Audrain Motorsport’s Inaugural Veteran Car Tour Chugs to Life

Early on the morning of March 27, ancient cars — none younger than 1909 models — rattled and chugged to life at Ochre Court  on the campus of Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island.

The 24 cars — and their happy owners and guests — were ready for the first-ever Audrain Motorsport Veteran Car Tour. Bonhams was the event sponsor.

In a slight haze of smoke — and, in the case of one Stanley, billowing clouds of steam — the parade of cars headed out through Newport’s district of Gilded Age mansions. Crowds of onlookers quickly gathered at the starting point and throughout the route.

“These old cars, every mile is a miracle,” said Jim Grundy, just before he steered his 1909 Pierce Demi Tonneau onto the winding, scenic road to Bristol, Rhode Island and back.

Plans are already in motion to make Audrain’s Veteran Car Tour an annual event. Next year promises to be even bigger and better. For the whole story of the 2022 Veteran Car Tour, please check out the May 2022 issue of Linkage magazine.

For more information about this year’s tour, visit https://audrainmotorsport.com/2022-veteran-car-tour