This Sunday, September 20, The Bridge at Topping Rose House brings Bridgehampton’s storied road-racing heritage into the gardens of the historic Topping Rose House for an afternoon of rare classic automobiles, elevated cuisine, live jazz and Hamptons hospitality.
Held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the gathering is dedicated to Honoring the Road Racing Years of Bridgehampton, 1949–1953. The afternoon pairs a spectacular collection of rare classic automobiles with an elevated brunch by acclaimed Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, handcrafted cocktails and live jazz that benefit Heart of the Hamptons. Heart of the Hamptons is the Southampton-based nonprofit that provides a weekly food pantry and emergency assistance to local individuals, seniors and families in crisis.
For automotive enthusiasts and anyone interested in the history and culture of the Hamptons, Sunday’s gathering offers an intimate way to experience the legacy of Bridgehampton’s early racing years while uplifting the local community.
Honoring Bridgehampton’s Road-Racing Years
The theme of Sunday’s event is explicit: Honoring the Road Racing Years of Bridgehampton, 1949–1953.
Set amid the beautiful gardens of Topping Rose House, The Bridge at Topping Rose House brings together automotive history and culinary artistry in a setting that reflects the character of modern Bridgehampton while looking back to the community’s formative years in motorsport.
The car exhibition will showcase a spectacular collection of rare classic automobiles celebrating Bridgehampton’s road-racing era from 1949 to 1953.
These historic automobiles provide the centerpiece for an afternoon devoted to the cars, culture and history associated with Bridgehampton’s early racing years.
Jean-Georges Vongerichten Brings the Culinary Experience
The automotive exhibition will be complemented by an elevated brunch from acclaimed Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
The menu will feature sumptuous stations and elegantly passed plates, accompanied by handcrafted cocktails and live jazz throughout the afternoon.
The combination of rare automobiles, garden dining and live music gives The Bridge at Topping Rose House a distinctly different character from Saturday’s larger automotive gathering, the Bridge X, presented by Mercedes-Benz at The Bridge.
Here, the emphasis is on an intimate afternoon where classic cars, cuisine, music and Bridgehampton history come together.
Rare Classic Automobiles in the Gardens
At the center of The Bridge at Topping Rose House is its collection of rare classic automobiles.
The exhibition is curated around Bridgehampton’s road-racing history from 1949 through 1953, offering guests an opportunity to experience historic cars within a setting that connects directly to the area’s automotive heritage.
The connection is central to The Bridge itself. The annual gatherings were created in tribute to Bridgehampton’s racing past, and the former Bridgehampton Race Circuit remains an essential part of the story behind The Bridge.
Sunday’s event brings that history into the gardens of Topping Rose House, creating a more intimate counterpart to Saturday’s The Bridge X.
Saturday’s The Bridge X Celebrates Mercedes-Benz’s 140th Anniversary
The Bridge weekend begins Saturday, September 19, with The Bridge X, presented by Mercedes-Benz USA, on the grounds of the former Bridgehampton Race Circuit.
The 2026 edition marks the tenth anniversary of The Bridge and includes programming celebrating 140 years of Mercedes-Benz, commemorating Carl Benz’s 1886 patent for the automobile.
Mercedes-Benz’s 140th-anniversary celebration is therefore part of Saturday’s The Bridge X.
Sunday’s Topping Rose House gathering has a different focus.
The Bridge at Topping Rose House is dedicated to Bridgehampton’s road-racing heritage from 1949 to 1953, with rare classic automobiles, Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s brunch, handcrafted cocktails and live jazz forming the centerpiece of the afternoon.
The distinction between the two events is an important part of the 2026 weekend: Saturday looks across the automotive world through the lens of The Bridge X and Mercedes-Benz’s anniversary, while Sunday turns specifically toward Bridgehampton’s own racing history.
Sunday Begins With Cars & Coffee at the Bridgehampton Museum
Before the Topping Rose House gathering begins, automotive enthusiasts can start Sunday morning at The Bridge Cars & Coffee, presented by 1600 Veloce.
The complimentary event takes place from 9 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at the Bridgehampton Museum.
Revel in Vintage & Collector Cars
Cars & Coffee offers a relaxed setting for enthusiasts to display and experience vintage and collector cars, bringing together classic, vintage, exotic and specialty automobiles.
Unlike the ticketed Topping Rose House gathering, Cars & Coffee is complimentary and open to the public.
The morning event provides an accessible entry point into The Bridge weekend’s automotive programming before the afternoon moves to Topping Rose House.
Cars & Coffee’s 2026 partners include Ryan Friedman Motor Cars and Goulston & Storrs, alongside presenting partner 1600 Veloce.
The two Sunday events create a natural progression for car enthusiasts: Cars & Coffee begins the day at the Bridgehampton Museum at 9 a.m., followed by The Bridge at Topping Rose House at 11 a.m.
A Full Sunday of Bridgehampton Car Culture
For visitors interested in Bridgehampton classic cars, vintage automobiles and local racing history, Sunday, September 20, offers two distinctly different experiences.
At the Bridgehampton Museum, Cars & Coffee brings collectors and enthusiasts together for a complimentary morning gathering.
At Topping Rose House, the afternoon becomes a more curated celebration of Bridgehampton’s road-racing heritage, with rare classic automobiles displayed alongside Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s cuisine, handcrafted cocktails and live jazz.
Together, the two events create a full day centered on Bridgehampton’s automotive culture and connection to motorsport experiences.
The Bridge’s Connection to Bridgehampton Racing History
Bridgehampton’s connection to motorsport predates The Bridge by decades.
The former Bridgehampton Race Circuit became an important part of American road racing, and its history remains embedded in the landscape and identity of The Bridge.
The original circuit was designed by Grumman engineers and built in 1957 on more than 500 acres overlooking Peconic Bay. It was developed in response to New York’s restrictions on racing on public roads and became an important venue for postwar American motorsport.
The property was later threatened by development before Robert Rubin stepped in to preserve the land. Rubin ultimately established The Bridge golf club on the site, creating the foundation for the automotive gathering that would become The Bridge.
That history continues to inform The Bridge’s events today.
The Bridge at Topping Rose House: Event Details
Event: The Bridge at Topping Rose House
Theme: Honoring the Road Racing Years of Bridgehampton, 1949–1953
Date: Sunday, September 20, 2026
Time: 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Location: Topping Rose House, Bridgehampton, New York
Automotive exhibition: Rare classic automobiles
Cuisine: Elevated brunch by Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Music: Live jazz
Beneficiary: Heart of the Hamptons
Cars & Coffee: Event Details
Event: The Bridge Cars & Coffee
Presented by: 1600 Veloce
Date: Sunday, September 20, 2026
Time: 9–11 a.m.
Location: Bridgehampton Museum
Admission: Complimentary and open to the public
Focus: Vintage and collector cars
2026 Partners: Ryan Friedman Motor Cars and Goulston & Storrs
All Images Courtesy The Bridge