Vanderbilt Cup Races

Looking northeast over the east Garden City, Mitchel Field, Roosevelt Field area.
Bottom right semi circle is the Mitchel parade grounds.
The left to right diagonal just above the semi circle is the Stewart Line RR.
The diagonal above that one, parallel to the rest is Stewart Avenue
The diagonal above that one is the LIMP.
The housing area is the Mitchel Field complex.
The twin bridges over the LIMP leading to Roosevelt Field are visible, one of which
was built by the private Meadow Brook Club.
At the top is Roosevelt Raceway.
The time frame—1938

From Update2:Mystery Foto #29 Solved:A 1936 Aerial of Mitchel Field,Roosevelt Raceway & the Motor Parkway

Knowing then the history of Camp Mills when I was in high school in the 1970s I took my metal detector to the narrow strip of land that ran parallel to the south side of Transverse Road and east of Old Country Road.  This area was between Transverse and a housing development to the south.  At that time it was park-like land used mainly by people walking their dogs.  I uncovered a wealth of military artifacts along this strip, including US. Army insignia of specific units, buttons and metal tent stakes galore.  Not long ago I was back in Garden City and noted that this strip of land is still undeveloped.  My hunch is that it remains ripe for searching.
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Howard Kroplick

William, wonderful story.

FYI, I always had great respect for your father as President Johnson’s press secretary and as one of the great political commentators of this era.

From Update #3: Mystery Foto #28 Reveals Another Piece of Long Island History in Garden City

Penny H.

Let us all hope that all those wonderful cars that appeared in the 1954 Vanderbilt Celebration are still with us and being cared for by owners who appreciate their unique place in automotive history.

The video was great.

Thanks for posting the article.

From Helck Family Collection: Peter Helck Recalls the Greatest Vintage Car Event in Long Island's History

Greg H.

Thanks for sharing the article on the Tucker and the Helck family collection. There was some great footage of the #16 Locomobile, which I sent to my Locomobile friend.

From Helck Family Collection: Peter Helck Recalls the Greatest Vintage Car Event in Long Island's History

Howard, ... A terrific video, that really may have been the best car show on L.I. !  Thanks, John Benfield

From Helck Family Collection: Peter Helck Recalls the Greatest Vintage Car Event in Long Island's History

Howard, wow, you’re making great progress.  I’ve never seen a Tucker cyclops headlight before, and one that works.  Can’t wait to see it finished.
Good job!!!
Rog

From On the Road to Pebble: The Unique Tucker Cyclops Headlight

Question; was the Bill Pollock, with a Chadwick Raceabout, the same of that name who had a very successful racing career in California in the ‘50’s, driving among others, an Allard, (multiple winner at Pebble Beach), Corvette, Maserati and Alfa?  He died last year in his 80’s.

From Helck Family Collection: Peter Helck Recalls the Greatest Vintage Car Event in Long Island's History

Howard,
As I’m sure you know, some of these cars (including the ALCO?) were rounded up by Henry Austin Clark for the running of the Bridgehampton races in 1949-53, and at least once one was driven by Joe Tracy. They repeated at the inaugural races at the “new” Bridgehampton Race Circuit in 1956. Also, turn 9 at that track was named Arents Corner, in honor of Mr. Arents’ destruction of a Ferrari at that spot before the course was open. (He survived.)
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Howard Kroplick

Earl, the Bridgehampton Arents (George Arents III) was the son of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race driver George Arents II.  http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/saturday_search_and_findings_a_map_of_the_bridgehampton_race_circuit

From Helck Family Collection: Peter Helck Recalls the Greatest Vintage Car Event in Long Island's History

Yeeks, am I ever turned around.  We’re over Mitchel Field housing looking (LI) NE over Stewart and the LIMP at the 1936 or 1937 George Vanderbilt Cup course (not sure which), with Merrick (Post) Avenue at the far top right.  Can’t recall the name of the road going over the LIMP but, without cheating, I think it was built for the racecourse.  LIRR Mitchel Secondary lower left to upper right (was Central Branch).  LIMP structure"S”, plural?  Other than the bridge?  Red box?  Duh!  Sam, III

From Update2:Mystery Foto #29 Solved:A 1936 Aerial of Mitchel Field,Roosevelt Raceway & the Motor Parkway

My 1931 Chrysler Imperial came to me with a Packard trunk inside of which was a Cyclops steerable headlight mounted on a bumper over-rider bar, replete with an armored cable for connection to the steering gear.  Not fitting the Imperial, it went for a tidy sum at a Hershey meet.  Can you tell if the Tucker set-up was actually a Cyclops or is that just a name you stuck on it?  Sam, III
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Howard Kroplick I

Sam III, I believe it was just the name given to the middle headlight.

From On the Road to Pebble: The Unique Tucker Cyclops Headlight

AHA!  Actually, “OH, WOW!” might better serve.  Thanks, one and all.  Sam, III

From Update #3: Mystery Foto #28 Reveals Another Piece of Long Island History in Garden City

Close up photo #1 shows the Central Railroad of Long Island line built by Alexander Stewart running directly through Mitchel Field, (though by then it had long been acquired by the LIRR) running parallel to duplex homes recently constructed along Ellington Ave. West (now torn down and replaced with condos) and Ellington Ave. East where the single family houses still stand today. 

These brick residential buildings were built during the Base Reconfiguration period occurring between 1927 - 1932 when massive construction replaced virtually all of the remaining standing wooden structures left over from Camp Mills in the WW I time frame.  Notice how none of the future temporary wooden barracks north of Ellington are in place yet where the baseball diamond is, demonstrating this is from pre-WWII. 

Also seen in the shot near the bottom right is the Non-Commissioned Officers Club which would later be used as the Navy PX in the ‘60’s (sadly, that building although still standing has now been condemned) as well as the building that became the NCC Bookstore (which is currently undergoing a major renovation with a Starbucks-like structure inside it to be added soon). 

Selfridge Ave. runs up to the relocated Main Gate at Stewart Ave.  Selfridge was positioned slightly to the West of the old main entrance as judged by the position of first house of East Ellington.  The blank lot next to it was where the roadway leading to the airfield proper was located originally. 

In close up photo #2, Bradley Hall, used for visiting single Airmen can easily be seen (though the bandshell in front of it in the semi-circle had not been created yet).  Notice the two lone trees still standing on the Quadrangle / Parade Grounds (created as the focal point of the Reconfiguration and which did not exist prior to it) which had not been removed yet, suggesting again this photo is from from the same Reconfiguration period, circa 1930 or so. 

North of Stewart Ave, running parallel to it is the LIMP.  The bridge crossing over the Parkway (better seen in close up photos #3 & #4) leading to the eastern portion of Roosevelt Field can be seen as well.  Farther off in the distance, the grandstands of what became the original Roosevelt Raceway (for cars), leftover from the Vanderbilt races after racing on local surface streets was banned are seen.  A portion of the elaborate looping course is visible too. 

The red outlined box in close up photo #5 would be the approximate area in which Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field years earlier.

All these aerial photos are looking to the Northeast from Mitchel Field towards Westbury and the Salisbury portion of East Meadow.

From Update2:Mystery Foto #29 Solved:A 1936 Aerial of Mitchel Field,Roosevelt Raceway & the Motor Parkway

Oh, what a slice out of my past!  Charlie Stich.  Alec Ulmann.  Many others.  Howard had posted a Helck collection pic of Governor Thomas Dewey and his wife Frances at Lowell Thomas’ 1949 picnic for automotive collectors and other notables, sitting in Charlie’s or Alec’s huge Mercedes tourer with one of them alongside.  “Hemp Oliver” was Smith Hempstone Oliver, one-time ambassador to Kenya.  Sam, III

From Helck Family Collection: Peter Helck Recalls the Greatest Vintage Car Event in Long Island's History

Update #3: Lee Chambers provided a Camp Mills postcard.

From Update #3: Mystery Foto #28 Reveals Another Piece of Long Island History in Garden City

The Pontiac in the mystery photo IS, POSITIVELY, NOT a 1965 Pontiac GTO, and it is POSITIVELY NOT a 1965 Pontiac Tempest or Tempest Custom.  It IS however, a 1965 PONTIAC LEMANS.  Tempest and Tempest Custom shared the same grilles that year and the GTO based off of the LEMANS, shares that models grille.  From a distance looking at a 1965 Pontiac Le Mans vs GTO you can tell by the placement of the nameplate in the LH side grille, and on the GTO models, by the hoodscoop that those models had How do I know this?  I love old PONTIACS prior to 1972.
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Howard Kroplick

Peter, thanks for the correction!

From Mystery Foto #65 Solved:The "Robert Moses" Eastern Motor Parkway Bridge Over Northern State Parkway

Courtesy of Richard Panchyk, if anyone wants a high-resolution jpeg of this aerial, please send your request to me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

From Update #3: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: A 1931 Aerial of the Motor Parkway in Garden City and Mineola

One more Motor Parkway structure- the access from from the parkway to the viewing area for the Charles Lindbergh take off.

From Update2:Mystery Foto #29 Solved:A 1936 Aerial of Mitchel Field,Roosevelt Raceway & the Motor Parkway

Location and orientation of the photographer: Mitchel Field, Garden City, looking northeast

The major roads and railroad: Motor Parkway, Stewart Ave., Merrick Ave., LIRR
Central Branch

The housing complex: Mitchel Field/Gardens

The Motor Parkway structure(s): Roosevelt Field Highway Bridge, Merrick Ave. Bridge

What sport complex(es) can be seen in this aerial?  Meadow Brook Polo/Golf Roosevelt Raceway, I don’t think the baseball diamond would qualify as a sports complex.

What is the date of the aerial? Provide a rationale. 1936, Roosevelt Raceway

Kudo question: Link the aerial to five Vanderbilt Cup Races.  1936/1937/1960 Races held there.  For the 1960 race, “Old Sixteen” from the 1908 race did a preliminary lap.  Still missing one.

From Update2:Mystery Foto #29 Solved:A 1936 Aerial of Mitchel Field,Roosevelt Raceway & the Motor Parkway

-Location and orientation of the photographer
Over Mitchel Air Force looking North Northeast

-The major roads and railroad line
Central RR line, Stewart Ave, LIMP

-The housing complex
Mitchel Air Force Base buildings

-The Motor Parkway structure(s)
Roosevelt Field highway bridge

-What sport complex(es) can be seen in this aerial?
Roosevelt Raceway, Meadowbrook Polo Club field

-What is the date of the aerial? Provide a rationale.
1936. The course looks to be the 1936 VCR course

-Kudo question: Link the aerial to five Vanderbilt Cup Races.
1908, 1909, 1910, 1936, 1937

From Update2:Mystery Foto #29 Solved:A 1936 Aerial of Mitchel Field,Roosevelt Raceway & the Motor Parkway

I own the 1903 Paris-Madrid.
I am considering disposing of some items.  If anyone has an interest feel free to contact me.
ALF

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