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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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Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
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Aviation Country Club of Long Island in today’s Levittown. Photographer facing to the east. The LIMP passed right the front of the Club and hanger. The start/finish line of the Vanderbilt Cup Races was directly across the street. Lindbergh taught his wife to fly there. Other famous aviation pioneers include Walter Beech, DuPont family members, L R Grumman, Sherman Fairchild and Jacqueline Cochran. Year of photo 1940’s (guess)
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: The Long Island Aviation Country Club (Circa 1940-1945)
At the present day corner of crocus and blacksmith lanes
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: The Long Island Aviation Country Club (Circa 1940-1945)
Long Island Aviation Country Club (Hicksville Aviation Country Club) 1929-1948, looking East in Levittown (Island Trees). Grass airfield to the left of photo is where take offs/landings occured. There were no asphalt runways in this airport to accomodate pioneering aviators Lindbergh and Grumman, among others here—-> https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/the_1940_membership_of_the_long_island_aviation_club
I’m sure Earhart and Rickenbacker also visited but I can’t prove it.
The Long Island Motor Parkway (unseen here) is just to the right of this photo, running east-west alongside the airfield country club. The 1908-1910 Vanderbilt Cup races had a predominant grandstand also to the right of this photo, but slightly behind this photographer, on the west side of LIMP.
I’ll leave the date to the experts.
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: The Long Island Aviation Country Club (Circa 1940-1945)
I would suggest starting with Councilman Grodenchik, as this was his initiative.
From Queens Motor Parkway Renovation Update: Oldest road in country to be as good as new
Alex Tremulis assigned the ashtray project to Phil Egan. The various revisions to the original car design were most likely done to make them more accurate to the dimensions used on the pre-production vehicles.
I’ve seen a couple bases without the “Tucker” script, but if I recall correctly, oftentimes the Tucker script was ground off by angry potential dealers, customers, and stock purchasers who had lost money on their deposits and transactions. Rather than constantly looking at the Tucker name, they were left with just the dream the model car represented.
It would be great to see the individual correspondence between Tucker Corp. and Budds. Who at Tucker lead the project with Budds?
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Howard Kroplick
Steve, I will be posting all the correspondence in future posts.
From Tucker Discovery: Original Tucker Ash Tray Sets from Their Manufacturer and Their Tooling Molds
Sam III, well stated my friend.
My question is - did the historian for the village of Garden City have an opinion about this? did he object? By NY State law villages have to have an appointed historian , - no word ? “sounds of silence” ? Nassau County historian - any opinion?
From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot
As it says on my LIMP pages, “BULLDOZERS ARE SUCH INDISCRIMINATE REVIONISTS!” *IF* the RoW was “only” covered over, perhaps this can be undone some day (HA - some chance!). Sam, III
From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot
Meredith’s idea of resin copies is an excellent idea What an amazing find
From Tucker Discovery: Original Tucker Ash Tray Sets from Their Manufacturer and Their Tooling Molds
LI Aviation Country Club, looking east. LP is out of sight at right. All other details answered back on 11 Apr 2016 Mystery Foto #15 (among others). That plane, though, has me stumped! Trike gear, high wing, and twin tail? Help! Sam, III
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: The Long Island Aviation Country Club (Circa 1940-1945)
Richard C.
we gotta preserve as much of history as we can..
shame on garden city - ????????
From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot
It is the Long Island aviation club out side of Hicksville near Levittown.
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: The Long Island Aviation Country Club (Circa 1940-1945)
I have just the car on base portion only. I was told that my piece was used to create cars by Clarence Young.
From Tucker Discovery: Original Tucker Ash Tray Sets from Their Manufacturer and Their Tooling Molds
Wait to til they realize the real property value enhancement would have been a heritage park deducted to the history of the Motor Parkway and not… a rarely used parking lot.
From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot
One more photo showing a plane and an auto.
Aero Digest, Dec., 1929
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: The Long Island Aviation Country Club (Circa 1940-1945)
Long Island Aviation Country Club, Hicksville (Levittown now) looking east. The club was located on the north side of The Motor Parkway which also was used for the Vanderbilt Cup Races.
Charles Lindbergh and his wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh among many others!
1937 - similar to the attached photo from Life Magazine of Aug. 16, 1937
First pic - Life Magazine
Second pic - Hans Groenhoff Photo Collection National Air & Space Museum
Third pic - Nassau County Tax Assessor
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: The Long Island Aviation Country Club (Circa 1940-1945)
It’s terrible the way they lie.They told you one thing I did another. That’s very wrong. ????
From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot
Long Island Aviation Club in Hicksville in 1949.
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: The Long Island Aviation Country Club (Circa 1940-1945)
Most interesting. Maybe resin copies could be made to support future Tucker research.
From Tucker Discovery: Original Tucker Ash Tray Sets from Their Manufacturer and Their Tooling Molds
Pool at the Long Island Aviation Country Club In Levittown looking east. Right across the parkway from the grandstands and the pits for the cup races. Jerusalem Ave bridge would be just off past the hangars in the distance. Charles Lindbergh was a member and taught his wife to fly here. Early 1940’s on account of the color photograph and the aged landscape?
From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: The Long Island Aviation Country Club (Circa 1940-1945)
It is not totally unexpected, but is still a wonder how important history can be so so important when presented for a photo opportunity for elected officials or those seeking office around election time. They then become “preservationists” and recognize the ‘importance” of local history that is unique to an area. Short memories prevail ...........keep that in mind the next time that there is a rally or a campaign fund raiser - ask a question “why did you destroy/erase history?” Write letters to newspapers to alert the general public to what has happened. Garden City annually has an Easter parade of old vehicles - question why?? , when most of the time they ignore or bury history. The only justice is to make known what has been done to point out what was/wasn’t important. If you don’t then you can not regret what has been lost.
From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot
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