The Audrain Concours d’Elegance: From Greenhorn Judge to Automotive Royalty
Donald Osborne, the unmistakable figure in a bowtie and speaking the language of opera, had always spoken of the Audrain Concours d’Elegance with a reverence usually reserved for holy relics. Held in the opulent halls of Newport, Rhode Island, this event is more than just a car show; it is the pinnacle of automotive artistry, a gathering of giants in the world of collector cars. As an automotive journalist with a decade under my belt, I had often admired this gathering from afar, an event where automotive heritage is celebrated with unmatched splendor.
In 2025, I was fortunate enough to attend the MODA (Museum of Automotive Driving Art) event in Miami, an occasion born out of a rivalry between RM Sotheby’s and Hagerty’s Broad Arrow. It was there that I found myself speaking with Osborne, who extended an invitation to join the judging panel at Audrain. It was an opportunity I could not refuse, and with a simple “Make me a judge?” and a smile, the challenge was set.
Into the Deep End: A Day of Judgment
The last time I found myself at such a prestigious event was the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. This was during a time before social media dictated every move, when I was still an automotive amateur, unaware that such extravagant gatherings even existed. I remember attending in shorts and a T-shirt, a jarring contrast to the refined atmosphere of Pebble Beach. However, I took solace in the fact that even a celebrated automotive journalist like Dan Neil had served as a judge, a thought that spurred my own ambition.
The Audrain Concalded it has surpassed Pebble Beach, a sentiment shared by automotive icon Jay Leno. I had the pleasure of speaking with Leno during The Gathering at Doris Duke’s Rough Point, the Audrain’s response to The Quail. In his interview with Spike’s Car Radio, Leno noted that the Audrain Motor Week reminded him of Pebble Beach 15 years ago, a statement that resonated deeply. Leno, a resident of Newport, is a significant figure in the automotive world, and his influence is evident in the event’s success. In fact, the city designated October 2, 2025, as Jay Leno Day, a testament to his contributions.
How to Judge: A Test of Expertise
Serving as a judge at the Audrain Concours d’Elegance was an honor, but I admit, it was not without its challenges. During the judges’ breakfast, head judge Phil Neff asked if anyone had never judged a concours before, and despite my inexperience with events of this magnitude, I kept my hand down. However, I had judged the satirical car show, Concours d’LeMons, numerous times, so many times that I had sworn off the task forever. Still, I thought to myself, it’s just cars, isn’t it? How hard could it be? And as history has shown, the ego often prevails over experience.
Neff and his team assigned me to work alongside Ray Evernham, a NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief known for his legendary wins and his association with Jeff Gordon. Evernham and I quickly bonded over our mutual participation in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Our task was to award the Sporting Choice Award, which meant finding the most sporting car on the lawn. I sought clarification from Neff, asking if we should focus more on sports cars or actual race cars. His response? “Yes,” he said with a smile, indicating that we should consider all two-door or doorless vehicles. This meant a considerable amount of ground to cover in just two hours.
Still Not Simple: A Test of Skill
Our task of judging more than 100 cars in two hours quickly proved to be a formidable challenge. The classes were well-defined, but picking a winner from each class was no easy feat. Take Class D, the Ford GT40 division, which featured six virtually identical Mk1 homologation specials. They were all awe-inspiring, and without checking carb-bolt alignment, I had no idea how to choose a winner. This is where subject matter experts are essential. The same applied to Class A, the prewar Alfa Romeo division, which boasted six magnificent 8Cs. I still cannot explain how the winning car was selected, but the burgundy beauty went on to win Best of Show, a decision that somehow made perfect sense.
Despite the challenges, we managed to narrow down our choices, though not without some difficult decisions. There was a Lamborghini 3500 GTZ Zagato Coupe that captivated me because I had never encountered it before; it is one of only two ever built, with the other deliberately kept hidden from the public. However, despite its novelty and jaw-dropping appearance, the Zagato was not a contender for the Sporting Choice Award. Evernham, for his part, was deeply impressed by an exceedingly rare Allard JR that competed in the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, I soon discovered that he owned three Allards, and we had to dismiss this car from consideration. Nevertheless, it was a remarkable car, fitted with a Jaguar C-Type body to meet new Le Mans regulations while maintaining its 5.3-liter Cadillac V-8 engine, making it the most successful of the seven Allard JRs produced.
The Hardest Choice: A Test of Judgment
The most difficult choice we had to make was for third place. It was a toss-up between a 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Touring Superleggera Coupe and a 1940 Cadillac Series 62 Bonham & Schwartz Convertible Victoria. As an aficionado of postwar Alfas, I have always been drawn to these Italian beauties. The Bakelite switchgear, the elegant lines, and the rich history of these cars make them irresistible. This particular 6C was finished in a handsome blue and boasted an impressive backstory, including the fact that its current owner had not driven it since 1973 until the day before the Concours d’Elegance, on the Audrain Tour d’Elegance.
However, we found the Caddy more sporting. It was one of two custom-bodied in Pasadena, California, by the same company (Bonham & Schwartz) that crafted Clarke Gable’s Duesenberg. The candy-red Series 62 just popped. It had that “know-it-when-you-see-it” factor, that extra something special. One of two made, yes, but the only survivor as its sibling was lost in a fire. This car was built for the Doheny clan, a wealthy Californian oil baron family that just happened to be the founders of Beverly Hills. We awarded the car our third-place vote, or in Audrain-speak, Honorable Mention.
The Final Call: A Test of Taste
For us, the Sporting Choice Award came down to two cars: an oligarchical 1938 Talbot-Lago T150 C Lago Figoni et Falaschi Teardrop Coupe and a light green 1951 Cisitalia 202SC Pinin Farina Cabriolet. The Talbot “Goutte d’Eau” certainly had the provenance to win. Aside from being the only long-wheelbase T150 C ever built (15 regular wheelbase versions were made), this particular car holds a racing record that will never be broken: Built in 1938, this T150 C won the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa in 1948, making it the oldest car to ever win a grand prix race. Imagine a 10-year-old car winning an F1 race today? That alone was almost enough to sway our decision. But not quite.
Perhaps it was the Talbot-Lago’s massive sunroof, or its dark paint job, or the fact that by lengthening the car, the normally tidy Figoni et Falaschi shape looked a bit bloated, or maybe the Cisitalia was just that good. From my co-judge, Evernham: “The Cisitalia just spoke to me. The combination of color, stance, and placement of chrome created a picture in my mind of driving it down a beautiful coastline wearing my vintage Wayfarers.”
Exactly right. Look, there’s a good reason the Museum of Modern Art in New York includes a Cisitalia 202 (coupe) in its permanent collection: These little sports cars are just that spectacular. And somehow on this day, in that color, and with its top dropped, it was the car we just kept coming back to while fantasizing about driving it around the Newport coast. The 202SC simply tickled our fancy the hardest, and we gave it the Sporting Choice Award.
So you see kids, being a judge is as (not as) easy as that. But I hope I made Mr. Osborne proud enough.
