Vanderbilt Cup Races

Wow, I was way off on this one. I have to remember that the LIMP was pitched on both sides for drainage, and some of the remnants still are. Maybe there can be a culvert series? Just joshing

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

Was thinking vintage 1937 big band music emanating from it would be fitting a time machine effect as well as having you in vintage driving attire with Roz as Mrs Chrysler.

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle IX: Putting It Back Together

Howard- I’ve haven’t had a chance to be on the computer for a few days. Thanks for posting the pictures I set . Great shots, weren’t they? Hope you all enjoyed them. If I get a chance, I’ll check it out again and take more, to keep you updated.

From Pilot Section of the Motor Parkway Trail Is Under Construction in East Meadow(Updated:June 17, 2014)

Great to see!

From Pilot Section of the Motor Parkway Trail Is Under Construction in East Meadow(Updated:June 17, 2014)

From Wayne Petersen:

Howard,
Saw the AmeriCarna, Very Cool! Thanks to you very keeping American automotive history alive.
Best regards,
Wayne Carroll Petersen
Barney Oldfield, Master Driver of the World & America’s Legendary Speed King
Great Great Nephew

From Vanderbilt Cup Races Featured on Velocity's AmeriCarna Series

My friend Bob Volkomer who grew up with me in Levittown thinks this is the Division Avenue Bridge. He did extensive research to come to this conclusion so I hope he’s correct.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

The houses in the background appear to be sitting on the curve on Blacksmith Road.
On the 1924 Aerial overlay map, I’m not sure if the orange line extending Division Ave is a clue/hint of a future road that was never built, but the only indication that I’ve found of a bridge being at that location would be on the1928 Motor Parkway Atlas that shows;  ‘H.W. Bridge Sta 146 to be built’.

This one got me. I’m looking forward to the answer!

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

From Ann:
Hi Howard!

Brought back great memories for Bob, playing on that bridge after the roadway was taken up, and all that was left, at that time in the 1940’s, were the beams going across.  What a challenge!!

Ann

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

Bridge over troubled water. There were two LIMP Hwy bridges to be built on each side of the grandstand that were never completed. This appears to be a pkwy bridge not shown on the motor pkwy atlas, that may have been used to keep storm water off the track. Today there are many storm basins in the Hempstead Plains area including one adjacent to this very spot.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

In regards to the unidentified midget race car driver pictured, the driver should be Morris “Babe” Bower, a top notch midget race driver from Philadelphia PA. Three National Midget Championship Races were held during 1939. The first was a 100-lap event, staged on a specially constructed quarter-mile banked board track on June 25 at Soldier Field, Chicago. A 150-mile race, held on a half-mile track at Roosevelt Raceway, Long Island, N. Y., on August 12, was won by Morris “Babe” Bower; second, Joe Garson and third, Perry Grimm. The final championship race was a 150-lap event held on the quarter-mile Gilmore Stadium track, in Los Angeles. The winners in each of the above races drove Offenhauser midget cars.”
According to brief information at the website posted below, Bower was a very small man which fits your website photo well. Thanks for your time, Wayne http://midgetcarpanorama.proboards.com/thread/550/midget-racer?page=1#scrollTo=1716

From Midget Auto Racing at Roosevelt Raceway in 1939

Howard - looks like a bridge to me!  Looking back in the blog I found your 1928 Motor Parkway Atlas schematic from May 18, 2013 (exactly one year ago today) on the Finding the Grandstand page (that was the page that showed us inspecting the then Josato property near Crocus Lane). The schematic shows a bridge to be built just west of the grandstand (M.W. Br. Sta 14E).  I originally thought that might be it but what you show in the mystery photo is more of a parkway bridge as the parkway runs over whatever is underneath it.  However, I then realized that Ernie actually sent the same mystery photo to me a few years ago (he found me by looking at my website and realized we are both Levittonwers) and just yesterday e-mailed him about it.  Ernie let me in on what your suggestion as to what the mystery photo might be (a culvert?) so I’m taking me out of the running this week.  Incidentally, the area behind that part of Orchard Road is now a sump so very could be a culvert.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

The area behind the boys is now a catch basin, any trace of the Parkway long gone.

When I sent Howard these images his comment was it is a culvert, which is probably what we see. In this area there is a natural valley here, now along the current Violet Lane, that extends well north and south of this area, so some drainage would be needed.

While this area is very close to the race Grandstands I have not seen it in the background of any of the pictures. That is the best chance of seeing it again.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

The 1906 race being the first use of the checkered flag? And Willie K is caught standing right beside it in the pic? That’s an incredible capture Howard! Thanks!!

From The Largest Newspaper Photo Ever Published in 1906- The Checkered Flag Finish of Louis Wagner

Hello Howard,

Please change the word “bridge” to “tunnel”  as to what the “structure” is in my previous guess. Thanks.

Steve

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

To add to my earlier comments , the bridge in the photo is shown on two drawings at station 124. The 1909 drawing makes note of a feature at sta.124 and the 1928 drawing notes Br to be built. In my earlier comments I stated that Division St (Ave) crossed the LIRR tracks and there was a brick platform for passengers going to the race I was in error, as the platform was constructed of cinders and was 1512’ long.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

Looks to be the remains of the pit area located slightly west of the grandstand.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

Howard- The pictures were sent. They were taken on May 10, enjoy

From Pilot Section of the Motor Parkway Trail Is Under Construction in East Meadow(Updated:June 17, 2014)

I believe that bridge crossed Division St [ Ave] . I found a map that showed Division crossing the Central Branch of the LIRR where there was a 1500 ft brick platform to handle passengers going to the races. I was unable to determine when Division was severed but the street continues a little further north and I suspect that Blacksmith Rd is on the footprint of the Division Ave right of way .

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

Well, it sure looks like a bridge but the question is a bridge over what? I’m going to take a wild guess and say that it could be going over a southern entrance road to Aviation Country Club that was developed from the old road to the grandstand from Jerusalem Avenue. Since Willie K. would not allow direct access to the airfield from the Motor Parkway, maybe this was a later compromise.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

What a great photo with a couple of boys playing around with scrap wood left over from Levitt homes recently built. At first, this photo seemed obvious to me. But now, I’m overthinking;maybe. It’s behind 173 Orchid Rd, so they can be playing north or south of the LIMP. I see the overpass at the photos left. The closest overpass that was near this location was the Jerusalem Ave HWY bridge (LIMP traveling under). According to an 1949 aerial, this bridge was as “appeared” to be demolished. But, perhaps it wasn’t. I don’t think any LIMP bridges were built between Newbridge Rd and Jerusalem Ave. So, my guess is this photo is looking south, with Jerusalem Ave still bridging over the LIMP to the left. But with my guess, their playing a bit of a distance from rear of Orchid Rd.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)