Vanderbilt Cup Races

Bill Reid Yeah I remember the larger planes would shake Windows on Betty road ( just east of Merrick Ave) the jets could crack them.

Steve Bachran I remember when a C-119 landed on Meadowbrook Parkway instead of Mitchel Field. He was doing pretty good until the plane tried to go under an over-pass.

Jon Rarrick and fire drills using the old planes as practice, in the 50s

Dave Lappin Yes! We moved from Woodside Queens (under final approach to LGA Runway 4) to EM in May of 1960. I remember the C-119 Flying Boxcars flying over our house in EM and being as loud as the DC-6’s and DC-7’s at LGA. Went to an open house at Mitchell in 1960 or 1961… don’t recall exactly.

Robert Gullo I remember that while delivering Newsday on my bike I saw a plane fall from the sky. Remember seeing a parachute but don’t remember the outcome.

Pete Bachran There was a sign on Merrick Ave, “Low Fling Airplanes”

George Berenz They drove your TV crazy at times.

Tony Pane The Jets would pass too low over our house and vibrate the dishes out of the cabinets.

Andrea Butterweich I remember them flying over Barnum Woods while I was in class.

Tom Donovan C119s used to spray ddt at roof top levels to kill mosquitoes

Linda May Sava-Sawitsky Oh dear Lordy. The night terrors I had when those boxcars flew right over my bedroom at night. I convinced myself that if I held my breath until they passed the House they wouldn’t crash into my bedroom. I lived on Green Valley Rd. Right on landing approach. But on the bright side, I honed my driving skills in rain and snow on their runways when the field finally closed.

From Mitchel Field Aerials Part I: 1923-1928

One of the other cars was Joe Lencki’s running a Lencki engine.  My father was Joe’s mechanic and a good friend of Eddie Offut.  Joe’s car was #3 driven by another good friend of my Father’s - Emil Andres.

From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The #66 Tucker '48 Special Racer at the 1947 Indy 500

W.K.V was heavily into collecting insects
_________________________________
Howard Kroplick
Gary, good point!

From William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Yacht: Tarantula II (1913-1918)

Yes. one and the same Grace. a foundation has been established in her honor.
http://www.gjfippingerfdn.org/GRACE J.FIPPINGER FOUNDATION/GRACE J.FIPPINGER FOUNDATION.html

From Update-1/23:The Vanderbilt Cup Race Driver who was Developing a Unique "City" Near the Motor Parkway

The Tucker Torpedo race car driven in the Indianapolis 500 race in 1946 by George Barringer.  Rear engine car originally owned by Gulf-Miller Company then by Preston Tucker.

From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The #66 Tucker '48 Special Racer at the 1947 Indy 500

“Grace” Fippinger?  Sheri, did she work for NY Tel?  If so, she was my ex’s long-time (‘60s-‘90’s?) friend and colleague and a relative of a D. Fippinger with whom I worked in 1993.  Sam, III <sbiii at sbiii.com>/781-874-0454

From Update-1/23:The Vanderbilt Cup Race Driver who was Developing a Unique "City" Near the Motor Parkway

This could be George Barringer’s ’47 Tucker racecar at Indy 500 before the race in 1947. Qualifying the car was life long friend Al Miller (in goggles?), at just under 125 mph. Barringer died a year earlier at 40, unfulfilling major advancements to the car. Also possible is mechanic Roscoe Dunning (another life long friend of Barringer) at left, and Preston Tucker standing by. The car would eventually be marked as #66

From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The #66 Tucker '48 Special Racer at the 1947 Indy 500

Here’s more people associated with the car at some point.  The pit crew included John Ley, Rocoe Dunning and Bud Henderson.  Also in 1947, Ralph Hepburn, President of the American Soc. of Professional Automobile Racecar Drivers oversaw the car.

From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The #66 Tucker '48 Special Racer at the 1947 Indy 500

Identify the people and companies involved in this race car:
Al Miller (driver), George Barringer (driver) and his wife Velma, Roscoe Dunning (Mechanic), Preston Tucker, Ralph Hepburn (driver), Henry Ford and N.W. Ayers Advertising Agency (possibly earlier Tucker models). 

Who was the driver of this race car and in which race(s) did it compete?
George Barringer raced the car in the 1946 Indy and Al Miller in the 1947 Indy.  It was also slated to race in the Milwaukee 100 also in 1947 but had to withdraw due to “motor damage”.

What other race cars are associated with the Mystery Foto racer?
Cars built by Tucker and Harry Miller starting in business in 1935 and the Tucker Torpedo Special.

From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The #66 Tucker '48 Special Racer at the 1947 Indy 500

The race car looks a lot like a stubbier version of the German Audi Autocar. What irks me most is what sort of transaxle did it have. The car appears to have a straight 6 engine that is situated unusually close to the differential leaving little room for the transmission if there was one.

From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The #66 Tucker '48 Special Racer at the 1947 Indy 500

All I could find was the driver, Al Miller, who managed 33 laps in the 1947 Indy 500 (magneto problem). He also drove the car as number 12 in the 1941 Indy but left after 22 laps with transmission trouble. Very curious about the rest of the answers.

From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The #66 Tucker '48 Special Racer at the 1947 Indy 500

I love seeing History discovered!  Thanks!

From Update-1/23:The Vanderbilt Cup Race Driver who was Developing a Unique "City" Near the Motor Parkway

I have the audio files of the interviews conducted with Tesio’s daughter and her husband (Fred Fippinger). Emily Fippinger co-founded the Hicksville library where the interviews took place in the late 1970s, and Tesio’s granddaughter Grace Fippinger was active in the Hicksville community as well. I invite any and all comments/suggestions.  THANK YOU HOWARD AND AL!  You’re the best!

From Update-1/23:The Vanderbilt Cup Race Driver who was Developing a Unique "City" Near the Motor Parkway

Thanks Art. Great info. My main question was why this was never developed in the “LEVITT” time zone. Levittown is quite famous for it’s construction / development, I’m just wondering why back then this was “preserved”.

So looking at your site, I see in 2012 the builder was denied pretty handily. What happened since then that allowed this construction?

From Aerial advertising kites flying near the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race grandstand

Long Island has a ton of stories like this. Love it. You guys are amazing with your research ability. Cool how you attached the “NOW” pics. Good post!

From Update-1/23:The Vanderbilt Cup Race Driver who was Developing a Unique "City" Near the Motor Parkway

Identify the people and compnies involved in this race car
Preston Tucker, Harry Miller, Gulf Oil Company

Who was the driver of this race car and in which race(s) did it compete?
Al Miller in the 1947 Indy 500

What other race cars are associated with the Mystery Foto racer?
The Tucker/Ford cars in 1935

From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The #66 Tucker '48 Special Racer at the 1947 Indy 500

Ditto to Joe Oestrele’s comment.

From Update-1/23:The Vanderbilt Cup Race Driver who was Developing a Unique "City" Near the Motor Parkway

Thanks for the historical research.  That area was not very far from where I lived as a child in the 1950’s.

Ken Harris

From Update-1/23:The Vanderbilt Cup Race Driver who was Developing a Unique "City" Near the Motor Parkway

Special interest to me:  Area is less than 3/4 mile from Billy Joel"s early Meeting Lane, Hicksville home, and less than mile from my childhood Heather Lane, Levittown home.

From Update-1/23:The Vanderbilt Cup Race Driver who was Developing a Unique "City" Near the Motor Parkway

No clue - but where do you FIND these fab. things, Howard?  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The #66 Tucker '48 Special Racer at the 1947 Indy 500