license plates are dark with light numbers. I remember the mall well! I use to ice skate there as a kid. The giveaway for me was the mention of Horn & Hardarts.

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved: The Open-Air Roosevelt Field Mall in 1957