Vanderbilt Cup Races

Brian, the barely-legible crosswalk may be warning, “SLOW”. I beleive I see an “O”, and a “V (W)”. This curve was likely treacherous with its blind curves in both directions. I find it a more interesting bike-path feature than the current straight path. I’m guessing its removal was due to Bell Blvd expansion below

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: A 1938 View of the Queens Motor Parkway Bike Path Looking West from Bell Boulevard

Ever wonder where some of the lesser remembered cars of the Vanderbilt Cup Races went?  Here’s a brief article regarding the Frayer-Miller air-cooled racer; further research needed to see where it went after this owner, W. B. Drown.  From “The Automobile” of April 23, 1908.

From The 1906 Air-Cooled Frayer-Millers

Sam, Your comment on Oct. 9, about the bicycle enclosure. At the beginning the Parks Dept. planned to accommodate bicyclists who preferred to leave their bikes there, They would be charged a $2.00 monthly fee for the privilege, one of the reasons for the automobile parking spaces. Don’t know if it was ever implemented.

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: A 1938 View of the Queens Motor Parkway Bike Path Looking West from Bell Boulevard

Brian, When first opened,  Moses said ” it was exclusively for bicycle riders”. He further stated “facilities for cyclists are the biggest unsatisfied need facing the Parks Department today”. Sound familiar?

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: A 1938 View of the Queens Motor Parkway Bike Path Looking West from Bell Boulevard

Never thought about this original section to be the answer. They may have wanted to establish specific lanes for bikers and walkers. But maybe people didn’t stay in the lanes as intended, and then there was confusion and crashes, especially on curves. Figure the crosswalk led to Bell Blvd.

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: A 1938 View of the Queens Motor Parkway Bike Path Looking West from Bell Boulevard

Brian and I walked this path within 5 years, but by then was a dirt path with some concrete posts still in place. It is still accessible from the current Brooklyn-Queens Greenway for all to follow.

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: A 1938 View of the Queens Motor Parkway Bike Path Looking West from Bell Boulevard

Another super rare and amazing LIMP view Howard! I was always hoping this LIMP view by the CRR would ever be seen in photography today. You’ve managed the impossible. GREAT SHOT!

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: A 1938 View of the Queens Motor Parkway Bike Path Looking West from Bell Boulevard

I’ve heard and seen the history but have seldom thought much about the DC2 - while I’ve seen enough DC3’s in person. Back when growing up in Scranton PA (of future presidential senior government official fame), Alleghany aka AGONY was still flying 2 engine prop tail draggers at AVP (now known as the Wilkes Barre Scranton International Airport) - probably DC3’s.  We would sometimes go there to a Chinese eatery overlooking the runways.  As to the ‘club’, there’s a part of me that would live to live in an air field community with a plane in everyone’s driveway.  I’d never pass the physicals these days but being able to walk outside, start up a plane and fly away always appealed.  In my father’s case, I think my mom discouraged his flying, which stopped around when I was born - and he started collecting antique cars instead.

I think we are lucky on Long Island to have a fair number of antique cars, and 2 great aircraft museums.

From Cradle of Aviation Archives: The Aircraft of the Long Island Aviation Country Club Part I

Stumped this past weekend. Thinking it has something to do with bicycles on the Queens section.

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: A 1938 View of the Queens Motor Parkway Bike Path Looking West from Bell Boulevard

Al, Sam-III: Download the article so it’s big enough to read, and scroll down a few pages. There are top views of chain-driven and shaft-driven Alcos. The chain-driven one looks like it has a tranny-diff unit under the seat, while the Austin has tranny and diff connected by shaft. I wonder if this design was unique to Alco.

From Automobile Quarterly: The Mighty Alco- A History by Beverly Rae Kimes

At one time in the late 40’s and 50’s it was Winters Garage. And his daughter lived upstairs.they were long time Mineola residents

From Kleiner's Korner: A Garage on the Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

About a month ago, there was a fire at 155 Jericho Tpke., Mineola.  The top floor was destroyed.  Good Luck Discount Store is closed, probably permanently.

From Kleiner's Korner: A Garage on the Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

I believe we are looking at part of the bicycle path that Moses created out of part of the Queens portion of the Motor Parkway.

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: A 1938 View of the Queens Motor Parkway Bike Path Looking West from Bell Boulevard

The two 1930 metal pennants purchased for the Nassau Blvd terminus were HUGE, 5ft. by 10ft. and standing 21 feet high. I see a single pole in the photo above. I wonder where the second pennant was installed?

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

Western terminus parking stalls in 1938. Courtesy Al Velocci

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

Sam, if memory serves, I read once that bicycles were rented to travel on the parkway (prohibited by Willie K during operation) to another station by Winchester Blvd. I’m assuming dual bike enclosure stations were in place on both ends of the bike path, so renters could return the bikes for one-way trips. After LIMP closing in 1938, parking stalls were available south of HHB, in the area just south of the entrance island, for renters to park their vehicles.

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

Picture of Willie K’s Sikorsky S-43 at the Long Island Aviation Club (top of picture).  Harold Vanderbilt’s plane is the one on the left of the picture showing three planes. 
From the collection of Dan Pflug.

From Cradle of Aviation Archives: The Aircraft of the Long Island Aviation Country Club Part I

Since I have not been able to locate any solid evidence of an exact location, I’m going with two wild guesses: first, looking northeast in Bethpage State Park near the polo field and used as a bridle path; second, looking east near Alley Pond Park and marked off for footraces. Due to extensive vegetation on the concrete extensions, I’ll guess the date around 1950.

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: A 1938 View of the Queens Motor Parkway Bike Path Looking West from Bell Boulevard

Al P., here you go - top and side views of an Austin 25/30 chassis.  By having the transaxle and differential bolted to the frame, you reduced the unsprung weight, thus achieving a smother ride.  Sam, III

From Automobile Quarterly: The Mighty Alco- A History by Beverly Rae Kimes

As a child I would walk in Roslyn Estates up the hill towards what is now the LIE to a abandoned estate and play in the old house, but I can’t remember the name of the property. Try

From The Mansion House in Roslyn, the 1905 Headquarters for the "X" Mercedes