Words and Photos: Wesley Smith
I’ve known about Newport, Rhode Island for years, its Gilded Age architecture, its long history with the America’s Cup that spanned more than fifty years, and even the Tennis Hall of Fame, where a close friend of mine once worked as the resident pro. Somehow, though, the Museum and Concours had escaped my attention until a few years ago, when the watch brand A. Lange & Söhne began participating in the event. This year marked their third as title sponsor, and it was a special one for me, as they invited me to experience a weekend immersed in cars and watches for the first time in this storied seaside town.
Not all car events are created equal. This may seem obvious, but I truly believe even a random meetup with friends can feel like an elevated experience. When you throw in conversation, good coffee, or the chance to reconnect with someone you haven’t seen in a while, everything can be heightened. No crowds, pomp, or circumstance. And then there are other events exhibiting all three and you can still enjoy it. Both can exist and both can be a blast. On rare occasions, they can coexist, which is exactly why I feel Audrain is special. It strikes every chord.
Sometimes it’s said that location doesn’t matter, that it’s the people who make an experience. While that’s certainly true, Newport is an incredibly unique place, even before you consider the placement of cars. My heartstrings were already pulled during the drive from Boston’s Logan Airport. The roads reminded me of those outside my hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, scenes I always miss this time of year. With the fall foliage beginning to change and the open fields glowing under the September sun, it was a welcome sight after my journey across the country. That same beauty would reappear throughout the weekend at each of the historic properties.
Friday morning hosted The Gathering at Rough Point, Doris Duke’s estate, serving as a preview Lawn Party to Sunday’s concours. A vintage Citroen camper van was refashioned into a champagne booth which welcomed you just inside the entrance. Several businesses occupied tents where they sold their wares. Walking around the undulating property was impressive to experience when contemplating the fact it once served as a single family’s Summer home - the manicured, green grass perfectly complementing the smooth, harder surfaces of the array of automobiles staring at the Atlantic. It was the sort of scene which may elicit the notion of pomp, but with the shining sun, few clouds to speak of, the feeling was relaxed and genuine. Though I was in a dress shirt and chinos, others were in suits, while many wore much more casual clothes, yet we all belonged. Similar to the range of cars spread across the lawn, the crowd spanned generations, and the mix felt natural and easy. The toughest thing to handle, perhaps, was the bright light for us shutterbugs, a good problem to have and one that comes with the territory.
As the one-man band behind STANDARD H, I produce apparel and host a podcast about timepieces, so I was delighted to interview A. Lange & Söhne CEO Wilhelm Schmid. We walked around the impressive display of machinery on the Rough Point lawn, discussing the brand’s participation, his personal connection to cars, and even which one he’d drive home if he could. Quality is well represented in Newport, not only in the cars but also in the watches created by and on display from A. Lange & Söhne.
At the Tennis Hall of Fame, several of the grass courts had been transformed for a display called “Race Cars Through the Ages,” a collection of a dozen or so remarkable machines spanning multiple decades. The exhibit made me want to pinch myself, a reminder of the quality on display throughout the weekend. Among them were Michael Schumacher’s 1997 Formula 1 car, a 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, a Cunningham Le Mans entry, and a pair of Alfa Romeos that caught my attention. The lineup alone could have stood as its own concours. Inside the nearby Casino Theatre, Donald Osborne led a conversation with Michael Simcoe, former Head of Global Design at General Motors, and Anthony de Haas, Director of Product Development at A. Lange & Söhne. Hearing two highly respected figures discuss design and how it shapes a brand isn’t something you find at an ordinary cars and coffee.
As for growing brands, the weekend also marked the launch of two special watches from the title sponsor. The Saxonia Thin made its debut in two new case materials: platinum and Lange’s patented Honey Gold. They also hosted new onyx stone dials which looked so dark, they’re more akin to Vantablack™ which nearly rendered me speechless. Even in these simple, two-handed watches, ALS displayed an incredible amount of detail. Through the sapphire case back was a glimpse into, arguably, the finest finishing in watch making. Not unlike cars, it’s best to witness these types of details up close and personal, which perfectly explains why a brand like ALS would want to partner with such a special event. It’s a wonderful celebration of mechanical artistry.
The Audrain Tour d’Elegance began at 8am Saturday morning. The drive embodied why weekends like this are so special. It was a pleasure to see the cars, it was another to see them up close, and it was an entirely different third thing to witness them driven. If you’d told the 12-year old me about these cars being in the same place at the same time, I wouldn’t have believed you. There was not one, but multiple 250 SWB Ferraris, many pre-war cars, and even a Lamborghini Countach Police car. Again, things were present I could’ve only made up in a dream as a child. I was incredibly fortunate to be invited to ride in one of the new, UK-based Arcade vehicles. The drive was 3 hours long and felt like an hour. Locals were at nearly every turn, outside of their homes, waving and taking photos of the cavalcade of dreams. There was no circumstance, just a feeling of community and inclusion on display.
Saturday night hosted a huge Gala with the theme of American Bandstand, and exhibited a live auction. The music was accompanied by a dance troop straight out of Grease, whereas MC’s Donald Osborne and Jay Leno kept the energy and the paddles high. It was a fun way to spend the penultimate evening, while I was still excited for the Concours the next morning.
The Concours d’Elegance on Sunday took place at The Breakers, which is certainly among the most well-known summer “cottages” in the area once owned by the Vanderbilts. The sheer size of the homes never ceased to amaze me. As a fan of architecture, the Audrain did an incredible job serving the estates as other-worldly backdrops to the Concours. Recently, I’ve found through conversation, people are craving smaller, more intimate events. Quality over Quantity, if you will. Though the weekend at Audrain Concours is no small feat, it’s small in comparison to other events. To me, it was the perfect size: small enough to see everything, yet big enough never to be bored.
I spent a few minutes speaking with Jay Leno Sunday morning, and when asked why he enjoys coming to this particular concours, Mr. Leno responded, “It’s what Pebble Beach was in the ‘70s. It’s a bit more laid back. And the cars are far apart.” It was then when I realized he brought up something I hadn’t yet, consciously, realized. I never felt cramped, or rushed… anywhere, at any time.
Like Friday, but on a larger scale, the cars often organized by brand were just astounding. As a lover of Zagato shapes, I thoroughly appreciated them being one of the first pods of vehicles to greet me when entering the open space. Towards the middle were the aforementioned Ferraris. My first car love as a child was a prancing horse, so I was also thrilled by the sight of an immaculate 308 in the back row.
In 1999, Cruel Intentions made me aware of the Jaguar XKs, but I’d never seen a pale blue one quite like the one on the lawn that day. Wow. No disrespect, but when the Mercedes 300 SLs were almost a foregone conclusion, you know the assortment was exquisite. However, the Mercs were far from mundane. There’s something about those cars, especially in silver, and in bright sunlight.
Sadly, I had to leave midway through the event to head back to Boston, but that wasn’t before stopping by the “30 Under 30" row of cars. This was a really exciting aspect of the Audrain Concours. This class was created for enthusiast owners under the age of 30 who spent less than $30,000 on their restoration. I absolutely loved witnessing this, especially when thinking of ways to include the next generation of automotive enthusiasts in what might be a cost-prohibitive endeavor. The Audrain had their answer in the 30 Under 30.
To me, the Audrain Concours was a perfect event. Naturally, the measuring stick was going to be Monterrey Car Week, but bigger isn’t always better, which was Audrain’s selling point. Yes, there was the ceremony of it all, but with the smaller scale, it inherently felt more approachable. It felt like a locals’ event, even if the vast majority of attendees live outside the state of Rhode Island. The Quality Cocktail of cars and watches made quite the recipe when paired with the camaraderie of the local Newport community. Having it all take place on incredible seaside real estate under a bright sun, and well, you might call it Heaven.
One thing is for certain: there are plenty of car events to attend throughout the year - some larger than others, but none are sponsored by one of the finest watch brands in the world. Newport is special, and as a California resident, I hope the next time I’m on a Pebble Beach fairway, it’s because my drive was straight, and my caddie has pulled the right club for my approach.
A huge thank you to A. Lange & Söhne for hosting me. Your hospitality and accommodation were second to none, and a big congratulations to Audrain on a truly wonderful event.
