Vanderbilt Cup Races

I know it was a completely different car but can’t you all just see Chrysler’s Chrysler towing a house trailer with Della inside!  Thanks, Gordon; this is exactly the kind of thing I had in mind.  Sam, III

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: From the Lodgekeeper's Family Archives-The Garden City Lodge

I’ve just found the following in my mother’s notes.  It’s an incident that I remember her telling me about, but that I didn’t remember well enough to describe it accurately. I didn’t realize until I read this that there had been a gas pump at the lodge, but it makes sense. 

My mother wrote: “One afternoon I was in my room (probably doing homework) and looked out when I heard a car stop near the gas pump, and saw a trailer attached to a big, black chauffeur-driven car! It was very late afternoon and just dark enough for the lights inside the “RV” to be on.  There was a table with a lamp and a lady sitting in a lovely chair.  This was unbelievable! - a table, lamp, chair, wow! Mr. Vanderbilt had stopped and was in the office talking with Dad - his wife was in the trailer.”

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: From the Lodgekeeper's Family Archives-The Garden City Lodge

Al, I just realized Gordon may have lived by Motor Lane nearer to Stewart Ave (bridge) instead of the Bethpage Lodge. Gordon’s accounts remain truly inspiring.

Gordon, the details of your early childhood on the LIMP are much appreciated. It helps with unanswered questions about the LIMP. Thank you for responding, and always open to hear more of your experience with the Motor Parkway.     

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: From the Lodgekeeper's Family Archives-The Garden City Lodge

My father, Mitchell Scott, was born on Mitchel Field on October 31,1957. I am actively looking for old photographs or articles that are relevant to the base. Does anyone know of any good sources?

From Then & Now: The Long Island Motor Parkway, Mitchel Field and Sonny Corleone

Sam, thanks for the welcome!  My family moved from Bethpage to Saint James in Suffolk County in 1958, so the LIMP stopped being part of my life then except when I visited my grandparents and when I drove the Suffolk portion and imagined what might have been, but I kept a love for it. I moved to California in 1969 and was heartbroken in 2000 when I returned to visit Bethpage and discovered that the part of the LIMP where I spent so much of my childhood had been obliterated by Albergo Ct.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: From the Lodgekeeper's Family Archives-The Garden City Lodge

I mistakenly asked to be removed from mailing list. Please keep on the list. Thanks, Dick Gorman
_________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Dick, will do!

From Mystery Foto #23 Solved: A Caproni CA-5 Taking Off at Hazelhurst Field in September 1918

The airfield would be the L.I. Aviation Country Club in Levittown.  The plane is taking off to the north and the photographer is facing towards the southeast.  In the background you can observe the LIMP Jerusalem Ave highway bridge.
The club started operating in 1929 so I would say the photo is in the early 1930’s.

From Mystery Foto #23 Solved: A Caproni CA-5 Taking Off at Hazelhurst Field in September 1918

Thanks for the very nice presentation !

From Autoweek Magazine: This one-off 1937 Chrysler Imperial town car hides a spring-loaded secret

Tricky one, all my guesses seem to have holes in ‘em. Best guess is LIAC looking SW at the Newbridge Rd Parkway bridge. The two hangars off the photo to the left. Check out the flat plains (and plane). The year of photo depends on the bi-plane model. I’d guess somewhere in the ‘20s, after the Levittown grandstand was removed

From Mystery Foto #23 Solved: A Caproni CA-5 Taking Off at Hazelhurst Field in September 1918

I was a Garden City police officer 1956-1966.  The old timers on the force talked about the horrific head on crashes in the middle lane under the bridge before it was torn down.

From Mystery Foto #53 Solved: Clinton Road, the Motor Parkway in Garden City and Curtiss Field Circa 1926

This is the first time I witnessed the spring loaded window in action after the restoration videos. WOW! This turned out a very smooth operation for a mechanically driven window. I believe this is how it originally went back in the ‘30s. Amazing what Chrysler was capable of that early in the game. Also amazing restoration work by Steve Babinsky and crew on this car. The paint work remains second to none, literally looking into a black mirror. Check it out for yourself. Very nice Howard and congrats on this gem.

From Autoweek Magazine: This one-off 1937 Chrysler Imperial town car hides a spring-loaded secret

Tough one this week; all guesses: Roosevelt Field looking northeast with the bridge over the LIMP in the background about 1920. No clue on the plane. Looking forward to the answer.

From Mystery Foto #23 Solved: A Caproni CA-5 Taking Off at Hazelhurst Field in September 1918

I was very happy to see the Chrysler receive another award for it’s excellence. We all are indeed lucky to know this car survives and was authentically restored and brought back to the way it was when new. People who live on long island do not realize how fortunate they are to be able to see this car in person more often then many others. It was such a personal pleasure to see this car undergo the restoration it did by a team of people who care so much and appreciate the car they worked on.

From Chrysler's Chrysler Honored at the AACA Grand National Meet

Based on the French flag I’ll say Voisin. I can check some early issues of Country Life in America and tell you who was first to fly from Long Island to Connecticut @1910. Bob

From Mystery Foto #23 Solved: A Caproni CA-5 Taking Off at Hazelhurst Field in September 1918

Hi there all
  Could this plane be taking off from the Aiir Power Museum in a Melville? Just a wild guess. First thing that came to my mind,so took a shot at it. I see a overpass,which may be the Southern Parkway and it’s near it. I tried anyway.

From Mystery Foto #23 Solved: A Caproni CA-5 Taking Off at Hazelhurst Field in September 1918

Wonderful award Howard Congratulations

From Autoweek Magazine: This one-off 1937 Chrysler Imperial town car hides a spring-loaded secret

Sam - Oops, Bob’s photo says it’s from 1964. This white house is also mysterious. It doesn’t seem to appear in the 1955 mystery photo as well.

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: A 1955 Aerial View of the Motor Parkway Surrounding Commack Road

Sam - Location as described, the white house next to the lodge does not appear in satellite photos back to 1994. Bob’s photo may have been taken pre NSP (1952), and house demolished to make way for Moses’ “right of way” for the Sagtikos Pkwy South exit ramp #44. By the way that dog in the photo is in barking mode, I can tell by his eyes. :D

From Mystery Foto #22 Solved: A 1955 Aerial View of the Motor Parkway Surrounding Commack Road

Howard,
According to: https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/dayton-wright-airplane-company/
“William K. Vanderbilt II’s Sikorsky S-43 amphibian, NC-16925, serial number 4314. This airplane was impressed by the U.S. Army Air Corps 14 September 1941 and designated OA-11, 42-001. It was destroyed in a crash landing at Corcorite Bay, Trinidad, 5 November 1941. All five persons on board were killed.”
I then checked: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_1.html
for the aircraft serial number and confirmed the above:
S/N 42-1 Sikorsky OA-11 MSN 4314.  Civilian S-43 purchased by USAAF Sep 14, 1941.  Was originally NC16925.
W/o after crash landing in Cocorite Bay, Trinidad Nov 5, 1941.  All 5 aboard killed.

Maybe you can get more info. from either the National Archives or Air Force or National Air & Space Museum.
Gary
PS You gave the wrong registration # - not 16825, should be 16925!
_______________________

Howard Kroplick

Gary, thanks for the information and the correct registration #.

From Updated: Cradle of Aviation Archives: Willie K's Sikorsky S-43 Seaplane at Roosevelt Field

DICK GAUL

I just saw your 2010 post to Roger Linton about the Scorpion FJ.
Very interested in talking to you.

gcssbn at aol.com

From Archives: 1960 Vanderbilt Cup Race