Vanderbilt Cup Races

Joseph Oesterle - I was able today to access the Nassau County LRV website with the 1926 aerials.  Here’s the link—>
https://lrv.nassaucountyny.gov/map/

From Mystery Friday Foto #16 Solved: A 1918/1919 Historic Roosevelt Field Aerial from the Cradle of Aviation

One of the earliest aerial photographs taken from a bi-plane in New York, looking NE over the Mott Section in Garden City towards Roosevelt Field. Tree-lined Clinton Rd is at the center, Stewart Av on the right, Old Country Rd on the left. Motor Parkway’s Clinton Rd bridge with its three underpasses can be seen left of center, as well as the Garden City toll lodge and the Superintendant’s house on Vanderbilt Court. The Merrick Av bridge in the distance is slightly visible. Below aerial dates this photo about 1926 with Mott section under construction. Hoping speedy recovery Howard!

From Mystery Friday Foto #16 Solved: A 1918/1919 Historic Roosevelt Field Aerial from the Cradle of Aviation

Marty is a legend and will be remembered for as long as auto racing remains the popular sport that it is!!

From Marty Himes at the Vanderbilt Cup Races Grandstands in Levittown

I took this photo of Marty July 13 2019 that all like.

From Marty Himes at the Vanderbilt Cup Races Grandstands in Levittown

Andrew Hartwell
After Marty had passed on I made simular proposal having Marty’s collections moved to nice area in nice facilty to be spearheaded by Howard and have a fundraising to acomplish this idea. Your idea sounds better! Maybe Nassua and Suffork County can achieve this idea?

From Marty Himes at the Vanderbilt Cup Races Grandstands in Levittown

Howard,
Good to see that you’re healing well.  I guess that soon you’ll be able to do the electric slide.  Looking forward to seeing you soon.  All the best.
Rog

From Update Sunday, 6/29/2025: Rehab Update: Rehab at 90% Healing

Marty will be missed for sure We miss seeing him Saturday nights at the Islip town Hall cruise nights 9

From Marty Himes at the Vanderbilt Cup Races Grandstands in Levittown

The location and orientation of the photographer
NE over the airfield, in the air.

The Motor Parkway, major roads, airfield and significant buildings
Parkway is the road coming from top right and curving N once past the airfield.
Clinton Rd overpass and the Garden City Lodge to right of center.

Motor Parkway locations
The turn to north by the aviation field.

Estimated date of the Foto. Provide a rationale.
Dunno. The raceway is not evident so before 1936.

Kudos question: The likely airplane (note the wing on the right)
Dunno. Obviously a biplane.

From Mystery Friday Foto #16 Solved: A 1918/1919 Historic Roosevelt Field Aerial from the Cradle of Aviation

Pardon me if this came thru before:

Location- Garden City looking east
Airfield: Hazelhurst/Curtiss airfield
Buildings: Hazelhurst barracks/ hangars on OCR. One building of Curtiss Engineering complex just under airplane wing. Salvation Army Hotel at 501 Stewart Ave ( now site of Stewart School)
Major roads are Old country road, Clinton Avenue, Stewart Avenue ( tree lined to the right) and LIMP curving over Clinton then heading north.
Parkway locations include Clinton Ave bridge, GC Motor parkway office, GC lodge
Date, between 1919 and 1926 - rationale: no Intergollegiate golf course, No Houses in Mott section and not portico yet ( ? 1926) on GC Lodge
Plane is Curtiss JN-4 “Jenny ?

From Mystery Friday Foto #16 Solved: A 1918/1919 Historic Roosevelt Field Aerial from the Cradle of Aviation

The car in the image you provided is a 1910 Oldsmobile 20, one of two identical racers built by Oldsmobile for the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race. These cars were designed for the prestigious race held on Long Island, New York, and were notable for their advanced engineering and distinctive appearance.

From Marty Himes at the Vanderbilt Cup Races Grandstands in Levittown

We are looking east over Garden City with Hazlehurst Field off to the left. The LIMP enters the photo from the left, crosses over the Clinton Road bridge and heads east past the General Manager’s Office and Garden City lodge. Another structure is the Roosevelt Field access bridge (possibly). Significant buildings include the Curtiss plant and the Salvation Army Hotel. Other roads include Stewart Avenue and Old Country Road. I’m guessing the date to be about 1925 because the Curtiss facility does not appear to be as large as it became and the hotel hasn’t been moved yet, which took place in 1928.Best guess for the plane is a Curtiss JN3 “Jenny”.

From Mystery Friday Foto #16 Solved: A 1918/1919 Historic Roosevelt Field Aerial from the Cradle of Aviation

Over Garden City looking West
Major roads include Stewart Avenue ( tree lined road in middle) Old Country Road,  with hangars upper left, Clinton Road and LIMP
Then HAzelhurst airfield with barracks seen in upper left.
Major buildings include the Salvation Army Hotel at 501 Stewart AVenue( present site of my old school, Stewart School) and one building from the Curtiss Engineering complex just under the plane wing
Re date, I will guess between early 1920s, before 1925 since the Intercollegiate golf club is not there ( built around 1925), no portico on GC Lodge yet and no Mott section houses yet.
Re plane, going to guess the Curtiss JN-4 ( Jenny) biplane

From Mystery Friday Foto #16 Solved: A 1918/1919 Historic Roosevelt Field Aerial from the Cradle of Aviation

Howard,

Speedy recovery and thank you for all the stories and history. It is very much appreciated as I look forward to the weekly updates

Enjoy, Mark

From Update Sunday, 6/29/2025: Rehab Update: Rehab at 90% Healing

Marty was a great guy. I interviewed him one time and it became a short feature about his participation in the anniversary running of the Formula Libre event at Lime Rock Park. The feature ran in the Lime Rock program. 

Shirley and I also attended several of Marty’s birthday events at his home.  He was always surrounded by fellow racers and, of course, by the thousands of pieces of racing memorabilia he had collected over his lifetime.

I always said that if I ever won the lottery, I was going to build a Long Island Motorsports Museum and move all of Marty’s stuff, and Howards, and the Bridgehampton Racing Heritage Groups and others, into the place.  Broken dreams happen, don’t they?

Rest in peace, Marty.

From Marty Himes at the Vanderbilt Cup Races Grandstands in Levittown

Hi Howard.  Great video content as always.  A few years ago here in the UK, the monthly magazine Practical Classics was assisting David Soult o help restore Ernest Hemingway’s Chrysler that is kept at the Hemingway Museum in Cuba   David was making a film called Cuban Soul produced by Red Earth Studios but events such as Covid and then David’s death seem to have put paid to the enterprise.  A few snippets and trailers on YouTube Tube but, hopefully, there’s been a happier outcome for Hemmingway’s car.

From Two Videos: Mission to Cuba and The Classic Cars of Cuba

Attended the Network Challenge show Filming in East Meadow Sonic on Saturday.
There were six classic cars on display for the filming of the reality show.
Had a great time, thanks Howard for putting the information out.

From Producer Dan Bonaventre is looking for 6-8 classic cars for a network challenge show

Looking east, over Garden City
The Motor Parkway is curving from left to right in the middle of the picture. 
Major roads - Old Country Road, Stewart Avenue, Osborne Road, Wertherill Road Airfield - Roosevelt Field
Buildings - Hangers, Curtiss Engineering Corp. 
Motor Parkway Clinton Road Bridge, General Managers Office, Garden City Lodge
1931
Keystone B-5 Bomber (my guess)

From Mystery Friday Foto #16 Solved: A 1918/1919 Historic Roosevelt Field Aerial from the Cradle of Aviation

Glad to hear you are coming around better, all the best to you Howard.

From Update Sunday, 6/29/2025: Rehab Update: Rehab at 90% Healing

Cool Stuff.
Marty knew my father and his brothers who all raced at Islip. He even tracked done some great pictures for me. It was fun to get to know him and hear the stories of the Tures Brothers.

From Marty Himes at the Vanderbilt Cup Races Grandstands in Levittown

Mystery Foto: Looking east on Stewart Av. in Garden City. Clinton Rd. crosses Stewart, going right to left in the picture. Roosevelt Field in the background.

From Mystery Friday Foto #16 Solved: A 1918/1919 Historic Roosevelt Field Aerial from the Cradle of Aviation