Star-studded start for Audrain’s
The first Audrain’s Concours d’elegance, held in Newport, Rhode Island from 3-6 October, crowned the 1927 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A S Fleetwood commissioned by silent-film actor and 1920s playboy Rudolph Valentino as its inaugural winner.
Landing both Best of Show and Most Elegant at The Breakers mansion, the former home of the influential Vanderbilt family, the imposing car was unveiled at the 1926 New York Auto Salon and has claimed a brace of Pebble Beach concours trophies over the years.
Nearly 100 cars entered, to be judged by 40 experts, with 13 classes including a ‘30 under 30’ division devised by collector, TV star and chairman of the Audrain’s Newport Concours & Motor Week, Jay Leno. To qualify, the owner must be under 30 and have spent less than $30,000 on their car. The win went to a 1976 BMW 2002, owned by Carter Kramer.
The 1964 Ferrari 250GT Lusso of James Utaski collected the Excellence in Design award alongside its category win, while the Chairman’s Choice went the way of another Ferrari, Stephen and Kim Bruno’s 1952 212 Inter Pinin Farina Cabriolet. Rob Kauffman’s 1901 Panhard et Levassor Type B1, which was entered in the 1902 Vanderbilt Cup race, landed the Founder’s Choice award, with the 2000 event attendees opting for the 1955 Mercedes-benz 300SL Gullwing of Robert and Renee Torre as the People’s Choice.
Other category winners included a 1923 Rolls-royce Silver Ghost with a body built for Mrs Cornelius Vanderbilt II, a ’31 Ballot RH3 and a ’68 Oldsmobile 442 convertible.