Vanderbilt Cup Races

I have only few answers. Bridgehampton Racing Circuit, Noyak, NY. The victory group was standing on the main straight of the race course by the pit area (left side of photo where the racers are parked). Photographer is facing NE towards the Martini & Rossi pedestrian overpass. The Chevron overpass is behind the photographer on the same straightaway. Based on clothing, microphone, hair styles, lamp posts, this photo was taken in the early ‘60s. The “S” is possibly for SCCA. Could that be Willie K’s nephew Cornelius Vanderbilt IV presenting the cup? Waiting patiently for this week’s answers. HURRY UP!

The race course is now entirely occupied by the Bridge Golf Course. Map link—>
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1396j0_672hYkvbcNFJInbc1mXNJspD9f&ll=40.9829402530793,-72.34230764357858&z=15

Cockpit view video while racing on The Bridge—>
https://youtu.be/UnT4d_Mt6kg

From Mystery Friday Foto #20 Solved: The End of the 1960 Cornelius Vanderbilt Cup Race

Race: 1960 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Trophy: Cornelius Vanderbilt Cup
People holding the trophy: Cornelius Vanderbilt IV, Henry Carter
Photo place & date: Roosevelt Raceway, June 1960
“S” logo: Stanguellini. An Italian maker of small sports cars.
WFYI base: Mineola
Orientation of the photographer? No idea

From Mystery Friday Foto #20 Solved: The End of the 1960 Cornelius Vanderbilt Cup Race

I wonder if that painting was used as a backdrop because the train was number 999. Turn 999 over and it is 666 the sign of the Devil! It has been a long time since I have seen that movie but wasn’t that meeting a turning point of the Organization?

From Update: The Hunt for the "Godfather" Train Painting is Over

This stretch of LIMP from Raff Ave to Weatbury Ave, and a bit over Westbury Ave before the ballfields is a very unique and easily accessible route.

I definitely recommend going in late winter / very early spring as the thorns make things a lot less fun and visible!

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #7 Mineola & Carle Place

Recognized Cornelius V., IV, so it had to be the “phoney” 1960 race at Roosevelt Field (I vas dere, Cholly, even to being on the course in my XK-120M Jag afterwards),  I usually work from memory but, this time, I cheated big time!  Look at the course map, attached.  We must be at the finish line looking (LI) west at the Martini & Rossi bridge on Sunday, 19 June.  C.V.,IV is handing his cup to Henry Carter, driver of the winning Stanguellini FIAT.  Carter’s “S” badge (took me forever to find it!) stands for Stanguellini (also attached).  FYI, WFYI has been in Indianapolis since 15 Mar 1988 but was in Mineola at 1520 on your AM dial ‘way back.  I vaguely remember a tall antenna atop a building across the north plaza from the Mineola station - anyone?  ‘Nuf cheating?  Sam, III

From Mystery Friday Foto #20 Solved: The End of the 1960 Cornelius Vanderbilt Cup Race

Thanks to Greg Anderson and Jerry Jordak for clearing up this mystery. The painting as it appears in the movie scenes has subdued colors which are similar to the color pallet of much of my grandfather’s early work. However the pictures of the painting in its current state show its correct pallet, and it clearly is not a Helck.

The artist, Lumen Martin Winters, executed many murals for public buildings, including the United Nations General Assembly building. You can learn more about him here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumen_Martin_Winter.

From Update: The Hunt for the "Godfather" Train Painting is Over

Just so nice to see the father /son activity - the memories being made and shared with all of us. SO few people now take an interest in what is around them to notice significant places and pieces in time , and just rely upon and take for granted that “someone” will record it for them so they can have it when it suits them.

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #7 Mineola & Carle Place

I imagine the low price received for the painting was due mainly because of its size, very very large! I have a b & w sketch done by Peter Helck that I bought from Austin Clark at least 4 decades ago that also has a train in the backround - Peter used a large scale Buddy L toy train set for the scale and proportion of his art work and had one of these Buddy L ‘outdoor railroads’ on the wall of his studio . When I visited him with Austin I saw it and told Peter ” hey I have one of those” we both enjoyed that and spoke about how well Buddy L toys reproduced the proportions etc of the Baldwin locomotive in the 1920s. I am taking my sketch with also has three old cars in the foreground on a road scene ( curved dash Olds, Old 16 etc) to be reframed as the paper is starting to wrinkle and it will eventually be sold as I just have to much stuff and no place to display it.

From Update: The Hunt for the "Godfather" Train Painting is Over

While strictly a technical novice regarding these striking classics, I love their period beauty.

From Close-ups of Two 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Winners

Love this series ....Thanks again for the effort taken to compile this series…

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #7 Mineola & Carle Place

Mystery #20
Cornelius Vanderbilt Cup Formula Junior SCCA race
Winner’s Circle, Roosevelt Field road course June 19, 1960
CV IV and winner Harry Carter in photo
Carter raced a Stanguellini, presumed “S”

Photog could have been standing on the TV remote van, slight elevation over crowd.  Possible but very unlikely he was balanced on the front wheels of this racecar.

Regarding the snooty, back-handed comment in your own report…
I assure you this race was taken very seriously by Masters Carter, Wallace, Truitt, Davis, and Flink who, with their own cars and money, defeated teams with well-known hired-gun drivers.  For SCCA amateur drivers to race against the Rodriguez brothers, Walt Hansgen, and Rodger Ward was a great opportunity;  then to defeat them, amazing to think about nearly sixty years later.  Westfield Walt and Ward had a history of winning in northeast, Lime Rock events of this time period.  They were not celebrity fish out of water.  Way to go Carter, Truitt, and Lew Flink!

Thank you for posting the photo.
Gary
ELVA / Scorpion club
elleva.net

From Mystery Friday Foto #20 Solved: The End of the 1960 Cornelius Vanderbilt Cup Race

This photo was taken on June 19, 1960 in the parking lot of Roosevelt Raceway (harness track) as Cornelius Vanderbilt IV (nephew of Willie K.) is presenting the Cornelius Vanderbilt Cup to Harry Carter who had just won the 1960 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The “S” logo represents Stanguellini, the manufacturer of Carter’s racer. WFYI, at 1520 on the dial, was an AM radio station based in Mineola. I believe we are looking west along the straightaway with the Martini & Rossi pedestrian bridge in the background. Way off in the distance could be the Franklin National Bank building.

From Mystery Friday Foto #20 Solved: The End of the 1960 Cornelius Vanderbilt Cup Race

New to your blog, Howard. Love this Helck letter series! Always been a fan of his work and this gave me more insight. Thanks!

From Helck Family Collection: Peter Helck's Illustrated Wagner Envelopes

Clear, sharp pictures, nice job guys!

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #6 East Williston

Nice location for a show and the weather cooperated.

From Highlights from the Regimental Activities NAFI Auto Show at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

The “S” is the Stanguellini logo on winning driver Henry Carter’s racing suit, Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAY, June 19, 1960! The Vanderbilt Cup revival put on by the New York chapter of the SCCA.

From Mystery Friday Foto #20 Solved: The End of the 1960 Cornelius Vanderbilt Cup Race

-Identify the race, the trophy and the people holding the trophy
1960 Vanderbilt Cup Race and trophy. Cornelius Vanderbilt IV handing the trophy to winner Harry Carter

-Where was the photo taken and on what date?
Finish line of the ‘60 VCR in the Roosevelt Raceway parking lot June 19, 1960

-What does the “S” logo in the photo stand for?
I’ll assume ‘Stanguellini’ the type of car Carter drove.

-WFYI was based in which Long Island village?
Mineola

-Kudos question: What was the orientation of the photographer? Provide a rationale.
Pits on the left so probably Looking Southwest down the course straightaway.

From Mystery Friday Foto #20 Solved: The End of the 1960 Cornelius Vanderbilt Cup Race

I saw one of these at a vintage automotive museum exhibit in Montreal back in 1990.

From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype

Amazing the old parkway south of the lodge can still be ridden on bike. I have to try this someday. Thanks Sam and Dave for the updates and thorough exploration!

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #7 Mineola & Carle Place

Thanks Frank - yes, I’m always amazed at what I find in these historic articles.  And many times one historic mention leads to a whole other avenue of investigation. 
Now that Howard (thanks much Howard) has given us the ability to attach images directly, I’ll add more as I uncover relevant ones.  Thanks

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: Curtiss Engineering Corporation Garden City Complex Circa 1925