We have witnessed a rebellion, and you wouldn’t know it by looking at a picture. At first glance The Bridge at the Bridgehampton event is just another fancy car show on a golf course. You see expensive cars, outlandish outfits, all spread over an equally expensive golf course. Yet if you look closely, you'll see some additions that go beyond what a concours deems worthy of entry. Over 300 cars and 3000 guests came together to enjoy cars and their interests without worshiping at the altars of condition, pedigree and price. The Concours asks “what if we bring some of the finest examples of some of the most expensive and important cars in history to pick winners while we all dress in outrageous outfits?”. The Bridge asks “what if we bring together all the cars that we find interesting enough to care about regardless of pedigree, surround them with the finest in luxury without making the event stiff?”
That's right, at least for the cars, it didn’t matter where you came from, what name was attached to you, or how much money followed you around. All that mattered was if you could catch the attention of the participants, make them smile and care that they say you. Not to mention, this wasn’t just another golf course. The Bridgehampton golf course is actually built on top of an old race track, with some of its features still visible among the other trees and sand designed to ruin each golfer's day. The name of the game is unserious and careful curation, and this year brought out the best and weirdest the car world has to offer.
Of course, there were incredibly expensive cars in case anybody was worried those who paid seven-figures for their cars were denied at the door. Walking down the lawn you could find a 16 strong squadron of Ferrari Testa Rossas, one of THE poster worthy cars that you'd be lucky to see one of, you could find 16 in different options and colors. The Ferrari flex doesn't end there. A 250 GTO was also in attendance, one of the most expensive cars ever seen. Basically a hedge fund with headlights, this car is one of the most successful and storied cars in Ferrari’s history. We also had our assortment of modern exotics as well with Koenigseggs, Paganis, Porsches and the usual crowd of cars that most cars should aspire to be. And as the participants walked through this amazing collection of cars, they'd be surprised to find some odd additions.
Oddballs like a Renault hatchback with a paint job looking like the coat of many colors from the bible, sitting right next to cars worth millions. Not enough? How about a classic Fiat Panda placed inside of a sand bunker on the course looking like someone had one too many from the beer cart and left their car on the course. Or if you really wanted to find a head scratcher, then it wouldn't take you long to find the 1973 GMC New Look bus, a literal everyday commuting relic from the 70s. These cars have never and probably will never make auction headlines, but are still worth stopping for. Price simply wasn’t the deciding factor anymore with the cars. The Bridge just laughs at the collector car ego that treats every purchase like it has to win against automotive judges instead of your heart. If you were invited, you had already won.
And getting this rare invite got you a bit more than a front row seat to interesting cars. It got you sat with just about everything that can be described as luxury. Around the cars you could find tents and booths for premium brands, complete with a whole watch making expo, and electric aircraft stations. The essentials. But that's part of the point here. The Bridge recognized that the people they invited who care about collecting cars usually care about watches, design, aircraft and other expensive obsessions.
So yes, if you just skimmed the headlines and pictures, it does look similar to a concours style event. Similar outfits, incredibly expensive and iconic cars, all on a golf course. Yet this hit an entirely different purpose. This does not find a winner, but to bring together car collectors and their favorite cars regardless of pedigree in a more unserious setting, surrounded by the finer things in life, and enjoy all of it because it's there, not because it can win.
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