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Beyond the Ropes: Behind the Scenes with My First Audrain Concours d’Elegance Judging Assignment
When renowned luxury automotive broker Donald Osborne, sporting his signature Italian accent and bowtie, posed the pivotal question—”What’s it going to take to get you out to the Audrain?”—I hadn’t fully grasped the magnitude of the invitation. As a long-time automotive journalist, I’d frequented many high-caliber classic car events, but the Audrain Concours d’Elegance, held in the historic coastal enclave of Newport, Rhode Island, held a legendary status. This prestigious gathering, known for its unparalleled collection of rare and historically significant automobiles, had been on my radar since its establishment in 2019.
Osborne and I had crossed paths in Miami at MODA, a premier automotive showcase spearheaded by RM Sotheby’s. This ambitious endeavor was conceived two years prior as a strategic retort to Hagerty’s Broad Arrow auction house, which had successfully recruited nearly 30 of RM’s top talent. The Audrain organizers, eager to broaden their judging panel and diversify the perspectives at their prestigious event, had been extending invitations to me for years. Looking at Osborne, I responded with a playful yet serious challenge: “Make me a judge?” With his characteristic mega-watt smile and a sweeping gesture, he confirmed, “You’re a judge. See you in Newport.”
Venturing into the Unknown: An Introduction to Concours Judging
My inaugural experience at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance—widely regarded as the pinnacle of exclusive automotive events—was marked by a profound sense of being an outsider. This was during an era before the pervasive influence of social media, a time when such extravagant gatherings were less publicized. I was completely unaware of the level of sophistication and scrutiny that characterized these events. To my embarrassment, I had neglected to research the appropriate attire, naively assuming that the main event on Sunday would be similar to a casual car show. I’m fairly certain I arrived in shorts and a t-shirt. However, I distinctly recall the presence of my close friend and colleague, Pulitzer Prize–winning automotive journalist Dan Neil, serving as an honorary judge. This observation sparked a competitive ember within me, a voice that whispered, “Why not me?”
The Audrain has carefully cultivated a reputation that rivals the prestige of Pebble Beach. Indeed, Jay Leno, a prominent figure in the automotive community, has often stated that the Audrain’s caliber exceeds that of Pebble. I witnessed this firsthand during The Gathering, an event hosted at Doris Duke’s magnificent Newport estate, Rough Point. This gathering serves as the Audrain’s counterpart to The Quail. During a live recording of Spike’s Car Radio—a podcast I co-host with Seinfeld writer Spike Feresten, the creator of the iconic catchphrase “No soup for you!”—Leno was the special guest. He poignantly noted that the Audrain Motor Week reminded him of Pebble Beach approximately 15 years ago. Jay Leno, who owns what he wryly describes as “a ridiculous house” in Newport, is an indispensable part of the Audrain Motor Week experience. Such is his influence that the Mayor, through a formal proclamation, declared October 2, 2025, as Jay Leno Day in the city.
Navigating the Nuances of Judging
And so, I found myself seated at the judges’ breakfast during the principal event on Sunday, enjoying a cup of coffee, eggs, and sausage, when the head judge, Phil Neff, initiated a crucial question: “Is there anyone here who hasn’t judged a concours?” Silence. Not a single hand was raised, including my own. While I may not have experience judging a high-stakes, formal concours, I have served as a judge at the Concours d’LeMons, the satirical counterpart to formal events, so many times that I have lost count and have sworn off participating again. Should I have raised my hand? Who knows, but ultimately, it’s about cars, isn’t it? How difficult could it possibly be? Remember, my ego remains undefeated. Why not me?
Neff and his team assigned me to work alongside Ray Evernham, the legendary NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief renowned for his countless victories, frequently achieved with Jeff Gordon. Evernham and I connected immediately, discovering a mutual passion for racing at Pikes Peak. We were tasked with awarding the Sporting Choice Award, a special distinction for the most sporting car on the lawn. I sought clarification from head judge Neff. Did he want us to focus primarily on sports cars, or actual race cars? “Yes,” he replied with a smile. This implied that our responsibility was to evaluate and judge every car present that featured either two doors or no doors. That encompassed well over 100 vehicles, and we had only two hours to complete the assessment.
Equipped with our judge hats, official badges, clipboards, No. 2 pencils, and navy blazers, Evernham and I stepped onto the lawn and quickly devised a strategy. In typical concours fashion, the cars are organized into distinct classes. We planned to examine each class, identify a car that truly stood out, and compile a shortlist of our top four or five favorites. Our instructions were explicit: avoid getting bogged down in the typical nitpicky details that often plague modern car judging. Who cares if the trunk lining isn’t perfect? In fact, we were advised not to even open the trunk.
A Deeper Dive into the Judging Process
Two of the classes immediately confirmed that my earlier “Why not me?” fantasy was perhaps overly optimistic. Class D featured six Ford GT40 road cars, all appearing to be virtually identical-quality GT40 Mk1 homologation specials. They were all equally stunning, and without examining carb-bolt alignment (which we were instructed not to do), I cannot imagine how one would select a winner. We were unable to choose. Put another way, the judges assigned to Class D needed to be seasoned subject matter experts to make such a call. The same was true for Class A, the prewar Alfa Romeo division, which consisted of six breathtakingly perfect 8Cs. I cannot claim to fully understand why the winning car was chosen, although the burgundy beauty did go on to win Best of Show, and in hindsight, that decision felt entirely appropriate.
Despite the challenges, we did manage to compile a shortlist of our favorites, although sacrifices were necessary. We encountered a Lamborghini 3500 GTZ Zagato Coupe that astonished me because I had never seen one before (it is one of only two ever built, and the other is being deliberately kept away from the public). However, I realized that while the Zagato Lambo was novel and impressive, it wasn’t the right fit for the Sporting Choice Award. For his part, Evernham was captivated by an exceedingly rare Allard JR that had raced at the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, I quickly learned that he owns three Allards, which meant we should disqualify this car from consideration. Regardless, it was undoubtedly a superb vehicle. Fitted with a Jaguar C-Type body to comply with new Le Mans regulations but retaining its 5.3-liter Cadillac V-8, it remains the most successful of the seven Allard JRs ever produced.
A Difficult Decision at the Finish Line
The most difficult decision we faced was choosing the third-place winner. It was a choice between a 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Touring Superleggera Coupe and a 1940 Cadillac Series 62 Bonham & Schwartz Convertible Victoria. I have always been captivated by postwar Alfas. I don’t know exactly why, but I am deeply fond of them. Perhaps it is the beautiful Bakelite used on all the switchgear. This particular 6C was finished in a handsome blue and had a remarkable backstory, including the fact that its current owner had not driven it since 1973 until the day before the Concours d’Elegance, when he participated in the Audrain Tour d’Elegance.
However, we found the Cadillac to be more striking. It was one of two, custom-bodied in Pasadena, California, by the same team (Bonham & Schwartz) that created Clark Gable’s Duesenberg. The candy-red Series 62 was simply stunning. It possessed that indefinable “wow” factor—that intrinsic special quality that you recognize instinctively. While it was one of two ever made, it is the only survivor, as its sibling was lost in a fire. This car was built for a wealthy Californian oil magnate family, the Doheny clan, which, coincidentally, was the very family that founded the town of Beverly Hills. We awarded the car our third-place vote, or in Audrain terminology, Honorable Mention.
The Final Selection
For us, the Sporting Choice Award came down to two exceptional automobiles: an aristocratic 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 pedigree to win. Aside from being the only long-wheelbase T150 C ever built (
