Vanderbilt Cup Races

Upon research I found originally the Cougar was painted Blue as shown in the color photos.  It was later painted Candy Apple Red by George Barris for the Movie Under the Yum Yum Tree.

From Mystery Friday Foto #1 Solved: Another ‘Name That Car!’ The 1962 Ford Cougar 406 Concept

Fantastic article, Gram!  I grew up in Valley Stream close to the Freeport Stadium but don’t think I ever went there as my parents were not racing enthusiasts.  I believe the closest I got was a slot car track in Freeport after which my uncle took me and my cousins to a White Castle.  Guess you can’t forget those burgers. 

Al G. - here’s a story I found on ESPN from 2018 about Gurney and the Freeport Stadium.  There’s also a NY Times article from Oct. 13, 20214 that also mentions Gurney and Freeport.

From InstaGRAM Report: The Racing History of Freeport Stadium

Thanks Brian for the additional research and your field trip to the location.  Glad to have some “boots” on the ground up on LI!  Happy New Year!

From Kleiner's Korner: Two Family Members Building the Motor Parkway

Just Click to Download File Above, the video is there. Notice how elevated the area is, Rosevale Avenue is seen at the end.

From Update: 12/11/2025: A 17--year old Parkway Inn Lake Ronkonkoma sign mystery likely solved

These photos are of my visit there. Even though Rosevale Ave doubled in width since the past, I still tried to copy the mystery foto. If not the trees, we would be able to see the Nursery School House. So I went into the small woods, hilly but level closer to the school property. Took a photo and a short video. Video may not play, but it just shows the woods area. Looked for evidence of tower remains, but none.

From Update: 12/11/2025: A 17--year old Parkway Inn Lake Ronkonkoma sign mystery likely solved

More screenshots of the area, past and present.

From Update: 12/11/2025: A 17--year old Parkway Inn Lake Ronkonkoma sign mystery likely solved

Hi All, I believe this was the first mystery foto of this website. Noticed in the background there’s a house, and also a lattice type tower. Think we all agree that this area is Lake Ronkonkoma. You’ll see screenshots below - 1915 map shows a Water Tower just north of the LIMP & east of Rosevale Ave. Map is zoomed in, the wording of the Water Tower is blurry. So I marked it. Also notice the curved dotted roads that meet the Petite Trianon Entrance Road. Believe the photographer & car was at the south curved road. Mystery Foto is facing largely north. Notice where I marked the LIMP END at Rosevale Ave. LIMP doesn’t appear paved, and downwards sloped. Remember Al Velocci saying the parkway in Suffolk wasn’t paved until post 1912 or 13. Even today, the parkway slopes down towards Rosevale.

From Update: 12/11/2025: A 17--year old Parkway Inn Lake Ronkonkoma sign mystery likely solved

The Petit Trianon’s dining room including 2nd floor balcony, courtesy Gary Hammond

From Mystery Friday Foto #2 Solved: A Large Automobile Gathering at the Petit Trianon in Ronkonkoma

Partial capture of the former Petit Trianon (1911-1958) restaurant and lodging facility at the eastern end of the Long Island Motor Parkway at Lake Ronkonkoma. View is looking north towards North Drive (still there) where the vehicles are parked. Part of Petit’s traffic circle (now extinct) can be seen along the bottom of photo. A welcoming guesthouse that included outdoor swimming for weary motorists, some traveling the full 45-mile length of Motor Parkway from Queens County. Petit was designed by John Russell Pope who also designed the first 6 Motor Parkway toll houses (one remains intact today in Garden City at 7th St).
Below are insider views of Petit Trianon’s interior, hand-drawn sketches by childhood resident Bob DeStefani.
3rd floor: The lodging rooms
2nd floor: Bathrooms and Balcony
1st floor: The reception area

more info here à
https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/new_series_an_inside_look_of_the_petit_trianon_in_lake_ronkonkoma

From Mystery Friday Foto #2 Solved: A Large Automobile Gathering at the Petit Trianon in Ronkonkoma

This is of course the Parkway Inn later renamed Petit Trianon. The photographer is looking north west in front of the building, across the circular entrance pavement.

As the Inn opened June 9, 1911, perhaps this is when the image was taken, or the day before when a special dinner reception was held.

From Mystery Friday Foto #2 Solved: A Large Automobile Gathering at the Petit Trianon in Ronkonkoma

FANTASTIC FOTOS Gram! Amazing to see motor history that occurred before my time. Based on the height of the motorcycle jump, I don’t believe he made it?

From InstaGRAM Report: The Racing History of Freeport Stadium

Now #49 Swezey St. The house today was built in 1935. The 1930 aerial shows a building, likely the original home that the Morrissey Family resided.

From Kleiner's Korner: Two Family Members Building the Motor Parkway

I’m pretty sure that’s the Petit Trianon at the eastern end of the LIMP at Lake Ronkonkoma. Beyond that, everything else is a guess. The date might be June of 1911 during the grand opening. The photographer was probably Al Velocci. As for the cars, I think I see a 1905 Rambler, a 1908 Ford Model T, and a 1909 Packard.

From Mystery Friday Foto #2 Solved: A Large Automobile Gathering at the Petit Trianon in Ronkonkoma

Below you’ll see views of these homes today, and also the years built. Thinking maybe that #259 or 265 used to be #263.

From Kleiner's Korner: Two Family Members Building the Motor Parkway

Hi All, I tried looking into a little more history of the homes that the Morrissey Family resided in; as Art has researched above. You’ll first see below screenshots of the area of Oak St. 1917 map shows a mostly empty block, but owned by an Emery Clark Smith. Then 2 - 1930 aerials that I tried to make visually clear. The 4 houses that are present today look very much the same in 1930, having garage buildings in the rear. House #s 259, 265, 267, 271 are on 1950 census till presently.

From Kleiner's Korner: Two Family Members Building the Motor Parkway

i remember going to the Freeport raceway in the mid1970’s with my brother and his friends.We all piled into one huge car and watched either a race or demolition derby there at night.It was awesome.Great memories! Gene Perry

From InstaGRAM Report: The Racing History of Freeport Stadium

Saratoga

From Mystery Friday Foto #2 Solved: A Large Automobile Gathering at the Petit Trianon in Ronkonkoma

Oh, what memories! My friends and I would pile into my father’s van to go to Freeport Stadium several times each summer in the 60s. We would usually sit between curves 1 and 2 where most of the pile ups seemed to happen. Came home covered with soot and sawdust. Walking through the pits at intermission was an experience. Always bought one of those plastic race cars and painted them up with numbers to race at home down a makeshift ramp.

From InstaGRAM Report: The Racing History of Freeport Stadium

Al Gloddeck: Even though I wasn’t around when Dan Gurney was racing, he is one of my all-time greatest racing heroes. In fact, every day I walk past this image of him that my good friend Ed Justice took of him at the Indy 500.

From InstaGRAM Report: The Racing History of Freeport Stadium

These articles on LI racing history just keep getting better. I love that this is being documented so very well. Looking forward to seeing more of these InstaGram articles!

From InstaGRAM Report: The Racing History of Freeport Stadium