Vanderbilt Cup Races

It’s the George Vanderbilt Cup Race at Roosevelt Raceway (looking SE) from the eastern edge of Roosevelt Field.  I would guess the July 5, 1937 race, as the race originally scheduled for July 3rd had to be postponed 2 days due to rain (note the wet pavement & puddles in the foreground).  In the background is the Grandstand.  The large aircraft is a Douglas DC-3 marked “The Great Silver Fleet”.  Operated by Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker’s Eastern Air Lines.  Note the EAL’s falcon logo on the nose of the a/c.  Eastern operated with 76 DC-3’s from 1936-53.  The 2-seater, open cockpit biplanes might be 2 of the 5 Roosevelt Aviation School’s Fleet Model 2 a/c used in flight instruction.

From Mystery Foto 2015 #1: Roosevelt Field and Roosevelt Raceway in July 1937 (Updated with a Then & Now)

My guess is Roosevelt Field,1938-9. The Raceway grandstand in the background, A DC2 and a pair of Jennys. The cars? Maybe a early 30s Ford(A) and two Plymouth sedans(cabs).

From Mystery Foto 2015 #1: Roosevelt Field and Roosevelt Raceway in July 1937 (Updated with a Then & Now)

In my humble opinion there have been three Mercedes racers (based on small differences in spring horns, chain wheels, gear and break levers a.o.):
1. The 1904 Ormond Beach car, which was sold;
2. The 1904 Vanderbilt Cup car, which was used during Eagle Rock Hill Climb, modified for Ormond Beach 1905 and used during the Vanderbilt Cup of 1906 as support car (still having the lowered seats);
3. The 1906 Vanderbilt Cup car, which seems to have been the same car as the 1908 Vanderbilt car (cf. the holes in the radiator support).
However I must admit I’m not too certain, because of the changing wheel colours of the second (1904-1905) Mercedes.
Therefore I would also suggest (if not done yet of course) to contact the Daimler-Benz archive, which must have rather detailed sales books of the period.

From The Unsolved Mystery of William K. Vanderbilt Jr.'s 90-HP Mercedes Automobile(s) (1904-1908)

Amazing photos again, not much of a change was there?

From From the Luttgen Album: Driver Foxhall Keene Taking the Turn at Colyers Corner in Plainview

Hi Howard, in cruising up toward Roslyn today I noticed the 25 MPH speed zone just south of Main Street, is there actual photo enforcement on those ? Mike
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From Howard Kroplick

The Nassau County Legislature has repealed the Speed camera law. However, the law will be enforced until County Executive Ed Mangano signs the repeal.

From Then & Now: Racing on Roslyn Roads

I’m revising my guess on the date to July 3rd 1937 due to the rain delay. It is clearly raining in the mystery photo and the 1937 VCR was postponed 2 days due to rain.

From Mystery Foto 2015 #1: Roosevelt Field and Roosevelt Raceway in July 1937 (Updated with a Then & Now)

Really has amazing photos. it is very nice of him to share them with us to enjoy them. Still working on this week’s mystery photo. Off to a bad start for this one. I.might just have to give you my guess work.

From From the Luttgen Album: Driver Foxhall Keene Taking the Turn at Colyers Corner in Plainview

-Identify the location and approximate date of the photo.

Looking across Roosevelt Field at Roosevelt Raceway, Westbury- July 5, 1937.

-What is the large structure in the background?

The 1936/1937 Vanderbilt Cup/Roosevelt Raceway Grandstands

-Identify the three automobiles and three airplanes in the foreground.

I’m unclear on the cars and the biplanes, but Interesting to note; Former WW-I hero, Eddie Rickenbacker- (Ace of Aces and Vanderbilt Cup Participant/mechanician-1906 American Elimination Trial, 1915 & 1916),  created the “new” Eastern Air Lines in the early 30’s. All Eastern’s panes had “The Great Silver Fleet.” on their sides. Douglas DC-3’s were delivered to The Great Silver Fleet in May of 1937. Identifying the larger passenger plane on the left.- Maybe this was a ‘corporate flight’ awaiting its’ CEO who would have been watching the races?

From Mystery Foto 2015 #1: Roosevelt Field and Roosevelt Raceway in July 1937 (Updated with a Then & Now)

Mitchel Field in the mid 1930’s. In the background, it is probably Roosevelt Raceway.

From Mystery Foto 2015 #1: Roosevelt Field and Roosevelt Raceway in July 1937 (Updated with a Then & Now)

What are you doing? If it was never published, how’d you get it? knowing you, you can get anything. All I can say right now is, by looking at the cars it’s the late 30s early 40s. I had a 47 Plymouth and my uncle had a 44 or45 and these cars are older than that. Can’t even make out the state on the license plate. The large structure is some kind of stadium. It’s just a lot of guessing right now

From Mystery Foto 2015 #1: Roosevelt Field and Roosevelt Raceway in July 1937 (Updated with a Then & Now)

Hope you all had a good New Years Eve, I did, at home, nice and warm watching the Times Square New Years Eve Celebration on TV and having our own celebration. safe and sound. This is one night I avoid going out if I can.

From The Top Twenty 2014 Posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com

Oh Sh__! (Shoot!) I think eagle-eyed Brians got something here. This could be the culvert investigated in a mystery before. It’s extremely close to location and definitely open for discussion.  http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/mystery_friday_foto_68_can_you_identify_this_motor_parkway_structure. Howard, I’m sending a pic.

From Mystery Foto #100 Solved:The Jerusalem Avenue Bridge in Hempstead Plains Under Construction in 1908

I wish you all a safe and healthy HAPPY NEW YEAR

From The Top Twenty 2014 Posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com

From Paul E:
      Have a Healthy and Happy New Year, so You can continue to provide people with interesting, educational events. You are educating people and they are enjoying it!  Does it get much better then that?
      Stay Well.  Hope to See You soon. 

From The Top Twenty 2014 Posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com

Thanks Frank.  Glad you enjoyed it.

From Mystery Foto #100 Solved:The Jerusalem Avenue Bridge in Hempstead Plains Under Construction in 1908

Your probably right about the drainage work, Frank. Pretty sure I can see the"top” of a culvert on the right of the road surface.

From Mystery Foto #100 Solved:The Jerusalem Avenue Bridge in Hempstead Plains Under Construction in 1908

That was great!  Old American cars everywhere and mostly rust-free!

From Two Videos: Mission to Cuba and The Classic Cars of Cuba

Trying to understand why the workers have dug a trench along the roadside. Were they also installing a culvert for drainage? The present day drainage sump is in close proximity to where the photographer snapped the mystery.

From Mystery Foto #100 Solved:The Jerusalem Avenue Bridge in Hempstead Plains Under Construction in 1908

That’s a match!! Nice going guys.

From Mystery Foto #100 Solved:The Jerusalem Avenue Bridge in Hempstead Plains Under Construction in 1908

i too someday hope to hear the black beast purr, my great grand father frank lee was the mechanician with harry grant,,, go figure, grant and lee…. how ironically iconic.
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From Howard Kroplick

Anytime you are on Long Island, send me an email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive:The 1908 Race Album of William Luttgen & William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.