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The Prestige Barrier: Navigating the Evolution of Automotive Judgment in 2026
The world of concours d’elegance—the pinnacle of automotive appreciation—operates under a different set of rules than the weekend gatherings or vintage motorsport events that fill enthusiast calendars. It’s a realm where historical accuracy, provenance, and technical rigor intersect to separate the excellent from the exceptional. Yet, what defines “excellence” is not static; it is a concept that evolves, adapting to new trends, technologies, and the subtle shifts in the automotive zeitgeist.
For years, the benchmark was set at events like Pebble Beach, where legendary judges set the bar for rigorous examination. Today, however, that benchmark is being challenged. New events, founded with distinct philosophies, are reshaping the conversation about automotive merit. One such institution, the Audrain Concours d’Elegance, has emerged as a significant player, offering a fresh perspective on what makes a car truly remarkable.
In 2026, the landscape of automotive judging continues to be defined by innovation and inclusivity. The Audrain Motor Week, hosted in the historic setting of Newport, Rhode Island, serves as a compelling case study of this evolution. It’s an event that has successfully blended the pedigree of classic concours with a modern sensibility, attracting high-profile enthusiasts, collectors, and even legendary figures from the automotive world.
A Contendership Born of Discontent
The creation of the Audrain Concours d’Elegance was not accidental; it was a calculated response to perceived shortcomings in the existing event ecosystem. Founded in 2019, the Audrain Motor Week was conceived partly in response to acquisitions by competitors. When Hagerty acquired the Broad Arrow auction house, prompting a significant exodus of talent from the legacy RM Sotheby’s team, a vacuum was created in the high-end automotive world.
Donald Osborne, a well-known figure in the world of collectible cars and co-founder of the Audrain, recognized this moment as an opportunity. With an extensive background in automotive criticism, curatorial work, and competitive driving, he had long been associated with the Audrain Museum of Newport. The institution, nestled in the city’s historic Vanderbilt-era estates, possessed a rich collection and a deep connection to the region’s automotive heritage.
Osborne’s involvement provided the foundational expertise needed to launch a world-class concours. As he observed the unfolding dynamics in the market and the opportunities for a new premier event, he saw a chance to create something distinct. It was during this period that the Audrain team began inviting him to participate more deeply in the event’s planning and execution.
A pivotal moment occurred when Osborne was invited to the Miami for MODA (Miami Auto Design Exposition). There, he encountered Donald Osborne—the master of ceremonies and spiritual advisor to the Audrain event—who had taken on a prominent role in the exhibition. Osborne extended an invitation, asking a provocative question: “What’s it going to take to get you out to the Audrain?”
The answer, delivered with a smile and a wave of the hand, was decisive: “Make me a judge?”
Osborne flashed his mega smile, waved a hand over me, and said, “You’re a judge. See you in Newport.”
The Learning Curve of Judging
The transition from automotive critic and enthusiast to judge is not always seamless, particularly for an event of this caliber. The granddaddy of American automotive events, Pebble Beach, sets a standard that is notoriously difficult to meet. Many attendees may be familiar with the show, but very few are familiar with the rigorous process of judging.
The first time I attended the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, I was green. This was long before social media became the dominant force it is today. I knew nothing about the intricacies of such exclusive gatherings. In fact, I didn’t even know what to wear, naively assuming the main event on Sunday was just another “cars and coffee.” I believe I showed up in shorts and a T-shirt. However, I did notice that one of my friends—Pulitzer Prize–winning automotive journalist Dan Neil—was an honorary judge. That seemed pretty cool. Then a brainworm from my undefeated ego burrowed its way into my frontal lobe as the thought popped into my head, “Why not me?”
The Audrain, however, is not Pebble Beach. As veteran automotive figure Jay Leno often notes, the Audrain is arguably better than Pebble Beach. I know this firsthand. During “The Gathering” hosted at Doris Duke’s incredible Newport “summer cottage” called Rough Point—the Audrain’s answer to The Quail—Spike Feresten and I hosted a live episode of our podcast, Spike’s Car Radio, featuring special guest Jay Leno. He made the point that Audrain Motor Week reminds him of Pebble Beach from fifteen years ago. Leno, who owns, to quote him, “a ridiculous house” in Newport, is an essential and integral part of the Audrain. To wit, the mayor of Newport, via a proclamation, declared October 2, 2025, as Jay Leno Day.
The Complexity of the Decision-Making Process
Serving as a judge at the main show on Sunday, I was seated at the judges’ breakfast enjoying coffee, eggs, and sausage. Head Judge Phil Neff asked, “Is there anyone here who hasn’t judged a concours?” No hands went up, including mine. While I had never judged a formal concours like the Audrain, I had judged the parody car show, Concours d’LeMons, so many times that I’ve not only forgotten how many but have sworn to never do it again. Should I have raised my hand? Who knows, but like, it’s cars, ain’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, the NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief who won everything, often alongside Jeff Gordon. Evernham and I hit it off immediately as we realized we’d both raced at Pikes Peak. We were tasked with handing out a special prize, the Sporting Choice Award. Basically, we were looking for the most sporting car on the lawn. I asked head judge Neff for some clarification. Did he want us to focus more on sports cars or actual race cars? “Yes,” he replied, smiling. This meant we were responsible for looking at and judging every car present that had either two doors or no doors. That’s well more than 100 cars. And we had two hours to do it in.
Sporting our judge hats, medallions, clipboards, No. 2 pencils, and navy blazers, Evernham and I stepped onto the field and quickly came up with a plan. Like at all concours, the cars are broken up into classes. We’d simply look at each class, figure out one car that “popped,” and write down our top four or five favorites. Our instructions were not to get bogged down with typical nitpicky minutiae that plagues modern car judging. Who cares if the trunk lining is wrong? In fact, don’t even open the trunk.
Acknowledging the Competition
This approach immediately highlighted the complexity of the Audrain’s judging criteria. In Class D, there were six Ford GT40 road cars, all appearing to be identical-quality Mk1 homologation specials. Without checking carb-bolt alignment (as we were instructed not to do), it would be nearly impossible to pick a winner. Put another way, the people judging Class D had to be real and serious subject matter experts to make this call. 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, and somehow that part totally makes sense.
In any case, we still came up with a short list of our favorites, though sacrifices had to be made. There was a Lamborghini 3500 GTZ Zagato Coupe that blew my mind because I’d never heard of it before (turns out it’s one of two ever built, and the other one is being purposely kept away from the public). However, I realized that as novel and “Wow!” as I thought the Zagato Lambo was, it wasn’t winning the Sporting Choice Award. For his part, Evernham was super into an exceedingly rare Allard JR that raced at the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, I quickly discovered he owns three Allards, and that we ought to strike this JR off our list. Sweet car, however. Fitted with a Jaguar C-Type body to comply with new Le Mans regulations but still powered by a 5.3-liter Cadillac V-8, it remains the most successful of the seven Allard JRs built.
The hardest choice we had to make was for third place. It was between a 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Touring Superleggera Coupe and a 1940 Cadillac Series 62 Bonham & Schwartz Convertible Victoria. I’m a sucker and a fiend for postwar Alfas. I don’t know exactly what it is, but I just love them to pieces. I suppose it’s mostly the Bakelite used on all the switchgear. This particular 6C was finished in a handsome blue and had a great backstory, including
