Reimagining the Audrain Concours: A Judge’s Candid Look at Newport’s Automotive Heirloom
Newport, Rhode Island—a city dripping in Gilded Age grandeur, where history whispers on every cobblestone and waterfront breeze—has become the spiritual successor to Pebble Beach. For years, the Audrain Concours d’Elegance has been quietly building its reputation, attracting the crème de la crème of the automotive world. This isn’t just a car show; it’s a spectacle of engineering, design, and human passion, drawing collectors, connoisseurs, and judges from across the globe.
And this year, I found myself among them, ushered into this exclusive circle by Donald Osborne. Osborne, a charismatic figure often clad in a bowtie, possessing a unique blend of Italian eloquence and a deep appreciation for the automotive arts, is the driving force behind the Audrain Motor Week.
I’d been meaning to experience Audrain for some time. When the opportunity arose, I asked Osborne the question every car enthusiast dreams of hearing: “Can I be a judge?” His trademark megawatt smile broke across his face. “You’re in,” he announced, gesturing expansively. “See you in Newport.”
Entering the Arena: From Unknown to Judge
My introduction to the rarefied world of concours judging was not in Newport, but at the legendary Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Back then, the world was a different place. Social media hadn’t yet taken hold, and I entered the hallowed grounds completely green. I didn’t even know the dress code, assuming this would be just another Cars and Coffee event. I arrived in jeans and a t-shirt, feeling decidedly out of place.
What I did notice, however, was that Pulitzer Prize–winning automotive journalist Dan Neil was serving as an honorary judge. It seemed like a significant role. A thought, rather mischievous and fueled by my own ego, popped into my head: “Why not me?”
A New Contender Emerges
The Audrain is often compared to Pebble Beach, and for good reason. Jay Leno himself has commented on how Audrain reminds him of Pebble Beach fifteen years ago. Leno, who owns a considerable property in Newport, is deeply intertwined with the Audrain legacy. In fact, the city once proclaimed October 2, 2025, as “Jay Leno Day.”
However, as I settled into my role at the Audrain Concours, I quickly realized that this wasn’t just a casual gathering of car enthusiasts. It was a serious competition, driven by a commitment to precision, preservation, and expertise.
The Art of Judging: Navigating the Rules
The judging itself was an illuminating experience. At the judges’ breakfast, head judge Phil Neff asked if anyone had experience judging at a concours d’Elegance. No one raised their hand, including mine.
I had judged at Concours d’LeMons countless times—the parody car show dedicated to the world’s worst automotive abominations. I’ve attended so many that I’ve lost count and have sworn off ever judging again. Still, it’s just cars, right? How hard could it be? My undefeated ego was firmly in control.
Pairing Up with a Champion
Neff paired me with Ray Evernham, a legendary NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief who had achieved incredible success, often with Jeff Gordon. Evernham and I hit it off immediately. We discovered a shared history, having both raced at Pikes Peak.
Our task was to award the Sporting Choice Award, which essentially means finding the most “sporting” car in the entire field. I approached head judge Neff for clarification. “Are we looking for sports cars or race cars?”
He offered a wry smile and a simple reply: “Yes.” This clarified that we were to evaluate any car with two doors or no doors—a task that involved scrutinizing over a hundred vehicles in just two hours.
Navigating the Classes: A Deep Dive into Automotive History
Sporting our official navy blazers, clipboards, pencils, and medallions, Evernham and I began our journey across the field. Like any concours, the cars were divided into distinct classes. Our strategy was to review each class, identify the standouts, and compile a short list of our top four or five favorites. The instructions were clear: we were not to nitpick minute details like incorrect trunk lining. In fact, we weren’t even supposed to open the trunk.
When the Experts Face the Hard Choices
Two classes quickly highlighted the complexities of this assignment. Class D featured six nearly identical 1960s Ford GT40 Mk1 homologation specials. Without the rigorous scrutiny of checking carb-bolt alignment (as instructed against), picking a winner seemed nearly impossible. The judges in this class had to be serious subject matter experts to make such a call.
The same was true for Class A, the prewar Alfa Romeo division, which comprised six absolutely breathtaking 8C models. I couldn’t tell you why one car ultimately won its class, but the burgundy beauty did go on to win Best of Show, which, in retrospect, made perfect sense.
Even with a few compromises, we compiled a shortlist. A Lamborghini 3500 GTZ Zagato Coupe completely blew me away. I had never seen one before (it turns out only two were ever built, and the other is kept private). While the Zagato was undoubtedly a “wow” car, it wasn’t the most sporting choice for our award.
Evernham was captivated by an exceedingly rare 1952 Allard JR that had raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, I discovered he actually owns three Allards, so we had to strike this particular JR from the running. Still, it was a magnificent machine—a C-Type body fitted to meet new regulations but powered by a 5.3-liter Cadillac V-8. It remains the most successful of the seven Allard JRs ever built.
The Third Place Showdown
The hardest choice we faced was for third place. We had narrowed it down to two stunning automobiles: a 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Touring Superleggera Coupe and a 1940 Cadillac Series 62 Bonham & Schwartz Convertible Victoria.
I have a deep affection for postwar Alfas. I don’t know exactly why, but I just love them. The Bakelite switchgear, the curves, the history—it all speaks to me. This specific 6C was finished in a handsome blue and had a remarkable backstory. Its current owner had only driven it once before, on the Audrain Tour d’Elegance the day before the main event, after 52 years without driving it.
However, the Cadillac felt more sporting. It was one of two custom-bodied in Pasadena, California, by the same company that created Clarke Gable’s Duesenberg. The candy-red Series 62 simply stood out. It had that intangible “wow” factor, that special spark that made it undeniably unique. While there were only two built, this was the only survivor, its sibling having been lost in a fire. The car was commissioned by the wealthy Californian oil barons of the Doheny family—the very people who founded the city of Beverly Hills. We awarded the car our third-place vote, or as Audrain calls it, Honorable Mention.
The Final Decision: Pitting Legends Against Each Other
For us, the Sporting Choice Award came down to two extraordinary cars: a 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” had the provenance to win. Aside from being the only long-wheelbase T150 C ever made (only 15 regular-wheelbase versions were built), it holds a racing record that will never be broken. Built in 1938, it 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 clinch the win for the Talbot. But not quite.
Perhaps it was the Talbot’s enormous sunroof, its dark paint job, or the fact that lengthening the chassis made the normally elegant Figoni et Falaschi shape appear slightly bloated. Or perhaps it was just that the Cisitalia was so incredibly beautiful. From Evernham’s perspective: “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. There is 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 that day, in that color, and with its top down, it was the car we kept coming back to, fantasizing about driving it along the Newport coast. The 202SC just charmed us the most, and we gave it the Sporting Choice Award.
So there you have it. Judging is as (not as) easy as that. But I hope I made Mr. Osborne proud enough to invite me back next year.
