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The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
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Recent Comments
This is the intersection of Stewart ave. & Merrick ave. in Westbury. The photographer is looking Northwest. Merrick ave. runs diagonally from lower left to upper right of photo. The lake and open land to the right of Merrick are part of Salisbury park (now Eisenhower). Large tract of open land at upper left edge is Roosevelt field(the air field). I don’t know the date,but there is no Meadowbrook pkwy. I’m going to guess at the mid to late 1940’s.
From Mystery Foto #49 Solved: A 1953 View over Merrick Avenue and East Meadow and Westbury
Interesting film! We have here Brass Era cars such as Fords, Buicks, Hupmobile and a few others. These were the cars collectors wanted in 1960. Sadly interest has shifted today to cars from the 1960’s and 1970’s. Cars that were built 50 years prior as is the case with the cars in the film. It would be interesting to know how many of these cars exist today.
From Film of the Week: 1960 Antique Automobile Rally to The Museum of The City of New York
Best wishes to Richard for great success with the Classic & Sports Car Quarterly. Please put me on the list for a subscription. How badly we’ve needed a replacement for Automobile Quarterly!!!
From Update with new video: Crankshaft, Richard Lentinello's new quarterly magazine, is available for orders
The auto with the plate “OLD - 1” was Oyster Bay resident Harold Kraft’s 1908 Sears Model J. See attached photos I took of Harold & the car back on October 22, 1978 at the “Town of Oyster Bay 325th Anniversary Grand Parade and Vanderbilt Cup Race”.
From Film of the Week: 1960 Antique Automobile Rally to The Museum of The City of New York
Location: Over the Eisenhower (Salisbury) Park pond. The photographer is looking northwest. Merrick Avenue runs from the lower left to the upper right. In the picture can be seen, crossing Merrick Avenue from south to north, the remnants of the old Central Railroad, then Stewart Avenue, then the remnants of the Motor Parkway.
North of Stewart Avenue is the Mitchel Gardens housing development. West of that, the Meadow Brook Polo Club, and west of that, Hazelhurst Field. South of Stewart Avenue is the area that became Nassau Community College.
Is that Ellison Avenue between Mitchel Gardens and the polo club? That would be a connection to the VCR, since it was part of the ‘08 course.
I see no sign of the Meadowbrook Parkway, so I’m placing the Foto in the late ‘40s.
From Mystery Foto #49 Solved: A 1953 View over Merrick Avenue and East Meadow and Westbury
-Location of the Mystery Foto and orientation of the photographer
Looking Northwest flying directly over the small lake on the West side of Eisenhower Park.
-The major roads and buildings
Merrick Ave diagonal on the bottom right corner, Stewart Ave running semi-horizontal in the center of the photo. Roosevelt Field hangars far off in the upper left. Salisbury Links Clubhouse. I also spot the railroad trestle that still stands in the cloverleaf entrance to the current Meadowbrook Parkway.
-Link the Mystery Foto to the Vanderbilt Cup Races
Parts of the 1908-1910 race courses were run through this area as well as the 1936/37 Cup Races towards the right side where Rossevel Raceway was located.
-Link the Mystery Foto to the Long Island Motor Parkway
The LIMP ROW ran ran horizontally across the center of the photo. Tough to see due to resolution, but I believe I see the Meadow Brook Lodge still standing with Otto McCamish waiving to the plane out front. OK, maybe I don’t see Otto….
-The date of the Mystery Foto. Provide a rationale.
No Meadowbrook Parkway or Rossevelt Field mall construction yet. My guess is 1951.
As I write my answers, on the TV in the background, is Howard explaining the Roslyn Grist Mill’s ‘message in the bottle’ to Danielle Campbell on News 12. Great find Howard!
From Mystery Foto #49 Solved: A 1953 View over Merrick Avenue and East Meadow and Westbury
Art, Great post, well detailed. wasn’t aware there was another “auto race ” play at the time. This one certainly had some interesting moments.
From Kleiner's Korner: A So-Called Vanderbilt Production Appears on Stage in 1907
Neat that you had a connection there, Art. Seems insane that the cars were speeding to the stage. Hope Mr. & Mrs. Spanker were paid extra for their performances.
From Kleiner's Korner: A So-Called Vanderbilt Production Appears on Stage in 1907
A nice clear view of the former trolley row.The track rails must have been removed for other steel use being that their not noticeable in the 1935 image below. Thinking that the bridge signage seen in 1946 is original, notice the MOTOR PARKWAY ENTRANCE sign in 1935 below. Must have been painted over the original, then scraped off enough post 1938.
From A New 1946 View of the Broad Hollow Motor Parkway/Trolley Bridge in Melville
The Hippodrome Theatre was demolished in 1939. The building that stands on its property today was built in 1951-52, and is called The Hippodrome Center.
From Kleiner's Korner: A So-Called Vanderbilt Production Appears on Stage in 1907
What a wonderful picture
From A New 1946 View of the Broad Hollow Motor Parkway/Trolley Bridge in Melville
Rare photos of the Motor Parkway’s Broad Hollow bridge! Thank you Pat for sharing these gems.
From A New 1946 View of the Broad Hollow Motor Parkway/Trolley Bridge in Melville
The 1948 Practice track can be seen in the mystery photo on the top right corner, and the parking field in the top left corner
From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: The 1954 Roosevelt Raceway Parade Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race
Stumped again!
Below:
Top - Roosevelt Harness racing through the years.
Bottom - Carle Place water tower at 578 Mineola Ave.
From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: The 1954 Roosevelt Raceway Parade Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race
Mystery Foto #48 addendum… I did identify the Delahaye too, Howard. See my reply. Sorry, just crying out for my pat on the back.
______________________________________________
Howard Kroplick
Dick, correction made! Kudos and a pat!
From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: The 1954 Roosevelt Raceway Parade Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race
That blue stone parking lot is an eye sore over original Motor Parkway roadway. A better design/solution could’ve been had. Shameful respect for historical artifacts of the earliest samples of automotive history. Please Garden City make amendments!
From Update: Photos of the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races from the Philadelphia Free Library
A photo of the 1936 dedication of Roosevelt Raceway was added.
From Update: Photos of the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races from the Philadelphia Free Library
Howard, Roosevelt Raceway, Oct. 9, 1954. The Long Island Automobile Club participating in the grand opening of the Mineola Fair that day. The view is to the northeast. The Club later participated in a 30 mile “race” starting at Hitchcock Lane and Jericho Tpke. in Westbury closely following much of the Vanderbilt Race course. Not familiar with the lead auto.
From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: The 1954 Roosevelt Raceway Parade Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race
This photo was taken at the 1954 Mineola Fair and Industrial Exposition held at Roosevelt Raceway, October 9-17, 1954 (see attached ticket from my collection). This was the 2nd Fair to be held at Raceway after the Fair left Mineola. The photographer was standing up in the clubhouse looking easterly. This specific event is in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the 1st Vanderbilt Cup Race, held in 1904. Held on opening day of the Fair, October 9, 1954, it included this parade of about 75 antique autos. The white car in front is the 1896 Delahaye owned by Robert W. Dowling. I believe the truck behind the Delahaye might be towing the unrestored 1907 Thomas Flyer, winner of the 1908 N.Y.-to-Paris race, and then owned by Henry Austin Clark, Jr.
From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: The 1954 Roosevelt Raceway Parade Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race
Mineola Fairgrounds in Garden City, looking north ( Williston Park water tower in distance?)
Date is either June 1946 VMCCA Jubilee, or some time in 1951, based on sign in infield
Lead white auto looks like a Model T Ford
From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: The 1954 Roosevelt Raceway Parade Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race
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