Vanderbilt Cup Races

Your semi-circle looks like a Skeet Range.  Notice that the left tower is higher than the right which is standard for skeet houses.  A Trap range might be to the right of the skeet range.  I am going to guess that it is a gun club.

From Cradle of Aviation Archives: An amazing 1936 aerial of the Motor Parkway, Roosevelt Field and Roosevelt Raceway

As an addendum to my “Comment” of a few minutes ago a quick trip to GOOGLE indicates the VOLVO automobile to be a Model PV444 or perhaps a PV544 which were produced from 1944-1966. The wonders of internet access to information are amazing, including this fine blog. Thanks, Jonathan Richards in Missouri.

From Mystery Fotos #19 Solved: Old Country Road and Glen Cove Road intersection (circa 1952) and a Volvo that made the news in 1957

I believe the white automobile being fueled up is a VOLVO. Based on a 1955 Ford parked just beyond the gas pump area I suspect the date of the photo is about 1955. The gasoline price per gallon , posted on the pump , is 31.9 per gallon. I cannot ID the driver of the white car.

From Mystery Fotos #19 Solved: Old Country Road and Glen Cove Road intersection (circa 1952) and a Volvo that made the news in 1957

The information was very informative.

From The fate of Willie K's Deepdale mansion in Lake Success

In Ground Image, the car is a ‘56-‘57 Volvo PV-544, in the photo showing cars parked off to the side, a ‘55 Ford Customline Sed. beside a ‘51-‘52 Plymouth.

From Mystery Fotos #19 Solved: Old Country Road and Glen Cove Road intersection (circa 1952) and a Volvo that made the news in 1957

Is there info around the home being significantly reduced in size and change in driveway to rear?

From The fate of Willie K's Deepdale mansion in Lake Success

The aerial photo is looking north or slightly north-west toward Carle Place and Mineola. The intersection is with Old Country Road and Glen Cove Road and Clinton Road. Near the Texaco station is the Old Country Diner. The LIMP structure is the bridge over the LIRR mainline. Based on the newer cars and the lack of E. J. Korvette’s store (opened in 1954), I think the date is 1952-1953. The ground image is the same Texaco station with Lee Donahue behind the wheel of a 1957 Volvo PV444. The photo-op was probably for a promotion between Donahue’s radio station WKIT 1520, his show “The Night Train” and Texaco gas, probably a sponsor. The price of gas was 31.9 cents per gallon. Based on the license plate, the date was either 1957 or 1958. I’ll go with 1957.

From Mystery Fotos #19 Solved: Old Country Road and Glen Cove Road intersection (circa 1952) and a Volvo that made the news in 1957

Gary,.. The poor backward country folk lived in Poordunk, later shortened to Podunk.

From Kleiner's Korner: The 1910 Buick VCR Team at Sea

The term “Squeedunk” was a derogatory term for a place where backwards country folk lived; its dates back to at least 1858.  So I assume the author was making fun of the local “farmer deputy sheriffs” with a made up village name.

From Kleiner's Korner: The 1910 Buick VCR Team at Sea

It looks like Old Country Road and Glen Cove Road in Carle Place. The photographer is looking north. That may be the Motor Parkway in the upper left, but I have no idea about any particular structure.

That’s a Texaco station on the right. That looks like a much larger gas station across the street from the Texaco. It might be a Gulf station. Next to the Texaco you can see a diner and if you look carefully, you can see its sign “Old Country Diner.”

If the ground image and the aerial are from the same time, it would have to be between 1956 and 1959. The sticker on the door of the car reads “WKIT 1520.” The radio station at that frequency in Mineola (WTHE today) had the WKIT call letters between 1956 and 1959. I’ll guess 1956 and the car (a Volvo PV444) was the first Volvo in America. I have no idea who the driver is. Gas was 31.9 cents a gallon for Sky Chief (premium).

From Mystery Fotos #19 Solved: Old Country Road and Glen Cove Road intersection (circa 1952) and a Volvo that made the news in 1957

East Squedink, L. I.? I’m a lifetime Long Islander and I never heard of that place.

From Kleiner's Korner: The 1910 Buick VCR Team at Sea

Brian, Doubt the semi-circle area used by helicopters, to close to the electric lines towers. Also, don’t think that is a building on the right side of the circle, to me looks more like grandstand seating. My guess ... the area had to do with the Field’s model plane club.

From Cradle of Aviation Archives: An amazing 1936 aerial of the Motor Parkway, Roosevelt Field and Roosevelt Raceway

Aerial:
-The location and orientation of the photographer

Looking North at the intersection of Glen Cove Rd/Clinton Ave and Old Country Rd.

-The structure associated with the Motor Parkway

At the very left edge is seen the LIRR Parkway bridge taken down in 1983.

-The major roads and buildings including the service station on the right corner

Old Country Rd, Glen Cove Rd/Clinton Ave. Just North of the tracks is the large building of Consolidated Lithographing. Texaco in lower right.

-The approximate year of the aerial. Provide a rationale.

Judging by other photos of the area, and the long gone Westbury Ave bridge, 1951

Ground:
-Identify the automobile that is parked in the same service station on a different date

1956 Volvo Pv444

-Identify the driver in the automobile
-Why did this driver and automobile make the news?

Just a guess, but Lee Donahue was a DJ at WKIT Mineola, who, in 1957, tried unsuccessfully to set a 50hr record for a round trip from NY to Miami in a Jaguar. I’ll assume this is him trying to set some other record in this Volvo. 1957 Article below.

-What was the price of a gallon of gas?

Sign says 31 cents a gallon.

-Identify the date of the photo

1959 (1957 license plate)

From Mystery Fotos #19 Solved: Old Country Road and Glen Cove Road intersection (circa 1952) and a Volvo that made the news in 1957

I don’t know the answer, but this reminds me to get my Marfak lubricated!

From Mystery Fotos #19 Solved: Old Country Road and Glen Cove Road intersection (circa 1952) and a Volvo that made the news in 1957

Glen Cove Rd north at Old Country Rd.  No Korvettes, so picture is pre-1956.  LIMP bridge is over Mineola LIRR on left edge of picture.

From Mystery Fotos #19 Solved: Old Country Road and Glen Cove Road intersection (circa 1952) and a Volvo that made the news in 1957

Thought this is interesting, too. Current street pattern overlay.

From Cradle of Aviation Archives: An amazing 1936 aerial of the Motor Parkway, Roosevelt Field and Roosevelt Raceway

From Walt Gosden

From Kleiner's Korner: The 1910 Buick VCR Team at Sea

Below are aerials from this website. The semi circle isn’t there in 1933. Definitely existing in 1936. But not there in August 1938. Also a rectangular building at the right side of the semi circle. I remember this from the past mystery foto.

From Cradle of Aviation Archives: An amazing 1936 aerial of the Motor Parkway, Roosevelt Field and Roosevelt Raceway

I remember noticing the half circle on a less clear but similar birds eye view of this area. Definitely meant to be seen from above, maybe a landing for helicopters.

From Cradle of Aviation Archives: An amazing 1936 aerial of the Motor Parkway, Roosevelt Field and Roosevelt Raceway

Most interesting to see the advertisement for the automobile for hire in Havanna. Havanna had a very very active automotive history. They issued a magazine named El Automobile de Cuba which went to automobile dealers and enthusiasts in the country. Many car dealers had major locations there as it was a land many Americans used to vacation in ( like Puerto Rico is now) . I have several issues of the magazine I mention form the 1930-33 era and have included some images from those here. My Spanish teacher in college was Manuel Uruttia a former judge and President of Cuba ( just before Castro took over) and I would stay after class and listen to his stories of Cuba and he would answer questions about the cars there pre WWII era which had some heavyweight classics - Cunningham , Packard etc.

From Kleiner's Korner: The 1910 Buick VCR Team at Sea