Vanderbilt Cup Races

Love the pic of Old 16 climbing the bridge!

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #11 Massapequa Lodge in Plainedge

Solved! My updated answers;

Identify the competition, the race track and the date of the photo.
Veteran Motor Car Club of America 50th Anniversary Jubliee Anniversary at the Mineola Fair Grounds-June 8th 1946

Identify the race car on the right, its driver and mechanician.
Joe Tracy & Jerry Helck

What is on the site of the race track today?
Nassau County Courthouse

From Mystery Foto #52 Solved: Old 16 at the 1946 VMCCA Jubilee Anniversary at the Mineola Fair Grounds

The holiday took all my time up this weekend, so all I’ve got is that it looks to be Old 16 on the right, most likely with Joe Tracy at the wheel. Since the parked cars look to be from the late 40’s, this is probably well after 1941/2 when Peter Helck took ownership and more frequently exhibited the car with Tracy and Robertson driving.

From Mystery Foto #52 Solved: Old 16 at the 1946 VMCCA Jubilee Anniversary at the Mineola Fair Grounds

From Hector:

Happy Holidays! Thank you for keeping us updated. Let
Me know of future events. I will try to make as many as I can.

Thanks!!!

From Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and a Wonderful 2017!

From John:

All the best to you Howard and you devotion to racing and Long Island history.

John

From Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and a Wonderful 2017!

The race is from 1946 of the VMCAA 50th anniversary celebration at the Mineola Fairgrounds dirt track.  The driver was 75 year old Joe Tracey, the mechanician was…..Jerry Helck(?) in the #16 Locomobile, and the car on the left *may be* the Breese Racer.

Not being terribly familiar with the landscape I am guessing this was the oval which backed up to the S/F line of the Vanderbilt Cup Race (though I could be wrong and notice there is another oval from aerials nearby).

What is on there today?  First guess would be a Walmart, but I’d hope at least it’s an open field or park at least…..so that is a hope, not a guess.

A short film of the race.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udTbxEVDS2w

From Mystery Foto #52 Solved: Old 16 at the 1946 VMCCA Jubilee Anniversary at the Mineola Fair Grounds

Great artwork!

Thanks for sharing. We need to see more of these classic posters from yesteryear.

Success in 2017,
=rds

From Helck Family Collection: The Story Behind Peter Helck's Artwork for this Vanderbilt Cup Race Poster

In 1965, I drove cross-country with a college friend in his brand new 1964 GTO… departed Long Island Noon Fri, and were in Gallup, NM 6am Sunday via Route 66.  Took a side trip to Grand Canyon & Vegas before crossing the desert to LA.  We were cruisin’ to say the least!

From Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and a Wonderful 2017!

Nice presentation of the Ronkonkoma Lodge history.

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures:#19 and #20 The Ronkonkoma Toll Gate & Ronkonkoma Lodge

Hi all
  HAPPY HOLIDAYS,MERRY CHRITMAS,HAPPY NEW YEAR and good health and happiness

From Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and a Wonderful 2017!

Thanks for the entertainment and a happy Chanukah to you.

From Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and a Wonderful 2017!

Mystery Foto #52…......The competition was the Automotive Golden Jubilee at Mineola Fairgrounds on June 8, 1946.
The race car on the right is the Old 16 Locomobile driven by Joe Tracy with Jerry Helck as his mechanician.
Today, on the site of the Mineola Fairgrounds, we find The Nassau County Court complex.

From Mystery Foto #52 Solved: Old 16 at the 1946 VMCCA Jubilee Anniversary at the Mineola Fair Grounds

In June 1946 the American Car Club 50th anniversary event was held at the old
Mineola fairgrounds.  Old Number 16 is pictured and the driver was Joe Tracy with
young Jerry Helck the mechanician. The fairgrounds are now just a memory, replaced
by the current Nassau County Supreme Court.  I had seen midget autos race on this dirt
track around 1948. My “seat” was a tree limb on the far turn outside the fence.

From Mystery Foto #52 Solved: Old 16 at the 1946 VMCCA Jubilee Anniversary at the Mineola Fair Grounds

Thanks, Dave. We know their all being filmed,etc. But I/We can relate to everyone on that show. Wish they invite us all their!

Hunting Hitler is another favorite of mine. The psycho is dead by now, but I really get into their discoveries, etc.

From The Second 2016 Kleiner Tour of the Long Island Motor Parkway

Good one Brian!

Man I really want to love that show, oak island. It’s right up all of our alleys you know? It has so much potential. But I’m always disappointed at the end of each episode! They’ve pulled every string in the world….when are they gonna find something???? I keep thinking the network couldn’t be on board unless they knew this was leading to something good….but it never happens. Enough with the analytics!

From The Second 2016 Kleiner Tour of the Long Island Motor Parkway

So, as we can see from the older photos, the lodge was basically on top of / right next to the LIMP.

Was the house moved back away from the road at some point?

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures:#19 and #20 The Ronkonkoma Toll Gate & Ronkonkoma Lodge

I went on the “suffolkcountyny.gov” site ( imaps ) to see where a total of 1650 ft heading W/O both Old Rosevale Ave and Rosevale Ave would land. It ends up at the intersection of Motor Pkwy/ Oakdale Ave. Have no doubt the renovated lodge is further east to Woodlawn Ave, I’ll just have to drive by there; after the holidays of course. And you can’t miss this house, with The Russo Team providing a excellent photo of it.

A Happy and Safe Holiday Season to All!

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures:#19 and #20 The Ronkonkoma Toll Gate & Ronkonkoma Lodge

I give you all the credit in the world for the in-depth detective work you do to bring the Island’s history back to us and generations to come. Thank you so much!

From Mystery Foto #51 Solved: A Rare Vintage Color Photo of the Bethpage Lodge Circa 1962/1963

Wow, nice blog Gary.  I’m happy they think the ticket is so special.  I think there was a whole box of them but I don’t know what happened to it.  Long gone.
Donna

From Hammond's History: A 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race Parking Space Ticket at Pratt's Farm in Westbury

Robertson’s pretzel indeed. Just one lap on the new layout with the old machine would’ve been enough for anyone. I often wonder how any driver could sustain and finish the grueling course, 400 miles of it no less. The prizes were well deserved. The avg speed of the racers must’ve been slower compared to the earlier, staiter layouts, regardless of ‘modern’ improvements to the auto. Much fish-tailin’ goin’ on ‘round ‘36.

From Helck Family Collection: The Story Behind Peter Helck's Artwork for this Vanderbilt Cup Race Poster