Bridgehampton

Situated at the eastern extent of Long Island, Bridgehampton staged races on a street course as long ago as 1915, and SCCA sports car races were held on a 4-mile temporary layout from 1949-53. However, racing on the open road was banned in New York State following fatal accidents at Watkins Glen and Bridgehampton in 1952 and ’53 respectively. That prompted the newly formed Bridgehampton Road Races Corporation to build this scenic 13-turn course in the rolling Noyack Hills overlooking Peconic Bay. It opened in 1957 and immediately held round of the SCCA Sports Car and NASCAR Grand National championships. Pedro Rodríguez’s Ferrari 300LM won an international sports car race in 1962 and Richard Petty scored his first NASCAR road course victory in 1963. The Can-Am Challenge was an annual highlight from 1966-69 but the 1970 had to be cancelled with a month’s notice due to storm damage. A three-hour IMSA race on 27 June 1971 was the circuit’s final major event before the cost of upgrading facilities and noise complaints forced Bridgehampton to close in 1999. The area has been redeveloped as a golf course which still features a spectator bridge from the old course.