The Bridge

Oh lord, won’t you buy me a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing? My 2004 E-Class just isn’t cutting it for me after an afternoon at The Bridge on Saturday, September 14. I’d also take the 1963 Aston Martin DB4. I’m not picky.

But unfortunately, “There Will Be No Miracles Here,” as the Nathan Coley installation at The Bridge states, and for now I’ll have to settle for being a spectator and not driving a vintage car home with me.

At The Bridge, guests of the invite-only event were treated with a sprawling display of horsepower as 250 rare and classic cars were displayed at the annual car show, which is held at The Bridge Golf Club in Bridgehampton.

The event pays tribute to the heritage of the historic racetrack grounds it sits on, the former Bridgehampton Race Circuit. The show offers a heavy focus on vehicles created from 1957 to 1974 that would have been eligible to race at the track during its glory days. Four years in, The Bridge has quickly become one of the most anticipated automotive events in the U.S. The event is produced by Bridge Golf Club owner Robert Rubin, along with Shamin Abas and Jeffrey Einhorn.

It’s a place for guests to “Ogle, observe, eat, drink, and be merry,” said Rubin in the show’s program intro.

The car show also coincided with the “September Art Show,” curated by Marlborough Contemporary’s Max Levai. The group exhibit was presented on the final fairway and merges the art and automotive worlds in a very creative way.

Artists included Richard Prince, Frank Auerbach, Robert Rauschenberg, Seth Price, Joe Bradley, Keith Haring, Paul Sietsema, Tony Matelli, Susan Te Kahurangi King, John Wesley, all installed in sky-lit, solar powered shipping containers, displayed in an art village custom-built by Lars Fisk.

There were also outdoor sculptures by artists George Rickey, Tom Sachs, Tony Cragg, Beverly Pepper, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Matt Johnson, Tom Otterness, and more.

As we strolled the green viewing magnificently exhibited automobiles, we enjoyed gourmet bites from Brooklyn’s Smorgasburg like Mission Ceviche’s fresh tuna ceviche and Oyster Party’s mini lobster rolls.

Just some of the rare cars on view included a 1909 Isotta Fraschini Tipo FENC, 1948 Tucker, 1939 Jaguar MkV Drophead Coupé, 1964 Alpine M64, 1965 Maserati, and many more.

Highlights included Aston Martin debuting the new Valhalla, its third mid-engine hypercar, set to be featured in the next James Bond film. Bugatti of the Americas celebrated its 110-year anniversary with a retrospective display.

Richard Mille, the presenting sponsor, showcased the brand’s newest timepieces for both men and women. A submarine by Triton Submarines LLC was onsite and NetJets Inc. also had a full-sized mock-up of its new Cessna Citation Longitude.

jessica@indyeastend.com
@hamptondaze