Vanderbilt Cup Races

Not all of the Motor Parkway ROW in Nassau County was deeded to the County. Moses made sure that the N.Y. State Parks Commision got at least three sections. Two were located around the Motor Parkway bridges over Northern State Parkway at Lakeville Rd, and New Hyde Park Rd, and the part of the Motor Parkway thru Bethpage State Park. Believe there are at least two other parcels Moses acquired.

From Mystery Foto #61 Solved: Willie K deeds the Motor Parkway to the people of Long Island

Art, There was an undeveloped Farmingdale Park with substantial acreage east of Rte 110 bound with the Motor Parkway as the northern border, Colonial Springs Rd.on the west and Conklin Ave. on the southeast. The area today is part of Wheatley Heights. Maybe ?

From Kleiner's Korner: November, 1925 - A Hundred Years Ago on The Motor Parkway

Shawn, the 1908 race was called since the crowds stormed the course soon after George Robertson won the race. https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/chaos_at_the_finish_of_the_1908_vanderbilt_cup_race

From Mystery Foto #60 Solved: #4 Chadwick on the LIRR Bridge on Ellison Road in Westbury during the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Thanks Mark - I’m glad you these original articles.  Look for the December, 1925 edition in a week or two.

Al - thanks - will need to get my bearings correct in the future.

From Kleiner's Korner: November, 1925 - A Hundred Years Ago on The Motor Parkway

Amazing lost photos of Roosevelt Raceway events, Gram. Thanks for sharing these historic gems.

From InstaGRAM Report: Unseen racing photos from the 1960 Vanderbilt Cup at Roosevelt Raceway

Art, Regarding the 490 acres Farmingdale ad, that acreage did not come from the featured Benjamin Yoakum estate which was in Bethpage. The Youkum estate, some 1400 acres, was acquired by Robert Moses in the early 1930’s and is today’s Bethpage State Park.

From Kleiner's Korner: November, 1925 - A Hundred Years Ago on The Motor Parkway

Research has hit a dead end so it’s time for some wild guesses. Left to right we might have Robert Moses, Warren F. Greenhalgh (Chairman of the Suffolk County Board of Supervisors), Willie K., and somebody’s wife. They could be exchanging the deed to the Suffolk County portion of the LIMP for back taxes. If any of that is true, then it could be 1938.

From Mystery Foto #61 Solved: Willie K deeds the Motor Parkway to the people of Long Island

In regards to the Tow Truck photo, I found this description online from 2013: “My Unc John Riedlinger has a bible in his head and would love to share his info. I’m just the typer he is the brains. On that midget tow truck mentioned in 5592 the body of the tow truck the back was made special, the only part that was midget was the cowling over the stearing wheel and the stearing. Body was customer made. Model A rear end. Ford v8 sixty engine and transmission. Plymouth breaks. 12 inch wheels. Plymouth front end. 1935 Pontiac grill.”  The markings on the truck seem to read” WE TOW EM / WE. 1 - 1794 / GUS RIEDLINGER’S / TOWING SERVICE HICKSVILLE NY”.  I think “WE. 1” was originally Westbury 1, later 931.  The 516-931-1794 number is still listed online for Riedlinger’s Towing!

From InstaGRAM Report: Unseen racing photos from the 1960 Vanderbilt Cup at Roosevelt Raceway

What a fascinating article! I hope your ongoing research can shed some more light on this and other Long Island races.

From InstaGRAM Report: Unseen racing photos from the 1960 Vanderbilt Cup at Roosevelt Raceway

Why was the race called?

From Mystery Foto #60 Solved: #4 Chadwick on the LIRR Bridge on Ellison Road in Westbury during the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I enjoy these old articles. Keep them coming Art.

From Kleiner's Korner: November, 1925 - A Hundred Years Ago on The Motor Parkway

As a lifelong Queens resident, I loved the video of the Queens section of the Motor Parkway - it’s beautiful.

From Automotive Shows & Events - June, 2026

I’ll want to dig deeper into these incredible images and the story of the race but must note my amazement that just a year later with a 1961 issue of Road and Track bought along with my monthly purchase of Boy’s Life I would become a young Motorsport fanatic. The names of racers mentioned here would be one my sport heros. My family would drive passed the trotters raceway every Sunday via Old Country Road on our way to my grandparent’s house in Bethpage. Little did I know in 1960 that this star studded race was happening.
Nearly 40,000 in attendance. I so totally wish I was there.
Thank you Gram (and Howard… and… Marty) for giving me this early Christmas gift of a pinnacle of motor racing right in my near literal backyard of Long Island.

From InstaGRAM Report: Unseen racing photos from the 1960 Vanderbilt Cup at Roosevelt Raceway

From left to right: Chester B. Blakelock, Exec. Chairman of the Long Island State Park Commission; Suffolk County Executive J. Russel Sprague; William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. and wife Rosamund Warburton.
Deeds to the Motor Parkway given by Vanderbilt to the County.
July 1, 1938. 

From Mystery Foto #61 Solved: Willie K deeds the Motor Parkway to the people of Long Island

This is a Nassau Daily Review-Star photograph published on July 1, 1938, page 1. The headline reads: “Vanderbilts Deed Motor Parkway to Public”, while the caption states: “Nassau county and New York State officials receive deeds for the $2,000,000 Long Island motor parkway form Mr. and Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.  Left to right are Chester R. Blakelock, executive secretary of the Long Island state park commission; County Executive J. Russel Sprague and Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt.”

From Mystery Foto #61 Solved: Willie K deeds the Motor Parkway to the people of Long Island

Fantastic Peter Helck painting capturing the intense battle to lead, in early Autumn, on Oct 24. The detail is magnificent! The No.4 Chadwick was well captured during this race.

From Mystery Foto #60 Solved: #4 Chadwick on the LIRR Bridge on Ellison Road in Westbury during the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Why did Jack Lee get released? Did he say something inappropriate while mic was still on? I recall an incident about a driver’s wife! Internet searches does not answer this issue. Thanks

From Memories of Roosevelt Raceway (1936-1988)

Thanks Al for the clarification!

From Kleiner's Korner: Two construction engineers and a "monkey" who added their talents to the Motor Parkway

This hurts my eyes and my senses There were some great cars in the derby OUCH !!!!

From Video of the Week: 1966 Demolition Derby! Islip Speedway, Long Island, New York, classic auto racing 1960s vintage cars

Art, Just caught this, Heilman did not sell any property to Hendrick, Grantor is listed on the left on the first two forms while Grantee is listed on the left side of the third form

From Kleiner's Korner: Two construction engineers and a "monkey" who added their talents to the Motor Parkway