2025 Audrain Motor Week Roars Through Newport
The 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 “Rimoldi” Corto Spyder by Carrozzeria Touring, owned by Chris MacAllister, won Best in Show at this year’s Audrain Newport Concours d’Elegance Presented by A. Lange & Söhne. It was one of only four 8C Alphas on the field, says Nick Schorsch, founder and chairman of Audrain Group, which includes the Audrain Auto Museum and the annual Motor Week event, held at The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island.
“There’s like $100 million worth of Alphas here,” says Schorsch, sitting on the terrace of the former Vanderbilt summer “cottage” by the sea. “And then there's six Ford GT40s. We're able to draw really strong entrants from all over the world.”
In all, more than 190 cars lined the lawn of the Gilded Age mansion with 26 classes spanning the early 1900s through 1980 selected for themes of history, luxury and sport.
This year’s event included The Gathering, a car-themed garden party at Rough Point, the mansion of heiress Doris Duke; a Bonham’s car auction; and The Bellevue Car Display, where cars lined Bellevue Avenue for the public to admire for free.
Schorsch founded the city’s Audrain Auto Museum in 2014 and launched the four-day Motor Week in 2019, taking cues from the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the United Kingdom, which includes the Cartier Style et Luxe Concours d’Elegance, which blends luxury lifestyle appeal with all the petrolhead fanaticism.
“Most importantly, it's controlled,” Schorsch says. “From one end to the other, the entire thing covers about a mile and a quarter, unlike Pebble Beach or Amelia, where you're limited to a hotel site.”
The Audrain’s VIP tents include complementary food and open bar for those who spring for the elevated tickets. Vendors sell automotive memorabilia and services, along with fashion items and event merch.
The elite German watchmaker A. Lange & Söhne, the Audrain’s main sponsor, showcased the debut of a duo of limited edition Saxonia Thins with glossy black onyx dials along with a lineup of exceptional watches to experience in the metal. An engraver from the factory in Glashütte, Germany, performed a live demonstration of the brand’s signature hand-engraved movement decorations.
Cigars were on hand as well. In one of the events during the week, Altadis U.S.A. had Montecristos and other smokes to keep guests puffing away happily.
To attract younger enthusiasts, Audrain introduced a 30 Under 30 category dedicated to owners under 30 years old who have built their cars for less than $30,000.
“Getting people with gray hair is easy, that's who the collecting market has been,” says Schorsch, adding that the opportunity for younger enthusiasts to interface with Jay Leno and other major car collectors encourages them to realize they can join the fun. Currently, he says about 120 cars compete for those coveted 30 spots on the field that includes Ferrari 250GTs and Alpha 8Cs.
“We've been astounded that young folks are not just here for the brand new hypercars or supercars,” says Nick Schorsch Jr., a partner and board member of Audrain Group. “They're all across the passion.”
“There always has been a northeast, a New England car culture,” he adds. “It's just been a bunch of guys with a Corvette, a Winton or an old Packard in their garages that they took out on weekends. We just happened to help them find a place where we can all get together and enjoy each other.”
The 2026 Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week will take place October 1 through 4.
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