The Hamptons is gearing up for its 25th annual Bridgehampton Road Rally, presented by the Bridgehampton Museum, on Saturday, October 7 at 9 a.m. to celebrate the area’s racing heritage.
“Since 1915 the Bridgehampton area has been steeped in racing history, first as part of the local Firemen’s Summer Carnival, then as high-speed races that reached 100 mph on local streets,” explained Bridgehampton Museum Executive Director Dr. John Eilertsen. “When street racing was outlawed by New York State the soon to be world famous Bridgehampton Race Circuit opened in 1957 on 500 acres of open land just north of the hamlet.”
This year’s Rally will feature four components: a judged show, a parade, a historic trivia quest, and a special timed component. The Rally route is approximately 60 miles and will include four stops to collect poker cards and stops for historic trivia sites. The journey should take roughly three hours to complete. 1969 and newer cars will leave from The Bridgehampton Museum’s Corwith grounds at 12 p.m. and vintage cars will follow at 12:30 p.m.
“For over 35 years races of international importance took place on its winding course. When the Circuit finally shut down, local enthusiast Jeffrey Vogel and the Bridgehampton Museum (then known as the Bridgehampton Historical Society) organized the first Vintage Sports Car Road Rally to commemorate and keep alive the hamlet’s racing history,” shared Dr. Eilertsen. “Today our rally is a non-timed leisurely tour throughout our scenic and historic community.”
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A vintage photo of the Bridgehampton Road Rally during its original days. (Courtesy Photo) |
Anyone with a car from 1960 and earlier is eligible to join the tour. New vintages will be considered on a case-by-case basis and motorcyclists are also encouraged to join. The route features little known roads, beautiful vistas, and historic community sites. Drivers will receive a tour bag, complete with a route book and other necessary information, as well as a box lunch prior to departure. Once the event begins, cars can either drive as a group or go on their own. Once all participants have completed the course and returned to The Bridgehampton Museum, the awards ceremony will begin and stories can be shared about the day’s trip.
“The route uses public roads complete with local traffic and includes stops at historic sites and related trivia questions,” Dr. Eilertsen added. “Entrants should be adept at driving and map reading to participate.”
Car entrance tickets are $125 for the Rally and $100 for the tour. The event is free for spectators and gates open at 10 a.m. to the Public.
The Bridgehampton Museum is located at 2368 Montauk Highway in Bridgehampton. For more information, call 631-537-1088 or visit www.bridgehamptonrally.org.
