A Perfect 10: The Bridge X
A 10/10 day at The Bridge X: the by-invitation-only automobile gathering in the Hamptons celebrating its ten-year milestone.
By Eva Grunburg
Montecito and the Hamptons almost couldn’t be further from each other on a map–yet, as I yet as I walk down Montauk Highway, it could nearly be mistaken for our beloved Coast Village Road.
There are charming boutiques and bustling restaurants lining the street, but I’m reminded that I’m not in Montecito by a distinct chill in the air–and the fact that just minutes away, hundreds of the world’s most coveted, rare, and fascinating automobiles await.
Once a year, the storied grounds of the Bridgehampton Race Circuit are restored to their former glory by The Bridge, an event that reignites the spirit of the legendary course through true appreciation and admiration of magnificent vehicles–and the stories they drive forward.
The by-invitation gathering, now in its tenth year, is quietly tucked away in Bridgehampton but has quickly become one of the most anticipated automotive events on the calendar–and for good reason. With over 350 vehicles on display, a lineup of partners from Mercedes-Benz USA, Moët Hennessy, and Breguet, it’s not only a spectacular array of cars, it’s a paragon of luxury lifestyle.
After receiving my credentials, I’m met with the resounding mantra of “Wristbands! Lanyards! No high heels! No dogs!” from staff as hundreds of attendees are seamlessly ushered into dozens of shuttles. It’s immediately clear that the event is as well oiled as the machines on display.
Just a seven-minute ride leads us to the grounds, which have been completely transformed, courtesy of founders Robert Rubin, who has owned the Bridgehampton RaceCircuit since 1981 and founded The Bridge golf club in 2002, Shamin Abas, President of her eponymous luxury communications firm Shamin Abas Associates, and Jeffrey Einhorn, a Manhattan-based attorney and longtime car collector.
Stepping into this dreamscape of design, I don’t even know where to begin: I could visit the Mercedes “Lines of Motion” showcase, featuring alternating bands of richly colored vehicles in tribute to the brand’s 140 years; I could pretend to hail a cab at vintage-inspired sports car taxi stand; I could wander to the curated display by Ferrari North America on the croquet lawn; or, I could even venture off to find the fabled lobster roll that I’ve heard is hiding somewhere on the green. It doesn’t take long ‘til I’m off to the races.
Moët “Orange Spritz” in hand, I’m drawn toward a powder blue and orange 1973 Porsche 911 2.7 RS Tribute–and its counterpart, exhibitor Dewey Kang, who looks very dapper in a color-coordinated blue and orange ensemble. It’s hard to stand out at The Bridge, but in their iconic Gulf racing colors, Dewey does so in style and in story.
His vehicle underwent an 18-month restoration in Pennsylvania by RKT Motorsports, and Dewey describes it as “built by friends,” with nearly every component and customization shaped by a close-knit group who helped bring the vision to life. Preserving the vehicle’s history during its rehabilitation is a celebration of friendship and heritage that perfectly encapsulates The Bridge.
Even though I’m not the most well versed in cars, I do appreciate them–and I’m welcomed with open arms by exhibitors, like Dewey, eager to show off their prized possessions and share their unique stories. I even got to sit in the driver’s seat of a Jaguar named “Meg,” thanks to the generosity of its owner, Eduardo. With no score sheets, judges, or prizes, this spirit sets The Bridge apart as a celebration of pure appreciation and enthusiasm for magnificent vehicles and the history that precedes them.
Aside from the cars, there’s plenty else to see on the grounds. There’s a nostalgic drive-in playing a hypercut of Bob Rubin’s favorite car movies, while across the green, Pivotal, the world’s first electric powered lift aircraft, is launching. At the demonstration, I find myself next to the proud parents of a Pivotal engineer, who share that the aircraft is also used by first-responders as a faster way to support critical situations. While it shows up differently now than it did in the 50s, the spirit of innovation lives on at The Bridge.
It’s also not just the technology that improves each year–the principal beneficiary of the annual event is The Bridge Golf Foundation (BGF). Based in Harlem, the BGF’s mission is to help young men of color close gaps in achievement, learning, and opportunity, through an intensive, year-round, golf and education program, improving their college readiness and helping them graduate from college and move into the workforce.
As the sun sets over Peconic Bay, marking the idyllic day’s end, I soak in the last moments of the few hours I’ve spent among decades of history, and in the event that now has a decade of its own under its belt. I’ve experienced a living legacy in the making at the hallowed grounds of the former racetrack, honoring its past while looking to the future.
And, although there was no judging, I have to give The Bridge X a perfect 10.
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