Audrain Concours d’Elegance 2026: A Judge’s Take on the Pinnacle of Automotive Excellence
October 23, 2026
In the hallowed automotive landscape, few events command the same reverence as the Audrain Concours d’Elegance in Newport, Rhode Island. Since its inception, Audrain has carved a niche for itself, carving out a unique identity within the prestigious circuit of automotive gatherings. While the whispers of Pebble Beach’s grandeur persist, many—including industry titans like Jay Leno—suggest that the Audrain is rapidly surpassing its legendary predecessor. It’s a sentiment echoed across the enthusiast community, and I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformation from an aspiring event to a benchmark of automotive excellence.
The Genesis of an Icon
My journey to the judges’ panel at Audrain didn’t begin in the gilded halls of Newport. It began in Miami at MODA, a competitive counterpoint to the established Broad Arrow auction house, an entity formed after a significant poaching of RM Sotheby’s talent. The audacity of their move—siphoning key personnel from the venerated auction house—was audacious, to say the least. It was a statement of intent: to challenge the established order, specifically the prestigious Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, now under the Hagerty banner.
I had been hearing about Audrain’s burgeoning reputation since 2019. Their invitation to attend the event was a rare honor, a chance to experience firsthand the energy that was buzzing through the classic car community. “Make me a judge?” I asked Donald Osborne, the event’s charismatic maestro, his bowtie perfectly aligned with the regal ambiance of Newport. He flashed a smile that could light up the entire Cliff Walk and, with a flourish of his hand, declared, “You’re a judge. See you in Newport.”
Stepping into the Deep End
My initial foray into this echelon of automotive gatherings was the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the undisputed granddaddy of automotive extravaganzas. Back in those days, before the ubiquity of social media, I was utterly clueless. I didn’t know that car events of such magnitude even existed. I didn’t even know what to wear. Naïvely, I assumed the main show was nothing more than a casual gathering of enthusiasts. I believe I showed up in shorts and a T-shirt. But even then, I noticed the caliber of the attendees. My friend, the Pulitzer Prize–winning automotive journalist Dan Neil, was serving as an honorary judge. It seemed rather prestigious. And then, a thought, fueled by a potent dose of ego, began to take root: “Why not me?”
The Audrain, however, is a league of its own. It challenges the established paradigms of automotive excellence. And it’s not just my opinion.
The “Why Not Me?” Phenomenon
Fast forward to 2026. I was attending The Gathering at Rough Point, Doris Duke’s exquisite Newport “summer cottage,” Audrain’s sophisticated answer to The Quail. Spike Feresten, co-host of “Spike’s Car Radio,” a podcast on which I frequently appear, had organized a live show with special guest Jay Leno. Leno, renowned for owning an impressive collection of luxury vehicles and residing in a substantial Newport estate, is an indispensable figure in the Audrain community. His presence is so integral that the city government declared October 2, 2026, as “Jay Leno Day.”
During the event, Leno echoed the sentiment of many, noting that the Audrain reminds him of Pebble Beach about 15 years prior. This assertion wasn’t just conjecture; it was a testament to the Audrain’s rapid ascendancy. It underscored the very question that had been simmering in my mind since my inaugural visits: “Why not me?”
The Art of Judging
The Audrain Concours d’Elegance isn’t just a car show; it’s a rigorous intellectual exercise. The stakes are incredibly high. Every car, every detail, is scrutinized by some of the most knowledgeable minds in the automotive industry. But how do you even begin to judge such a prestigious event?
During the judges’ breakfast, amidst the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the tantalizing scent of eggs and sausage, head judge Phil Neff posed a pointed question: “Is there anyone here who hasn’t judged a concours?” Silence filled the room. No hands were raised. Including mine. It’s true, I hadn’t judged a fancy-schmancy event like the Audrain. However, I have judged the Concours d’LeMons, a parody car show, so many times that I’ve not only lost count, but I’ve sworn off it for good. Should I have raised my hand? Who knows. But honestly, it’s cars. How hard can it be? Remember, my ego is undefeated. Why not me?
Neff and his team paired me with Ray Evernham, a NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief who has won every major race imaginable, often with Jeff Gordon at the helm. We hit it off immediately, discovering a shared history of competing at Pikes Peak. Our task was to award the Sporting Choice Award— essentially, the most sporting car on the field. I asked Neff for clarification: Should we focus on sports cars, or actual race cars? “Yes,” he replied, a knowing smile on his face. This meant we were responsible for examining and judging every car present that had either two doors or no doors. That’s over a hundred cars. And we had a mere two hours to do it.
Sporting our judge hats, medallions, clipboards, No. 2 pencils, and navy blazers, Evernham and I stepped onto the field and quickly devised a plan. Like at all concours, the cars are divided into classes. We’d simply look at each class, identify one car that truly stood out, and select our top four or five favorites. Our instructions were clear: do not get bogged down with the typical nitpicky details that plague modern car judging. Who cares if the trunk lining is wrong? In fact, do not even open the trunk.
Navigating the Nuances: An Expert Assessment
The Audrain Concours d’Elegance requires a level of expertise that most enthusiasts simply don’t possess. It’s not about picking the prettiest car; it’s about understanding the provenance, the engineering, and the history that defines automotive excellence. And honestly, it’s not easy.
Two of the classes made me realize quickly the answer to my earlier “Why not me?” fantasy. Class D was comprised of Ford GT40 road cars. Six of them, all practically identical, featuring GT40 Mk1 homologation specials. Each one was a masterpiece. Without checking carb-bolt alignment (as we were instructed not to do), I have no idea how you could possibly pick a winner. We couldn’t. Put another way, the judges for Class D needed to be subject matter experts. The same was true with Class A, the prewar Alfa Romeo division, which consisted of six mind-blowingly excellent 8Cs. I couldn’t even begin to tell you why the car that won its class did so, though the burgundy beauty did go on to win Best of Show. In hindsight, the decision made perfect sense.
In any case, we still managed to compile a short list of our favorites, although some sacrifices had to be made. There was a Lamborghini 3500 GTZ Zagato Coupe that completely blew my mind. I’d never heard of it before, and it turns out only two of these cars exist. The other one is deliberately kept away from the public. However, I realized that as novel and spectacular as the Zagato Lambo was, it wasn’t going to win the Sporting Choice Award. For his part, Evernham was utterly enamored with an exceedingly rare Allard JR that raced at the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, I soon discovered he owns three Allards, so we wisely struck the JR from our list. It was an exceptional car, nevertheless. Fitted with a Jaguar C-Type body to meet the new Le Mans regulations, it was still powered by a 5.3-liter Cadillac V-8. It remains the most successful of the seven Allard JRs ever built.
The Hardest Decision: A Battle of Beauty and Power
The hardest choice we had to make was for third place. It came down to a 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Touring Superleggera Coupe and a 1940 Cadillac Series 62 Bonham & Schwartz Convertible Victoria. I’m a sucker for postwar Alfas. There’s something about them that just captivates me. I suppose it’s mostly the Bakelite used on all the switchgear. This particular 6C was finished in a handsome blue and had a fantastic backstory. Its present owner hadn’t driven it since 1973 until the day before the Concours d’Elegance, during 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 folks (Bonham & Schwartz) who did Clarke Gable’s Duesenberg. The candy-red Series 62 just popped. It had that wow factor, the know-it-when-you-see-it, that extra something special. One of two made, yes, but the only survivor as its sibling burned up in a fire. This car was built for a wealthy Californian oil baron family, the Doheny clan
