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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
For full disclosure, the 400+ pages I reviewed were digitized, not hard copy, making the task much easier by just clicking the next page or down arrow keys.
And the more I review these plans, the more I appreciate the work of civil engineers and surveyers! Without them, our research efforts would be much more limited.
From Kleiner's Kolumn: Documenting the Motor Parkway in Relation to the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway
Nice - thanks for the additional documentation. Just as a point of reference, in the first pic (Meenan Oil map), the red circle on the left side marked AK 1956, is where I’ve resided for the last 36 years. House was constructed in 1955, not sure where I got the 1956 from.
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: Pintail Elementary School in Levittown Built on the Motor Parkway
Location - Levittown, looking north. Pintail Lane , Orchid Rd and
Woodcock Lane . LIMP running west to east
Building- property of Nassau County, foundation presently exists
Date - 1951, the houses on Woodcock Lane appear to be newly constructed.
Houses were built in 1951
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: Pintail Elementary School in Levittown Built on the Motor Parkway
This looks like Pintail Lane Elementary School in Levittown (Island Trees) 1958-1976. Closed when enrollment steadily declined throughout its 18 years, and was still standing until the mid 1980s. The photo appears closer to 1958. North is up and the Motor Parkway Grandstand was to the right (east) about ½ mile. The parking lot and school were built directly on the Motor Parkway RoW.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1396j0_672hYkvbcNFJInbc1mXNJspD9f&ll=40.73695533993784,-73.53247817960886&z=18
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: Pintail Elementary School in Levittown Built on the Motor Parkway
Well, now! I knew instantly it’s the Elija School off Jerusalem Avenue, looking south. Nope. O. K., then, it has to be Ron Ridolph’s Eight Precinct off 107, again looking south. Nope. Uh, oh. Think, man; think! Oh, yeah - Cammerer Park! Nope. Well, it’s certainly not the Williston Park pool! This is REALLY BAD! I think I’d better pass. Oh, my; will I EVER be embarrassed! Sam, III
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: Pintail Elementary School in Levittown Built on the Motor Parkway
That #5 Maxwell engine has me sorely puzzled - EIGHT exceedingly-short cylinders in line! Oversquare to the nth degree? Can anyone tell me, or point me, to more, please? Sam, III
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Engines of the 1906 American Elimination Trial Racers
Just a wild guess but it has the look of someplace in Levittown, maybe around Bloomingdale Road in 1950; but that’s all I’ve got.
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: Pintail Elementary School in Levittown Built on the Motor Parkway
Thank you for all the great research on our local history. Looking forward to our joint program on October 23. Ann - Central Park Historical Society
From Kleiner's Kolumn: Documenting the Motor Parkway in Relation to the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway
Great group of pictures guys!
From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #12 Bethpage #3
Great photos of much technical interest. No cookie-cutter engines like in so much of today’s racing. They were proud of their achievements and not afraid to let others see what they had accomplished. Innovation in today’s racing engines has been stifled to a great extent by the rule-makers. One glaring exception is the push rod engine built for Indy by Rodger Penske. Even that one was the result of the rule-makers who quickly closed that loophole.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Engines of the 1906 American Elimination Trial Racers
Art, Great job, your efforts of wading thru some 400 pages of material most certainly added to our knowledge of the Motor Parkway’s relationship with the SOB especially when it comes to the overlapping of the two roads Thank you.
From Kleiner's Kolumn: Documenting the Motor Parkway in Relation to the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway
One Frayer - Miller air cooled car exists. It is a touring car and used to appear regularly at the Franklin Club annual meets in Syracuse, NY back in the 1960s. It was a touring car and was well restored for that era ( 1960s) , the owner Lived in Valhalla, NY and it was later sold to the Harrah Collection. I remember riding around in it in downtown Syracuse! I am not sure if the car is still part of the Harrah collection, since they did have several auctions of cars after Bill Harrah passed away. Bill Harrah was a great guy and good friend and I still have some of the Christmas cards from him that we used to exchange every year.
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Engines of the 1906 American Elimination Trial Racers
These are GREAT!!! How different and complex each of these engines are - all trying to solve the same problem - Power & Speed!
From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Engines of the 1906 American Elimination Trial Racers
This is the old Nassau County Police Building off Wantagh Avenue circa 1950.
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: Pintail Elementary School in Levittown Built on the Motor Parkway
Is that a reservoir upper left lower photo? Ray Brown- Seattle
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: Pintail Elementary School in Levittown Built on the Motor Parkway
Elementary School in Levittown, surrounded by Blacksmith Rd, Laurel Ln, Orchid Rd, and Crocus Ln. Picture is after 1956, since that is when this building was built. The old flying club property is just to the north.
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: Pintail Elementary School in Levittown Built on the Motor Parkway
Pics of this location today:
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: Pintail Elementary School in Levittown Built on the Motor Parkway
No research but I think I’m pretty sure about this one. I recognize this spot.
Levittown. School that was formerly at this location at intersection of orchid and pintail. The space is still there. Nothing has been built on that land since the school was removed.
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: Pintail Elementary School in Levittown Built on the Motor Parkway
Location: I can tell the location is in Levittown, NY between Woodcock Lane and Orchid Road, with Pintail Lane cutting through the LIMP. Using a current arial image from google maps, the street layout is the same. You can also see that four homes have been constructed on where the parkway turned to the south west. See picture attached.
Building: I suspected it was a school due to the fact there is another school built a few blocks to the east of this photo that is still open today. This building was the Pintail Lane Primary school.
Year: Likely between the late 50s to mid 70s, which according to wikipedia were it years of operation. Also because there are multiple cars in the parking lot, showing that it was likely still being used.
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: Pintail Elementary School in Levittown Built on the Motor Parkway
Looks like the Pintail Lane school Levittown with Orchid Road running left to right across bottom; Woodcock Land left to right across top and Pintail Lane on left running top to bottom.
The Pintail school was. Built in 1958 and was razed in 1976. My guess is the aerial is 1960 era. The attached photo incorrectly lists Orchid Rd. as “Orchard”..
From Mystery Foto #40 Solved: Pintail Elementary School in Levittown Built on the Motor Parkway
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