2026 Audrain Concours: A Masterclass in Preservation and Spectacle
America’s Premier Automotive Exhibition Expands its Footprint, Blending History with Modern Sensibility on the Cliff Walk
Newport, Rhode Island – November 21, 2025 – Nestled amidst the Gilded Age grandeur of Newport, Rhode Island, the Audrain Concours d’Elegance continues to solidify its position as America’s premier celebration of automotive artistry and history. What began just six years ago as a bold challenge to the automotive hegemony of Pebble Beach has rapidly evolved into an event of unparalleled sophistication, attracting the world’s most significant and breathtaking automobiles.
As a veteran of the automotive industry for over a decade, I have witnessed the evolution of these elite gatherings. The Audrain, under the astute leadership of founders such as Nick Jenks and the creative direction of his team, has achieved a remarkable feat: balancing the reverence required for preserving mechanical masterpieces with an accessibility that fosters engagement and passion across the spectrum of car enthusiasts.
This past October, as I participated in the 2026 edition of the Audrain Motor Week as a judge for the prestigious Sporting Choice Award, I had the unique privilege of observing the meticulous care that goes into curating such an event. From the opening night’s invitation-only gala at Doris Duke’s Rough Point estate—Audrain’s equivalent of The Quail—to the electrifying atmosphere of the main Concours on the historic Cliff Walk, the event serves as a testament to the enduring appeal of coachbuilt automobiles.
For those unfamiliar, the Audrain Motor Week is a week-long series of events that culminates in the spectacular Concours d’Elegance on the final day. While the official main event is the Sunday Concours, the week is packed with activities, including panels, auctions, driving tours, and gatherings like the aforementioned gala. The primary goal of the Concours d’Elegance is not merely to showcase old cars, but to honor the legacy of automotive design, engineering, and craftsmanship by assembling the world’s most exceptional vehicles in a setting of extraordinary beauty.
The Making of an Event: When Spite Inspires Excellence
The story of the Audrain’s genesis is rooted in industry competition. It began two years ago when RM Sotheby’s, one of the world’s foremost auction houses, decided to establish their own automotive event in Miami. This move was a direct challenge to Hagerty’s Broad Arrow, which had recently poached nearly 30 employees from RM Sotheby’s. Broad Arrow had already acquired the coveted Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, one of the most respected marque-specific events in the world, causing a significant schism within the industry.
While RM Sotheby’s was orchestrating their grand entry into the market, the founders of the Audrain—who had already established their own successful Concours in 2019—had been extending invitations to me to come and observe. The Audrain team was eager to connect with the automotive community and share their vision. Upon attending RM Sotheby’s MODA event in Miami, I had a conversation with Donald Osborne, the CEO of RM Sotheby’s and the event’s founder, as well as a master of ceremonies renowned for his bowtie, Italian fluency, and opera-singing prowess.
“What’s it going to take to get you out to the Audrain?” Osborne asked me, flashing his characteristic mega-smile.
Reflecting on the challenges facing the automotive event landscape, and perhaps with a touch of ego, I suggested, “Make me a judge?”
Osborne, never one to shy away from an invitation, waved his hand over me and declared, “You’re a judge. See you in Newport.”
This seemingly casual exchange marked my official entry into the world of concours judging. It also underscored a critical shift in the industry: The Audrain was not just asserting its presence; it was actively positioning itself as a superior alternative to established institutions like Pebble Beach, attracting industry leaders and automotive royalty in the process.
Stepping Into the Lion’s Den: From Casual Observer to Official Judge
My first experience at the Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach, the granddaddy of all American automotive gatherings, was decades ago. Back then, before the advent of social media, I was a rookie navigating an utterly foreign world. I didn’t know such spectacles existed, nor did I grasp the unspoken rules of engagement. In fact, I wore shorts and a T-shirt to the main show, completely unaware that I should have been in a suit.
What I did notice, however, was the presence of my friend, Pulitzer Prize–winning automotive journalist Dan Neil, serving as an honorary judge. That struck me as quite impressive. But it also sparked a thought within my undefeated ego: “Why not me?”
The Audrain isn’t Pebble Beach. But many industry insiders, and even legends like Jay Leno, argue that the Audrain is superior. I witnessed this firsthand during “The Gathering,” Audrain’s answer to The Quail, held at Doris Duke’s extraordinary Newport summer cottage, Rough Point. We hosted a live show with Spike Feresten, the co-host of my podcast Spike’s Car Radio and the inventor of the iconic sitcom catchphrase “No soup for you!” Our special guest was none other than Jay Leno himself.
Leno, who owns what he calls “a ridiculous house” in Newport, is a central figure in the Audrain community. The city even declared October 2, 2025, “Jay Leno Day” through a mayoral proclamation. His endorsement adds immense credibility to the Audrain, placing it firmly on the global automotive map.
The Art of Judging: How to Spot a Winner
So, there I was, serving as a judge during the main event on Sunday. We began with a traditional judges’ breakfast—coffee, eggs, and sausage—while Head Judge Phil Neff addressed the group. “Is there anyone here who hasn’t judged a concours?” he asked.
No one raised their hand, including me.
Now, to be fair, I had never judged a fancy-schmancy concours like the Audrain. However, I have judged the Concours d’LeMons, the parody car show that celebrates the absurd side of automotive history, so many times that I have lost count and sworn off it forever. Should I have raised my hand? Who knows, but it’s cars, right? How hard could it be? Remember, my ego is undefeated. Why not me?
Neff and his team paired me with Ray Evernham, the NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief who won virtually everything with Jeff Gordon. Evernham and I connected instantly. It turned out we had both raced at Pikes Peak, an incredibly challenging road course known for its punishing altitude and treacherous turns. We were assigned the task of awarding the Sporting Choice Award, essentially looking for the most sporting car on the lawn.
I turned to Neff to clarify our instructions. Did he want us to focus more on sports cars, or actual race cars? “Yes,” he replied with a smile.
This meant we were responsible for examining and judging every car that had either two doors or no doors. That’s a considerable number of vehicles—well over 100 cars—and we only had two hours to do it.
Armed with our judge hats, official medallions, clipboards, No. 2 pencils, and navy blazers, Evernham and I stepped onto the field. We quickly established a plan. At all concours events, the cars are segregated into classes based on marque, model, or era. Our strategy was simple: review each class, identify the car that “popped,” and write down our top four or five favorites. We were specifically instructed not to get bogged down in the typical minutiae that plagues modern car judging—like whether the trunk lining is correct. In fact, we were told not to even open the trunk.
Complexity Disguised as Simplicity: The Challenges of Judging
While the instructions seemed straightforward, the classes we encountered revealed the true complexity of the task. Class D, consisting of Ford GT40 road cars, was an immediate realization of my folly. We found six near-identical GT40 Mk1 homologation specials, all looking equally stunning. Without inspecting carb-bolt alignment, as we were instructed not to do, picking a winner was impossible. We could not. This class required subject matter experts with deep knowledge to make a call.
The same was true for Class A, the pre-war Alfa Romeo division, which featured six mind-blowingly excellent 8Cs. I have no idea why one car was chosen as the class winner, but the burgundy beauty did go on to win Best of Show, and somehow, that makes perfect sense.
Despite the difficulty of some classes, we still managed to come up with a shortlist of our favorites, though sacrifices were necessary. We stumbled upon a Lamborghini 3500 GTZ Zagato Coupe that blew my mind—I had never heard of it before. It turns out only two of these were ever built, and the other is being purposely hidden from the public. However, I realized that while the Zagato Lambo was visually stunning, it wasn’t a contender for the Sporting Choice Award.
Evernham, for his part, was captivated by an exceedingly rare Allard JR that competed at the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, I quickly learned that he owns three Allards, so we had to disqualify this one from consideration. Still, it was a sweet car. Fitted with a Jaguar C-Type body to comply with new Le Mans regulations, but still powered by a 5.3
