Vanderbilt Cup Races

Thanks to all for the nice comments, I can’t help it, I’m a before-and-after fan myself!

Brian – Howard’s 1931 arieal shows the twin bridges intact. Howard sending attachments. I tried overlaying this same aerial as well but was unsuccessful in accuracy. It’s still great for viewing. 

Sam III – Nice link to the CRR Bridge. I started reading and could not put it down. The photos were great including Mr J.J. Conroy’s addition. Fantastic presentation and photos! Please keep it up

From Femenias' Findings: Anatomy of an Amazing 1938 Aerial (Garden City to East Meadow)

Great new images of the Massapequa Lodge!. Is that P.O. Zinzi standing by the lodge? Amazing stuff guys.

From From a Lodgekeeper's Family Album: A View of the Massapequa Lodge

Hi Art, With regard to the Williston Park marker, I donated the stone post to the Village Historical Society.  Looks like you had fun. Al

From Kleiner's Tour of the Long Island Motor Parkway and a Mystery Triangle

From Andrew Wylie:

Ralph DePalma and Louis Fontaine

Raced in the Vanderbilt Cup 1911, 1912, 1914, 1915 winning the 1912 and 1914 events

1915 Indianapolis 500

1914 Mercedes GP

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: Ralph DePalma in the Mercedes that Won the 1915 Indy 500 Race

From David Stephan:
Howard-
The Florida license plate is a dead giveaway. Spaceship spotted by your paralegal is a car customization by The Car Factory/Michael Vetter “as seen on TV.”

She can get her own one at http://kitanautobodyexperience.com/ !

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: Ralph DePalma in the Mercedes that Won the 1915 Indy 500 Race

The car seen in New Jersey is called the ETV (Extra terrestrial Vehicle). It is built around a Chevy Cobalt. It features hydraulic suspension to allow it to drop low when parked but raise up for street use. Due to the rather “limited” rear vision, cameras handle all rear view accessibility.

Although not offered as a kit, I first saw it at the Kit Car Nationals at Carlisle back around 2005, or so. At that time it was being offered as a turn key for around $50,000. I am not sure on the status of the company or availability of the car any longer, however, if you want something TOTALLY different, something where you are not likely to be one of a few at a show or cruise night the ETV could just be the car for you

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: Ralph DePalma in the Mercedes that Won the 1915 Indy 500 Race

I lived across from Roosevelt Raceway . Roosevelt Field hangers were still there when I was a kid .one became Murray the K ‘s disco which we explored all the time were Levitz furniture is today .Joe Cranes parachute company moved out of Roosevelt Field to Old Country Rd.He sold miniature toy parachute to us kids.The hangers by my house were torn down and became Fortunoffs. We roamed the fields along the Meadowbrook Parkway playing under that Central Ave Bridge till they filled it in. We use to sneak in Mitchel Field all the time getting chased out by the guards.

From Femenias' Findings: Anatomy of an Amazing 1938 Aerial (Garden City to East Meadow)

The racer appears to be the 1921-22 28/95 PS Mercedes Sportwagen.  The Mystery Car is clearly a full-scale replica of a toy car I played with ca. 1940!  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: Ralph DePalma in the Mercedes that Won the 1915 Indy 500 Race

In case anyone is interested in the airport Walt mentions, it was the Hershey Airpark; see:

  http://www.airfields-freeman.com/PA/Airfields_PA_Harrisburg.htm#hershey

Sam, III

From The Selling of the George Vanderbilt Cup Trophy at the 1994 Hershey Region AACA Meet

More in the Central RR bridge at:

  http://sbiii.com/lirrcrr1.html#crrbridg

and:

  http://sbiii.com/lirrcrr3.html#crrbridg

The thumbnails are really bad (gotta redo them) but they bring up good pix.

Sam, III

From Femenias' Findings: Anatomy of an Amazing 1938 Aerial (Garden City to East Meadow)

Great post Frank. Cartography and topography are your gifts. I love how you show the old and new. Thank you.

From Femenias' Findings: Anatomy of an Amazing 1938 Aerial (Garden City to East Meadow)

That looks like Ralph DePalma along with mechanician Louis Fontaine in a Mercedes. DePalma participated in four Vanderbilt Cup Races: 1911, 1912, 1914, & 1915, winning in 1912 & 1914. The photo was probably taken at the 1915 Indianapolis 500 race, which DePalma won.—- Bonus question: the mystery car is an “E T V” or Extra Terrestrial Vehicle, built by Mike Vetter at his shop, The Car Factory, in Micco, Florida.

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: Ralph DePalma in the Mercedes that Won the 1915 Indy 500 Race

Identify the driver, the mechanician and the race car.
Ralph DePalma with mech. Louis Fontaine in his Mercedes race car.

Link the driver to the Vanderbilt Cup Races
Winner of the 1912 and 1914 Vanderbilt Cup Races.

At what race was this photo taken?
1915 Indianapolis 500

Bonus: Identify the Mystery Auto
Probably a one-off custom, or kit car.

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: Ralph DePalma in the Mercedes that Won the 1915 Indy 500 Race

The mystery photo shows Ralph DePalma at the wheel of Mercedes racer #2, nicknamed the Grey Ghost, with which he won the 1915 Indianapolis 500 mile race on May 31. After wining the race he paid his mechanic Louis Fountaine the following tribute: “Louis, you’re an awful little runt, but believe me, you’re some mechanic!” (Motor Age, June 3, 1915).
The racer was one of the Mercedes Grand Prix team, which had won the 1914 French Grand Prix at Lyon, and apparently had already been in the US since August 1914: on August 22 DePalma had won the Elgin National Trophy with the same car. Comparing with the original 1914 GP racers it is clear that several modifications must have been made since. Based on the number of 5 louvres at the right hand side of the bonnet however, it could have have been Salzer’s car which had taken third place in the Grand Prix: this car was the only one with 5 louvres, the other team cars had at least 6 louvres.
DePalma competed in the Vanderbilt Cup races of 1912, 1914 and 1915, all on Mercedes, of which he won the 1914 edition.

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: Ralph DePalma in the Mercedes that Won the 1915 Indy 500 Race

This clears up my mistake about exactly where the “twin bridges” we’re located. I initially thought the Roosevelt Field and Meadowbrook Club bridges were closer to today’s Quentin Roosevelt Blvd ( I mentioned that on the 8/22/16 blog, Mystery photo #34. It would’ve been ideal if the 1956 aerial displayed more easterly to Merrick Ave. The remnants of these twin bridges might of still existed. I saw the 2 roads running north from Stewart Ave to the LIMP on a 1947 topo.) I’ve said this before, Frank….Howard is fortunate to have your expertise and genuine interest in the making of your maps, etc.

From Femenias' Findings: Anatomy of an Amazing 1938 Aerial (Garden City to East Meadow)

That’s a Mercedes Benz see the star on the rad she’ll under the motor meter

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: Ralph DePalma in the Mercedes that Won the 1915 Indy 500 Race

I gave my answer about Ralph DePalma and the Mercedes earlier.
The Mystery car is a custom car by designer Michael Vetter which is called an ETV.

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: Ralph DePalma in the Mercedes that Won the 1915 Indy 500 Race

Ralph DePalma wins the 1915 Indianapolis 500 in a Mercedes Grand Prix car. His co- driver is Louis Fontaine.
DePalma’s other Vanderbuilt cup history includes Vanderbilt Cup, Milwaukee: 1st 1914, Vanderbuilt cup, Milwaukee 1915 2nd place, Vanderbilt Cup 1914, Santa Monica: 1st.
Briggs Cunningham owned a Mercedes GP car very similar to this one. I photographed it at Sebring 1957 or 1958 where it was on display and running. Cunningham’s car may now be in the Collier collection.

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: Ralph DePalma in the Mercedes that Won the 1915 Indy 500 Race

Re Feminas’ Findings:  What a nice presentation!  Thanks.

From Femenias' Findings: Anatomy of an Amazing 1938 Aerial (Garden City to East Meadow)

Charlie Schalebaum always had high end automobilia , car mascots etc. The “blue field” he mentions he had to move from was the first flea market space of any size at Hershey and is now where all the roller coasters are located east of the old stadium, and what today is the red field. The ‘white filed’ was on a long narrow strip of land that was across the road from the current flea market and now motor homes that attend the Hershey event are now parked there. The white field was a former runway for a tiny airport (of sorts) that was there in the late 1960s and early 1970s. You could pay to go for a plane ride and take photos of the huge flea market and surrounding area. The flea market at that time wasn’t half of what it is today size wise. As far as I know the Schalebaum family still had flea market spaces in the current Chocolate field of the flea market .
I do remember seeing that trophy when it was in the flea market and thought it a stark contrast in style - very art deco as compared to the original trophy that W.K. Vanderbilt Jr. had made that today is in the Smithsonian in Washington D.C.

From The Selling of the George Vanderbilt Cup Trophy at the 1994 Hershey Region AACA Meet