Vanderbilt Cup Races

This photo was taken on June 19, 1960 in the parking lot of Roosevelt Raceway (harness track) as Cornelius Vanderbilt IV (nephew of Willie K.) is presenting the Cornelius Vanderbilt Cup to Harry Carter who had just won the 1960 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The “S” logo represents Stanguellini, the manufacturer of Carter’s racer. WFYI, at 1520 on the dial, was an AM radio station based in Mineola. I believe we are looking west along the straightaway with the Martini & Rossi pedestrian bridge in the background. Way off in the distance could be the Franklin National Bank building.

From Mystery Friday Foto #20 Solved: The End of the 1960 Cornelius Vanderbilt Cup Race

New to your blog, Howard. Love this Helck letter series! Always been a fan of his work and this gave me more insight. Thanks!

From Helck Family Collection: Peter Helck's Illustrated Wagner Envelopes

Clear, sharp pictures, nice job guys!

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #6 East Williston

Nice location for a show and the weather cooperated.

From Highlights from the Regimental Activities NAFI Auto Show at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

The “S” is the Stanguellini logo on winning driver Henry Carter’s racing suit, Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAY, June 19, 1960! The Vanderbilt Cup revival put on by the New York chapter of the SCCA.

From Mystery Friday Foto #20 Solved: The End of the 1960 Cornelius Vanderbilt Cup Race

-Identify the race, the trophy and the people holding the trophy
1960 Vanderbilt Cup Race and trophy. Cornelius Vanderbilt IV handing the trophy to winner Harry Carter

-Where was the photo taken and on what date?
Finish line of the ‘60 VCR in the Roosevelt Raceway parking lot June 19, 1960

-What does the “S” logo in the photo stand for?
I’ll assume ‘Stanguellini’ the type of car Carter drove.

-WFYI was based in which Long Island village?
Mineola

-Kudos question: What was the orientation of the photographer? Provide a rationale.
Pits on the left so probably Looking Southwest down the course straightaway.

From Mystery Friday Foto #20 Solved: The End of the 1960 Cornelius Vanderbilt Cup Race

I saw one of these at a vintage automotive museum exhibit in Montreal back in 1990.

From Mystery Foto #66 Solved: 1914 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP Aerodinamica Prototype

Amazing the old parkway south of the lodge can still be ridden on bike. I have to try this someday. Thanks Sam and Dave for the updates and thorough exploration!

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #7 Mineola & Carle Place

Thanks Frank - yes, I’m always amazed at what I find in these historic articles.  And many times one historic mention leads to a whole other avenue of investigation. 
Now that Howard (thanks much Howard) has given us the ability to attach images directly, I’ll add more as I uncover relevant ones.  Thanks

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: Curtiss Engineering Corporation Garden City Complex Circa 1925

I forget to mention, no one at the time seemed apt to save the historic Hangar 16 from demolition. Photos of it still exists, the hangar housing Col Lindbergh’s plane to cross the first solo flight across the Atlantic to Paris.

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: Curtiss Engineering Corporation Garden City Complex Circa 1925

Art - Thanks again for sharing these historic news clips. They’re priceless and hard to find. So much info is gained from them to help visualize a clearer prospective of what really happened over the years and how things eventually established. Please keep ‘em goin’.

Sam III - From what I’ve gathered the lot mentioned is the area of Roosevelt Field Airfield (Mall today), and the immediate area south bounded by Stewart Ave and Raymond Ct. The Mott Section (west of Clinton Ave) is out of this. Very few houses would eventually be built in this small area, contrary to the original plan, and most construction would eventually be contributed to the creation of Roosevelt Field Mall, New York State’s largest shopping mall. I welcome any response here.

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: Curtiss Engineering Corporation Garden City Complex Circa 1925

As long as I’m going so far back in memory, I should once again note that the little building on Stewart just north of the engineering offices became (or was the site of) the LI Trust Co. bank, later Franklin-cum-European American. and now Chase.  If the field of view extended just a bit to the east (right), you might see the big LILCO gas holder (when was that erected?).  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: Curtiss Engineering Corporation Garden City Complex Circa 1925

Ah, rampant sexism reared its ugly head - “an organization of Yale, Princeton and Harvard men”!  Worse, of course, is that no one (men, anyway) even noticed or cared.  Frank or somebody - please tell us more about that august body.  Unrelated - happily, not all the hangars were demolished.  Also, please remember that south side of the throat of the historic wind tunnel is most-likely still buried in the inner south wall of the bridge; it was there when I was and and was wall-boarded over shortly thereafter, ca. 1957 (I am soooo old - - - ).  :·)  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: Curtiss Engineering Corporation Garden City Complex Circa 1925

Frank Femenias

From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: Creedmoor State Hospital in Queens (Circa 1927-1931)

Interesting 1926 NY Times article about the sale of Curtiss Field to developers.  Mentions the Motor Parkway.

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: Curtiss Engineering Corporation Garden City Complex Circa 1925

Looks like the mystery has been solved thanks to Jerry Jordak of the Penn Central Railroad Historical Society. Jerry found that the work was not painted by Peter Helck, it was painted by artist Lumen Martin Winter.  Jerry provided us with this link showing that the art work went up for auction in recent years.

“Item Overview
Description: DESCRIPTION: Lumen Martin Winter (American, 1908-1982). Wall mural. The Empire State Express, No. 999. 1965. Depicts the flagship high speed passenger locomotive developed for the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad as it pulls passenger cars along a New York landscape. The Empire Express No. 999 was an American type locomotive with 4-4-0 wheels. It became the fastest manmade invention. Born in 1908 in Ellery, Illinois, Winter attended the Cleveland School of Art and the National Academy of Design in New York. He then took part in a Federal Arts Project set up by the Works Progress Administration, painting murals in Post Offices, schools, and other public buildings. PROVENANCE: Created by Lumen Winter for the walls of the New York Central Railroad headquarters boardroom in 1965. In 1972, the former New York Central Railroad boardroom was used as a location in the filming of “The Godfather”. Shown in the scene depicting the meeting of the five families, it is hanging on the wall behind Don Emilio Barzini, Richard Conte, and serves as a backdrop as the five dons pledge their allegiance to peace. MEASUREMENTS: Approximately 16’ wide x 9’ high. CONDITION: Light surface wear throughout. Raw edges due to removable from building wall.”
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/lumen-martin-winter-american-1908-1982-950-c-a0a96c7249

In searching Mr. Winter I also came across this information:
The Lumen Martin Winter mural of Empire Express 999 seen during the meeting of the five families in the old New York Central Rail Road boardroom had been in the possession of The Pennsylvania State Historical and Museum Commission. In the fall of 2014, it was deaccessioned by the commission, and put up for auction. It was purchased by an avid fan of the movie, and is now in his private residence.

Thank you Jerry Jordak for your assistance with this treasure hunt.

From Update: The Hunt for the "Godfather" Train Painting is Over

Happy Birthday, indeed - you young punk!  :·)

Whoo, was I ever off on this one!  That doesn’t bother me; I often am, but I marvel at the amazing similarities of the the two sites here and on some of my other mis-IDs.

Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: Creedmoor State Hospital in Queens (Circa 1927-1931)

Some more pics from my May, 2019 visit. 

Still north of Westbury Avenue, but except for the first one showing the Parkway berm, other two are looking south towards Westbury Avenue.

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure" V: East Williston to Mineola

First post-retirement Motor Parkway exploration on a road well traveled (I was in the area so decided to stop and revisit an area been around many times). 

North of Westbury Avenue, looking north.

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure" V: East Williston to Mineola

The photo is facing to the northeast in the Queens Village/Glen Oaks area.
The location is the new Creedmoor Psychiatric Center.  The center fully opened in 1927.
It appears that you can see Commonwealth Blvd. and possibly Union turnpike to the left.  You can see the power plant and the LIRR Creedmoor coal spur which comes up from the bottom of the photo from a junction with the old Steward/ Central branch.
The LIMP can be clearly seen in the upper left of the photo with the Creedmoor bridge.
The year of the photo is between 1926 to 1930.

From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: Creedmoor State Hospital in Queens (Circa 1927-1931)