Audrain Concours d’Elegance 2025: A Candid Report from the Judge’s Stand
It began with a challenge. Standing amidst the vibrant, engine-driven energy of MODA (Malibu-based Dealer Association, not the fashion label) in Miami, the renowned automotive authority Donald Osborne posed a pointed question that resonated far beyond the sunny coastline. “What’s it going to take to get you out to the Audrain?”
Osborne, a figure synonymous with automotive excellence through his work with RM Sotheby’s and the Audrain, stood dressed in his characteristic bowtie, embodying the sophisticated spirit of one of the nation’s most prestigious automotive events. For years, the Audrain Concours d’Elegance, held in the gilded architectural landscape of Newport, Rhode Island, had been calling to me. Known for attracting a fleet of the most exclusive and breathtaking automobiles, it’s an event that speaks to the history of the golden age of motoring.
Back in Miami, I found myself weighing Osborne’s query. The driving force behind RM Sotheby’s decision to launch MODA was a mixture of spite and ambition. Founded as a direct response to Hagerty’s acquisition of Broad Arrow and the subsequent poaching of nearly 30 of RM’s top talent, MODA was a strategic move to reclaim market dominance. Meanwhile, the Audrain team had been persistent, inviting me to join their circle since the event’s inception in 2019. I turned to Osborne and, driven by an ego I can no longer deny, shot back, “Make me a judge?” Without hesitation, he flashed a disarming smile, waved a hand over me, and declared, “You’re a judge. See you in Newport.”
Plunging into the Deep End of Prestige
My first encounter with Pebble Beach, the granddaddy of all elite automotive events in the United States, was marked by a distinct lack of preparation. This was well before the ubiquity of social media transformed every event into a curated Instagram feed. I was naive, completely unaware of the scale and formality of such gatherings. I remember feeling utterly lost regarding the dress code, mistakenly assuming the main exhibition on Sunday was simply a more formal version of the casual gatherings I frequented. I believe I showed up in shorts and a T-shirt. Nevertheless, during that event, I noticed an anomaly: a Pulitzer Prize–winning automotive journalist, Dan Neil, serving as an honorary judge. The thought immediately lodged itself in my brain, fueling a quiet ambition: “Why not me?”
The Audrain, however, cannot be compared directly to Pebble Beach. However, I spoke with individuals like Jay Leno, and their feedback was illuminating: many argue the Audrain is superior. This perception was solidified during The Gathering, a signature Audrain event hosted at Doris Duke’s phenomenal Newport residence, Rough Point. The Gathering, essentially the Audrain’s answer to The Quail (another exclusive Monterey automotive event), featured a live podcast recording of Spike’s Car Radio, where I often participate alongside Seinfeld writer Spike Feresten. Our special guest was Jay Leno, who pointed out that the Audrain Motor Week feels like Pebble Beach 15 years ago. Jay Leno—the owner of what he affectionately calls “a ridiculous house” in Newport—is not just a participant but a foundational pillar of the Audrain. In fact, the mayor officially declared October 2, 2025, as Jay Leno Day.
Navigating the Art of Judging
So there I was, on Sunday of the main show, about to embark on my first formal judging experience. Settled at the judges’ breakfast, nursing a cup of strong coffee while enjoying eggs and sausage, the head judge, Phil Neff, asked a question that stopped me short: “Is there anyone here who hasn’t judged a concours?” No hands went up, mine included. Granted, I had never judged a fancy, high-stakes event like the Audrain. However, I have judged Concours d’LeMons so many times that I’ve lost count and have sworn off ever doing it again. Should I have raised my hand? Who knows, but frankly, it’s about cars, isn’t it? How hard could it be? Remember, my ego is undefeated. Why not me?
Neff and his team paired me up with Ray Evernham, a NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief renowned for his legendary success—particularly his triumphs with Jeff Gordon. Evernham and I connected instantly, realizing our shared passion for competitive racing, both having raced at Pikes Peak. We were assigned the Sporting Choice Award, an award given to the most sporting vehicle on the lawn. I sought clarification from Neff: should we focus more on sports cars or actual race cars? He smiled and replied, “Yes.” This translated to a monumental task: we were responsible for examining and judging every car with two doors or no doors. This encompassed well over 100 vehicles, all within a two-hour window.
Sporting our judge credentials—complete with medallions, clipboards, No. 2 pencils, and navy blazers—Evernham and I devised a strategy. Like at all concours, the cars are segregated into specific classes. Our plan was to review each class, identify one standout vehicle, and select our top four or five favorites. We were explicitly instructed not to get bogged down in the obsessive minutiae that often plague modern car judging. Who cares if the trunk lining is incorrect? In fact, don’t even open the trunk.
The Challenge of Perfection
The selection process quickly revealed why these roles are filled by seasoned experts. Class D was populated by Ford GT40 road cars, approximately six of which appeared to be identical, museum-quality Mk1 homologation specials. Every one of them looked phenomenal, and without scrutinizing the carb-bolt alignment (which we were instructed not to do), I have no idea how one could possibly pick a winner. We couldn’t. This meant the judges assigned to Class D had to possess profound subject matter expertise to make such a decision. The same applied to Class A, the pre-war Alfa Romeo division, which featured six breathtakingly beautiful 8Cs. I honestly couldn’t tell you why one car was chosen over the others, though the burgundy beauty did go on to win Best of Show, and in hindsight, that outcome makes perfect sense.
Regardless, we managed to compile a shortlist of favorites, albeit with some necessary sacrifices. We encountered a Lamborghini 3500 GTZ Zagato Coupe that astonished me simply because I’d never heard of it before (it turns out only two were ever built, and the other is being deliberately kept from public view). However, I realized that as novel and impressive as the Zagato Lambo was, it wasn’t a contender for the Sporting Choice Award. Evernham, on the other hand, was incredibly impressed by an exceedingly rare Allard JR that had raced in the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, I quickly learned he owns three Allards, so we immediately disqualified the JR. Still, it was a spectacular vehicle. Fitted with a Jaguar C-Type body to comply with new Le Mans regulations, yet still powered by a robust 5.3-liter Cadillac V-8, it remains the most successful of the seven Allard JRs ever produced.
The Final Selection Process
The most difficult decision was selecting third place. We had to choose between a 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Touring Superleggera Coupe and a 1940 Cadillac Series 62 Bonham & Schwartz Convertible Victoria. I have a profound affection for postwar Alfas. I cannot articulate the exact reason, but I absolutely adore them. I suspect it has something to do with the Bakelite used in all the switchgear. This particular 6C was finished in a handsome blue and boasted an incredible backstory. Notably, its current owner hadn’t driven it since 1973 until the day before the Concours d’Elegance, when he drove it in the Audrain Tour d’Elegance.
However, we found the Cadillac to be the more sporting choice. It was one of only two ever made, custom-bodied in Pasadena, California, by the same renowned coachbuilders (Bonham & Schwartz) who crafted Clarke Gable’s Duesenberg. The candy-red Series 62 just popped; it possessed that undeniable “wow” factor, that instinctive understanding of excellence, and that extra special something. While only one other was made, the Cadillac remains the only surviving example, as its sibling was destroyed in a fire. This car was built for a wealthy Californian oil baron family, the Doheny clan—the very founders of the small city of Beverly Hills. We awarded the car our third-place vote, or in Audrain-speak, Honorable Mention.
The Decisive Outcome
For us, the Sporting Choice Award ultimately came down to two vehicles: a 1938 Talbot-Lago T150 C Lago Figoni et Falaschi Teardrop Coupe and a light green 1051 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 (only 15 regular-wheelbase versions were produced), 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
