Vanderbilt Cup Races

Really enjoyed reading about the weekend in Boca!

From Chrysler's Chrysler Honored with Three Awards at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance Updated: 2/29/16

Love the crispy Fairchild aerials, they’re definitely ahead of their time. However Roosevelt Raceway gave this one away. Hard to hide that humongous structure. Facing SE at Carle Place/Westbury/E Garden City, around 1938 during construction of this section of Northern State Parkway (the white diagonal roadway in the foreground). The Wantagh State Pkwy may also be under construction as well (1927-1938, the white diagonal roadway in the background), also the first highway route to Jones Beach’s opening in 1929! The completed interchange of Meadowbrook State Pkwy will not appear here until 1956. The Long Island Motor Parkway in this photo is closed, or about to close (Apr 1938), due to Robert Moses’ fierce competition with a toll free highway system pictured here under construction

From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: Northern State Parkway and Wantagh State Parkway Under Construction

Nice mystery photo, Howard!

Where was the location of this aerial and its orientation
Looking southeast in Nassau County (Garden City, Westbury, Carle Place, East Meadow, Hempstead Plains)

Which Long Island parkway(s) were under construction?
Northern and Wantagh State Parkways

Identify the Long Island Motor Parkway bridges and landmarks in the aerial?
Meadow Brook Lodge, Merrick Ave. Parkway Bridge, Stewart Ave., Carmen Ave., Newbridge Ave., and possibly Old Country Road Bridges. And somewhere off to the east in the picture would be the Newbride Road bridge.

What other Long island landmarks can be seen in the aerial?
Salisbury Links, Roosevelt Field (including Midget race car track), Meadowbrook Polo Fields and Club House, Ladenberg estate, Meadowbrook Racetrack (now the location of the East Meadow School District Admin. Office), Central RR., James Cinch Smith estate.   

What is the estimated date of the aerial? Provide a rationale. Note: Previous posting of this aerial has been removed until Monday night.
Contrary to other postings, I believe the date is 1937-1938, not 1939.  According to newspaper clippings (Kleiner’s Korner) construction of this section of the Northern State Parkway was done in 1937 and 1938 with the official opening on Dec. 10, 1938.  However, as I’ve noted before, you can’t believe everything you read!  The Midget Car Races at Roosevelt Field was in August of 1939, and as the mystery picture shows the track, could the track not have been built soon before the race actually took place (say the spring of 1939) or maybe prior to 1939?  Either way, close enough? 

From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: Northern State Parkway and Wantagh State Parkway Under Construction

Easily a cornerstone of my whole life on Long Island. I was always heading to “that park in Roslyn” for a spell of rest and relaxation.

From George Robertson: The Vanderbilt Cup Race Driver Who Helped Beautify Roslyn

Congrats again (getting to be “as usual”)!  Harley Earl was 25-26 and working for his father when Don Lee bought the business in 1919; wonder if the Pierce was done under J. W. Earl or Don Lee.  Sam, III

From Chrysler's Chrysler Honored with Three Awards at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance Updated: 2/29/16

Good mix of easy and hard!  Location and orientation - over Hicksville looking WNW.  Parkway(s) were under construction - No. State (upper right to upper left to lower right), Meadowbrook (far left), and Wantagh N. extension.  LIMP bridges and landmarks - Roslyn Road and lodge, LIRR Main Line, Glen Cove Road and lodge and super’s house, Ellison Ave., Whaleneck Rd, Post Ave. at right - pass - too many!  Other LI landmarks - endless - the Jericho Pike, ‘38 VCR course, Mitchel and Roos. Fields, Old Country Rd., LIRR Main Line, Hempstead Tpke. lower left, Meadowbrook Club and RR station, what was much later my house in Mineola, - - - AAAUUUGGGHHH!  Estimated date - 1938 - when Wantagh was extended to No. State.  WHEW!  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: Northern State Parkway and Wantagh State Parkway Under Construction

Hello, history buffs. Just want to say I had partial assistance in my response to this mystery ( 4/16/11 Blog “Midget Auto Racing” )

Aerial location/Orientation: Overlooking Garden City, Westbury, East Meadow in a S/E direction.

Pkwys under construction: Wantagh Pkwy, definitely Northern State Pkwy.

LIMP data: Roosevelt field, Merrick Ave, Newbridge Ave, Stewart Ave, Carmen Ave, Westbury Ave, Wantagh Pkwy LIMP bridges.

Landmarks: Roosevelt raceway, Meadowbrook Polo Club, Clubhouse just opposite of Central RR, Salisbury Golf Club, Ladenburgh property. Mr. Kroplicks future childhood home.

Aerial date: 1939, time of the Midget Auto Racing and continuing construction of the Northern State Pkwy.

It would be neat to have a time machine for a day. This site and others are the next best thing.

From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: Northern State Parkway and Wantagh State Parkway Under Construction

The plane is flying over East Wiliston / Mineola with the camera pointed southeast toward Westbury & Carle Place. The parkway in the foreground is the Northern State with the Wantagh near the top. The LIMP bridges are (east to west) Roosevelt Field, Merrick Ave., Newbridge Ave., & Stewart Ave. along with the Meadowbrook Lodge. You can also see Roosevelt Raceway, Salisbury Links golf course, and the Meadowbrook Polo Fields. The date of the photo is probably sometime in 1938 since that section of the Northern State didn’t open until December 17th. of that year and the small midget car track is visable on the site of the Vanderbilt Cup Races held the two previous years.

From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: Northern State Parkway and Wantagh State Parkway Under Construction

great picture

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #15 & #16 The Brentwood Lodges at Commack Road

thats great wow meeting jay leno

From Chrysler's Chrysler Honored with Three Awards at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance Updated: 2/29/16

Hope to see you there

From Hold the Date 4/28/16: Presentation: New York Automotive Licenses, License Plates & Registration

Ok here goes we are looking at the Northern Parkway intersecting with the Wantagh Parkway looking southeast from the Objectors Bend possibly down to the southern state.  Due to the Race Track at Roosevelt Raceway the year is 1936. In this picture is the Motor Parkway over Ellison Avenue (Merchants Concourse), the Ladenburg Farm and the Newbridge (East Meadow Avenue) Bridge, Stewart Avenue conntcting with the Motor Parkway. North is St Brigid’s Church and the Holy Rood Cemetery. By Eisenhower Park is the Train Station and overpass over Meadwobrook Club Road, with the Salisbury Clubhouse before it was toxic. I cant seem to find the house from 1905 located in Eisenhower Park but it must be there. Hicksville is in the upper left corner. Looking carefully you can see the Motor Parkway Bridge over the Wantagh Parkway towards the upper middle of the picture and Hempstead Tpk in East Meadow and Levittown potato fields and possibly North Bellmore toward the top right. Middle right is the Meadowbrook Club and Polo Field. Across Merrick Avenue from that appears to be the swamp that they made into the Man made Lake at Eisenhower. Soooo much stuff to see in this picture and…..no i didnt need to look at the previous posts for help, im from this part o’ town.

From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: Northern State Parkway and Wantagh State Parkway Under Construction

hi I’ve been looking at W K V III as my grandfather acted as his valet for all his tour of europe,africa etc until his car accident . my grandfather was sent ahead by train rather than travel in the car luckily. i have only one photo of my grandfather and a few letters he wrote while on tour with them and am trying to see if there are others of the tour,hunting etc .chris.

From A Father's Day Tribute: Willie K. and His Children

What a victorous weekend. A wonderful reward for years of dedicated work.
Love the way you looped in your family! I am a friend of your sister Marilyn.

From Chrysler's Chrysler Honored with Three Awards at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance Updated: 2/29/16

Congratulations! A trifecta at Boca, who knows what will happen at Amelia. 2016 is starting out well for you and Mrs. Chrysler’s Chrysler.

From Chrysler's Chrysler Honored with Three Awards at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance Updated: 2/29/16

Thanks for sharing this with your “Florida Family”. The car is great and was fun riding in it. But you’re terrific!!

From Chrysler's Chrysler Honored with Three Awards at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance Updated: 2/29/16

Wow,you really made it big this time,three awards,maybe you should thank John,very impressive with the outfit,tell him that he looks great. Do it again next month,keep the awards coming,it’s something to be proud of and enjoy having

From Chrysler's Chrysler Honored with Three Awards at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance Updated: 2/29/16

Congratulations Howard! It appears that you will need a large trophy room in your house if this continues. Enjoy Amelia Island too. Any fan of classic cars should attend a Concour event. These events truly have the finest cars in existence and they all raise money for wonderful causes. The Jay Leno photo is a nice bonus!

From Chrysler's Chrysler Honored with Three Awards at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance Updated: 2/29/16

Go Howard, Go !

From Chrysler's Chrysler Honored with Three Awards at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance Updated: 2/29/16

From Greg O.:

Great mystery photo again this week even if I didn’t get all the answers!

Thanks! Have a good one!
Greg O.


-Where is the location of the aerial and its orientation?
  Flying directly over East Meadow looking North West.

-Where is the Long Island Motor Parkway in the aerial?
  Tough to see and can’t really make out too many LIMP landmarks, but roughly horizontal across the top.  More noticeable is the adjacent Central Railroad tree line through what will eventually be Eisenhower Park.

-Identify the major roads and landmarks including airports and golf courses.
  The usual suspects in view here… Meadow Brook Golf Club, Salisbury Golf Club, Coldstream Golf Club, Meadowbrook Polo Club, Mitchel Field, Roosevelt Field, Hempstead Tpke, East Meadow Ave, Merrick Rd,
Interesting here is the newly laid out neighborhood in East Meadow at the very bottom of the photo. The longest horizontal road across the bottom is Freeman Ave, the shorter one just above that would be McKinley Ave. Starting at the first vertical road East of East Meadow Ave along McKinley is; Cambridge, Oxford, Aberdeen, Rugby, York, etc.

-Identify the two airplanes.
  The plane closer in the foreground may be a Fokker F.14/C14, and the plane further back in the distance appears to be a Douglas Dolphin. Of course there’s a neat Dolphin & William K. Vanderbilt Jr.connection here as well.

As per Wikipedia;
      “William K. Vanderbilt Jr. bought two with custom interiors for use from the Vanderbilt yacht Alva as flying tenders…..Dolphin 119: Two aircraft built for A.G. Vanderbilt II and W.K. Vanderbilt II and operated from the yacht Alva. One of the two (which is unknown) joined the RAAF as A35-2.”

And sure enough, seen here on the Alva in 1934 as per vanderbiltcupraces.com;
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/one_of_yachtinsg_dozen_william_k._vanderbilt_jr.s_alva

And a photo of one found on Instagram at his Miami Estate on Fisher Island;
https://www.instagram.com/p/_h98wlGDfs/

- What was the date of the aerial? Provide a rationale.   
  Not sure if this was an ‘event’, historic or otherwise, but judging by the runways at Roosevelt, Mitchel Hangars and build time for the Dolphin & Fokker, my guess is somewhere around 1935

Here and attached is a Google Earth perspective match.

From Mystery Foto #8 Solved: A 1935 East Meadow Flyover by the United States Army Air Corps