About
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.
All Content © 2026 VanderbiltCupRaces.com
Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
Another blog worth looking back at is 9/29/10 Part II: Then&Now;: The Motor Parkway “Mayan Ruins” of Garden City.
The last 1950 closeup aerial:
* Dirt is still built up on either sides of the abutments. Best place to move all that dirt is right over the LIMP between the abutments. And maybe the skimmed off sections of the abutments are in the same resting place.
* This aerial is facing south. If the bridge was completed, the road would’ve headed in a SW and NE direction. The abutments aren’t directly across from each other, a bit offset.
* #45 Russell Rd house was built in 1950. And the rear of this home can be seen next to the west abutment. No one purchased this home yet, presently.
From Exploring the "Mayan Ruins" Bridge in Garden City- Updated: 4/23/2017
The last 5 miles of the Motor Parkway. If you reached this far, you’ve made it!
This aerial covers Central Islip to the LIMP’s eastern terminus in Lake Ronkonkoma, and Smithtown to Islandia north to south.
Neither bridges nor underpasses in this limp section. I counted 11 crossings that drivers had to deal with before reaching the end:
1. Wheeler Rd.
2. Roosevelt Bl.
3. Hawthorne Av.
4. Hoffman Ln.
5. Blydenburgh Rd.
6. South Bedford Av.
7. Old Nichols Rd.
8. Terry Rd.
9. Parkway Bl.
10. Oakdale Av.
11. Rosevale Av.
Veterans’ Memorial Hwy Rt. 454 would later enter this picture in 1950
Nesconset Hwy. Rt. 347 in 1951
Long Island Expwy I-495 1964.
Motor parkway structures include Petit Trianon, the Annex, and the Lake Ronkonkoma lodge.
Motor Parkway was 16 feet wide here.
Hard to determine if the LIMP is still open but Lake Dr. at the eastern terminus is still very wide. Guessing we’re still open, sometime before 1938.
From Mystery Foto #16 Solved:1930 Aerial of the Long Island Motor Parkway at Lake Ronkonkoma-Updated 9/18
Dave
Mystery photo….planes flying over Hazelhurst Field, now known as Roosevelt Field
From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: The Historic Hangar 16 at Curtiss Field (Circa 1931)
David K:
Howard: I thoroughly enjoyed looking at the artifacts and listening to the presentation.
From Treasure Chest of Surveys and Maps Draws Large Crowd to the Parkway Preservation Society Meeting
Jeff R:
My daughter and I thank you for the presentations on Thursdays.
From Treasure Chest of Surveys and Maps Draws Large Crowd to the Parkway Preservation Society Meeting
Ron T:
Great meeting you last night at the meeting; thanks for the presentations and for making those documents so approachable
From Treasure Chest of Surveys and Maps Draws Large Crowd to the Parkway Preservation Society Meeting
Lake Ronkonkoma and area west in 1930 from a Suffolk County aerial photo of county properties. Rosevale Avenue circles the western portion of the lake and vertically on the left are Old Nichols Road and Terry Road. The LIMP was only 16 feet wide here.
The Ronkonkoma toll house and Petit Trianon are visible on the left side of the lake.
From Mystery Foto #16 Solved:1930 Aerial of the Long Island Motor Parkway at Lake Ronkonkoma-Updated 9/18
I really do think that the proposed tunnel/overpass in Searingtown was intended for safe passage to the nearby school for residents that lived N/O the LIMP. I assume another safe route to the school was established.
From Treasure Chest of Surveys and Maps Draws Large Crowd to the Parkway Preservation Society Meeting
photo # 16 looks like the eastern end of the pkwy by lake ronkonkoma.
From Mystery Foto #16 Solved:1930 Aerial of the Long Island Motor Parkway at Lake Ronkonkoma-Updated 9/18
gee- i meant #16 MYSTERY PHOTO IS LAKE RONKONKOMA
From Mystery Foto #16 Solved:1930 Aerial of the Long Island Motor Parkway at Lake Ronkonkoma-Updated 9/18
photo # 17 looks like the eastern end of the pkwy by lake ronkonkoma.
From Mystery Foto #16 Solved:1930 Aerial of the Long Island Motor Parkway at Lake Ronkonkoma-Updated 9/18
From left to right, west to east, we are looking at the easternmost portion of the LIMP from Brentwood/Islip out to Lake Ronkonkoma.
The Ronkonkoma lodge, The Petit and Annex are visible. I’m not aware of any bridges in this portion.
Jericho Tok is visible. I’m assuming that is the northern state dumping out into 347 so we must be talking early 1940s at least. Probably later then that as Ronkonkoma area looks pretty built up. I’ll go with late 1940s as my guess.
From Mystery Foto #16 Solved:1930 Aerial of the Long Island Motor Parkway at Lake Ronkonkoma-Updated 9/18
Evelin - Puedes consultar con Howard, por favor incluir photographia del carro. El sabes mas de carros viejo. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Howard - Evelin owns/possesses a 1915-1917 Peugeot racer (model unknown) and seeks information/consultation about it.
From The Peugeot EX3- Winner of the 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race in San Francisco
Hola podrán enviarme un email para hacer una consulta tengo un peugeot entrre 1915-1917 no se que modelo es
gracias
From The Peugeot EX3- Winner of the 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race in San Francisco
Just to clarify, is this in Garden City near Old Country Road or near Vanderbilt Court where there was a bridge over Clinton Road? Thanks in advance.
____________________________________________
Howard Kroplick:
Bill, it is actually near Transverse Road in Garden City.
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/wednesday_september_29_2010_the_motor_parkway_mayan_ruins_in_garden_city1
From Exploring the "Mayan Ruins" Bridge in Garden City- Updated: 4/23/2017
Hi Bob - Sorry to hear about Ralphie. ALS is rare but still a nasty bug.
From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City
Robert…. So sorry for the outcome of your past neighbor, Ralphie. I used to work along with someone quite a few years ago. He was a hard worker, and a gentleman. He also eventually succumbed to ALS. He reported to work until it was physically impossible, and you never heard a complaint out of him. He’ll never be forgotten by those who knew him.
From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City
Good photos, Howard. Frank and I arrived a little late. In case anyone is wondering, I’m the redhead walking along with Frank at the west abutment. I’m a bit camera shy anyway.
From Exploring the "Mayan Ruins" Bridge in Garden City- Updated: 4/23/2017
Great work guys but for this mission to be fully completed we have to do one thing: DIG!!!
I volunteer to dig. Might be good idea to do this before someone moves into that other house.
From Exploring the "Mayan Ruins" Bridge in Garden City- Updated: 4/23/2017
Hi Guys,
Unfortuanately Ralphie passed away late in the last century from ALS. He was an only child, had been married, but had no children which I can recall. He owned a dive shop somewhere out in The Moriches. He was a loner and would dive solo with tanks all along the south shore of Long Island. He probably had quite a collection of found items.
Your recollection of the EJ Korvette’s location is correct. Near where Big Lots is today.
Best Regards,
Bob Stambaugh
From Sam & Dave’s Excellent Lost Motor Parkway Adventure III: The "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City
Page 627 of 1021 pages ‹ First < 625 626 627 628 629 > Last ›