Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week

“LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION…” These are the words I would hear one of my professors going on and on about in a business management class during my time at the University of Rhode Island. School wasn’t my favorite thing in the world, and maybe I would have been a better student if I wasn’t always thinking about cars.

Flash forward a few years, and the words “Location, Location, Location” are being uttered back to me this past October as I stood at Doris Duke’s Rough Point Mansion overlooking the water while thousands of happy people enjoyed the cars at The Gathering.

After six years of hard work, The Gathering finally felt like a global event. I saw several people I knew from my childhood (who didn’t even like cars back then!) enjoying time spent by the water and in the sunshine. That’s when I knew this event wasn’t fully about the car enthusiast anymore, and that’s not a bad thing.

We’re very lucky to call Newport home, with its beautiful beaches, rich history, great restaurants, and incredible Gilded Age mansions. Newport’s unique location makes it the perfect place for a car event, and certainly the most unique one in the United States. I think Jay Leno said it the best when he mused: “The right crowd without the crowding!”

From my experience, there are many car events where you can’t even see the cars or the music at the venue is too loud and it feels like a competition for whoever can wear the craziest clothing. Audrain eliminates all those issues while simultaneously making the event accessible to everyone.

Some personal highlights

Cars & Coffee at Fort Adams boasted over 750 cars including the likes of a McLaren P1, a Lamborghini Diablo GTR, and RUF CTR Anniversary, all completely free to the public. At the same time, spectators could see and hear all the cars participating in the Tour d’Elegance as they made their way around Aquidneck Island, something truly special.

Each year brings a wave of new people to Newport for our event. Not only are people traveling from around the world to be in attendance, but it’s also great for the local community. Newport’s economy heavily relies on tourism as a seasonal town, and Motor Week really extends the tourist season. As a car enthusiast, it’s amazing that so many people attend our events and enjoy the City- by-the-Sea in the process.

Of course, Jay Leno attends every year as our chairman, and in years past we’ve hosted Emily Ratajkowski, Alexis DeJoria, Matt Farah from the Smoking Tire, Parker from Vehicle Virgins; this year we had the pleasure of welcoming Spike’s Car Radio to our event. This was very exciting for me personally as a religious listener of their show each week. They even recorded an episode of their podcast with a live audience at The Gathering.

In my opinion, Spike’s show is exceptionally well suited to our event because it embodies fun, which remains our primary focus in delivering successful and engaging events. Spike’s co-host, Jonny Lieberman, one of the world’s most prominent car journalists, was also a judge at our concours. I’ve looked up to Jonny for many years and seeing him enjoy himself throughout the weekend was wonderful.

Looking across the Concours field on Sunday at The Breakers mansion was a treat; with more than 180 vehicles, it felt impressively full. The view from the water, house, and field is truly unlike any other car show.

This year, the Best of Show winner reflected the first time an unrestored car won the show. The winning 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Rimoldi Corto Spyder raced at the Mille Miglia and the Monte Carlo Rally in period. Alex MacAllister, the Alfa’s caretaker, was very excited to bring the car to Newport as he’d heard good things about the event. “It’s a special honor… unrestored cars are becoming more and more rare, and you can’t replace that originality,” he said, “it’s an extra special honor to see an unrestored car win Best of Show. There was a very impressive field of cars out here, strong competition!”

Looking at the Alfa in person, I could see why it won — the patina on the paint, cracking of the leather seats, worn wood on the steering wheel — I could easily imagine the races and adventures it had enjoyed over the years from its tasteful battle scars. For me, the Alfa very much embodies movable art. Of course, seeing a fully restored car in all its beauty is spectacular, but the unrestored form that has been loved and driven seems so much better.

Location, location, location

In that moment, standing among the cars, the crowd, and the coastline, I finally understood what my professor meant all those years ago. Location isn’t just about geography — it’s about context, connection, and experience. Newport provides all three in a way that few places can.

What started as a passion-driven car event has grown into something far greater: a celebration that brings enthusiasts, locals, and newcomers together in a setting that enhances every detail. Watching Motor Week evolve into a global event while still feeling personal and welcoming has been incredibly rewarding. The cars may be what draw people in, but the place — and the people — are what makes them come back for more.