Vanderbilt Cup Races

RIP…

From A Tribute to Guy Frost (1934-2019)

Nice tribute to Guy, and the turnout looks like he had a lot of friends there to confirm your nice words, Howard. He never gave up on the track as a lost cause, and its memory survives thanks to his work.

From A Tribute to Guy Frost (1934-2019)

I knew Guy through BRRC and chowders. He was a remarkable man and passionate about the “bridge.” In fact he got me to invest in it to try to save it. The last time I spoke to him was about 20 years ago, sadly. My condolences to the family and friends. He will be missed.

From A Tribute to Guy Frost (1934-2019)

2019 Mystery Photo # 16
This a Curtiss Fledgling aircraft, c/n B-37, manuf. 1929, Reg. # NC260H; original owner was the Curtiss Flying Service; it was later used by the Braman-Johnson Flying Service, Inc. based in Hanger B at Roosevelt Field in the 1930’s.  I would guess Braman-Johnson took these photos.
Flying east over the Hempstead Plains, Hicksville, with L.I.A.C.C. under the wing
Photo A – Roosevelt Raceway, a single hanger is still standing; Old Country Rd. across the center of photo (l to r); looking south; c.1938
Photo B – new houses being built; location unknown
Photo C – Long Island Aviation Country Club; looking north; with Motor Parkway running in front of the hangers & clubhouse
Photo D – Lake Success looking west; Lakeville Rd in foreground; Northern State Parkway on left; W. K. Vanderbilt estate with golf course

From Update: Mystery Foto #16 Solved: A 1936 Braman-Johnson Survey Flyover Over the Hempstead Plains

Thank you for the nice pictures Dave and Sam! I think that bridge post is very cool. It would be fun to see whatever else is buried nearby.

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #3 Searingtown

Russo Team, all you need to do is view your 2015 images of this section. Would have no problem driving the patrol truck towards the double wood poles at the end. Used to joke that I should drive a Sherman Tank thru these ROWS to tame the growth. Have to say that PSEG is doing a fine job of trimming away from the wires.

I appreciate that Howard has excellent images of the LIMP section near Old Homestead La ( Magid Family ) This section was intact until the mid 1990’s. New homes were built smack on the ROW.

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #3 Searingtown

Ron—-perhaps not so obviously although I thought it was and most would understand….that first pic is a joke! We have NEVER disturbed anybody’s property and never will. Whenever a situation has arisen we have knocked on doors and asked permission and have always gotten great interaction.

Understood there are LIPA poles. My point is In the past when we have travelled this section it was maintained. The grass / weeds were cut. More road was visible. The area by the IU Willets Rd bridge is especially overgrown.

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #3 Searingtown

Sam, I cherish those days and memories and the friendships that developed. Yes, there are a lot more stories to be told. With permission, that weather vane on the station was cut down by me with a hand saw in the middle of a very windy and extremely cold November night .

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: The Former Jondol Service Station on Jericho Turnpike in Mineola

Attention to Dave Russo:    Comments on your last report.

1./  The sign:  is old and it is a notification that it is private property and you are
    trespassing ...............
2./  LIPA Use of Property:  Look over your head and tell us that they are not using
    the property formerly the LIMP.
                                        Ron Ridolph

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #3 Searingtown

Good golly, Miss Molly; I’ve been OUTED!  What a memory Walt has!  Today, I’d'a offered to epoxy or Crazy Glue it in place.  Keep on rubbin’, Walt (we could start a whole new blog just on our old car memeories).  *HA* - FOUND IT!  The weather vane pic (below) is in the Jan 06 2010 blog, “The Motor Parkway Weathervane in Garden City”!  The racer is chasing the dog to the right but, if you look cross-eyed at it, it could be a rear-engined late-‘30s Auto Union racer running left.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: The Former Jondol Service Station on Jericho Turnpike in Mineola

Joe DeBono is right! The original weather vane on top the Mgr Office was a sportster/racer on the weather vane, now I remember it. There’s a single photo of it buried somewhere within Howard’s website or elsewhere. I’ve been unable to locate it since. I had totally forgotten the vehicle type on the vane but yes, it was so a racer, appropriately so. This photo is in Howard’s website but buried deep somewhere. I’ve been unable to locate it for several years. Any searchers out there are welcomed! I’ll continue myself

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: The Former Jondol Service Station on Jericho Turnpike in Mineola

Maureen - An aerial photo of Melville containing your home surfaced a few months ago. This photo was taken when it served as the Motor Parkway Huntington Lodge. Not sure if you’ve seen it but will send to Howard to post here. You can zoom in by clicking on the photo. Will also send an aerial containing your neighbor Edith’s home just south of Ruland Road. Thanks for the memories of revealing the lodge. It was an exciting time not to be forgotten!

Dave - You’re welcome. It was definitely worth the try!

From Sam and Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #2 Manhasset Hills

A Sam III Story: Guy Roese lived about 2 blocks north of what was then known as Nassau Hospital in Mineola at 180 Horton Highway.  Guy always owned interesting cars , everything from a unrestored 1934 Chevrolet roadster ( that was a gift to him back in the 1950s) to a 1940 Cadillac series 75 formal sedan he found in Glen Cove , that was also a mostly original car and an unrestored 1931 Franklin Pirate touring car. His modern car was a black 1955 Chevy convertible. Anyway, Guy would often have to put a new battery in the car he bought and the old one would go to the curb on trash day. This was in an era before recycling had even been thought of and the fellows on the trash trucks in Mineola loved this as they could pick up stuff like a car battery and take it to a place and get a few $ for their effort.  One evening Sam, Guy and I were standing in Guy’s driveway and the next day would be trash day and Guy had put a battery out. He commented on the fierce rivalry among the fellows on the trash truck to grab the battery as they saw $ sitting there at the curb. I will never forget Guy stating ” wow, I would love to attach that battery to a post that went into the ground and when they scrambled to get it/pick it up it wouldn’t budge.” We all laughed and Sam you made it even better when you said ” Well if you can do that I will dig the hole to bury the post in so they don’t see it , and that battery would indeed be a puzzle for them to get up off the ground and into the truck” ! We all had a really good laugh over that comment and I still remember it to this day. SO Sam there you are, you asked to rub it in, well you really rubbed it in that long ago evening and made us laugh at your clever idea! Thanks for the memory!

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: The Former Jondol Service Station on Jericho Turnpike in Mineola

Maureen—our pleasure! New York is stressful but there is history here which I too will miss one day when I move, hopefully, if Sam permits me! But I’m going south, not north!

Frank—thanks for the overlay. So it seems clear there are no remnants of the house but the road is worth investigating one day. I know it runs behind the condos for a bit beyond my pic but I’ll wait until the winter to investigate as we are now in weed grow season and the thickets are back as my legs can attest to.

From Sam and Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #2 Manhasset Hills

Guy Roese, indeed.  Go on; rub it in.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: The Former Jondol Service Station on Jericho Turnpike in Mineola

Thanks to all who commented, makes me so glad it stirred up some memories of 50 years ago. Very good guess work on those of you who weren’t there in that era. Guy Roese was the fellow who got me into collecting classic pre world war II era luxury cars. We spent some very late nights working on some wonderful machinery there - lots of stories about that as well , many of which would evoke the response ” I can’t believe you guys did that - REALLY - SERIOUSLY! GEEZ”  Makes me reflect and think that too at this stage in life! (Well sort of.)  Normal stuff then that would be viewed today as wild and totally crazy.

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: The Former Jondol Service Station on Jericho Turnpike in Mineola

Hi Howard, The two weathervanes are NOT the same at all. They’re both cars that’s about it.The base and the van are completely different. Both cars are different one is a Race car/Sport car and the other one looks like a family car. Today you can find a weathervane on some Service Stations with a car. Saying they’re the same is like saying William K. Vanderbilt was the same as Robert Moses and we know Willie K built a great Parkway before anyone! Thank you Howard, Keep chasing the Parkway - Joseph DeBono
—————————————

Howard Kroplick

Joe, I totally agree. Never meant to imply they were the same. The Motor Parkway vane is older with a different automobile model.

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: The Former Jondol Service Station on Jericho Turnpike in Mineola

Shock and awe!  Jondol!  YES!  I figured I knew the building from photos.  No such thing; I *LIVED* on Marcellus for some 10 years in the ‘60s, just 2½ blocks north.  Passed it at least daily (AND when I drove down to the LIMP remnants and the lodge in Garden City AND to work).  Got my gas there and had the car serviced there.  Sat inside while the car was being fixed.  Do you think I ever noticed the weathervane?  My only weak excuse is that the front of the building is catty-corner on the lot, not square.  I am flabbergasted, flummoxed, flustered!  Ah, me.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: The Former Jondol Service Station on Jericho Turnpike in Mineola

Not sure if I included the weather vane is from the Motor Parkway Manager’s house on Vanderbilt Court in Garden City.

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: The Former Jondol Service Station on Jericho Turnpike in Mineola

Hi Howard, The building is located at the northwest corner of Marcellus Rd. and Jericho Tpke. in Mineola.  The address is 300 Jericho Tpke. and today it occupied by Randi’s Cleaners who have there since the gas station closed and it still looks the same. The photo was probably taken in the 1970’s. What the building has in common with the Motor Parkway office building is the automobile wind   Both of them are gone now. The one that was on the Parkway office was left in place after the building was sold. A Parkway enthusiast bought it and still has it. Perhaps he will come forward and give us the details. Al.

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: The Former Jondol Service Station on Jericho Turnpike in Mineola