Vanderbilt Cup Races

Incredible remembrances….

From Mitchel Field Aerials Part I: 1923-1928

WOW. That Spartan. What a neat plane. it was good to be rich back then,eh?

From Cradle of Aviation Archives: The Aircraft of the Long Island Aviation Country Club Part I

They really did it nicely….Land your plane, jump in to a cool pool and relax….

This, including the videos, has been enjoyable ...

Thanks Howard…

From Cradle of Aviation Archives: The Aircraft of the Long Island Aviation Country Club Part I

Great pictures of the L.I.A.C.C. in Levittown Specifically the one by the pool. You can see how flat the land was on Long Island in certain places.

From Cradle of Aviation Archives: The Aircraft of the Long Island Aviation Country Club Part I

Great to see Willie K in this rare and short video during this time! Rare as it is, it showed his appreciation and character never seen before. I’m hoping more of the same is still out there to observe. These years were tough for videos. Thanks again Howard for extending history as never seen before.

From Cradle of Aviation Archives: The Aircraft of the Long Island Aviation Country Club Part I

These photos from 1923 - 1928 pre-date the major reconfiguration in which the layout of the Base was significantly altered, not the least of which was the formation of the Parade Grounds /  Quadrangle, still in existence today. 

Virtually all of the brick buildings still standing now were constructed in the period between 1928 - 1932.  Concrete runways would also follow as biplanes gave way to heavier aircraft prone to getting stuck in the mud (literally) when the Spring thaw came. 

Dramatic expansion of the Base came with the arrival of WW II, extending to the north the railroad tracks (a remnant of the old Central Railroad of LI founded by Alexander Stewart and later taken over by the LIRR) and Ellington Avenue. 

An early attempt to try and reclaim property to the west of the Base, once part of Camp Mills used during WW I in East Garden City was abandoned when the Military acquired the Santini Area, immediately to the south of Hempstead Turnpike, west of Merrick Ave., north of Front St. and east of Cunningham St. in Uniondale, a one time proposed residential housing development by the Santini Brothers which never materialized due to the Depression. 

Also acquired at or about the same time was the narrow tract of land through Barnum Woods on the Uniondale / East Meadow Border, property that was never developed by the Military due to Santini becoming available.  Years later, Robert Moses used Eminent Domain to get that property for the construction of the Meadowbrook Parkway extension in 1954, cutting through both the Cold Stream Golf Club (property once existing as part of the Vanderbilt estate) as well as the Meadowbrook Golf Club in the process. 

The unprecedented explosion of population on the Hempstead Plains following the War foretold the inevitable closure of the Base in April, 1961 after a series of high profile plane crashes, often involving civilians.  Particularly hard hit were the areas of Hempstead, Uniondale and East Meadow, directly in the final approach flight path to the airfield.  Soon afterwards, Nassau Community College vacated its original facilities in the basement of the County Courthouse Building in Mineola and moved to Mitchel, where it has been ever since.

From Mitchel Field Aerials Part I: 1923-1928

Mystery Friday Painting #4…The race shown here in the pic is the October 24, 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The #16 car is the Locomobiile driven by George Robertson with Glenn Ethridge as mechanician. The #12 car is a Thomas driven by George Salzman with Blancard as mechanician. The Locomobile won the race and the Thomas came in fifth. I don’t have the Peter Helck’s book mentioned above so my guess is that driver Robertson is threatening the Thomas crew ahead of him in an effort to let Robertson pass the Thomas. As for Peter Heck painting himself into the scene, I want to believe that he is shown second from left holding a sketch pad. As an artist he would be trying to sketch the scene as best he could during the race.

From Mystery Painting #4 Solved: A 1962 Peter Helck Painting of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Very nice site; I enjoyed your presentations.

As a side note, I am retired from Allison Transmission of Indianapolis, Indiana. The founder of Allison Transmission was James A. Allison, which had an island named after him called “Allison Island” in your area of Miami Beach. Jim Allison and Carl Fisher were co-partners in the founding of the Indianapolis 500 Motor Speedway; and as friends, bought property in the Miami Beach area. On this island Jim Allison built a mansion, hospital and an aquarium; which have by now been torn down or repurposed I’m sure. I believe Carl Fisher was also into real estate in the area.
As a modest request, as a retired historian for Allison Transmissions, I would greatly appreciate any historical information, pictures, etc. that you may have access to for the benefit of James A. Allison as it relates to his stay in Miami.

Thank you in advance. Neil Rude
                        Historian, Rolls-Royce Allison Division Indianapolis
                        6626 Ladoga Road
                        North Salem, Indian 46165
                        email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

From William K. Vanderbilt Jr.'s Alva Base on Fisher Island in Florida

Moved into east meadow in 1953. Remember going there to watch my father train on plane fires which inspired me to become a firefighter.  Remember a couple of plane crashes that came out or returned to Mitchell field,especially the one on prospect ave across from the temple
__________________________________________________
Howard Kroplick

Paul, I was an eyewitness to that airplane crash. I was delivering Newsday on a snowy Saturday afternoon.  The plane crashed three blocks from where I was standing.

From Mitchel Field Aerials Part I: 1923-1928

David Lenchner My Dad used to take me to the commissary and the PX and as a young kid, I always enjoyed walking around the base and seeing the planes.

Carol Danderline Stillwell Eckardt lots of memories of Mitchel Field. As a teenage, a hangout. Oh the good old days…

Perry W Los Kamp When Mitchell was abandoned it was the perfect place to race cars.

Jeff S Gutterman I remember.the planes. In 57-58 we had a pet rabbit, cleverly named Hops, that would jump and kick out of control when they went over. Hops scared me much more than the planes!

Al Gutterman Forgot all about Hops!. No picturtes of Hops taken with the old Argus?

Rob Saftler I remember all the flying boxcars lined up. And after it closed the car club I belonged to have the matches there

Maria Lume-Lasurdo Yep! Whole house would tremble

Chip Bertelle Who remembers the old planes the would be burned at Mitchell Field and the black billowing smoke that you could for miles?

Kevin C Appel I worked at Mitchell field Navy commissary as a teenager, cheap ciggies

Andy Jacek always a great area to explore…..

Linda Burros Sonic Booms!

Rob Voit I used to date a girl form Westbury in mid 70’s….her mother when she was young used to fly out of Mitchell Field on fun flights with Charles Lindbergh.

Ralph K Taylor I remember MAB liquor. ... Mitchell Air Base liquor

Shawn B. Finnerty Never knew it stood for that

Linda May Sava-Sawitsky It’s still there.

Chris Tarantino Brajuka Dad used to take us up on the roof to watch them fly over.

Rhonda Levy Is that the college . my kid goes to Nassau got old some old buildings.

Camille Tucci Yes I do . Lots of sonic booms

John Anthony Half my neighbor hood worked or belonged there

Kenneth M. Carlstrom I’m wondering what year it closed. (1960 maybe?). I know the Air Force General donated the football bleachers to St. Raphael’s. A bunch of Father Motts altar boys were drafted into taking them down, reinstalling and painting them blue and gold at “Angel Field”.

Howard Kroplick: Mitchel Field closed in 1961 with most of the property going to Nassau County including land for the Cradle of Aviation Museum , Nassau Community College and the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum

From Mitchel Field Aerials Part I: 1923-1928

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