Vanderbilt Cup Races

That’s Joe Tracy and Al Poole who, as driver and mechanician, participated in the 1904, 1905, and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races and the 1905 and 1906 American Elimination Trials. Since the date of the photo is 1956, maybe they were celebrating the 50th. anniversary of the 1906 races. And while we’re guessing, since the V. C. R. headquarters was at the Garden City Hotel, maybe the event took place about 1/4 mile west of there at St. Paul’s School on the corner of Stewart Ave. and Rockaway Ave.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Team Reunion of Joe Tracy and Al Poole for the 1956 "Rerun"

I’m guessing that the driver is Joe Tracy, who competed in the Vanderbilt Cup Races of 1904-1906. His mechanician was Al Poole. Could they be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1906 race, when Old 16 (then #9) recorded the fastest lap but finished 10th due to tire trouble? No idea about where they are; could it be the Waldorf School in Garden City?

Source of my information is this website and the Audrain Museum in Newport, which I visited yesterday and which has the car (a Locomobile) on display.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Team Reunion of Joe Tracy and Al Poole for the 1956 "Rerun"

In 1968 streets of Cambridge and Norcross off of Powell ave would have been on map

From Nassau County Department of Pubic Works Surveys and Maps: Closing the Motor Parkway

its Joe Tracy behind the wheel and George Robertson Riding mechanic. as both men were drivers I do not know that they ever ‘‘teamed’’ together. Tracy won the ‘06 Elimination race and placed 10th in the Vanderbilt cup that same year. Robertson won the 1908 Vanderbilt cup.
the young boy by the hood of OLD 16 seems mystified by the 2 Amazing Gentlemen.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Team Reunion of Joe Tracy and Al Poole for the 1956 "Rerun"

can anybody connect me with frank schaeffer? Many thanks, renald

From Mystery Foto #24 Solved: The 1911 E-M-F Racer Shown at the 2019 Elegance at Hershey

-Identify the “team” in Old 16

Joe Tracy Al Poole

-Identify the Vanderbilt Cup Races in which this team drove together

1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race, the 1905 American Elimination Race, the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race, the 1906 American Elimination Race, and the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

-Kudos questions: What was being celebrated? Where was the photo taken? Hint: It was at a Nassau County private school.
I believe this to be October 9, 1954 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Vanderbilt Cup Race, but that took place at the Garden City Hotel and Mineola Fairgrounds, and the hint is saying I’m incorrect about location…so I’ll wait for the answer on this one.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Team Reunion of Joe Tracy and Al Poole for the 1956 "Rerun"

I believe this is my grandfather George Roberson and Glenn Eldridge winners of 1908 Vanderbilt cup. Not sure the year or location.  Thank you Howard.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Team Reunion of Joe Tracy and Al Poole for the 1956 "Rerun"

Deadman’s curve was a much steeper pitched bend than what is shown here, I believe.

From Bethpage Newsgram & Mid-Island Times: Vanderbilt Cup Races through Bethpage

Art,

Major clue on the alleged 1968 maps - the absence of the Meadowbrook Parkway extension which opened in 1956.  Many of the local roadways cutting through or adjacent to Mitchel Field were long gone by then too.

From Nassau County Department of Pubic Works Surveys and Maps: Closing the Motor Parkway

Please Al, don’t be negative on yourself. The schoolhouse was such a nifty looking building. When I noticed the property was marked as ‘Historical’ on the base map, I was hoping that the building was re-located to be restored, etc. It was likely demolished. Glad you were paying attention and that “as usual”, you were aware of info that most of don’t : )  Thanks

From Kleiner's Kolumn: Documenting the Ezekiel Smith Farmway Bridge in Melville Over Time

That’s Vince Gardner working the molds. Here he is working on a rear spoiler for a Mustang project with Alex Tremulis. Together they also built the body for the Gyronaut X-1 motorcycle streamliner, the World’s Fastest Motorcycle from 1966 to 1970. Looking forward to more shots of the Mustang III being built!

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive:63 Photos Discovered of the Mustang III Being Built at DST in 1964.

Here’s the office building on the corner.

From Kleiner's Kolumn: Documenting the Ezekiel Smith Farmway Bridge in Melville Over Time

Cherry Ave noted at the Botto Bridge location ends up being quite obvious. I actually remember walking on this wood chip path while “looking for motor pkwy” a long time ago. Maps below:

From Nassau County Department of Pubic Works Surveys and Maps: Closing the Motor Parkway

Brian, Thanks for the update, the last time I visited the area was when I wrote the book on the Parkway, getting careless and sloppy in my old age. Good to have a number of folks involved.

From Kleiner's Kolumn: Documenting the Ezekiel Smith Farmway Bridge in Melville Over Time

This is like a scrapbook, thanks for pursuing this Art. My mind is already working:

* Old Courthouse was still active north to I U Willets Rd, so that’s why this bridge survived.
* Recall an old Newsday article about the LIRR planning to utilize the LIMP between Roslyn Rd & Mineola Ave, maybe this is why #12 and perhaps 18 survived until the 1980’s, but #17 ( Westbury Ave ) I’m not sure of. Trolley line use ended in the 1920’s. Maybe there were plans for a LIRR spur?
* The road over the Botto bridge in Bethpage was known as Cherry Ave. I’ll look into this.

Too many thoughts, I’m going to bed.

From Nassau County Department of Pubic Works Surveys and Maps: Closing the Motor Parkway

Al Velocci - You mention that the schoolhouse survives to this day. Below are 2 images - Current Historical Aerial Road Map displaying this area, still with ‘Lower Melville School’ ( Historical ), on the S/E side like we all understand. The school is definitely not at this location anymore, wether demolished or moved. The other is the ‘Tax Map’ for #88 Maxess Rd, public record of this location since 1995. One would have to visit the County Clerk in Riverhead for earlier than 1995. I visited once for my family history. If the schoolhouse we know of survives today, I don’t know where it went.

From Kleiner's Kolumn: Documenting the Ezekiel Smith Farmway Bridge in Melville Over Time

Al Velocci - Okay, so I guess the schoolhouse that Ron Ridolph captured in the early 1980’s wasn’t built in 1872. Below are Images A - Lower Melville School & Outhouse built in 1863 etc, and B - New Lower Melville School built in 1872 etc. I wanted you to see these next to each other. Whom ever captioned these images were wrong about Image B. I’ll post another comment with images afterwards.

From Kleiner's Kolumn: Documenting the Ezekiel Smith Farmway Bridge in Melville Over Time

I’m guessing your maps might be from around 1937.  On the Bethpage view, north of Central Avenue, there are streets visible where Grumman was located.

From Nassau County Department of Pubic Works Surveys and Maps: Closing the Motor Parkway

Art Kleiner:

Thanks Mike, yes looks like the Westbury Road bridge was retained, however not sure about the Newbridge Road bridge going to LILCO.  Might just be the roadway between Wantagh Parkway and Newbridge Road that went to LILCO, however as we know LILCO does have high tension poles east and west of Newbridge, so maybe they took the bridge too.  But if I was LILCO at the time why not have the county bear the burden of dismantling it?  The Newbridge Road bridge may have more details in the future, if so will do a specific post on that.

From Nassau County Department of Pubic Works Surveys and Maps: Closing the Motor Parkway

Nice work Art! If I’m reading the notes correctly the Westbury Road bridge was retained for future use and the Newbridge Road bridge was sold to LILCO. I believe both were torn down during or just after World War 2. Looking forward to seeing more of the information.

From Nassau County Department of Pubic Works Surveys and Maps: Closing the Motor Parkway