Vanderbilt Cup Races

There was a gatehouse and some roadway for the LIMP located on Vanderbilt Court just south of Stewart Ave. on Clinton Road when my sister owned th adjacent property around 1977. It may be gone but worth a look! Also I remember them taking down the overpass on Roslyn road near Robbins drive, but the abutments may still be there.

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” VII: Westbury to Levittown

Thank you, Dave. The stretch of the LIMP in North Hills ( East and West of Shelter Rock Rd ) was my favorite. The ROW E/O the substation would get quite muddy though, tough going even with 4WD. I was glad with the decision to give the Old Courthouse Rd bridge historical status. My pickup could pass under it, the bucket trucks could access opposite the bridge by entering the ROW from New Hyde Park Rd. So glad that Sam Berliner and Howard Kroplick have such informative websites about the LIMP ( Sam also has a LIRR website, I’m sure you realized that the Stewart RR ROW is near the LIMP ROW in areas).

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” VII: Westbury to Levittown

What runs this car? Does it have anything to do with the VCR? Is my mystery. Not even a clue on this one?

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: Barney Oldfield in the Winton Bullet No.2 at Empire City Track in Yonkers

Thanks Brian.

You obviously have a long history of parkway observation. I’m wondering what stretch of it intrigued you the most?

All others feel free to chime in as well with your opinions!!

Sammy’s favorite location still pending….....

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” VII: Westbury to Levittown

NOTES:

I have since returned a few times to explore/hunt for remnants behind the businesses on Stewart Ave next to the Meadowbrook. Total waste of time. Nothing to see. The Parkway might be buried honestly as it seems like the Meadowbrook was “dug” so they might have just thrown all the dirt on the sides and covered the Parkway completely? Maybe it’s under several feet of dirt but not worth exploring in case you were thinking about it.

The parkway cuts through Eisenhower Park - we looked in wooded areas just over fences but nothing to see in the park.

As Howard noted a few months ago, Salisbury Park Drive now has Vanderbilt historical signs on it. Paved walkway next to park. At least it’s acknowledgement.

Once you cross over the Wantagh there are old wood fence post remnants on the side of the road. Not sure if they are Vanderbilt related? Didn’t take pics. Sorry. Next time!

I sent a photo to Howard of THE exact location (according to Wayne’s online Motor Parkway map) of the Grandstand location. I would think this would be a great spot to bring some real quality metal detector equipment to and see what remains one could uncover. When I retire one day!

Not the most interesting section of remaining road in this part of the journey, but Bethpage is coming up and that is worth the wait.

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” VII: Westbury to Levittown

Great stuff. i was too young but love to hear what took place. Awesome to here the way it truly was. Please keep ‘em comin’

From Exclusive Photos: The Mustang II Prototype Concept Car Making Its Debut at the Watkins Glen in 1963

Allentown. i just might stop by on Rt. 22 and take a look at the ol’ lady while visiting my sister during the holidays. This will be cool.

From Sneak Preview: Exhibit "The Harmony of Form & Function featuring Streamline Moderne Art Deco"

Hi Dave and Sam. Your dead on right about the stretch of businesses R/O Stewart Ave, parallel with the Meadowbrook Pkwy. Kind of like Fort Knox. The one photo in Levittown with the cracked pavement was the location of a past school. I guess you witnessed the new housing construction further east. I would check out the LIMP remnants while working for LILCO/LIPA, but you and your son are exploring on your own time. That’s true dedication.

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” VII: Westbury to Levittown

Technically the Parkway was not completed until September 1928 when the Commack spur, today’s Harned Rd., was opened to the public. Al Velocci

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved:The Missing Long Island Motor Parkway Historical Marker on Old Country Road

Nice preview,can’t wait to see the rest of these unremarkable cars.    HAPPY VETERANS DAY to all of you

From Sneak Preview: Exhibit "The Harmony of Form & Function featuring Streamline Moderne Art Deco"

The first two photos look like they were just taken!  Hard to believe it was 52 years ago!  Thanks for sharing.

From Exclusive Photos: The Mustang II Prototype Concept Car Making Its Debut at the Watkins Glen in 1963

Wish I was able to answer this one,but I didn’t have any access to the Internet and anyhow I wouldn’t of had time anyway,this is the only chance that I have,until I get back to Virginia sometime on Thursday.I can say one thing about this mystery is that the 4th closeup picture I think is a 1958 or 59 Chysler Imperial.

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved:The Missing Long Island Motor Parkway Historical Marker on Old Country Road

June 6, 1959. Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John J. Burns and Boy Scout Vincent Belafiore of Explorer Post 429 dedicating the marker after earning the Historic Trails Scouting Award (first time achievement in Nassau County). On this day, Vincent and 29 other scouts hiked the Motor Parkway right-of-way from the Queens county line, Lake Success to the marker at Old Country Road, Mineola (6.7mi). Motor Parkway passed under Old Country Rd. at this location.
Guessing the marker was placed on Old Country Road’s south sidewalk. The photo is facing south where heavy brush behind filled the former highway bridge. On the north, a housing complex was erected.   

Marker errors are?:
Parkway length should be closer to 45.2mi.
Parkway completion should be 1908-1926 (Western Terminus)
Vanderbilt Motor Parkway is a variant of Long Island Motor Parkway

Most likely marker was removed for the widening of Old Country Road. This marker may not have stood for very long as the roadway was already widened by 1966.
At the ROW, Old Country Road borders Mineola and Garden City, and Motor Parkway borders Mineola and Carle Place. This marker could quite possibly be buried very deep in three locations:

Village of Mineola Dept. of Public Works, 155 Washington Av.
Village of Garden City Dept. of Public Works, 2 Cherry Valley Av.
Village of Westbury Dept. of Public Works, 500 Dover St.

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved:The Missing Long Island Motor Parkway Historical Marker on Old Country Road

Great stuff! Thank you all gentlemen for sharing this.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive-The Helck Family Memoirs #1: Old 16 at the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race

June 6, 1959 per the date on the scout emblem on the north side of OCR based upon the shadow facing north and the sun is always to the south.  LIMP crossed OCR at bridge near present Vanderbilt Drive / Russell Drive on north side of OCR and east of Russell Road on south side.  1946 Hagstrom’s Map indicated an Albertson Road at LIMP OCR crossing, which in now Russell Road.

It is Long Island Motor Parkway not Vanderbilt Motor Parkway.  LIMP crossed under, not intersected OCR.  Parkway was completed 1929.  The LIMP was 47.2 miles long plus 2.1 miles for Harned Road making it 49.3 miles of pavement.

Could that be Robert Hughes with the sign?  Is the marker in Howard’s Museum or The Garden City Chamber of Commerce building?

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved:The Missing Long Island Motor Parkway Historical Marker on Old Country Road

Where was the exact location and orientation of this marker?
The site of the marker was the intersection of the Motor Parkway and North side of Old Country Road in Mineola, a few blocks west of the Roosevelt Field shopping center

When was this historical marker dedicated?
The marker was dedicated in June, 1959

Who was at the dedication and why?
The Boy Scouts of America Explorer Post 429 as they took a break in their hike retracing the route of the Motor Parkway.

List the factual errors in the marker’s copy.
The marker uses an incorrect version of the Parkway’s name.

From Art’s Motor Parkway Historical Marker Page;
“Having been to this location several times and never noticing the marker, my guess it was probably taken down as part of improvements made to Old Country Road and the erection of an office building and an apartment complex.  Several calls to the Nassau County Dept. of Public Works proved of no value as no one appeared to have any recollection of where the marker may have ended up. “

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved:The Missing Long Island Motor Parkway Historical Marker on Old Country Road

This marker was located on Old Country Road where the LIMP went under O.C.R., a few hundred feet west of Glen Cove Road. It was probably on the north side of Old Country Road because there appears to be a shadow behind the pole caused by the sun coming from the south. Also, there’s a photo taken in 1960 that appears with your bridge series taken from the south looking north that does not show the marker. If it was on the south side, it probably would have been visable in the photo. The marker was dedicated on June 6, 1959 by John Burns, then supervisor of the Town of Oyster Bay, and Vincent Belafiore of BSA Explorer Post 429, both of whom are in the photo. Belafiore and the other Boy Scouts in his post were attempting to earn the Historic Trails Award by hiking along the route of the LIMP in Nassau County. Among the errors on the marker are: the road was never called “Vanderbilt” Motor Parkway; the LIMP didn’t “intersect” Old Country Road, it went under it; it didn’t comprise 48 miles in 1911; it only approached that length by the mid to late 1920’s after several extensions. The marker was probably removed during the widening of Old Country Road sometime in the 1960’s and nobody seems to know where it is today.

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved:The Missing Long Island Motor Parkway Historical Marker on Old Country Road

Having “snuck” my XK-120 Jag onto the course for an illegal lap after the end of the 19 Jun 1960 re-run, I can really appreciate the thrill.  Thank you, Jerry - your Dad was a really great guy, a gracious host to me up at Boston Corners and a welcoming bare-acquaintance at Roosevelt Raceway in 1960, and any more recollections will be most welcome.  Sam, III

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive-The Helck Family Memoirs #1: Old 16 at the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Old Country Road a little west of Roosevelt Field where the LIMP used to intersect Old Country. There was a dedication ceremony there June 6, 1959. The gentleman with the bow tie was John Burns, Oyster Bay Town Supervisor. Boy Scout Troop 429 was celebrating an “Historic Trails” award. It was taken down when Old Country was widened.  Where it is today is a mystery, but if it still exists, Howard will probably find it.
The correct title should have been “THE LONG ISLAND MOTOR PARKWAY”.

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved:The Missing Long Island Motor Parkway Historical Marker on Old Country Road

It’s true that all of those magnificent cars deserve an award.  A special congratulations to Howard on his Special Award.
Rog

From Chrysler's Chrysler Honored at the Hilton Head Concours d'Elegance