Rumor has it that Don Panoz is thinking about buying and reviving the old Bridgehampton road course on Long Island. I got into racing a bit too late to ever try that track, but I heard that is was a blast to drive. So with Rausch's Creek still a possibility, this new road course in S Jersey, the one at Englishtown, another one proposed near Pottstown, PA (www.libertybellmp.com), and the possibility of Bridgehampton re-opening... I'm thinking the ECHC could actually see a lot more of the east coast in the next couple of years!

The track map is at http://www.na-motorsports.com/Tracks...dgehampton.gif

Bridgehampton Race Circuit

"All who have raced there know that the earth is flat and ends in the sand at turn two. The emotional rewards of driving this turn `flat out' are just as intense as the physical consequences of blowing it''. - Bruce MacInnes, Chief Instructor, Skip Barber Racing School


Matt

 

I thought part of the track was now a golf course. Either way old Donny-Boy is gonna have a real tough time getting the uppity L.I. snobs to allow a track in their back yards again.

 

This is the post to the EMRA "Boardroom" from Jim Totura - EMRA's chairman.

"The following is an extract from an e-mail I received.
"We had a great turnout of more than 20
members. Even more important, a great deal was accomplished.
One
highlight
was that, after our meeting, a discussion session was video
taped for
local
TV and Dennis Susskind, a member of the Southampton Town Board,
stated
that
his "door is open" to meeting with Panoz Motorsports people
about what
they
are willing to do revive and operate the Circuit. Don't go
jumping up
and
down yet, because there's still a long way to go, for sure.

The BRHG is also taking immediate steps to file legal action
under New
York's
Article 78 against the certificate of occupancy that was hastily
issued
by
the previous Town Board for the golf course portion of the
development.


We made great strides this weekend and are working hard to stop
the golf
and
Save The Bridge." EMRA will help to make this reality. Jim"

 

That is definately good news. Hopefully they can make it happen!

 

anywhere we can pledge support to get behind this?

 

Good idea. I'll ask that question on the EMRA site and report back the reply.

Matt

 

There was a big "Save The Bridge" campaign back in the late-80s to early 90s but I don't think it exists anymore.

I sincerely hope Don and Company can make this happen. I spent most of my childhood years at Lime Rock, Bridgehampton and The Glen. Even though I was too young to really remember Bridgehampton I still felt like part of me was being taken away when the track was shut down and the golf course plans went into effect. With any luck I may be able to drive Bridgehampton someday!

If anyone can make this happen it is Panoz. He brought Mosport back from almost certain death a few years ago. He also owns Sebring and Road Atlanta so he knows what he is doing.


[Modified by Cobra, 11:08 AM 2/27/2002]

 

Memories of Bridgehampton.

Elyse and I spent part of our honeymoon at the track in 1975.

Bruce MacInnes was Elyse's Driving instructor at Bridgehapmton when she got her SCCA license.

Elyse turned a 1:55.4 in a time trial there from a standing start.

It is definitely a horsepower track.

The key to a good lap is going down the hill flat out and going across the back straight flat out.

My friend Howie raced a frog there one night. The frog cut Howie off, so he squished it. (I think we might have had a beer or two that night.)

Elyse and I both had our street Corvettes there one Friday for open practice. It cost $35 for the day. We were the only two on the track all day. The only other person there was Carl the caretaker. No ambulance, no corner workers, no nothin'.

I was there in 1997 with EMRA as starter and threw the last EVER checkered flag on a road race there.

Don't get me started on Bridgehampton.

http://www.davecompton.com/Bridgeham...dgehampton.htm




[Modified by Grumpy, 11:26 AM 2/27/2002]

 

Man, is this guy romantic or what?

Bruce was my instructor when I did Skip Barber up at Lime Rock a few years ago. Great guy - he calls me "Mad Dog" because I went out on the track in a Neon with 3 other people in the car (including him), and I passed a Formula Dodge, all the while screaming things like, "You are so my bitch! You are so my bitch!"

I'm screwed.

That would be a slippery condition flag, right Jim?

Maybe it wasn't the last race after all!


Matt

 

It was HER idea.

 

now THATS a woman.

 

What killed Bridgehampton was not the townsfolk, but the commute. The only way in or out its through NYC. Traffic coming east on Long Island during the summer on a Sunday night is bumper-to-bumper. Hotel prices during the "summer" season in the "Hamptons" is about the same as a set of race tires.

The course is my favorite EVER - VIR included. I doubt even Panoz can overcome those obsticles.

Grumpy


[Modified by Grumpy, 12:14 PM 2/27/2002]

 

sure he can. By building a hotel with some rooms and offer them at a reasonable rate... As for the traffic... thats a bit harder...

 

Grumpy...... I was there that weekend in 1997....

It was my first EMRA T.T. Event and the track is fun.... But was in POOR Condition. Lots of neglect.

Every Apex had large amounts of sand and BIG Rocks!!! I busted the windshield and the drivers side miror out of a BMW M3 while he was chasing my Cobra!! The guy wasn't even mad after our session.... " Thats racin" He said.

It is super scary going over the hill ..... BLIND at full speed.... I had to be 140 mph plus in my Cobra!! With no Cage...... Still scares me.

I'm sure 'In the Day' Bridge was a cool track.

John
See ya at CMP.

 

Don't forget Dragon's Ridge down in VA! That should be very schweet when they complete the big course.

 

I was working pit out that day and as was Alicia our daughter. She spent a number of the 70's years there as a track brat.

I wanted to get married at the start finish line but I figured that Jim's large Italian family would have some major problems with that. .

So we just spent our honeymoon there - basically us and Carl.

That is my all time absolute favorite track of all time. Good bye VIR I'm on my way back to NY!!!.

 

Yes please! I'll be <30 minutes from there, how totally schweet indeed.

Unfortunately, I heard from a real estate buddy who went to the New Kent county offices a few weeks ago to find out more... and according to what they told him, no land had yet been purchased for the Dragons Ridge facility, and no permits (zoning or construction or otherwise) had been applied for yet. That is an unconfirmed rumor at best, but it's a disconcerting one if it's true.

Jon
who dreams of late apexing after lunch
on a Wednesday, and being home in time for dinner

 

Should be a great course, but definitely not part of the "North East."

 

some day guys... Im going to build my own race track on my property.. You all are invited to come drive it.

(BTW This statement carries an ungaurenteed post date)

 

Otherwise known as a circle driveway?

 

nope.. a REAL track.