Vanderbilt Cup Races

About 30+ years ago The Long Island Early Fliers Club hung a restored Curtiss Jenny JN4 bi plane from the ceiling at the mall in the NE corner . We did this by bringing the plane into the building in sections ( wings, fuselage ) . and then hoisting the reassembled plane up in place. It remained there for a month or more. It was the first plane that Charles Lindbergh flew and George Dade of Glen Head got the pieces together and a crew to work on it and restore it over a period of years at his house. Fun time many years ago. I did not help restore it but was the first one there after the early morning ( 2 am) effort to hang it and man the display booth and answer questions about the plane. Most asked ” how the heck did you get a airplane inside here overnight” I told a few we used a lot of grease on the wings….........This was done on a clear and very very cold night in February with the wind blowing fairly strong. Lots of teeth chattering . Yes Long Island history meant a lot to me then and still does.
the plane is now in the cradle of aviation museum . Most of the members of the LI Early Fliers Club who restored it are now gone as well. Great guys like Danny Pflug, Andy Yelaney just to name a few.

From Cradle of Aviation Exhibit: Roosevelt Field Aviators at the Mall

Loved seeing how the parkways were built in stages. That change in the SSP around Hempstead Lake was vert interesting. I sent this link to a friend who works for the NYS DOT and he loved it!

From Video of the Week: The Evolution of the Long Island Parkway System

Haha thanks Al, the tire tread definitely says something because it has words written within the tread!

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Unpublished Long Island Automotive Museum Photos from 1958 to 1962 Part 4

Thanks again for another peek into the LIAM. I’m so glad that you are trying to find out what happened to this impressive collection of automobiles. Those tires with the words “non skid” are something I have never seen before. Great article!

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Unpublished Long Island Automotive Museum Photos from 1958 to 1962 Part 4

Gram, As custodian of the picky picky department, I must point out that the the 1911 Mercer tire says non skid.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Unpublished Long Island Automotive Museum Photos from 1958 to 1962 Part 4

Wonderful deep dive once again on the cars and the showplace that initially shaped my devotion to all aspects of the automobilia hobby.
Impressions such as this and the ongoing efforts of Howard and his focus on this Vanderbilt forum truly bring ongoing inspiration.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Unpublished Long Island Automotive Museum Photos from 1958 to 1962 Part 4

The mechanic is my great-grandfather, Antonio Donderi.  He came from Italy with Fiat, and stayed in New York and opened a garage in Queens, NY.

From Mystery Friday Foto #6 Solved: William Wallace Jr. and the #19 FIAT

That’s the LIMP Parkway Bridge over the LIRR and Central Avenue in Central Park (Bethpage). Since both abutments appear to be complete and only awaiting the LIRR trestle, I’d say the date is around late August, 1908. I think we’re looking east or maybe slightly southeast. That tunnel-like structure was actually an underpass to allow William O. Stymus to travel between the eastern and western sections of his farm that had been bisected by the LIMP. So actually, the completed structure would become a “triple play” as a Parkway, Farmway, Railway bridge.

From Mystery Friday Foto #9 Solved; The Central Ave Bridge Being Built

LIMP Bridge over Central Ave and the LIRR in Bethpage.  Just north of dead man’s curve.

From Mystery Friday Foto #9 Solved; The Central Ave Bridge Being Built

  Overpass at Central Avenue in Bethpage

From Mystery Friday Foto #9 Solved; The Central Ave Bridge Being Built

Loved seeing all the supporting materials that were added after the “mystery” was solved. The Marty Himes memorabilia is a rare treat. Thanks for sharing it.

From Mystery Friday Foto #8 Solved; Midget Racing at the Polo Grounds & The Marty Himes Collection

My first guess was this would be the Polo Grounds where the Dodgers played.

The track looks to be wood planks. My dad took me to a race once in Garden City South on Hempstead Turnpike, indoors in some arena. I believe there is still an arch from that place fronting the Cherry Valley Marketplace. Dad called the race cars “Midgets.”

That’s all my failing memory, eyesight, and Google could dig up.

From Mystery Friday Foto #8 Solved; Midget Racing at the Polo Grounds & The Marty Himes Collection

I believe the picture shows Dexter Park which I think was off Woodhaven Blvd in Queens.
Was never there because I was not allowed to drive out of Nassau County

From Mystery Friday Foto #8 Solved; Midget Racing at the Polo Grounds & The Marty Himes Collection

A little clearer picture.

From Mystery Friday Foto #8 Solved; Midget Racing at the Polo Grounds & The Marty Himes Collection

New York’s Polo Grounds - New York Giants

“During the summer months, while the Giants baseball team was on the road, the             facility was converted into a racetrack that hosted Midget cars. The $150,000 one-fifth-mile board surface was laid over an aluminum frame so as to not damage the playing field, and took 18 hours to construct.” (Getty Images)
 
1948/1949

Article is from Billboard, April 17, 1948.

From Mystery Friday Foto #8 Solved; Midget Racing at the Polo Grounds & The Marty Himes Collection

From James King

Polo Grounds

From Mystery Friday Foto #8 Solved; Midget Racing at the Polo Grounds & The Marty Himes Collection

From Wayne Carroll Petersen

Thanks to Howard Kroplick http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com for Keeping my Great Uncle Barney Oldfield, Master Driver of the World & America’s Legendary Speed King Legacy Alive! American Automotive Racing History at its Best!

From Book Reviews: The Master Driver of the World- The 1914 Cactus Derby

That’s the iconic Polo Grounds in upper Manhattan, NYC. Remembered mainly as the home of the NY Giants baseball team, it also served (at various times) as the home field for the NY Football Giants, NY Highlanders (later NY Yankees), NY Titans (jets), and NY Mets. The track was a portable wood board track. It was used by midget racers (sometimes called sprint cars). I believe the date of the photo is 1948. The track was designed to be portable by Lionel Levy and consisted of 2200 separate pieces weighing a total of 325 tons and needing 30 semi trucks for transport. It took a team of 200 workers about 14 hours to set it up using aluminum supports with stainless steel fittings.

From Mystery Friday Foto #8 Solved; Midget Racing at the Polo Grounds & The Marty Himes Collection

The Polo Grounds at155th Street and 8th Avenue,Manhattan, home of the New York Giants.  (also used at various times by NY Yankees, NY Mets, Titans-Jets) torn down in 1964. Only remains are staircase from Cogan’s Bluff.                                                  Track is banked wood board track for ARCD (American Racing Care Drivers) piloting Offenhauser type midget racers
First race on board track June 8th 1948, Due to low attendance only 2 races took place of the scheduled 15.( previous earlier races on the warning track tore-up part of the baseball field)
Track was 1-1/2” tongue n groove board on aluminum frame with metal fittings, 30 semi trucks of materials, set up and then dismantled in 14 hours by a crew of 200 men.

From Mystery Friday Foto #8 Solved; Midget Racing at the Polo Grounds & The Marty Himes Collection

NY Giants (baseball) Polo Grounds . Manhattan NY
Year 1948
midget race car driving. Very popular at the time.
Horace Stoneman ,2nd generation owner of the team ,Needed some extra pocket money. Same man who moved Giants to west coast (SF) after 57 season, after Dodgers also announced relocation to La La land.

From Mystery Friday Foto #8 Solved; Midget Racing at the Polo Grounds & The Marty Himes Collection