Vanderbilt Cup Races

Mystery Foto #48… This photo taken at the 1954 Mineola Fair and Industrial Exposition in 1954 in Westbury with a parade during Mineola Fair. The event was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Vanderbilt Cup Race. The date was October 9, 1954. The lead white automobile was a 1897 or 1899 Delahaye Wagonette. See attached photo.

From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: The 1954 Roosevelt Raceway Parade Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race

1956 Chevy Corvette Impala concept vehicle. More info here;
https://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/corvette-five-seater-the-1956-corvette-impala-concept/
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Howard Kroplick:

Great find, greg!

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

The Mineola Fair at Roosevelt Raceway The Fair was held at the Raceway from 1950 -1970 Its an antique car parade and the photographer is on the roof of the clubhouse Sorry I don’t know the lead car but its an early high wheeler maybe an electric vehicle

From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: The 1954 Roosevelt Raceway Parade Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race

Hi Walt, I like the mention of the eccentric fellow and his cars. Must be a sight to see him drive by!

From Cradle of Aviation Archives: The 1918 Curtiss Engineering Corporation Flying Map of Long Island

Event is the 50th anniversary of the first Vanderbilt Cup Race, on Oct. 9, 1954. The lead white car is an 1897 Delahaye Brake, the oldest car at the event. (It is shown elsewhere on this website as a “Delahyde,” but I’m sure Delahaye is the right name.)

Location is Roosevelt Raceway harness track. I believe that the photographer is facing north because of the hills in the background and the way the shadows are pointing. I forgot the orientation of the harness track.

From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: The 1954 Roosevelt Raceway Parade Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race

The date is around 1951 as it says on the sign in the center and there doesn’t appear to be any buildings.  Since they were demolished in 1951, it would have to be 1951 at the earliest, not 1946 as I previously stated.  My guess would be the Long Island Fair in 1951

From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: The 1954 Roosevelt Raceway Parade Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race

Mineola Fair Grounds looking northeast
50th Anniversary Jubilee antique automobile pageant 1946?????

From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: The 1954 Roosevelt Raceway Parade Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race

-The location of the Mystery Foto and orientation and position of the photographer

Mineola Fair at Roosevelt Raceway

-The event and date of the Mystery Foto

50th anniversary of the 1904 Cup Race Saturday October 9th, 1954

-The make and model of the lead white automobile

The oldest car in the parade- 1897 Delahyde Brake

-Link the Mystery Foto to the Vanderbilt Cup Races

The entire event was linked to the 1904 race, with many drivers, Old 16 and even the actual Vanderbilt Cup itself were all present for the event. The parade also covered some of the original course.

From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: The 1954 Roosevelt Raceway Parade Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race

Tough photo!! Mineola Fair Grounds (1866-1950) main racetrack looking north, about 3PM in the afternoon. Photo likely taken from the roof top of the grandstand, once located to the west of the racetrack. The photographer is higher than the grandstand seating (was it possible to get up there with camera and tripod?) - Grandstand photo below, courtesy of the Helck Family Collection. Guessing the photo was taken in 1940s-1950 - the parade of cars appear 1910s-1930s, but the truck pulling is 1940s-1950. Could this be the closing ceremony for the Mineola Fair Grounds in 1950? I believe I’ve seen that white mystery car before but not sure. Was it a steamer? HELP!

From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: The 1954 Roosevelt Raceway Parade Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the First Vanderbilt Cup Race

Can’t match all the turkeys but this wildlife photo just in from San Jose this moment should gladden your hearts this holiday season (however gripping and wrenching).  Sam, III

From The Twelfth Annual Thanksgiving "Turkeys on the Road"

Loved the crossing-guard turkey in the first video. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

From The Twelfth Annual Thanksgiving "Turkeys on the Road"

How he describes through out is humorous and true at the same time. Believe “The Gilt-Edged Lunatic” is Aldo Weillschott, millionaire doctor who drove his own Fiat.

From Kleiner's Korner: "On the Road to the Cup Race"

If you haven’t already, you should adopt that post Art. If the post was originally vertical as shown, something round extended upwards. If it was found in a horizontal position, and the hole goes all the way through, it could’ve been a conduit.

From Kleiner's Korner: UPDATE - Levittown Motor Parkway Site Being Excavated

Updated photos and commentary posted above on 11/25/20.  Happy Thanksgiving to all!

From Kleiner's Korner: UPDATE - Levittown Motor Parkway Site Being Excavated

Thanks Greg! I was unaware the original porte didn’t survive. I’ve seen photos of it still standing post 1938 with new homeowners occupying the house. Why that heavy structure was ever removed is mind boggling!

From Mystery Foto #47 Solved: A 1956 Aerial of the Motor Parkway Behind Stewart Field in Garden City

Oops! I meant to say his mother as a young girl who had been rollerskating. Brain moving too fast for typing fingers!
And huge thanks to Howard and Roz for making this whole thing happen!

From Exclusive: VanderbiltCupRaces.com and Cradle of Aviation to Digitize Thousands of Previously Unpublished Long Island Historic Photos

I remember Bill Cruickshank relaying me a story about a German POW befriended her while she was roller skating near the Michel Field runways. That was the first I personally had heard about POWs in the area.

From Exclusive: VanderbiltCupRaces.com and Cradle of Aviation to Digitize Thousands of Previously Unpublished Long Island Historic Photos

Frank; The Garden City lodge now has a replica port cochere on it. It didn’t survive and was replicated when the lodge was moved to its present spot as the Chamber Of Commerce.

From Mystery Foto #47 Solved: A 1956 Aerial of the Motor Parkway Behind Stewart Field in Garden City

It’s necessary to zoom into the photo with your favorite program, to see all the details in this spectacular photo.

From Mystery Foto #47 Solved: A 1956 Aerial of the Motor Parkway Behind Stewart Field in Garden City

Garden City, looking NNE. Motor Parkway Manager’s house at 1 Vanderbilt Court can be seen in lower left corner. Also seen is the Garden City Lodge but its porte cochere appears missing. That’s a mystery by itself because both the lodge and porte cochere survived, and are now located at 7th Street, Garden City (Garden City Chamber of Commerce). Development of the Roosevelt Field Mall Macy’s parking lot in upper right corner can be seen under construction. The cars by the construction site appear 1950s. This photo is likely ~1955 during Roosevelt Field Mall construction. The running track in the lower right corner is location of today’s baseball field that recently had a parking lot built over the Motor Parkway Right-of-Way, covering the roadway with blue stone gravel. MISTAKE, Garden City!!!

From Mystery Foto #47 Solved: A 1956 Aerial of the Motor Parkway Behind Stewart Field in Garden City