One of the most fabled of American sports car racing circuits was Bridgehampton, on New York’s Long Island, where cars raced on public roads from 1949 until 1953 and then from 1957 to 1999 on a purpose-built race track used by Can-Am, Trans-Am and even NASCAR events.
Part of the circuit was developed into the Bridgehampton Golf Club, where, since 2016, Robert Rubin, Shamin Abas and Jeffrey Einhorn have staged The Bridge, a major car show that benefits the Harlem-based Bridge Golf Foundation.
The 2021 dates for the show, which annually draws some 200 vehicles, are September 18-19. The Saturday event is closed to members but there is a cars and coffee car-show gathering open to the public on the 19th.
Aston Martin Bulldog unveiled at Royal Concours
British restoration specialist Classic Motor Cars used the Royal Concours to unveil the result of the 18-month restoration of the Aston Martin Bulldog. The car was a one-off project from 1980 designed to exceed 200 mph — and thus set a production-car speed record.
The car did hit 191 mph before Aston Martin chairman Victor Gauntlett pulled the plug. Ironically, the restoration project was led by Gauntlett’s son, Richard.
Richard Gauntlett noted that the car disappeared after being bought from Aston Martin by someone in the Middle East. At one point, the car was in the United States and at some point was purchased by Phillip Sarofim.
Although the car looked to be in good shape, it had been damaged by a forklift and had not run for many years. A team of 11 did the restoration, among them two apprentices from the Royal Naval Air Station at Yeovilton in the UK. The car will be tested at the air station in preparation for a run to see if it will, indeed, exceed 200 mph.
“We have tried to be as faithful as possible to the original design and concept by not only returning the car to its paint and trim scheme, but also engineering the car in such a way that major mechanical components are now located as the designers originally intended,” said Nigel Woodward, head of Classic Motor Cars.
He added that including “state-of-the-art engine-management systems and modern components such as liquid-cooled turbochargers which will ensure that Bulldog is preserved for future generations.”
1934 Voisin takes Royal honors
A 1934 Voisin C-27 Aerosport won Best in Show honors at the Concours of Elegance (aka the Royal Concours) at England’s Hampton Court Palace. Gabriel Voisin displayed his aviation-inspired Aerodyne at the Paris Motor Show, but the car didn’t impress potential customers, so he worked with architect Andre Noel-Noel Telmont to build a pair of C-27 Aerosport roadsters on a shortened Aerodyne chassis.
1938 Mercedes tops Salon Privé
Best of Show honors at the 2021 Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance at England’s Blenheim Palace went to a 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A. The car, chassis number 154076, was first owned by the head of a Berlin-based advertising agency. The car is built on a longer wheelbase with its engine and gearbox set back in the chassis.
Luxury Class feature at Audrain Motor Week
The Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week, scheduled for September 30 to October 3, will feature a Luxury Class of vehicles that reflect the Gilded Age of Newport, Rhode Island.
“The Luxury Class is indeed the personification of beauty and comfort, all within the realm of truly extravagant living,” the concours said in its announcement. “The vehicles on show are an extraordinary selection of iconic cars that run from the early 1920s to the mid-1970s.”
Among the cars included in the class are a 1928 Isotta Fraschini 8A SS LeBaron convertible, 1935 Delage D8-85 Clabot cabriolet, 1947 Delahaye 135 MS drophead, 1934 Packard 1106 Aero Coupe, and 1955 Cadillac 62 convertible.
Audrain also offers seminar series
Also part of the Audrain concours and festival schedule is a series of seminars, including an “Open Wheel Legends” session featuring former world champion Mika Häkkinen, Indy 500 winner Johnny Rutherford, second-generation driver David Donohue and Zak Brown, the chief executive of McLaren Racing.
Another seminar is “Shaping the Future Of Driving,” with Tesla designer Franz von Holzhausen and Jay Leno, in a conversation about Tesla’s design philosophy. Also on the program of 10 seminars are “Porsche: People Making the Passion,” examining the brand’s successes, and “Classic Car Commercials — Auto Ads that Dazzle,” a look at the way automobile manufacturers have found success selling a dream of vehicle ownership.
Chattanooga gets new track layout
The Chattanooga Motorcar Festival gets a new racetrack layout for its second celebration scheduled for October 15-17 and ambassador Brian Redman, event founder Byron DeFoor and grand marshal Corky Coker recently did a few laps of what is being called the Pace Grand Prix at the Bend circuit, albeit without safety barriers in place.
As representatives of the Historic Motor Sports Association were on hand finishing their operating plan for sanctioning the vintage races, Redman rode around the circuit with Coker in his 1911 Mercer Raceabout. DeFoor did the 8-turn track in his 1972 BMW CSL.
“I drove round the race track with Corky in his magnificent 1911 Mercer Raceabout, capable of 100 mph – but we certainly didn’t go that fast,” Redman was quoted. “The course winds through an industrial park, tree-lined on one side and down a city street protected by safety barriers. There are fast areas and tighter turns to provide ample overtaking opportunities.
“There will be both hard braking and sweeping turns. Top speed will be around 150 mph in the right car. Second, third and fourth gears (top) will be used but it depends on the cars.”
“The track is nothing like a modern-day track, but suits historic road racing like it originally was – between buildings, industrial plants and parks,” DeFoor noted. “I loved the scenery of the river and mountains on the back straightaway.
“Some streets are freshly paved while some have been around since the turn of the century.”
Hilton Head features Italian vehicles
Italian cars and motorcycles, and some Swedish and American vehicles with Italian DNA, will be featured November 6 at the Car Club Showcase that will be part of the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival. The club showcase takes place the day before the concours and features vehicles from South Carolina area car clubs.
Velocity Invitational next for Hetfield cars
Metallica frontman James Hetfield’s collection of custom cars has been exhibited recently at the Petersen Automotive Museum and The Quail, and from November 11-14 is scheduled to be showcased at the Velocity Invitational at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Sonoma, California.
2021 car show and concours calendar
The following are dates currently set (but subject to change) for a variety of concours d’elegance, car shows and driving tours scheduled during 2021:
September
1-30 – Cars at the Capital, Washington, D.C.; 3-5 – Concours of Elegance, Hampton Court, UK; 6-12 — Mustang Week, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; 9-11 – AACA Southeastern Fall Nationals, Greenville, South Carolina; 10 – Luftgekuhlt 7, Indianapolis; 10-12 – Goodguys Colorado Nationals, Loveland; Porsche Sportscar Together Festival, Indianapolis; 11-12 – Off-Road Expo Arizona; 12 – Muscle Cars, Hickory Corners, Michigan; Simply French, Beaulieu, UK; 12-17 – Revival AAA Glidden Tour, Saratoga Springs, New York; 17-19, Goodwood Revival, UK; Oregon Festival of Cars, Bend; Vail Automotive Classic, Colorado; 18 – Ford Model A Day, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 18-19 – The Bridge, Long Island, New York; Taste of Motorsports, Sonoma, California; 19 – EyesOn Design, Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan; Dayton Concours, Ohio; RADwood, Seattle; Simply BMW, Beaulieu, UK; 21-26, Motor Bella, Pontiac, Michigan; 24-25 – Cadillac-LaSalle Fall Festival, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 24-26 – Detroit 4Fest, Mt. Holly, Michigan; Goodguys Lone Star Nationals, Fort Worth; 25 — Autumn in the Mountains, Mills River, North Carolina; 26 – Catskill Conquest Rally, Saratoga, New York; Camaros at the Corners, Hickory Corners, Michigan; Simply British Classics, Beaulieu, UK; 29-October 3 – Fall Carlisle, Pennsylvania; 30-October 3, American Speed Festival, Pontiac, Michigan; Audrain Newport Concours & Motorweek, Rhode Island
October
1-2 – Euro Fest, Ridgeland, Mississippi; La Jolla Motor Car Classic, California; 1-3 – Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, Italy; Goodguys Del Mar Nationals, California; 6-9 — AACA Eastern Fall Nationals & Flea Market, Hershey, Pennsylvania; 6-10 – Zoute concours, Belgium; 8-9 – Z Nationals, Road Atlanta; 9 – RADwood, Austin, Texas; DesutscheMarques Oktoberfest, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 13-14 – Goodguys Get-Together, Pleasanton, California; 16 – Gilmore Fall Color Tour, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 19-21 – Goodguys Southwest Nationals, Scottsdale; 21-24 – Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance, Nevada; Auto e Moto d’Epoca, Padua, Italy; 22-25 – Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, Connecticut; 23 – RADwood, Greenwich, Connecticut; 29 – Fort Lauderdale Concours, Florida
November
2-5 – SEMA Show, Las Vegas; 7 – Exotics on Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Simply Smart, Beaulieu, UK; 11-15, AACA Southeastern Fall Tour, North Carolina; 11-13 – AACA Special Western Nationals, Phoenix; 12-13 — Carlisle Events at Lakeland, Florida; 14-17 – AACA Western Divisional Tour, Arizona; 15-17, Chattanooga Motorcar Festival, Chattanooga, Tennessee; RADwood, Los Angeles; 28 – VW Santa Run, Beaulieu, UK
Have an event to add? Email details to journal@classiccars.com.