Roosevelt Raceway
Encyclopedia
The Roosevelt Raceway motor sports race track
was a Vanderbilt Cup
/ GP venue on New York
's Long Island
for the United States Grand Prix
in 1936 and 1937. The original raceway was twisty and bumpy, making it not quite suited to the big-bore big-BHP racecars of the day. The 1937 layout was faster, had less corners and longer straights. Despite these adaptations, no more GP motor car races were held there afterwards.
The Westbury, New York
track was left semi-abandoned for a while, located next to the Roosevelt Field airfield, then disappeared and made way for a horse racing track
that served as the pioneer in its sport from its 1940 opening until it closed in 1988.
The Roosevelt Raceway site is now a shopping mall, parking lot and housing complex in Westbury. The 1936 race was won by Tazio Nuvolari
in an Alfa Romeo
while the 1937 race was won by Bernd Rosemeyer
in an Auto Union
.
Although long gone, the 1937 track has been recreated in at least two racing games, Spirit of Speed 1937 and the Grand Prix Legends
racing simulation. The latter track version was/is freely available on the Internet.
Race track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
was a Vanderbilt Cup
Vanderbilt Cup
The Vanderbilt Cup was the first major trophy in American auto racing.-History:An international event, it was founded by William Kissam Vanderbilt II in 1904 and first held at a course set out in Nassau County on Long Island, New York. The announcement that the race was to be held caused...
/ GP venue on New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
for the United States Grand Prix
United States Grand Prix
The United States Grand Prix is a motor race which has been run on and off since 1908, when it was known as the American Grand Prize. The race later became part of the Formula One World Championship. Over 41 editions, the race has been held at nine locations, most recently in 2007 at the...
in 1936 and 1937. The original raceway was twisty and bumpy, making it not quite suited to the big-bore big-BHP racecars of the day. The 1937 layout was faster, had less corners and longer straights. Despite these adaptations, no more GP motor car races were held there afterwards.
The Westbury, New York
Westbury, New York
Westbury incorporated in 1932 as a village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population was 15,146 at the 2010 census.The Village of Westbury is in the Town of North Hempstead....
track was left semi-abandoned for a while, located next to the Roosevelt Field airfield, then disappeared and made way for a horse racing track
Roosevelt Raceway (harness racing)
Roosevelt Raceway was a ½-mile harness racing dirt then later synthetic track located in Westbury, New York, which operated from September 2, 1940 until July 15, 1988. It was the original home of the Messenger Stakes, part of the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers. The raceway hosted the...
that served as the pioneer in its sport from its 1940 opening until it closed in 1988.
The Roosevelt Raceway site is now a shopping mall, parking lot and housing complex in Westbury. The 1936 race was won by Tazio Nuvolari
Tazio Nuvolari
Tazio Giorgio Nuvolari was an Italian motorcycle and racecar driver, known as Il Mantovano Volante or Nivola. He was the 1932 European Champion in Grand Prix motor racing...
in an Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
while the 1937 race was won by Bernd Rosemeyer
Bernd Rosemeyer
Bernd Rosemeyer was a German racing driver.- Career :...
in an Auto Union
Auto Union
Auto Union was an amalgamation of four German automobile manufacturers, founded in 1932 and established in 1936 in Chemnitz, Saxony, during the Great Depression. The company has evolved into present day Audi, as a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group....
.
Although long gone, the 1937 track has been recreated in at least two racing games, Spirit of Speed 1937 and the Grand Prix Legends
Grand Prix Legends
Grand Prix Legends is a computer racing simulator developed by Papyrus Design Group and published in 1998 by Sierra Entertainment...
racing simulation. The latter track version was/is freely available on the Internet.