Look Back at Bridgehampton Road Racing History, 1951

Our celebration of more than 100 years of Bridgehampton auto racing history—which culminates at the 2016 Bridgehampton Road Rally and Tour d’Hamptons on October 1—continues with this three-minute film documenting the Third Annual Bridgehampton Races held on June 9, 1951.

Provided to YouTube user VanderbiltCup by Walter McCarthy and the Long Island Old Car Club, this rare 16-mm film features the 25-lap, 100-mile Bridgehampton Cup. Triumphing over 16 opponents, driver Tom Cole won the race, averaging 82.37 mph in his Chrysler-Allard, #87.

Bridgehampton has a long and fascinating history of motorsports, which began with street races in 1915, continued with a postwar street racing revival, and then went on the the professional sphere with the building of the Bridgehampton Race Circuit, which stayed open from 1957–1998.

Join the annual Bridgehampton Road Rally or brand new Tour d’Hamptons driving events on October 1 to help keep this tradition alive. Or simply stop by the Bridgehampton Museum that day to enjoy a host of exciting cars, events and exhibitors—free and open to the public—the same day. Find out more about this thrilling day of car-themed fun at BridgehamptonRally.com.