Vanderbilt Cup Races

Weird map - it shows the gate SOUTH of OB Rd.  Which way were you facing when you took the second pic (facing the fence), Dave?  Mayhap we should do this off-line or start a new thread continuing Farnsworth coverage in the 24 Oct 2018 blog post (with the gate ca, 1930).  Sam, III

From The Classic Car Magazine: The Wallis Bird Estate Classics

Howard is being kind in not mentioning that when I supplied him with this photo I told him I thought we were looking west at the Bell Blvd. bridge and the cut on the left was the old ROW of the Parkway.  in 1996 there still were traces of asphalt of the original Parkway row on the east side of Bell Blvd. Over a period of several weeks that year I cut a path on the old ROW from the new ROW to Bell Blvd. There were several broken posts lying about.

From Mystery Foto #43 Solved: A 1996 of the Entrance and Exit Ramps to Springfield Boulevard at the Rocky Hill Lodge Site

I find it quite disheartening when elected officials promise to preserve in public but once behind closed doors enact or sign off on documents and permits that totally negate there promises. I always hope that we can preserve history, learn from it both the good and the bad. I hope another learning opportunity is not lost. Keep on motoring down the road of life.

From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot

Check it out SB3

http://www.oldlongisland.com/2008/12/farnsworth-front-gate.html?m=1

From The Classic Car Magazine: The Wallis Bird Estate Classics

Perhaps we’re getting too far afield here.  ???  I remember those old gate posts but weren’t they on the WEST side of CVRd., across CVRd. from the Bird estate?  As I recall, the Bird mansion was on the EAST side, north of the garage.  Another mansion, p’raps?  Sam, III

From The Classic Car Magazine: The Wallis Bird Estate Classics

I may be a wee bit late, but you’re a wee bit wrong!

I’m not talking about a gate, I’m talking about the original, magnificent OLD entry gate to the mansion, hidden in the woods. See pics.

From The Classic Car Magazine: The Wallis Bird Estate Classics

Dave R. - kinda looks like you’re a wee bit late for those gates.  Attached is looking NNE at the corner.  Sam, III

From The Classic Car Magazine: The Wallis Bird Estate Classics

I’m not a car guy, but I’m very familiar with this location. About two years ago a new owner bought the place, renovated/upgraded all of the garage space. My company did some work in there. The owner was nice enough to show me around before the renovation, as you know I love that stuff. Above the garages was always some living space. There were stables, as you know all the old estates had stables. The new owner is very much a car guy so maybe there will be some more shows in the future. I begged him not to remove the original mansion entry pillars that still remain on the corner of chicken valley and oyster bay road. I love ruins. We shall see!

From The Classic Car Magazine: The Wallis Bird Estate Classics

Bob, thanks.

Sadly, Anthony Causi, the Newsday photographer for this assignment, passed away from COVID-19 at the age of 48 years in April. Be safe everyone! Wear a mask!

From Newsday: Ready for HIS STORY

Thanks Sam! Haven’t been up there in 20+ years! that field shown next to the garages was where all the auction attendees parked their cars which as I mentioned included a lot of pre WII era classic cars. Quiz me anytime you like! Glad to have any and all information to get the story correct - ALWAYS!

From The Classic Car Magazine: The Wallis Bird Estate Classics

Mark S. - far be it from me to quiz Walt but - not quite.  The garage complex is very much still there but sits one “lot” in from CVRd. (see attached aerial).  Sam, III

From The Classic Car Magazine: The Wallis Bird Estate Classics

This looks like it’s in Oakland Gardens Queens, with the exit ramps to Springfield Blvd facing west.

From Mystery Foto #43 Solved: A 1996 of the Entrance and Exit Ramps to Springfield Boulevard at the Rocky Hill Lodge Site

the garages should be on the NE corner of Chicken Valley Road and Planting Fields Rd.

From The Classic Car Magazine: The Wallis Bird Estate Classics

the garages had been converted into housing after the auction of the cars and were on the corner of the road that leads to the Planting Fields estate and the main gates to enter that estate ( no longer used for years) are not far away from the garages in question . The main ( Bird’s) house was demolished years ago as it was left to ruin when Mrs. Bird went to Europe to spend the rest of her life.

From The Classic Car Magazine: The Wallis Bird Estate Classics

Couldn’t find this The Classic Car magazine other than a UK publication? Not Hemming’s, anyway interesting article, most not in good condition, worn tires, etc.
Living near Locust Valley, had to find out this Farnsworth Garage location, I got a online website Old Long Island, has a listing of old estates on the Island and information about them, I click on ‘Farnsworth’, would this be location of the garage? It has a Comments section, a comment from the one who posted the story about the Birds and what happened about the estates, GONE!

From The Classic Car Magazine: The Wallis Bird Estate Classics

Easy one!

Looking west at Springfield Blvd bridge. Exit ramps on both sides.

From Mystery Foto #43 Solved: A 1996 of the Entrance and Exit Ramps to Springfield Boulevard at the Rocky Hill Lodge Site

Great photos!  I was a student at Stewart School in the late ‘60s and find it hard to believe that as much time has now passed as once passed between the time the photos of the B-2 were taken and when I went to school nearby!  Time sure does fly (no pun intended).  Please keep up your outstanding efforts to connect the glory years of autos and planes with today.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: A 1929 Curtiss B-2 Condor Bomber Flyover Over Roosevelt Field, Merrick Avenue and the Motor Parkway

Walt, not that I know of.  Bob turned up in my driveway in Mineola about then with his entire family aboard his 1932(?) Imperial 8 but the car was a CH, with a 135” w/b, not the bigger 145” w/b CG.  He came to see my CG Close-Coupled Sedan.  For the rest of you, Bob Hibbard was a dyed-in-the-wool Chrysler fan who was head of the local (LI) Chrysler club, as I recall.  The full ‘31 CG sedan resided next door to the remnants of Frank Buck’s zoo in Massapequa back then.  Oh, yes; I completely forgot to note that Weymann bodies were especially noted for having fabric door and body panels.  Sam, III

From The Classic Car Magazine: The Wallis Bird Estate Classics

Sam you are correct there were holes cut in the hoods of the Bugatti’s at least the one Austin bought , the type 35. I was told it was for easy/quicker access when used at the George Vanderbilt Cup Races in Roosevelt Field raceway to service anything quickly . Did that 1931 Chrysler Imperial CG sedan eventually find an owner with Bob Hibbard briefly about 1963-64? The one Bob had , had a transmission that needed attention.

From The Classic Car Magazine: The Wallis Bird Estate Classics

Great pic of Healy’s Zust; I knew of the make but this got me curious.  <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zust> reveals it was originally Züst and one 28/45 HP was in the 1908 New York to Paris Race.  Sam, III

From Kleiner's Korner: Two Cars that Didn't Make it to the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race