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
I botched it! Mott Section looking *SE*. Sending Howard the pics.
From Update: Mystery Foto #16 Solved: A 1936 Braman-Johnson Survey Flyover Over the Hempstead Plains
These are fantastic photos Howard. Thank you all for sharing these.
From Update: Mystery Foto #16 Solved: A 1936 Braman-Johnson Survey Flyover Over the Hempstead Plains
Dave - I see what you mean about this section. Those first few photos is a time portal back 100 years. The Roaring Twenties once again!
From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #3 Searingtown
Haven’t seen these aerials before, fantastic!
Island Trees (Levittown) looking NW.
Photo date is 1929-1945, Long Island Aviation Country Club open for business since 1929 and before the flood of Levitt houses in 1945. Likely in the early ‘30s. The view of the Levittown Grandstand ruins is blocked by the lower right wing of the airplane.
Motor Parkway, Hempstead Tpke, Jerusalem Ave, Wantagh Ave, Hicksville Rd 107, Bloomingdale Rd. Seen are Bloomingdale Rd bridge, Wantagh Ave bridge, Hicksville Rd bridge, Massapequa lodge.
Unable to identify the bi-plane and surveyor.
A. Roosevelt Raceway looking South, with new track over old one, after 1938.
B. Mott Section, Garden City looking North, houses under development, late ‘30s.
C. Long Island Aviation Country Club looking North, 1929-1948.
D. Lake Success looking West, late ‘30s. Deepdale mansion is just off to the left side. That’s old I.U. Willets Rd along the right edge, just before the LIE comes barreling through the golf course.
So glad these photos were preserved for future generations to learn from. As always, thanks for all the fun Howard.
From Update: Mystery Foto #16 Solved: A 1936 Braman-Johnson Survey Flyover Over the Hempstead Plains
Top Photos
Looking northwest over Plainedge/Bethpage. Hicksville Rd. Bottom right running up and down and Wantagh Avenue running same direction west of there, Hempstead Tpke across bottom. Visible are LIMP bridges at those locations plus Bloomingdale Road bridge and the “Isle of Trees” at Jerusalem Avenue. Likely around 1930.
A. Looking east over Roosevelt Raceway with Merrick Avenue diagonally across top around 1936.
B.Looking south over Mitchel Field housing under construction about 1929.
C.looking north over the Hicksville Aviation Country Club about 1936 with the LIMP running left to right just below the buildings.
D. Looking east over the Deepdale Golf Course about 1939.
From Update: Mystery Foto #16 Solved: A 1936 Braman-Johnson Survey Flyover Over the Hempstead Plains
Mystery Foto #16… The aircraft shown is a Curtiss Fledging.
Photos shot around 1928 to 1930.
The survey company would be BramanJohnson OR BramanButters.
That’s all I’ve got.
From Update: Mystery Foto #16 Solved: A 1936 Braman-Johnson Survey Flyover Over the Hempstead Plains
Brian—-absolutely….see attached pics from 2015 and how much more maintained this section was.
And I have seen those old pics of the LIMP just west of Old Searingtown Road what is not Old Homestead Road—the Magid family pics—I really wish I would have been able to see this. Amazing that the LIMP was so in tact in this area as this is a very developed location and to just have the road remnants like that must have been amazing.
From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #3 Searingtown
I good man. R.I.P.
From A Tribute to Guy Frost (1934-2019)
Identify the location of the airplane and likely year this image was taken:
Island Trees, circa early 1947s (prior to Levitt homes being built)
Identify the major roads and significant structures:
Broadway, Wantagh Ave, LIMP, Hempstead/Bethpage Turnpike, Bloomingdale Rd., Jerusalem Rd., Aviation Country Club
Motor Parkway Bridges - Massapequa/Hicksville Rd., Jerusalem Ave.,
Massapequa Lodge
Identify the survey company: guess - Skyway surveys?
Identify the airplane: No guess
Kudos question: The below aerials were taken by the same survey company. Identify the location and the likely year of these aerials.
A: Roosevelt Raceway
B:?
C: Aviation Country Club
D: Lake Success
From Update: Mystery Foto #16 Solved: A 1936 Braman-Johnson Survey Flyover Over the Hempstead Plains
Identify the location of the airplane and likely year this image was taken
Identify the major roads and significant structures
1920ish is my guess. Over modern day Bethpage (Central Park) with Hempstead Tpke along the bottom left corner. The LIMP can be seen. The Jerusalem Ave bridge is obscured by the landing gear, but the Bloomingdale Rd, Wantagh Ave, and Hicksville Rd bridges are clearly visible.
Identify the survey company
Identify the airplane
Fairchild seems to obvious and easy to guess, but I’ll go with it anyway. Unsure about the plane.
Kudos question: The below aerials were taken by the same survey company. Identify the location and the likely year of these aerials.
A -locking down at Roosevelt Raceway in 1938. Both 1936 & 1937 seen in the photo.
B -unknown
C -Long Island Aviation Country Club in the 1930’s
D -Deepdale Golf Club 1938
From Update: Mystery Foto #16 Solved: A 1936 Braman-Johnson Survey Flyover Over the Hempstead Plains
I had the pleasure of working with Guy on a few of the Vanderbilt Cup Race centennial celebrations and I look back very fondly at those days. Guy was a gentleman and a true pleasure to work with. My condolences to his family.
From A Tribute to Guy Frost (1934-2019)
This is a tough one for me. But I’m going to guess that Photo “B” was taken around 1951 or 1952 and these are the Berkshire Homes being constructed in Carle Place right on the border of Mineola. The closest structures will eventually be Cromwell Road and I think, the abandoned LIMP is on the lower right travelling parallel to the paved road from South to Northeast. This may be my old hang out from when I was about 4 years old until I was old enough to deliver Newsday. This, of course, hinges on the remote possibility I’m correct.
Thanks for the photos.
Fred Rieder
From Update: Mystery Foto #16 Solved: A 1936 Braman-Johnson Survey Flyover Over the Hempstead Plains
Whee! Flat-forehead time again! Fairchild Aerial Surveys and Fairchild airplane (with a weird tailfin) over Broad Hollow Road {?} ca. 1930, looking {LI} northwest. “A” is clearly the ‘38/39 VCR course looking due (LI) south and “C”: is the LIACC looking due (LI) north. Happy Easter/Passover/Whatever one and all! Sam, III
From Update: Mystery Foto #16 Solved: A 1936 Braman-Johnson Survey Flyover Over the Hempstead Plains
I only knew Guy through his automotive and related Garden City interests, mostly LIMP, but the phrase “the consummate gentleman” came instantly to mind. Sam, III
From A Tribute to Guy Frost (1934-2019)
Great job Sam &Dave;! .I also explore different locations of the the old Motor parkway with some of my buddies looking for some remnants.Especially from Lakeville road and east.What I enjoy is the use of the interactive GPS map thats on the Vanderbilt races site.Have a great Easter and Passover everyone! God bless. Gene Perry
From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #3 Searingtown
Dear Howard, Thank you for this tribute a great person, a great gentleman, and a true friend to all of us who knew him. It was a pleasure to see you and all the others who turned out yesterday to honor him.
From A Tribute to Guy Frost (1934-2019)
picture A
Track area is what i believe to be the Roosevelt Racetrack area before the track. Old Country rd can be seen in the center running from east to west . The 8 streets to the north side of O.C.rd running N/S are Ellison,Manhattan,Albany,Evelyn,Rockaway,Gordon,Bert Ave’s and Carle Rd.
From Update: Mystery Foto #16 Solved: A 1936 Braman-Johnson Survey Flyover Over the Hempstead Plains
Great photos Sam and Dave, thanks for sharing. I really appreciated them as its been a while since I walked this section, do not remember seeing the chain link fence. Don"t think it was put up by PSEG.
From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #3 Searingtown
Hmmm The plane appears to be a Fleet…With a possible Kinner radial engine? As to the area? might be over the Hemptead plains area? with Hempstead tpke to Farmingdale… @ the lower portion of this picture! As always You have done a fantastic job! Bravo and happy Easter to you!
From Update: Mystery Foto #16 Solved: A 1936 Braman-Johnson Survey Flyover Over the Hempstead Plains
Thanks for sharing these adventures with the rest of us….
From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #3 Searingtown
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