Vanderbilt Cup Races

Robert Grave Jr’s exquisite garage (1908-1966) in Mineola, NY, on dead-end street Searing Av, looking NW, where he housed his 1906 Mercedes racer for the 1905, ‘06, and ‘08 Vanderbilt Cup races. I believe Jenatzy was Grave’s race driver, later Stricker. The garage later became Corpus Christi school in the ‘50s, when the trees were likely planted. Townhouses were being built on this location in recent years. Take me back, please. My camera is charged and ready

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: The Grave's Garage on Searing Avenue in Mineola

Thank Greg and Dee -  always good to go back and compare.  Here’s my exploration of the area from 2009. 
https://www.freewebs.com/limparkway/cunninghampark.htm

From Update: Greg O's Discovery: Then & Now- The Hidden Section Of the Motor Parkway in Cunningham Park, Queens

Emmett - I agree with you reusing the unused historic space for a nature bike/trail. Though only 900 ft in length from Cunningham’s Field 6 to the Clearview Expwy, this achievement would benefit everyone, and easily accessed from Union Tpke. A simple northward spur from the Clearview Expwy dead end towards the existing Brooklyn/Queens Greenway would complete the circuit. 

Sam Berliner III’s website reveals J.J. Conroy’s 1970s photos of this area was much clearer back then. Photos Conroy07 and Conroy08 is the same area in question. Link here - http://sbiii.com/limphst1.html

900 ft of wasted historic space is waiting for action. Let’s do it!

From Update: Greg O's Discovery: Then & Now- The Hidden Section Of the Motor Parkway in Cunningham Park, Queens

Great post. Love finding this stuff. Great work Greg and Dee!

Back in 2016 Sam and I discovered this section. Click on this link to see some good pics and video from this location. It is really tough to see this stuff in summer w the vegetation, it’s much better to go in Feb or early March for optimum visibility.

https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/sam_daves_excellent_lost_motor_parkway_adventure_i_clearview_expressway_que

From Update: Greg O's Discovery: Then & Now- The Hidden Section Of the Motor Parkway in Cunningham Park, Queens

Hello I own the blue with light blue 1925 dodge Brothers Suburban. I am
trying to find out any information you have if this the truck you restored I know the truck was in Parsipany NJ from 79 80 from a DPW parking permit in the window.Any thing about this great car would be much appreciated. Thank you   John please feel free to call me 862 354 3535 after 6 pm

From From the Hugh Nutting Collection: Insight into the Woodies of Huntington's J.T. Cantrell and Company

I walked this this back in 2000 and took pics. Actually went back this spring and took pics , but it’s overgrown. I have a Lost Long Island FB page on the LIMP. The pics are there

From Update: Greg O's Discovery: Then & Now- The Hidden Section Of the Motor Parkway in Cunningham Park, Queens

I have been in contact with NYC parks regarding clearing out that area to make it a trail. I am going to reach out to the city again. Would be a nice trail if it connected to the Brooklyn Queens greenway somehow. It would be a days work with the right equipment and would make good use of the space. They are going to be start repaving and renovating other portions of the parkway soon. See some pics from spring.

From Update: Greg O's Discovery: Then & Now- The Hidden Section Of the Motor Parkway in Cunningham Park, Queens

Nice work Greg and Dee! If Emmett’s clean up day should come up, count me in. As Greg hinted, heavy machinery will be required to clear out large toppled trees, and others still planted (lots of weight) in the area. A few years ago, the RoW was impossible to follow in some spots, and that was in late winter when foliage/insects were low. Brian and I found some posts still standing (roadway and RoW) on both sides of the roadway. This would be a great nature trail to preserve

From Update: Greg O's Discovery: Then & Now- The Hidden Section Of the Motor Parkway in Cunningham Park, Queens

To answer Art: My interpretation is: SS=solid surface [the LIMP asphalt], hp=high point [the edge of the concrete], CP=control point [reference point], TC=top of curb, bc= bottom of curb. The fences at both ends will have both pedestrian and vehicle gates for access to the parking area and beyond. The other sheets are details for the steps, fences, lights, etc - not so interesting except to the company doing the work.

Attached are photos taken today, 2 August. #1 shows the start of retaining wall construction at west end. #2 shows embankment cut away to install retaining wall to be followed by backfill up to the level of the roadway concrete. #3 shows what appears to be the original grade [dark dirt at bottom] before the area was filled to create the superelevation of the LIMP curve; also a broken concrete post. I have not been told so far of any salvaged whole posts in the work area.

The gravel overlay is called out as 4 inches thick over the entire area, so I guess it can’t be swept off as easily as I thought.

From Construction Work Has Begun on the Garden City Stewart Field Parking Lot Adjacent to the Motor Parkway

Although harder to find since invasive species have taken over the forest, there is surviving roadway in the area Greg documents. Greg’s pictures shows a bikeway post, often mistaken for a parkway feature.
There is another hidden section that was the southern approach to the North Hempstead Tpke bridge. Today, the bikeway runs west of the parkway there. One can discover parkway by going north from the 73rd Ave bridge and finding the line of posts pictured or going south from the Holy Cow playground and climbing the “hill,” the remains of the southern bridge embankment.  (This hidden area is even more impenetrable than Greg’s and contains spiky vines and poisonous plants.)

From Update: Greg O's Discovery: Then & Now- The Hidden Section Of the Motor Parkway in Cunningham Park, Queens

This one had me stumped for most of the weekend but then I finally remembered a mystery photo from several years ago with a cement wall near train tracks. Could we be looking north in Mineola with Robert Graves’ property on the other side of the wall? Graves had a Mercedes that ran in the 1905 Vanderbilt cup and two more Mercedes that were entered in the 1906 and 1908 races. As to who planted the trees, I’ll guess it was Mrs. Graves; or maybe the new owners of the property after it became a school.

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: The Grave's Garage on Searing Avenue in Mineola

Let’s do it Greg! Rent a tractor for the day!

From Update: Greg O's Discovery: Then & Now- The Hidden Section Of the Motor Parkway in Cunningham Park, Queens

Emmett- It is extremely overgrown there. At this point, you’d need some fairly sizable machinery to clear out what’s there.

From Update: Greg O's Discovery: Then & Now- The Hidden Section Of the Motor Parkway in Cunningham Park, Queens

Speaking of crying, I simply can’t find my old pix of the Raymond Court segment; I KNOW they were posted!  However, on my LIMP History page 2, at <http://sbiii.com/limphst2.html#kienzle> is a 2002 pic looking down on the GM’s house from the RoW, specifically showing the difference in grade noted above <http://sbiii.com/limppix/limpgc02.jpg> (attached).  Sam, III

From Construction Work Has Begun on the Garden City Stewart Field Parking Lot Adjacent to the Motor Parkway

I’m glad YOU can see anything readily identifiable there!  Is it safe to assume that the blur at lower right is LIRR trackage?  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: The Grave's Garage on Searing Avenue in Mineola

I’m not sure whether to cheer or cry.  Cheer that some care is being taken.  Cry at one more example of so-called “progress” unnecessarily eroding the LIMP RoW.  Thanks to all who are on top of this.  Sam, III

From Construction Work Has Begun on the Garden City Stewart Field Parking Lot Adjacent to the Motor Parkway

I live in Hollis Hills and use the motor parkway every single day. I would love to organize a team to clear this old abandoned section of the parkway so it could be used as a trail. Thoughts?

From Update: Greg O's Discovery: Then & Now- The Hidden Section Of the Motor Parkway in Cunningham Park, Queens

This is just GREAT!  After all these years, more keeps on turning up!  Thanks, Dee and Greg.  Sam, III

From Update: Greg O's Discovery: Then & Now- The Hidden Section Of the Motor Parkway in Cunningham Park, Queens

Added that last question, so actually three questions!

From Construction Work Has Begun on the Garden City Stewart Field Parking Lot Adjacent to the Motor Parkway

Thanks Bill - two questions:
1.  What do the markings (SS, hp, CP, TC, bc) on your first survey refer to?
2.  The far west side of the parking area shows a new 6’ chain link fence - will this prohibit walking further west along the old ROW? 
3.  Is it possible to view the other sheets referred to?

Thanks for documenting this unfortunate destruction of the Motor Parkway remnants.  Hopefully something will be left for us parkway enthusiasts.

From Construction Work Has Begun on the Garden City Stewart Field Parking Lot Adjacent to the Motor Parkway