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The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
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Recent Comments
The only comment I can make is that the first photo looks like the Roosevelt Field shopping center in its early stages, This is before it was enclosed.
Rog
From Mystery Foto #29 Solved: An Amazing Aerial of the Open-Air Roosevelt Field Center Circa 1961
Identify the location and orientation of the aerial.
-Roosevelt Field Mall looking East.
Link the aerial to the Vanderbilt Cup Races.
Roosevelt raceway in the background, location for the 1936/37 Vanderbilt Cup Races
Link the aerial to the Long Island Motor Parkway.
Identify a remaining section of the Motor Parkway.
The LIMP ran along the right edge of the photo where Ring Rd is.
How many airplane hangars are in the aerial?
4
Where is there an amusement park in the aerial?
Possibly at the mall?
What was the date of the aerial? Provide a rationale.
Judging by the recently-built Roosevelt Raceway grandstand, I’ll guess 1958
A few years after this aerial was taken, identify the famous motel in the photo where Howard Kroplick shook the hand of Richard Nixon. Impossible bonus question: What date did this occur? The answer is available online!
Don’t know the motel, but will guess sometime in October 1972 while here for the Republican rally at the Nassau Coliseum.
From Mystery Foto #29 Solved: An Amazing Aerial of the Open-Air Roosevelt Field Center Circa 1961
Great last photo of the east embankment just before being leveled for the pool entrance.
I’ve seen higher, rocky terrain on the north shore along the sound in Caumsett Park.
Difficult to determine location of the second photo.
From New Photo Discovery: The Eastern Embankment of the Willis Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge
The photo is looking east from a position approximately over Clinton Road in Garden City with the fairly new Roosevelt Field Mall in the center. It encompasses the former sites of the 1937, 1937, and 1960 Vanderbilt Cup Races. I believe there is a small section of LIMP in the upper right corner near where the Meadowbrook Lodge had been. I think I see 4 remaining hangars from the Roosevelt / Curtiss Field days. It looks like Gimbel’s is still under construction so I think the photo dates from late 1961 or 1962. No idea on the amusement park or motel.
From Mystery Foto #29 Solved: An Amazing Aerial of the Open-Air Roosevelt Field Center Circa 1961
Id say the photo was from the mid tfifties of Roosevvelt field looking East. Note the RR bridge that is still up over the meadowbrook just south of that cloverleaf. Didnt murry the K use one of those three hangers as a discotec in the sixties?
From Mystery Foto #29 Solved: An Amazing Aerial of the Open-Air Roosevelt Field Center Circa 1961
Identify the location and orientation of the aerial. Looking east over Roosevelt Field, Roosevelt Raceway, the Meadowbrook Parkway and Salisbury Park.
Link the aerial to the Vanderbilt Cup Races. Races were run there in 1937 and 1937.
Link the aerial to the Long Island Motor Parkway. Parkway ran on the southern border of Roosevelt Field along today’s South Street.
Identify a remaining section of the Motor Parkway. Along South Street.
How many airplane hangars are in the aerial? Three
Where is there an amusement park in the aerial? The northern part of the mall (to the left in the picture) shows a few rides. Also, Spaceland occupied Hanger 16 in the 60s.
What was the date of the aerial? Provide a rationale. 1956/1957, Roosevelt Field completed. Meadowbrook Parkway completed. Howard’s handshaking date of a few years later (see next answer).
A few years after this aerial was taken, identify the famous motel in the photo where Howard Kroplick shook the hand of Richard Nixon. Impossible bonus question: What date did this occur? The answer is available online!
Island Inn in Westbury, Sept. 28, 1960.
Bonus Bonus Question: What was on the menu for Richard Nixon?
From Mystery Foto #29 Solved: An Amazing Aerial of the Open-Air Roosevelt Field Center Circa 1961
Great Image! OK, here I go:
*Location/Orientation: Viewing east. Overseeing Roosevelt Field Shopping Center, Roosevelt Raceway, and Eisenhower Park. E Garden City/Westbury.
*Aerial link to VCR’s: The 1936, 1937, and 1960 Vanderbilt Cup Races were held at the Roosevelt Raceway ( George Washington Vanderbilt III, George Preston Marshall, and Edward Rickenbacker combined funds to build the Roosevelt Raceway to revive the Vanderbilt Cup. George Robertson ( 1908 VCR winner ) oversaw the construction ).
*Aerial link to LIMP: In this image ( upper right ), the LIMP ROW is just S/O the Meadowbrook Pkwy; W/O Ave C. E/O Ave C, the LIMP ROW is just N/O then Linwood Ave ( Mitchell Gardens Military Housing Community ). COVANTA ( Waste Management Facility ) and the PSEG LI substation ( Mitchell Gardens ) now occupies the site.
*# of Airplane Hangars evident: I see 3 S/W of Old Country Rd/East Gate Blvd.
*Amusement Park in Aerial: There looks to be an attraction ( Skating Rink? ) just E/O Grand Union in the shopping center.
*Aerial Date/Rationale: I’m guessing 1961. There’s a building under construction just E/O the Amusement attraction ( This building to be Gimbel’s, I believe. Gimbel’s was open for business in 1962 ).
*Motel where Mr. Kroplick shook hands with Mr. Nixon: The Island Inn Motor Hotel, S/E corner of Old Country Rd/Zeckendorf Blvd. I searched thru some Historic Newspapers, but no luck. I’m confident that some of you will find/submit documentation of this encounter. Good Luck, BDM
From Mystery Foto #29 Solved: An Amazing Aerial of the Open-Air Roosevelt Field Center Circa 1961
It’s great you came across these photos, Bob; thanks for submitting. The 2nd photo isn’t likely either of the embankments. I’d say it deserves to be on the cover of “Life Magazine”.
First met you when we all met up at Creedmoor ( pedestrian underpass ) earlier this year. I’m the redhead who was/is curious about the OLD Nassau County Map Book that you brought along. Very neat that you purchased the book at a yard sale.
From New Photo Discovery: The Eastern Embankment of the Willis Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge
Bah! Humbug! Only the Franklin and the Packard are classics! Wonder if the former was once veterinarian Dr. Doehm’s car from Roslyn (at 55 Bryant, under the bypass)? If so, see <http://sbiii.com/automotv.html>, about half-way down. Sam, III
From Classic Car Club and Nassau County Historical Society Visit Waterfront at Roslyn
You’re over Garden City, looking due-(LI)-west across Avalon Road, Clinton Road, and an early incarnation of the Ring Road at Roosevelt Field Shopping Center, with Macy’s the “white” building at right and MeadowBook Parkway beyond and “several” (HA!) of Roosevelt Field’s old hangars on Old Country Road at left and Rosevelt Raceway (trotting track) at right. The LIMP RoW runs diagonally from bottom center towards upper right between Avalon Road and Pell Terrace (off image to the right) and reappears in the far right distance. The odd, thin line running from lower left across the Ring Road and into the Center to a terminal and looping around to the right and back was a commuter bus line my daughters used to get to the Center. The big building on OCR beyond the hangars was American-Bosch/ARMA back then (later AVIS HQ) and had its own LIRR rail spur track coming up from below Stewart Avenue. VCR’s were run all over the area, notably on Ellison Avenue at middle far left and the ‘36-‘37 I. George V. recreations were run in the big white square beyond ARMA, where traces of the course can be seen. Like Rich, love these pix! Don’t need no impossible bonus. :ยท) Sam, III
From Mystery Foto #29 Solved: An Amazing Aerial of the Open-Air Roosevelt Field Center Circa 1961
From Holly Lapinel:
I would say
the front is from Clinton Street, LI motor parkway on the lower right heading west
the parking and ring access Roosevelt Field
the back upper right corner of the picture is Roosevelt Raceway
the back upper left corner of the picture is the hangers that were turned into the Cradle of Aviation, LI Museum that houses the Nunley’s Carousel. I see three hangers but the doors look like they are on the west side of the buildings, rather than the south side.
Mitchelll Field was part of the College, WHPC which is still the call letters of the NCC Nassau Community College radio station. The original name was Wonderful Hempstead Plains College ( this is the name sake of Hempstead Plains Vintage Car Club).
A lot of the open space is remnants of Hempstead Plains and thanks to the work of Betsy Gulotta (Emeritus Biology Professor of NCC) the grounds are maintained and historical flowers are being repopulated by the “Friends of Hempstead Plains”
I don’t know the hotel but would guess the Marriott of Uniondate.
Links to VCR is the Motor Parkway, and the LI Motor Parkway was at the right edge of the Ring access road before what was to become where Stewart Ave.
Take care.
From Mystery Foto #29 Solved: An Amazing Aerial of the Open-Air Roosevelt Field Center Circa 1961
I agree with Eric. [Ah, fame!] Sam, III
From New Photo Discovery: The Eastern Embankment of the Willis Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge
...love these historic photos! Thanks.
Rich
From Mystery Foto #29 Solved: An Amazing Aerial of the Open-Air Roosevelt Field Center Circa 1961
Not to sure the photo with the WWI vets is correct. They are standing on solid rock which on long Island doesn’t exist. That hill is also too high for the area. Don’t think the picture matches.
From New Photo Discovery: The Eastern Embankment of the Willis Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge
This weeks aerial is of Roosvelt Feild looking east with remnants of the old hangers on the left bordered by Old Country Rd ,Glen Cove Rd and Stewart Ave . You can also see Roosevelt Raceway ,The Island Inn and Arma.You can also see Macy’s on the right of the photo and Gimbals being erected on the left. St Brigids spire is also in the photo.The Vanderbuilt Cup Races were at at Roosvelt Raceway in 1936 &1937;.In bottom of the aerial you can see remnants of the Motor Parkway cross Glen Cove Rd running in the back of Roosvelt Feild.There are 3 hangers remaking out of 5 .The amusement park Spaceland occupied the hanger closest to the Meadowbrook Parkway as seen in the Photo from 1958 to 1960. I snuck in there when it closed when I was a kid.The photo is about 1954/1955 because Gimbals is being built on the north side of Roosevelt Feild and that opened in 1956. The Island Inn (were Howard Shook V.P. Nixons hand)is seen in the 3rd frame on Old Country Rd.just east of Arma or Amercan Machine and Foundry were on Nov. 2 1960 Vice President Nixon visited Roosvelt Feild Mall .
From Mystery Foto #29 Solved: An Amazing Aerial of the Open-Air Roosevelt Field Center Circa 1961
I believe it’s the Roosevelt field mall complex along side OCR, zeckendorf blvd and merchants concourse. All leading towards the source mall plot. I believe the Meadow Brook parkway is running parallel.
From Mystery Foto #29 Solved: An Amazing Aerial of the Open-Air Roosevelt Field Center Circa 1961
Great Pix. Roosevelt Field Mall. Looking east. The Meadowbrook Parkway is just behind the mall.
From Mystery Foto #29 Solved: An Amazing Aerial of the Open-Air Roosevelt Field Center Circa 1961
From Penny Harvard 7/15/2017
Mystery photo 28 is louis chevrolet.
P havard
From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: The 1909 Buick Factory Racing Team in Flint, Michigan
I was always curious about the 1st toll booth location for the motor parkway in Fresh Medows.I walk the motor parkway 3-4 times a week.Thanks for this excellent information.Mystery solved!
From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #1 Nassau Boulevard Lodge In Fresh Meadows, Queens
Mesmerizing group of pictures, makes you look closely for details.
From A Tour of Long Island Roads During the 1909 One-Gallon Efficiency Test
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