Vanderbilt Cup Races

Again where I grew up in the 50s - Fresh Meadows, although I lived on the other side of Horace Harding Blvd on 199th St. and 51st Ave. View is looking Northwest. Major roads are Horace Harding Blvd and Francis Lewis Blvd. Significant roads are 73rd Ave, with the Motor Parkway Bridge going over it. Peck Avenue, which parralleled the very end of the Motor Pkwy where it met Horace Harding Blvd. I also can see the “cut off” Motor Parkway bridge over the “cut off” North Hempstead Tpke. The year of the photo was probably about 1953. The vacant areas east of the intersection between Francis Lewis Blvd. and 73rd Avenue (they eventually became part of Cunningham Park where baseball diamonds were laid out) was the site of a National Guard outfit (the southeast area). However, I don’t see any buildings or vehicles at the site, which must have before 1955. And from my memory, PS 179 opened in 1955. So, if my memory is correct, and considering that it would have taken one year to build it, the photo had to have been taken before 1954. Unfortunately, my house was just “east” of the righthand side of the photo, which doesn’t show 199th St. at the point where it was parallel and one block west of Francis Lewis Blvd.

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: A 1951 aerial of the Motor Parkway in Fresh Meadow, Queens

Francis Lewis Blvd and 73rd Ave, pre-I 495 (Horace Harding Blvd there), with Peck Ave between the two.

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: A 1951 aerial of the Motor Parkway in Fresh Meadow, Queens

Early view of Fresh Meadows. Looking west northwest. Francis Lewis Blvd in the foreground crossing 73rd Avenue   I can see PS 26 school yard on 73rd then the Klein farm, then blocks of garden apartments.  Motor Parkway right of way is in the tree line parallel to Francis Lewis. Tall buildings in Fresh Meadows are the 13 story buildings. East side of photos show what were later little league fields I would put this around early 1950s. Motor Parkway bridge over 73rd Ave and one where Bishop Reilly was built around 64thAve are both visible.

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: A 1951 aerial of the Motor Parkway in Fresh Meadow, Queens

We are facing west with the 73rd ave (black stump rd) bridge in the lower center of the picture.  The second Motor Parkway feature in the photo is the North Hempstead Turnpike bridge shown on the far right.  Francis Lewis blvd runs parallel to the parkway here.  In the foreground is Cunningham Park but it looks like its a bit of a mess still.  No ballfields yet.  I can’t find the Long Island Expressway in the picture so I’m going to guess the date to be between 1950 to 1955.

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: A 1951 aerial of the Motor Parkway in Fresh Meadow, Queens

Frank, In 1926 there were plans to build another horse racing track along the Motor Parkway. That year the Queens Jockey Club announced it had purchased some 270 acres for that purpose from the Stewart Heirs about 4 miles east of Hempstead Village.  Newspapers of the day reported the acreage was bound by the Motor Parkway on the north and the Central Railroad on the south, Both Vanderbilt and the Railroad would have loved to seen that happen.

From Kleiner's Korner: Assorted Maps of the Motor Parkway

I bought the photo and letter on EBay years ago- my family is Cuneo- from NY metro area- maybe some relative?

From The continuing story of Joan Newton Cuneo: "Those daring young (wo)men in their racing machines"

Art, amazing maps loaded with information. The break west of Springfield Blvd possibly a failure to depict the LIMP jug at Bell Blvd, where LIMP utilized the abandoned CRR platform for their intended purposes. Below is the LIMP jug over Bell Blvd

From Kleiner's Korner: "NY Daily News" Maps of the Motor Parkway (1929-1937)

Queens, looking towards Manhattan.  LIMP Bridge over 73rd Ave.  Francis Lewis Blvd is the main road parallel to the LIMP.  From left to right, and you would be heading north.  The western end of the LIMP is up to the north.

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved: A 1951 aerial of the Motor Parkway in Fresh Meadow, Queens

Art, the 1927 Nostrand Map is approximating Belmont Race Track pre Cross Isl Pkwy. It’s been the only racetrack in that area since opening in 1905

From Kleiner's Korner: Assorted Maps of the Motor Parkway

Hello Art,
Great posts with all of the maps. I love looking at old maps as much as you do. The answer to the road connecting Ronkonkoma and Sayville on the May, 1915 “The Club Journal” map is a combination of several roads starting with Rosevale Ave. then Pond Road, then Lakeland Ave. and finally Railroad Ave. in Sayville. There was a mystery photo back in September 2013 showing the Kensington Hotel on the N/E corner of Railroad Ave. & Main St. with a direction sign for the LIMP pointing north. When are you coming back to L. I. ?

From Kleiner's Korner: Assorted Maps of the Motor Parkway

Love that 1929 Time map as well!
Listing the estates/owners and the mention of building the ‘world’s longest bridge’ ie The Geo.  Washington Br is very cool!

From Kleiner's Korner: Assorted Maps of the Motor Parkway

Who is the rear tire manufacturer and what is the tire size. Also how wide are the rear wheels? I really like the flat side wall look, that’s what I’m going for on my 31 coupe!
Beautiful car, can’t get enough of it. Going for this kind of build with my car!!!
Thanks.
Ryan G

From MotorTrend: This Retro-Modern ’32 Ford Was Built by Preston Tucker’s Great-Grandsons

It’s a minor point, but I believe that PS 162 opened in 1937. I was a student there when it celebrated its 25th anniversary.

From The Western Terminus of the Motor Parkway in Fresh Meadows Circa 1938

Quite possibly the birth of front wheel drive, used extensively today

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: #9 50-HP Christie Touring Car at the Hairpin Turn during the 1906 American Elimination Trial

The turn at Wheatly Road onto Westbury Ave.

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: #9 50-HP Christie Touring Car at the Hairpin Turn during the 1906 American Elimination Trial

From Greg O.

Felice Nazzaro driving the #8 FIAT during a practice run on the Westbury Hairpin turn.

The 50 H.P. Christie as shown from the 1906 Elimination scorecard

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: #9 50-HP Christie Touring Car at the Hairpin Turn during the 1906 American Elimination Trial

From Greg O.

The 4 cylinder Christie he wrecked during practice which caused him to use his smaller 50 H.P. for the Elimination Trials and Race.
The American Elimination Trials program and score card

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: #9 50-HP Christie Touring Car at the Hairpin Turn during the 1906 American Elimination Trial

Thanks.

From Kleiner's Korner: "NY Daily News" Maps of the Motor Parkway (1929-1937)

This is a 1906 Christie #17 race car driven by Walter Christie in the 1906 Vanderbilt cup race on October 6th, 1906.  The car finished 13th when the race was called.  The location in the picture looks like the “hairpin turn” at Wheatley rd and Old Westbury rd. The photographer is facing north.

From Mystery Foto #37 Solved: #9 50-HP Christie Touring Car at the Hairpin Turn during the 1906 American Elimination Trial

The break in the LIMP west of Springfield Blvd is about where Bell or Hollis Court Blvds run north and south beneath the parkway.

From Kleiner's Korner: "NY Daily News" Maps of the Motor Parkway (1929-1937)