Vanderbilt Cup Races

From Chet:

I look forward to the arrival of the Vanderbilt Cup Races each week, maybe its being a native Long Islander and maybe it is my first job after college and the War with a surveyor (Holzmacker) in Bethpage where we came a across vestige’s of the Motor Parkway.

My father drove the Motor Parkway, although I did not.  I looked upon it as a faded lady of the night, with it’s very steep banked curves, narrow pavement and it’s constant encroaching overgrowth.

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” VI: Garden City

Congratulations once again Howard. I can’t say I’m surprised. Due to the car’s historical importance and it’s fabulous restoration it’s hard to beat. Although I couldn’t stay for the awards presentation I can attest to the strong competition on the show field. It was a great show. It was nice to see you in Saratoga Springs. Hope to see you at the Americana Concours with the Mustang.

From Hemmings.com: Mrs. Chrysler’s Chrysler Takes Best in Show at Hemmings Concours

Man! I was really wrong!!

From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936

Howard,
It appears that above the word “SPECIAL” on the side of the car is someone’s signature, as in the “John Doe” Special, also note the V8 logo on the hood.  Yes, there was a LAU MOTORS located in Brooklyn in 1937 (the earliest date I could find), which would become a Nash dealership located in Freeport “Nash LAU Motors”. 
See http://nashparts.com/dealership/nashdealersny.htm for a great listing of NYS Nash dealers through time.
The Nassau Daily Review-Star (Weds., 10/24/1945, p. 2) reported that Joseph A. Lau took over the former Columbian Bronze building at 14 Brooklyn Ave., north of LIRR, Freeport, for the Nash Lau Motors agency.  Lau was a resident of Floral Park, and had an agency in Brooklyn until August 1942 when auto production was halted due to WWII.  He was listed as being experienced in the auto business since 1921.

From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936

Lau Motors was a dealership located in Brooklyn during this time period - might it be connected to the car in the photo? Especially if it was a press event?

From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936

This was a very good one this weekend,not that they aren’t every week.Hugh gave a very good answer.Need more research on that cool car.It looks like an oversized midget racer

From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936

Laurel was a speed equipment company that built OHV heads for Model T Ford engines circa 1930.  Morton Brett offered a radiator much like the one on this car.

From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936

Didn’t have time this weekend to research this one, but to throw out something if I can’t get to it tomorrow, I,d say that looks like George Robertson in the felt hat sometime in the mid to late 1930s.

From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936

I can only comment on the construction. It was likely a 4 banger car built about 1930. The front axel is from a Model A less brakes. The rear axel is likely from a 1926 or 27 Model T [however late 1920s Chevrolet axels were also popular] The engine is a Ford V8 flathead as built from 1932 to 1936.  Most likely the photo is from the 1938 to 1941 era. The body is nice enough to a factory built like Morton Brett.  The radiator shell could be a narrowed Auburn or Chrysler from the mid 1920s.  Like most good race cars, the better ones ran for many years and were modified and up-graded. Some even were run at hill climbs and in road races.

From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936

Guessing George Robertson, first American victor of Vanderbilt Cup’s 1908 International Race. Joe Tracy in white coveralls below

From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936

Just a guess, but is that Eddie Rickenbacker in the felt hat?  I believe that he must have competed in a Vanderbilt Cup race during his pre-war (WW I) days.
I have no idea about this event and who the drivers are, but if I was guessing and if it is in fact Rickenbacker then it might be an event associated with the Indianapolis 500.
The racing car looks somewhat like a Miller, but the flathead engine doesn’t look right with a Miller.  I ‘m guessing that these are Duponts.

From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936

No clue but theres a leak !!! Very cool car

From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: George Robertson Promoting the New Roosevelt Raceway in June 1936

Howard, Happy the Mustang III is in good hands. Hope all went well in the 2011 restore.

From Inside the Restoration of the Mustang III Concept Show Car (2011-2013)

Howard/LIMPer’s; Was continuing to scratch my head as to why divert the Motor Pkwy from its Right Of Way at this particular location. Not sure, but I believe the idea here (while building the LIE) was to connect Old Willets Path (a main road) to the busy Motor Pkwy, but to do it without building an extra bridge over the LIE. So they left Old Willets Path intact, and diverted the historic Motor Parkway to save expenses on building an extra bridge?. Sounds crazy but any thoughts can help clarify?

From A 1926 Map of the Motor Parkway Acreage in Brentwood

I love exploring too!  Great pictures!

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” IV: Albertson to East Williston

Howard: As always, digging for more history on your car and it’s amazing what you find out and learn about it, also excited that you are the owner of the car, saved it from being destroyed, but to be enjoyed by a deserving person like you.

From Inside the Restoration of the Mustang III Concept Show Car (2011-2013)

Howard thanks for that link, in looking at Wayne Consola’s map of the Meadowbrook Parkway,  his line for the Motor Parkway Ellison Ave bridge runs east west, just slightly north of the bridge (between the entrance and exit ramps at the Covanta entrance), however there was a bend in the parkway slightly southward before the lodge, which may indeed place the original bridge slightly south of the existing bridge…...get out the surveyors scopes !!!  Mike

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved:Roosevelt Raceway, Meadow Brook Polo Field & Roosevelt Field Updated 1/24/16

2 questions if I may Howard,

1st question is the path of the actual Motor Parkway as seen in the current photo… is the illustrated line up the driveway to the office building the actual entrance to the Meadowbrook Lodge,  and isn’t the actual path of the Motor Parkway the service road between Micro Center and the Air Traffic Control (please clarify) and

2nd question which has plagued me about this area…. is the original motor parkway bridge at ellison ave north or south of today’s bridge ?

Thanks, Mike
________________________________________

From Howard Kroplick

Yes, the driveway to the bank’s parking lot matches the entrance road to the Meadow Brook Lodge.  I have added a 1960s aerial of the area which shows the approximate path of the Motor Parkway.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/the_motor_parkway_toll_collection_structures_9_meadow_brook_lodge_in_westbu

There has been great debate in the past about the location of the Roosevelt Field Motor Parkway bridge(s). I will research it in a future September post:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/long_island_motor_parkway_bridge_series_33_the_roosevelt_field_motor_parkwa

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved:Roosevelt Raceway, Meadow Brook Polo Field & Roosevelt Field Updated 1/24/16

If you walk past the bridge you can actually see the original pavement from the Motor Parkway. They are building a new development there. I hope they keep the bridge intact. it’s fascinating.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #55: The Ezekiel Smith Farmway Bridge in Melville

1950’s Westbury looking NW at Roosevelt Raceway harness racing, with circular paddocks bottom right. Garden City and curvy Motor Pkwy on bottom left with twin bridge location site (future Merchant’s Concourse). Barely seen in the distance is LIMP’s Mayan Ruins, Old Country Rd hwy bridge, LIRR pkwy bridge, Westbury Ave pkwy bridge, Hillside Ave pkwy bridge into Wheatley Hills golf course. Need an electron microscope to go further. Garden City lodge and Clinton Ave bridge are out of view in top left. In the center looks like remnants of ‘30s Vanderbilt and ‘40s Roosevelt raceway grandstand, Meadowbrook polo club grounds middle left, Roosevelt airfield behind the polo grounds (remaining white aircraft hanger can be seen by Old Country Rd). Merrick Ave (Whaleneck Av) bottom right corner, Old Country Rd diagonal across the center, Clinton Rd-Glen Cove Rd (Guinea Woods Rd) furthest edge of Roosevelt airfield. Housing community is Mitchel Airfield base (northern airfield boundary) and just east of future Meadowbrook Pkwy. Main raceway in the center is original ‘40s racetrack, to the right is a practice track and future site of Sony Multiplex (part of this track was the original Vanderbilt motor raceway).

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved:Roosevelt Raceway, Meadow Brook Polo Field & Roosevelt Field Updated 1/24/16