About
The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
All Content © 2026 VanderbiltCupRaces.com
Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
Tom, no 1960 anything and no 1950 Pontiac (no stripes on trunk lid). As to Howard’s “Circa 1950s” pic, those are ‘57-‘58 Chrysler Corp. tail fins. Sam, III
From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: The East Norwich Turn of the Vanderbilt Race Courses As Seen in 1955
Below is the article I commented about above, LIRR had plans for the LIMP from Roslyn Rd to Willis Ave in 1960.
From Nassau County Department of Pubic Works Surveys and Maps: Closing the Motor Parkway
What a classic Motor Pkwy image! Thanks Al and Howard for sharing this image of the abandoned pkwy. Amazing this photo has survived after all this time!! I believe this mystery will test the experts’ knowledge of the LIMP roadway, where I now find myself struggling to solve as well. My best guess is we’re in Levittown looking west, ON future Salisbury Drive, looking towards the Garden City gas tank in the far distance. This mystery can’t be solved without the zoom feature. The concrete bridge guardrails in the distance likely the Old Westbury Rd bridge and NOT the Wantagh State Pkwy bridge later built by Robert Moses. This photo appears to be pre Wantagh Pkwy. This was a tough one. Thanks guys!
From Mystery Foto #43 Solved : A 1955 View of the Motor Parkway in Levittown Looking West
Nice looking maps, but none of them worked. Every time I tried to interact with them, they closed.
From Femenias Findings: A New Interactive Online Map of the Long Island Motor Parkway
I think we’re looking west from the top of the western bridge abutment at Massapequa - Hicksville Road with the bridge over Wantagh Avenue visible in the background. My rationale is that these were the only 2 parkway bridges that were built this close together. Way off in the distance is the storage tank that was on the south side of Stewart Avenue in Garden City. Could that be remnants from the demo of the Massapequa Lodge on the right edge of the photo?
From Mystery Foto #43 Solved : A 1955 View of the Motor Parkway in Levittown Looking West
Classic group photo with Shelby. Is that the sun visor in your ‘66 350? Check out that signature! Great stuff Howard and Roz. The event is heart warming
______________________________________________
Howard Kroplick
Yes, the signed visor is still on my 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350H
From The Day We Met Carroll Shelby
Love the photo with Carroll!
From The Day We Met Carroll Shelby
Sure wish I could have been there. It looked great from just these slides and images.j
From Big Crowd Enjoyed "A Trip Back in Time" in Bethpage
These are only guesses,but the houses look like Leavitt homes,making the location some where in Levittown.I’m also guessing the tall structure in the far background is Meadowbrook hosp.(Nassau cnty. med center) Hi Al,how are you? Casey
From Mystery Foto #43 Solved : A 1955 View of the Motor Parkway in Levittown Looking West
How interesting…What an undertaking it was…
From How the Planned Route of the Long Island Motor Parkway Changed from the Initial 1906 Plan
Great story…
From The Day We Met Carroll Shelby
Just a guess. Motor parkway in Lake Success going north over Northern State Pkwy. Hi-rise in background might be the first two hi-rise apartment towers in Fresh Meadows.
From Mystery Foto #43 Solved : A 1955 View of the Motor Parkway in Levittown Looking West
This is a great happening, thanks for sharing Howard.
From The Day We Met Carroll Shelby
In the second photo the white car looks like a 1960 Pontiac.
From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: The East Norwich Turn of the Vanderbilt Race Courses As Seen in 1955
I REMEMBER WHEN THE MUSTANGS WERE OFFERED FOR RENT BY HERTZ. THE WHITE ONES WERE FEW AND I ALSO REMEMBER THE BLACK ONES WITH THE GOLD STRIPE. WHAT OTHER COLORS DID THEY MAKE THEM IN. I REMEMBER MY FATHER BUYING A 66 GALAXIE 500 WITH A LT BLUE INTERIOR,AND A DARK “NIGHTMIST BLUE” EXTERIOR. I WAS 15 YRS OLD AND I REMEMBER THINKING IT LOOKED LIKE A BIG MUSTANG. IT CAME WITH A DUEL EXHAUST 250HP 352 4V REGULAR FUEL,FE MOTOR THAT I GOT TO DRIVE WHEN I GOT OLDER.WE GOT RID OF IT WHEN THE ARAB OIL EMBARGO BOOSTED THE PRICE OF GAS FROM 65CENTS A GALLON TO A $1.50 A GAL IF YOU COULD FIND IT! I ADDED TO THE PLIGHT BY DRIVING WITH THE OIL LIGHT GOING ON AND OFF UNTIL THE MOTOR BLEW. I REALLY FELT BAD THAT I DID NOT SEE THE IDIOT LITE CAUSING SUCH TROUBLE. I WAS WORST THAN A IDIOT! I RECENTLY BOUGHT A RUST FREE ONE WITH A 390 4V AND REALLY LIKE IT,GRAY COLOR THOUGH, NOT THE NIGHTMIST BLUE.
From The Day We Met Carroll Shelby
Ooh; good one! Gas holder or huge building on horizon and high-tension wires in BOTH directions. Should be a dead give-away (but not for me)! Sam, III
From Mystery Foto #43 Solved : A 1955 View of the Motor Parkway in Levittown Looking West
Excellent photo! Photographer was positioned at Newbridge Rd, facing west. LIMP bridge over Newbridge Rd is obviously demolished. I know that’s the PSEG substation to the left. LILCO at the time had the wood transmission pole set in the middle of the LIMP, a wood transmission pole is now on the N/S of Salisbury Park Drive. Bridge ahead over the Wantagh State Pkwy is existing post 1938. Going by the 1957 topo map below, a usable roadway didn’t exist between here to Carmans Rd. The bridges are noted at the Wantagh & Old Westbury Rd ( RED B ) Grace Lane is shown as a deadend like the mystery foto. Salisbury Park Dr became fully built by 1966 ( Historic Aerials ).
From Mystery Foto #43 Solved : A 1955 View of the Motor Parkway in Levittown Looking West
No research, and I’m probably wrong, but this looks like possible former location of Massapequa lodge, looking west, wantagh ave ahead of you, former bridge location. Just reminds me of that spot.
From Mystery Foto #43 Solved : A 1955 View of the Motor Parkway in Levittown Looking West
A man with a mission. You figured out how to meet Mr. Shelby without being intrusive. His foundation benefited from it and you have great treasures from that day. Great story.
From The Day We Met Carroll Shelby
Standing on what’s left of the East embankment of the Massapequa-Hicksville Rd bridge looking West in Plainedge/Bethpage. Power lines which are on the south side of the LIMP to the left. In the photo, the bridge is still standing, but was removed by 1959. Looks like the power sub station is still under construction and the larger power lines and towers have not been erected yet.
From Mystery Foto #43 Solved : A 1955 View of the Motor Parkway in Levittown Looking West
Page 433 of 1026 pages ‹ First < 431 432 433 434 435 > Last ›