On the chance that someday in the future the inaugural Audrain’s Concours d’Elegance and Motor Week in Newport, Rhode Island, becomes recognized as “the Pebble Beach of the East Coast” – and because the photograph images of the event by Josh Sweeney of ShootforDetails are so good – we’re presenting this gallery.
Included are selected photos from the Tour d’Elegance, a Cars & Coffee event, The Gathering at Rough Point, and the Concours itself.
Best of Show honors went to a 1927 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A S Fleetwood originally owned by film star Rudolph Valentino and now part of the Joseph and Margie Cassini collection. It was formerly owned by Rhode Island collector George Waterman.
Befitting the Gatsby setting, the car also won the Most Elegant award, which was presented by Sandra Button, chair of the Pebble Beach concours.
“Our expectations for this debut event were high, but the reception exceeded them in almost every way,” event chair Donald Osborne said of the Newport program. “The cars, the people, the stories and the setting all came together to become the living expression of the event’s theme, ‘History, Luxury, Sport’ — the essence of Newport. We are thrilled with the outcome.”
The concours was staged at The Breakers mansion, the most famous of the “Newport Cottages” and former home of the early car enthusiast William Vanderbilt. A 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost built for Cornelius Vanderbilt II’s wife won Best in Class honors at the concours.
Part-time Newport resident Jay Leno was Motor Week chair on behalf of the Audrian Automotive Museum. Leno is credited with the inclusion in the concours of a “30 Under 30” class featuring cars owned by people less than 30 years of age who have spent less than $30,000 on their vehicles. Best in Class in that category went to Carter Kramer’s 1976 BMW 2002.
Dates for the second Audrain’s Newport Concours d’Elegance & Motor Week are October 1-4, 2020. For more information, visit the event website.
Sir,
Thank you for all of your great articles. I did notice in this entry that you kept referring to Gadsby or Gadsbyian. I believe the name/term is Gatsby or Gatsbyan from the movie, "The Great Gatsby".
V/r,
Nick
Yes, we’ve caught the error and made repairs.
It’s "Gatsby" not "Gadsby." Read the book.
Looks like the stately home from the Brad Pitt vehicle "Meet Joe Black".
Wonder if any of these entitled wealthy spare a thought for the millions who barely survive paycheck to paycheck so that the wealthy can spend millions on useless (though beautiful) cars and tens of thousands on lawn care.
Just a thought.
The BMW grill looks like KIA, Ford and several others – different isn’t always better and while I appreciate the technical superiority of modern vehicles I can’t help but long for the day when we could distinguish various marques by their outline in the moonlight from a mile away….