Vanderbilt Cup Races

Almost convinced the mystery photo is near the Ladenburgh estate looking NW. Attempting to locate the structure that is west of the estate and north of the Motor Parkway. Top photo below shows 1908 Merrick Ave/ Bridge looking north from the parkway. The avenue here appears free of any structures.
Bottom photo shows the Salisbury Plains looking east from the Merrick Ave bridge in 1909. I spotted three objects in the field (Eisenhower Park) but they’re difficult to make out, even after enhancing the photos.

From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. on the Long Island Motor Parkway

Howard, My first inclination was that we were looking north west from the Westbury-Bellmore bridge and the large building in the distance was the Ladenberg estate. After looking at the aerial of Central Park area,  I now am of the opinion we are looking north west from just north of the bridge over the Central Ave./Central RR. and the large building in the distance is a hotel located on the east side of Broadway just south of Powell Ave. (Central Park Hotel ? )

From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. on the Long Island Motor Parkway

My first thoughts were the LIMP bridges over Central Ave & LIRR and Newbridge Rd. Couldn’t think of anything Historic happening near the Stymus Property, and like Greg said, that’s not the Newbridge Hotel. There’s a split rail fence on the right parallel with the pole line. Figured the other pole line is running along Newbridge Ave,which becomes Post Ave to the north.

From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. on the Long Island Motor Parkway

Great observations! Agreed it’s the Meadow Brook bridge over Newbridge Ave looking NW. The two sets of telephone poles and guardrails flaring at the end should nail it. The guardrails north of the Central Ave bridge ended straight (photos below). The right most telephone pole is on the Motor Parkway RoW outside Ladenburgh’s property fence. The mystery structure west of the Ladenburgh’s estate was likely located on Merrick Ave.

From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. on the Long Island Motor Parkway

This could be Willie K in Levittown heading home on his Motor Parkway towards Deepdale, after testing out the speedster with passenger resembling Louis Chevrolet. They’re descending from the Old Westbury Rd bridge. Photo looking about SE. I believe that’s the CRR branch alongside the Motor Parkway. The year is about 1908. Another great historic shot during early Long Island development.

From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. on the Long Island Motor Parkway

“Height: Tall”?

From Helck Family Collection: Distinguished service citation for Joe Tracy awarded by Automobile Old Timers in 1948

???  Looks like a big Renault.  Significant because it’s the first record of a car with one fender and one headlight and with an inner tube instead of a bumper?  :·)  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. on the Long Island Motor Parkway

Love this one, Art!  Although my mother was a Supervisor of a Red Cross Surgical Dressings unit in Manhattan, she on occasion had to drive a RC vehicle in the Five Towns area of southwestern Nassau, where we lived, and so had to undergo the same training, somewhere in the Woodsburgh vicinity.  Dad and I thought it was a howl that our ever-so-elegant lady had to be able to change a wheel!  Gotta find my old pix - similar uniform but a hard kepi instead of the overseas cap.  Sam, III

From Kleiner's Korner: How the Motor Parkway Aided the Red Cross in Garden City

Incredible memorabilia!  “Ferguson”,

From Helck Family Collection: Distinguished service citation for Joe Tracy awarded by Automobile Old Timers in 1948

Here’s Joe Tracey’s WW1 Draft Card, courtesy of Ancestry.com

From Helck Family Collection: Distinguished service citation for Joe Tracy awarded by Automobile Old Timers in 1948

Haven’t had the time to search this one, and initially, it’s a head scratcher!

Knee jerk says it’s possibly Willie K in a Renault checking out a new section somewhere on the LIMP in the Hempstead Plains in 1908, but having a hard time identifying it. That’s not the Newbridge hotel, hmmm…..

From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. on the Long Island Motor Parkway

Not much time for research this weekend so I’ll go with some guesses. Looks like it could be Willie K. himself driving one of his 1908 35 HP Renault Racers. I think he is heading east having just come over the Newbridge Avenue bridge on the LIMP. So that would place the photographer facing approximately northwest. No rationale, just looks like it. Could this be just prior to the grand opening of the LIMP in October, 1908?

From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. on the Long Island Motor Parkway

south side of the photo

From Kleiner's Korner: How the Motor Parkway Aided the Red Cross in Garden City

Art, That section of the Motor Parkway, photo, “seen in 1950”,  abuts the Meadow Brook Club polo fields. Note that the tall shrubbery is only on the north side of the Parkway,  placed there to screen the matches. If this wasn’t done Parkway motorists would park on the shoulder and get a free view of the action.  Note the tank in the distance on the north side of the photo .

From Kleiner's Korner: How the Motor Parkway Aided the Red Cross in Garden City

Great observation Howard!

From Kleiner's Korner: How the Motor Parkway Aided the Red Cross in Garden City

Amazing early Red Cross history. Thank you Art for sharing this find! And yes, the roadway in the background strongly resembles the Garden City stretch of Motor Parkway just south of Roosevelt Air Field. Most likely the same stretch of Motor Parkway!

From Kleiner's Korner: How the Motor Parkway Aided the Red Cross in Garden City

Due to its uniquely-shaped front end, I recognize the car as a Renault, but other than that, I don’t know more. Could it be the car that inspired Willie K to ask Renault to make replicas for him and his friends?

From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. on the Long Island Motor Parkway

*Driver - Believe he’s William K Vanderbilt, with acquaintance.

*Auto - Should be Mr. Vanderbilts 1907 Renault.

*Location & Orientation - The photographer is facing northwest. The car is heading east on the LIMP, just passing over Bellmore Ave via the Meadowbrook Pkwy Bridge. Land to the right is the Ladenburg property.

*Historical Significance - During the 10/1/1910 VCR, driver Harold Stone & mechanician Matthew Bacon crashed through the wood railing on the north side of this bridge in their Columbia Racer. Mr. Stone survived, but Mr. Bacon did not. This mystery foto is likely afterwards in 1910. Probably experiencing just how wicked this curve was.

From Mystery Foto #50 Solved: William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. on the Long Island Motor Parkway

Great reference Brian! That is an amazing discovery buried under 100+ year old concrete! Super rare. Congrats Howard for this amazing find in the old original Mill!

From Update 12/12/20: An Amazing "Message in a Bottle" Discovery and the Roslyn Grist Mill Match Challenge

Aw Greg, you beat me to it. But at least Howard got his answer.

From Film of the Week: Care-Free Cars (1956) Starring Henry Austin Clark, Jr.