Vanderbilt Cup Races

Howard, Happy the Mustang III is in good hands. Hope all went well in the 2011 restore.

From Inside the Restoration of the Mustang III Concept Show Car (2011-2013)

Howard/LIMPer’s; Was continuing to scratch my head as to why divert the Motor Pkwy from its Right Of Way at this particular location. Not sure, but I believe the idea here (while building the LIE) was to connect Old Willets Path (a main road) to the busy Motor Pkwy, but to do it without building an extra bridge over the LIE. So they left Old Willets Path intact, and diverted the historic Motor Parkway to save expenses on building an extra bridge?. Sounds crazy but any thoughts can help clarify?

From A 1926 Map of the Motor Parkway Acreage in Brentwood

I love exploring too!  Great pictures!

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” IV: Albertson to East Williston

Howard: As always, digging for more history on your car and it’s amazing what you find out and learn about it, also excited that you are the owner of the car, saved it from being destroyed, but to be enjoyed by a deserving person like you.

From Inside the Restoration of the Mustang III Concept Show Car (2011-2013)

Howard thanks for that link, in looking at Wayne Consola’s map of the Meadowbrook Parkway,  his line for the Motor Parkway Ellison Ave bridge runs east west, just slightly north of the bridge (between the entrance and exit ramps at the Covanta entrance), however there was a bend in the parkway slightly southward before the lodge, which may indeed place the original bridge slightly south of the existing bridge…...get out the surveyors scopes !!!  Mike

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved:Roosevelt Raceway, Meadow Brook Polo Field & Roosevelt Field Updated 1/24/16

2 questions if I may Howard,

1st question is the path of the actual Motor Parkway as seen in the current photo… is the illustrated line up the driveway to the office building the actual entrance to the Meadowbrook Lodge,  and isn’t the actual path of the Motor Parkway the service road between Micro Center and the Air Traffic Control (please clarify) and

2nd question which has plagued me about this area…. is the original motor parkway bridge at ellison ave north or south of today’s bridge ?

Thanks, Mike
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From Howard Kroplick

Yes, the driveway to the bank’s parking lot matches the entrance road to the Meadow Brook Lodge.  I have added a 1960s aerial of the area which shows the approximate path of the Motor Parkway.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/the_motor_parkway_toll_collection_structures_9_meadow_brook_lodge_in_westbu

There has been great debate in the past about the location of the Roosevelt Field Motor Parkway bridge(s). I will research it in a future September post:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/long_island_motor_parkway_bridge_series_33_the_roosevelt_field_motor_parkwa

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved:Roosevelt Raceway, Meadow Brook Polo Field & Roosevelt Field Updated 1/24/16

If you walk past the bridge you can actually see the original pavement from the Motor Parkway. They are building a new development there. I hope they keep the bridge intact. it’s fascinating.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #55: The Ezekiel Smith Farmway Bridge in Melville

1950’s Westbury looking NW at Roosevelt Raceway harness racing, with circular paddocks bottom right. Garden City and curvy Motor Pkwy on bottom left with twin bridge location site (future Merchant’s Concourse). Barely seen in the distance is LIMP’s Mayan Ruins, Old Country Rd hwy bridge, LIRR pkwy bridge, Westbury Ave pkwy bridge, Hillside Ave pkwy bridge into Wheatley Hills golf course. Need an electron microscope to go further. Garden City lodge and Clinton Ave bridge are out of view in top left. In the center looks like remnants of ‘30s Vanderbilt and ‘40s Roosevelt raceway grandstand, Meadowbrook polo club grounds middle left, Roosevelt airfield behind the polo grounds (remaining white aircraft hanger can be seen by Old Country Rd). Merrick Ave (Whaleneck Av) bottom right corner, Old Country Rd diagonal across the center, Clinton Rd-Glen Cove Rd (Guinea Woods Rd) furthest edge of Roosevelt airfield. Housing community is Mitchel Airfield base (northern airfield boundary) and just east of future Meadowbrook Pkwy. Main raceway in the center is original ‘40s racetrack, to the right is a practice track and future site of Sony Multiplex (part of this track was the original Vanderbilt motor raceway).

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved:Roosevelt Raceway, Meadow Brook Polo Field & Roosevelt Field Updated 1/24/16

We have the Roosevelt Raceway looking northwest from Merrick Avenue (lower right) . In this picture we can see the grandstand and track (1940 to 1956), the Test track at Old Country Road and the Meadowbrook Polo Grounds to the left center of picture. This borders the Long Island Motor Parkway to it’s south and Stewart Avenue running parallel. The round structures are the stable paddocks and I can only guess that the community of houses to the left were homes for the staff and jockeys (now part of the Meadowbrook Parkway). The airfield to the top of picture is Roosevelt Field at the corner of Clinton Ave and Old Country Road. The approximate date for the picture must be between 1940 and 1954 after the construction of the Polo Fields and before the construction of the Meadowbrook Parkway…..my particular guess would be 1940 because everything looks so new in the photograph, it may have been opening day.

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved:Roosevelt Raceway, Meadow Brook Polo Field & Roosevelt Field Updated 1/24/16

Roosevelt Field, Polo fields, LIMP Roosevelt Racetrack

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved:Roosevelt Raceway, Meadow Brook Polo Field & Roosevelt Field Updated 1/24/16

Howard - I might have already submitted a reply (falling asleep at the computer makes me wonder if I actually pressed the submit button the first time around) plus I updated some of my answers below. 

Identify the location of the aerial: Garden City

Identify the areas and structures dedicated to sporting events: Roosevelt Raceway practice and real tracks, Roosevelt Raceway Grandstand, Motor Parkway Old Country Road Bridge, Meadowbrook Polo Field

Identify the airfield in the background: Roosevelt Field

What is the housing community on the lower left corner of the aerial?
Mitchel Gardens (see documentation being sent to Howard)

What are the structures built in a circle on the right?: Stables/Paddock

Identify the major roads seen in the aerial: Motor Parkway, Old Country Road, Clinton Avenue, small section of Merrick Avenue

What is the approximate date of the aerial? Provide a rationale. 1950; new grandstand wasn’t built until 1957.  Meadowbrook Polo Club moved in 1954 due to the building of the Meadowbrook Parkway.  A 1948 photo being sent Howard does not show a row of stables. 

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved:Roosevelt Raceway, Meadow Brook Polo Field & Roosevelt Field Updated 1/24/16

The photo is looking northwest over Westbury from a position approximately over Merrick Ave. just south of Old Country Road. Sporting event areas include the Meadowbrook Club polo fields and 2 Roosevelt Raceway harness tracks (main & practice). The airfield in the background is Roosevelt Field. The community on the lower left is the military housing for Mitchel Field. The circular area on the right is the paddock circle and horse barns. Major roads include the LIMP, Old Country Road, Clinton Road and possibly the Northern State Parkway in the upper right corner. Judging by the relative completion of Roosevelt Raceway but lack of activity at the track, I believe the date is probably close to the track’s opening on Sept. 2, 1940.

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved:Roosevelt Raceway, Meadow Brook Polo Field & Roosevelt Field Updated 1/24/16

I’m gonna guess cuz that’s all I can do.

1.  western edge of Mineola LINY
2.  East Meadowbrook race track
3.  Mitchell Field http://www.airfields-freeman.com/NY/Airfields_NY_LongIs_Nassau.htm#Mitchel
4.  I got nuthin’.....Roosevelt Acres?? Said I got nuthin’.
5.  Horse stables
5.  Meadowbrook Pkwy.
6.  1937

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved:Roosevelt Raceway, Meadow Brook Polo Field & Roosevelt Field Updated 1/24/16

Identify the location of the aerial
Looking West towards Roosevelt Field/Mineola/Garden City approximately over present day Eisenhower Park
Identify the areas and structures dedicated to sporting events
Roosevelt Raceway horse track, Meadowbrook Polo Club, Intercollegiate Golf Club/Old Westbury Club
Identify the airfield in the background
Roosevelt Field
What is the housing community on the lower left corner of the aerial?
Housing for Mitchel Field
What are the structures built in a circle on the right?
Horse Paddocks for Roosevelt Field
Identify the major roads seen in the aerial
Motor Parkway, Old Country Rd, Clinton Ave
What is the approximate date of the aerial? Provide a rationale.
Mid 1940’s due to the development of Roosevelt Raceway Horse track, but long before the Meadowbrook parkway in the ‘50s.

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved:Roosevelt Raceway, Meadow Brook Polo Field & Roosevelt Field Updated 1/24/16

Oops - Glen Cove/Guinea Woods Road is Clinton Road down there!  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved:Roosevelt Raceway, Meadow Brook Polo Field & Roosevelt Field Updated 1/24/16

location - over southern Salisbury (today’s Eisenhower) Park on the Hempstead Plains looking LI west (compass WNW); sporting - Old Westbury Golf Club at upper left, Meadowbrook Polo Field(s - 3) to club’s lower right, Roosevelt Flying Field to upper left of dead center, Roosevelt Raceway filling lower right quadrant; and Mineola Fair lost in haze in center distance; airfield - Hazelhurst #1-cum-Roosevelt Flying Field #1-cum-Roosevelt Field; housing community - Mitchell Gardens (USN); structures built in a circle - stables for Raceway; roads - LIMP at top, just beyond Glen Cove (Guinea Woods) Road (far end of R. Field) and then diagonally across lower left, Old Country Road as right (N) boundary of both fields, Jericho Tpke. beyond OCR over LIRR tracks, No. State Pkwy at top and looping at upper right, with No, Blvd. in haze beyond that, and Raceway entrance road from LIMP at left, Whaleneck Rd., and Merrick Ave. across lower right, AND, if you could see through the haze, U. S. Rte. 1 in Westchester across the Sound; date/rationale - 1936 because first Geo. V. Cup course is there to the right of harness track.  Whew!  So, there!  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved:Roosevelt Raceway, Meadow Brook Polo Field & Roosevelt Field Updated 1/24/16

I’ve been searching on and off for two days and I hope I got this right,not all of it,but maybe something. Mitchell Field and Roosevelt Field in I would say 1936,but I’m not even sure about that,because there’s so many structures,that I’m not able to identify,it might be more recent than that

From Mystery Foto #38 Solved:Roosevelt Raceway, Meadow Brook Polo Field & Roosevelt Field Updated 1/24/16

My house is now located in the “circle driveway” shown in your map.  The property of the Annex now houses 4 new homes, as well as the area of the Petit Trianon property which houses 4 new homes.  I fell over this website as finding out how “Washington Avenue” got its name.  This site is so interesting!!  and once again your parents home - is up for sale!!

From New Series: An Insider's Look into the Petit Trianon in Lake Ronkonkoma Part I.

Tricky part of the Motor Pkwy where the ROW doesn’t follow the present 67 roadway. Howard, sending a current overlay.

From A 1926 Map of the Motor Parkway Acreage in Brentwood

Hi Harold:  Great research on the Mustang III and the Ford Custom Car Caravan.  I’m writing a book on the Ford Caravan, and on the companion Lincoln-Mercury Caravan of Stars.  I’d like to speak with you.  Please e-mail me at the e-mail addy:
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  and we’ll set a time for me to call you.

Thanks for your dedication to his little known, but critically important part of the history of the Ford Motor Company.

Mark S. Gustavson
Utah
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From Howard Kroplick

Hi Mark! Thanks for the comment! You can reach me at 1-516-625-0123. Let’s talk Caravan!

From The Mustang III and the Ford Custom Car Caravan: An Interview with the King of Kustoms Gene Winfield