Vanderbilt Cup Races

I’m not sure of any of the questions, but not only does this look AI generated I have to ask why one hanger has a sign that reads “FOX NEWS?”

From Mystery Friday Foto #3 Solved: A Busy Curtiss Flying Field

I found this picture and article of the unrestored 1962 Ford Cougar 406 and it looks like it needs a lot of restoring.

From Mystery Friday Foto #1 Solved: Another ‘Name That Car!’ The 1962 Ford Cougar 406 Concept

An early look at Roosevelt Field.  Cameraman is a little east of Clinton Avenue, facing North by Northeast.  Looking to the hangers near Old Country Rd.

From Mystery Friday Foto #3 Solved: A Busy Curtiss Flying Field

This was a lot of fun. I especially enjoyed the wonderful illustrations. Thanks for publishing this little bit of automotive history.

From From the Helck Family Collection: A Henry Austin Clark Jr. Brochure 'What Makes It Great?'

I remember the Speedway oh so well. When I was a boy our village of East Rockaway had an organization for youth run by the retired members of the Nassau County Police. Mr Lavity was in charge of our local group Called the PBC (Police Boys Club). He ran softball games and drove us to the beach and Freeport Stadium throughout the summer season. The retired county bus was a big old GMC from the thirties or forties painted in deep blue and the roof was Orange like the other police vehicles on the force. The races at Freeport were my favorite. I seemed to remember them on Tuesday Friday and Saturday nights but I may be mistaken. Some of the kids were Elvie Hickam, Steve Rothaug, and Renee Menandez who later became a Nassau Police officer himself. I was the youngest of the group. We were supposed to sit in the bleachers with other village PBC groups at the second turn but we always seemed to sneak away and get to the top rows of the seats on the first turn that overlooked the pits. We liked that because the drivers were always fighting with one and another over accidents and other discrepancies. Most of the wreck occurred on that turn and the pit track entrance was right there.

Bruno Bracky a mailman by trade was a constant winner and he must have been a good fighter because he was not a big guy like many of the stock car drivers from local auto shops. My Dad knew Bruno Brackey when we had lived at my Grandparents house in Far Rockaway. The Brackey’s lived on the same Street and Bruno’s Daughter Caroline was in my first grade class So we always rooted for him in the black and white #71 and a few other cars that he drove. The actual owner of the cars he drove lived in East Rockaway down in Bay Park. My Mom knew the wife of the owner of cars but that info is long lost.

From InstaGRAM Report: The Racing History of Freeport Stadium

Greg, Always wondered where postcards of the Motor Parkway and the Petit Trianon were sold from. I now know of a one location and that the Petit Trianon itself. They were sold at the reception desk and as a courtesy, if so desired by the buyer, they would be mailed from the Ronkonkoma Post Office for an additional one cent. But even bigger news, one could also purchase a “flag” which was a pennant featuring the Petit Trianon. Never even knew there was such a thing. Anybody ever see one ?  Income from these and possibly other souvenirs constituted about 1percent of the yearly gross income.

From Mystery Friday Foto #2 Solved: A Large Automobile Gathering at the Petit Trianon in Ronkonkoma

Excellent article and photos Gram. My father took me to Freeport Raceway a few times every summer for 4 or 5 years. I loved it. We would sit on the first turn and as others have said we were covered in soot at the end of the night. I still remember the smell of the burning rubber and roar of the engines. I went to elementary school with Ed Brunnhoezl Jr. in Levittown. His father was also a driver.

From InstaGRAM Report: The Racing History of Freeport Stadium

Upon research I found originally the Cougar was painted Blue as shown in the color photos.  It was later painted Candy Apple Red by George Barris for the Movie Under the Yum Yum Tree.

From Mystery Friday Foto #1 Solved: Another ‘Name That Car!’ The 1962 Ford Cougar 406 Concept

Fantastic article, Gram!  I grew up in Valley Stream close to the Freeport Stadium but don’t think I ever went there as my parents were not racing enthusiasts.  I believe the closest I got was a slot car track in Freeport after which my uncle took me and my cousins to a White Castle.  Guess you can’t forget those burgers. 

Al G. - here’s a story I found on ESPN from 2018 about Gurney and the Freeport Stadium.  There’s also a NY Times article from Oct. 13, 20214 that also mentions Gurney and Freeport.

From InstaGRAM Report: The Racing History of Freeport Stadium

Thanks Brian for the additional research and your field trip to the location.  Glad to have some “boots” on the ground up on LI!  Happy New Year!

From Kleiner's Korner: Two Family Members Building the Motor Parkway

Just Click to Download File Above, the video is there. Notice how elevated the area is, Rosevale Avenue is seen at the end.

From Update: 12/11/2025: A 17--year old Parkway Inn Lake Ronkonkoma sign mystery likely solved

These photos are of my visit there. Even though Rosevale Ave doubled in width since the past, I still tried to copy the mystery foto. If not the trees, we would be able to see the Nursery School House. So I went into the small woods, hilly but level closer to the school property. Took a photo and a short video. Video may not play, but it just shows the woods area. Looked for evidence of tower remains, but none.

From Update: 12/11/2025: A 17--year old Parkway Inn Lake Ronkonkoma sign mystery likely solved

More screenshots of the area, past and present.

From Update: 12/11/2025: A 17--year old Parkway Inn Lake Ronkonkoma sign mystery likely solved

Hi All, I believe this was the first mystery foto of this website. Noticed in the background there’s a house, and also a lattice type tower. Think we all agree that this area is Lake Ronkonkoma. You’ll see screenshots below - 1915 map shows a Water Tower just north of the LIMP & east of Rosevale Ave. Map is zoomed in, the wording of the Water Tower is blurry. So I marked it. Also notice the curved dotted roads that meet the Petite Trianon Entrance Road. Believe the photographer & car was at the south curved road. Mystery Foto is facing largely north. Notice where I marked the LIMP END at Rosevale Ave. LIMP doesn’t appear paved, and downwards sloped. Remember Al Velocci saying the parkway in Suffolk wasn’t paved until post 1912 or 13. Even today, the parkway slopes down towards Rosevale.

From Update: 12/11/2025: A 17--year old Parkway Inn Lake Ronkonkoma sign mystery likely solved

The Petit Trianon’s dining room including 2nd floor balcony, courtesy Gary Hammond

From Mystery Friday Foto #2 Solved: A Large Automobile Gathering at the Petit Trianon in Ronkonkoma

Partial capture of the former Petit Trianon (1911-1958) restaurant and lodging facility at the eastern end of the Long Island Motor Parkway at Lake Ronkonkoma. View is looking north towards North Drive (still there) where the vehicles are parked. Part of Petit’s traffic circle (now extinct) can be seen along the bottom of photo. A welcoming guesthouse that included outdoor swimming for weary motorists, some traveling the full 45-mile length of Motor Parkway from Queens County. Petit was designed by John Russell Pope who also designed the first 6 Motor Parkway toll houses (one remains intact today in Garden City at 7th St).
Below are insider views of Petit Trianon’s interior, hand-drawn sketches by childhood resident Bob DeStefani.
3rd floor: The lodging rooms
2nd floor: Bathrooms and Balcony
1st floor: The reception area

more info here à
https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/new_series_an_inside_look_of_the_petit_trianon_in_lake_ronkonkoma

From Mystery Friday Foto #2 Solved: A Large Automobile Gathering at the Petit Trianon in Ronkonkoma

This is of course the Parkway Inn later renamed Petit Trianon. The photographer is looking north west in front of the building, across the circular entrance pavement.

As the Inn opened June 9, 1911, perhaps this is when the image was taken, or the day before when a special dinner reception was held.

From Mystery Friday Foto #2 Solved: A Large Automobile Gathering at the Petit Trianon in Ronkonkoma

FANTASTIC FOTOS Gram! Amazing to see motor history that occurred before my time. Based on the height of the motorcycle jump, I don’t believe he made it?

From InstaGRAM Report: The Racing History of Freeport Stadium

Now #49 Swezey St. The house today was built in 1935. The 1930 aerial shows a building, likely the original home that the Morrissey Family resided.

From Kleiner's Korner: Two Family Members Building the Motor Parkway

I’m pretty sure that’s the Petit Trianon at the eastern end of the LIMP at Lake Ronkonkoma. Beyond that, everything else is a guess. The date might be June of 1911 during the grand opening. The photographer was probably Al Velocci. As for the cars, I think I see a 1905 Rambler, a 1908 Ford Model T, and a 1909 Packard.

From Mystery Friday Foto #2 Solved: A Large Automobile Gathering at the Petit Trianon in Ronkonkoma