Vanderbilt Cup Races

Easy does it!  There WAS no 1938 or 1939 race, only 1936 and 1937.  This pic clearly shows the revised 1937 course, as evidenced by the straightened inner north-west straightaway cutting right across the tortuous 1936 chicanes highlit by white arrows on the attached excerpt.  Sam, III
____________________________________________________________

Howard KroplickI

Sam III, the remnants of the 1937 course remained for many years through the midget racing phase of Roosevelt Raceway:
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/aerial_views_of_roosevelt_raceway_after_1937

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: An Aerial of Roosevelt Raceway and Westbury Circa 1937-1939

Check out my blog on Eric Sloane.

http://dennyhatch.blogspot.com/2020/04/90-eric-sloane-marketing-cartoon-art.html
__________________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Denny, fun blog, some images look familiar!

Also,super images of the Long Island Aviation Club on the Blog! Do you have more? If so, please forward to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for re-posting. Thanks!

From "Roosevelt Field and Ye Motor Parkway" Executed by Artist Eric Sloane

Thank you.

From Update on Gofundme campaign: Anthony J. Causi, beloved photographer,dies of COVID-19 at 48

Condolences to the Causi family and friends.  Although hard to realize tough times make us stronger.  And also puts petty differences in perspective!  Have faith Brian!

From Update on Gofundme campaign: Anthony J. Causi, beloved photographer,dies of COVID-19 at 48

Sad news. Condolences to the Causi family and prayers to Brian’s cousin and all victims of this tragedy

From Update on Gofundme campaign: Anthony J. Causi, beloved photographer,dies of COVID-19 at 48

You Tube still has a great video on Packard, I think from History Channel.  There are at least 2 good videos, one of them spending time on the amazing Packard factory, and the other talks about the Proving Grounds which I think the Packard Club is working to restore.

From Mystery Foto #14 Solved: The Packard Gray Wolf Takes a Turn During the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Great stuff guys! I’m interested!! Keep ‘er going

From Mystery Foto #14 Solved: The Packard Gray Wolf Takes a Turn During the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Sorry for his family and friends. I have a cousin who’s battling the virus. Praying and hoping every day.
_____________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Brian, our prayers are with your cousin and family.

From Update on Gofundme campaign: Anthony J. Causi, beloved photographer,dies of COVID-19 at 48

Mystery Foto #15… The location of the photo is Roosevelt Raceway around 1937. The major roads seen in the photo are Old Country Road, L.I. Motor Parkway and Stewart Avenue. Braman Johnson or BramanButters was the aerial Survey company who shot these photos. Taken, as I say, around 1937 or 1938.

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: An Aerial of Roosevelt Raceway and Westbury Circa 1937-1939

You had a very nice car.  Mine is the last remaining of the cars my father collected, a Packard 243 Touring.  A somewhat oddball, because while it’s a 2nd series car, it was build during the transition to Series 3, and it has at least one Series 3 part - the single piece windshield.  Every pic I’ve seen of other 243’s shows a 2 piece.  But when this car was brand new, the owners took a photo of it next to the 1916 Packard Touring car it replaced, and that single piece windshield is clear.  I can’t remember what, but I think there was a 2nd difference.

From Mystery Foto #14 Solved: The Packard Gray Wolf Takes a Turn During the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Over Westbury, Long Island looking south at Roosevelt Raceway and Meadow Brook Hunt Club Polo Fields. Major roads from north to south, Ellison Ave, Carle Rd, Old Country Rd, Merrick Ave (Whaleneck Rd), Motor Parkway, Stewart Ave, and Long Island Rail Road. LIMP Merrick Ave bridge can be seen next to Meadow Brook Lodge, Roosevelt Field bridge next to its twin Meadow Brook Hunt Club bridge. Administration Bldg (newly built?) in the center for the 1937 races near gate #2 (officials only). Photo could be a Fairchild aerial but they usually come sharper. Both 1936 and 37 raceway layouts can be seen. Photo likely taken during preperation for the 1937 races. Fortunoff Mall, Cheesecake Factory, and Dave & Busters occupy this space today

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: An Aerial of Roosevelt Raceway and Westbury Circa 1937-1939

Looks like the start finish line of Vanderbilt Cup, grand stands on either side of the club house. Possible location could be present day Levittown.  The roadway in front of the building & stands would be Motor Parkway.

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: An Aerial of Roosevelt Raceway and Westbury Circa 1937-1939

C’mon, R. Troy - most of us are “car people”.  Don’t keep us on tenterhooks.  We all know what Howard and Bruce have.  Just what have you in your garage (please)?  Sam, III (formerly a ‘31 Chrysler Imperial 8 owner)

From Mystery Foto #14 Solved: The Packard Gray Wolf Takes a Turn During the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race

have no idea… a surprise to me and i thought i know this kind of stuff

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: An Aerial of Roosevelt Raceway and Westbury Circa 1937-1939

I only learned recently that Packards had been raced, so this is rather neat!  I grew up with Packards - it will always be my favorite (including the one in my garage).

From Mystery Foto #14 Solved: The Packard Gray Wolf Takes a Turn During the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race

1. Roosevelt Raceway
2. Looking South
3. Motor ParkwayOld Country Road, Merrick (Whaleneck) Ave., Stewart Ave., Cherry Lane, Ellison Ave. Carle Rd., Rd. connecting Ellison Ave. and Motor Parkway
4. Merrick Ave. Bridge & Lodge, Roosevelt Field Bridge
5. The building was first a hanger, followed by a restaurant/bar and the Raceway Administration Building
6. John Drennan (guess)
7. Mid-late 1930s (possibly 1937)

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: An Aerial of Roosevelt Raceway and Westbury Circa 1937-1939

Grew up with Seabees (Repubic, that is) on LI’s South Shore and in the Adirondacks and Canada but had forgotten all about the S-L!  Thanks muchly.  That float-cum-gear is wild!  Looks like I’m a’gonna love this new deviation (flight?) from the LIMP/VCR.  Off to North Beach (Marine Air Terminal) after Port?  I’m “into” flying boats (along with so much else!).  Sam, III

From Flying Boat/Seaplane of the Week: Spencer-Larsen SL-12C Amphibian NX-20621

Well, it has to be the 1937 VCR because of the track configuration, running across the’37 course.  We’re over Westbury, looking south over Old Country Road with Whaleneck Riad-cum-Merrick Avenue along the left side and with the LIMP and Stewart Avenue across the top and Carle Road and West Owen Street “V"ing off at the lower right.  Merrick Avenue bridge, lodge, and access at upper left.  Temp. access to track to the right of lodge.  Grandstand and all facilities of ‘36-‘37 VCRs.  Large white building is last hangar on OCR left from eastern Roosevelt Field; later Fairchild, now Buy-Buy Baby, next to Meadowbrook Parkway cloverleaf.  Fairchild Aerial Survey?  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: An Aerial of Roosevelt Raceway and Westbury Circa 1937-1939

We are looking south over Westbury with Old Country Road, The LIMP, and Stewart Avenue the main east-west roads. On the left is Merrick Road. The LIMP and VCR structures visible are: Meadowbrook Lodge; bridge over Merrick Road; course layouts for both the 1936 & 1937 Vanderbilt Races; bridge over the LIMP from Stewart Avenue to Roosevelt Field. Not sure but I think I can see the other bridge over the LIMP to the polo fields and possibly a very faint outline of the temporary road connecting Ellison Road to the LIMP. The large white building was originally built as a hangar for the eastern section of Roosevelt Field and later re-purposed into the Administration Building & Bar for Roosevelt Raceway. Braman Butters Survey Team took the photo. The date is probably late 1937 or early 1938 since you can still see the courses for the 1936-37 races, yet there is no evidence of the midget race car track or early attempts at horse racing.

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: An Aerial of Roosevelt Raceway and Westbury Circa 1937-1939

Reference was made to an extant seaplane base there but it’s some 300 yards to the northwest in Sands Point, as shown at upper left on the attached Google Maps pic.  Also, it may be hard to realize just how gigantic the Boeing 314 Clipper really was; it used the wings and engines of the huge Boeing B-15 (NOT the “tiny” B-17) and I’ve attached an outline of the 314 with a Douglas Dolphin for comparison.  Sam, III

From Update: Beutenmuller Family Collection #1: Searching for the Port Washington Seaplane Terminals