Vanderbilt Cup Races

So very sorry to hear this.  It was always so good to see Sam and family at Easter Parade and at The Westbury Car Show.  Always the Gentleman, and SUCH a lovely family.

From Sad News: We Lost a Good Friend and Master Mechanic

Thanks for sharing.May he rest in peace

From Sad News: We Lost a Good Friend and Master Mechanic

I am in shock to say the least. SO very sorry to read this news. I knew Sam and his parents as well through the many car activities that we used to all attend , especially the commemorative reruns/celebrations held to honor the anniversary of the Vanderbilt Cup Races that were organized by the Long Island Old Car Club VMCCA. For many years we also saw each other at the tuesday night cruise night on Dogwood Avenue. My sincerest condolences to the Greco family.

From Sad News: We Lost a Good Friend and Master Mechanic

So sorry for the loss ....

From Sad News: We Lost a Good Friend and Master Mechanic

South side of Nassau Blvd. (Horace Harding Blvd.) in Black Stump-cum-Kissena Park, Flushing (today’s Fresh Meadows), looking east at the western terminus of the LIMP (with kiosk out of sight to the right), from about today’s 194th Street.  Far sign promoted development of what later became Fresh Meadow(s) housing complex; near sign advertised the Parkway.  Muddy verge was later paved, tree-lined, and sidewalked.  Cars are from the late 30’s.  Guessing historic because it’s the only such view and probably taken just about when the LIMP closed on Easter Sunday, 16 Apr 1938.  Howzat?  Sam, III

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

Another Sam, III?  Never realized.  That somehow makes it more personal to me.  This is a sad blow to HK and the whole Greco family.  My sincerest condolences to all.  Sam, III

From Sad News: We Lost a Good Friend and Master Mechanic

The lampposts are those of the City (which are making a comeback today). The right of way appears very wide for Queens, which is consistent with Horace Harding Blvd in the late ‘30s and the ‘40 just before and during the War. Given that I grew up in Fresh Meadows, my hunch is that the view is looking east at or near the old entrance to what was the Motor Parkway. The angle of the intersecting road might have been the gateway road into the Motor Parkway entrance at its terminus in Fresh Meadows, which would have opened in 1926.

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

Howard

My deepest sympathy to you and sam’s family

Mark

From Sad News: We Lost a Good Friend and Master Mechanic

So sorry for this loss…

From Sad News: We Lost a Good Friend and Master Mechanic

Sign images & info.

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

*Location & Orientation of Photo - Photographer was standing on the south side of Horace Harding Blvd, facing east capturing the LIMP Western Terminus.

*Historic Significance - I believe the fading copy on the large LIMP sign was the final wording for pkwy users just before the 1938 closing. This is what I can make out - 50 MILES OF SAFE ? ? ? / SPEED LIMIT 55 MILES PER HOUR / ADMISSION 75 CT ? TAX

The other sign beyond “Sterlingshire” by United Associates is likely a real estate advertising.

*Photo date & reasoning - I’ll say 1940 - 1945, educated guess. After looking at the google map, the terminus was more expanded than I thought.

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

This proves to all “politicians will be politicians” that come election day you need to make the effort to go and vote even if the people on the ballot face no opposition. There is a write in space - your disapproval of the candidates can be made known by writing in a name that sends a message you would rather vote for a clown then the people listed who you consider clowns! Take the time to go to a public civic meeting and bring up the subject you care about that was ignored or not carried out to your satisfaction by elected officials - that will go down as in the record books that not all people were happy. It also shows support for the decision on issues of preservation like Mr. Bellmer made - make sure the local newspapers know about how unhappy people are.

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

Here’s my guess: Nassau Boulevard entrance to the LIMP, facing east on Nassau (later Horace Harding) Boulevard. The western-most entrance. In the distance is the crossing of Queens Road, or Hollis Court Blvd. It’s historic (to me) because it’s the first time I’ve seen a full photo of this entrance. One of the billboards advertises the LIMP. I’m not sure what Sterlingshire is but I’ll guess it’s a planned residential community. I can’t guess the year, but I’d say it’s the early 30s or at latest 1938, the year the LIMP closed. In the 40s there was a rudimentary service road being built on Nassau Boulevard and that road isn’t there yet.

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

Hi Walt, I can confirm that Bill Bellmer has been diligent in trying to preserve this section of the Motor Parkway. Unfortunately, politicians are politicians.

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

Having trouble but the latest appears to be a Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker; it’s not the earlier WB-1 or -2 Wright-Bellanca.  All early Bellancas had airfoil-shaped struts and such for greater lift.  The Mack is an early heavy B-series (BQ?) and the bulldog first appeared in 1932.  Guess who was the creator for the Mack Truck Photograph Collection at the Benson Ford Research Center in Dearborn, MI:  Henry Austin Clark, Jr.!  [Getting far afield again!]  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: The Long Island Aviation Country Club (Circa 1940-1945)

Mrs. Vanderbilt appears to have been relieved when Willie K. crossed the finish line and wasn’t shy about showing it ! From The Autobain, Sept. 1900.

From VanderbiltCupRaces Exclusive: The 1900 Newport Automobile Races & the First Vanderbilt Cup Trophy

Gassing up at the club!  From “Aero Digest” of June, 1930.

From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: The Long Island Aviation Country Club (Circa 1940-1945)

For those interested in looking through the neighborhood on your own, I have circled the area below on a Google Earth screen grab in which the Sterlingshire homes were built.

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

I found a photo from a Jan 2nd 1938 Brooklyn Daily Eagle article describing the Sterlingshire homes and a photo of what I believe to be the model home. On Google Earth, I started a virtual ‘driving tour’ of the neighborhood to possibly locate a home as original as possible. The Sterlingshire neighborhood is located just East of Hollis Ct. Blvd on the North side of the Grand Central. I did come across 2 homes on 212th that are very similar to the 1938 photo, but not exact. Unlike later developments, homes were individually designed and have since been heavily modified in the last 80 years, so finding the exact home from the newspaper article may prove to be impossible.

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

Art, We know that the Vanderbilt Cup Races had timed starts, that is the racers went off one at a time, not all at once. roughly one minute apart. Was that the format of the 1901 Newport races ?

From The 1901 Newport Automobile Races