Audrain/Newport Concours Motor Week 2019
It all began with my trip to Detroit to visit my friend Jacob Gilbert, who graciously invited me to the GM employee car show. Here, I had the incredible opportunity to photograph the new C8 Corvette alongside the 70's Aerovette concept.
This event at the Audrain Automobile Museum in Newport RI, marked the first time that so many GM concept cars were displayed together outside of the GM Heritage Collection. Jacob, who maintains all these concepts, travels with them to various shows to educate enthusiasts.
Following this, I was approached by the museum to photograph the collection inside their premises. Additionally, they invited me to join as their official photographer for their inaugural Concours d’Elegance, known as the Audrain/Newport Concours Motor Week.
Upon returning from Detroit, I headed straight to the museum. As I arrived, I was greeted by two large Reliable Carrier rigs filled with automotive marvels. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement as everyone was prepared and knew their roles, making it easier for me to direct a few individuals to ensure I captured this special moment. However, one small challenge arose – an employee from Reliable was wearing a bright orange shirt that seemed to constantly find its way into my frames. It proved to be quite the task to avoid his orange shirt from appearing in many of the photos!
When I'm working, I'm always on the lookout for shots that tell stories. Sometimes, people unintentionally walk into the frame, which can be a bit frustrating. It's a matter of people not being aware of their surroundings or realizing they might be a distraction. Nevertheless, I had a blast throwing the drone in the air to capture the essence of the entire day's setting in a single photo. Working with the Audrain Museum has been delightful; everyone I've interacted with has been incredibly kind.
One particularly exclusive event called The Gathering was held at one of the mansions, and it was superb! Some of the most exquisite machines graced us with their presence. Chefs were preparing all sorts of delectable dishes, and prestigious companies unveiled their featured cars exclusively for the occasion. It was a day of automotive luxury and elegance.
Now onto the main event, the Audrain/Newport Concours! It kicked off with me standing atop the Newport bridge. The city shuts down one side that leads into Newport so the cars featured in the show can cross over to the Cars and Coffee event. Initially, I thought I'd be at the top of the tower, which freaked me out as I was afraid of heights! Luckily, I was on the road portion, which eased my stomach a bit, though it was still a challenge because I'm not fond of bridges and could feel it bouncing.
It was incredibly exhilarating standing in the middle of the road, watching the police motorcycles and the rest of the cars crest over the bridge. Jay Leno and Donald Osbourne were in the Caddy, leading Rod Emory’s Porsche and the rest of this extraordinary pack of automobiles. I weaved between the cars as they passed by, trying to capture the expressions of people enjoying this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Once the cars had all passed by, the van picked us up and brought us back to our cars. By the time I got to the Fort, I had to park quite far away and ended up running down the road with two cameras bouncing off my sides. I spotted a golf cart driver and urgently asked him to take me to where the cars were, knowing I had to get there before they took off for the tour.
To capture some overall shots of the event, the Fort staff kindly brought me up on the top of the walls where I had an incredible view of the entire harbor. It was an amazing experience in itself. As I was looking for a car to ride along for the tour, I approached Nick Grewal and asked if I could ride in his Bugatti Type 57. He agreed, so I made my way to the car door to get in. However, before I could, Rick Shad opened the door and went to get in. Unaware it was him, I gave a bit of attitude. It wasn't until later in the tour that I realized my mistake - it wasn't Nick's Bugatti after all. I apologized to Rick for the misunderstanding shortly after.
Riding in the unbelievably gorgeous Green 1931 Lincoln Model K was a true pleasure, and the driver was incredibly cooperative as a camera car. He would pull over willingly to let a few cars pass, allowing me to capture shots of different cars along the single-lane roads. What a champ! Now, let me pose a question to you – If you were driving and saw a caravan of rare cars coming down the road, and you were trying to pull onto that same road, wouldn't you wait until it passed by? Most of you would say yes because you're smart. But not this nitwit in a Golf GTI who pulled right behind us. I was shouting at him to move over, showing him my camera, and the guy finally got the hint after throwing his hands in the air like he didn’t know what to do. Ridiculous!
For the rest of the day, I hung around the Village and waited for the John Legend concert. I was fortunate enough to spend some time backstage with Jay Leno and John Legend, which was a memorable experience.
The grounds for the Concours were nothing short of stellar! With my cameras attached to my harness, I set out across the street and past the grand wrought iron gates. There, I was greeted by Ben Chester, who was checking in the show cars. Walking onto the show field, I was met with a beautiful view of the ocean, as the event was held at one of the magnificent mansions overlooking the coast of Newport. The cars were already in their spots, with people busily prepping them to be judged.
As the official photographer, I had to have everything planned out for the day, so I walked around to scout all the different vantage points for capturing shots at different times. The time of day plays a significant role in determining where I need to be, but with this being the inaugural event, it was a bit unpredictable. I saw many friendly faces, and everyone was delighted to have another fantastic automotive event in the New England area.
I met up with Bruce and Andrew Male, with whom I've become good friends and for whom I take photos for their company Motorology. During our time together, a young man came up to them and expressed his enthusiasm for the 1956 Maserati A6G/2000 Berlinetta Zagato. It truly made the Male's day to see such passion in a younger generation for vintage cars. Our community is held together by this shared passion, and we all hope to see it continue for generations to come. These two won the Father-Son Award, and rightfully so with their beautiful Maseratis.
Having many great vantage points to shoot from was a blessing. Reflecting on the event, I've decided that for the next one, I'll have Nathan Deremer and Shawn Jordan work with me. I know they'll bring a fresh perspective and their talent will result in even more vivid imagery of the people and the museum. Their expertise and creativity will surely elevate the coverage of the event to new heights.
One of the most amusing moments of the entire day was when a woman won an award but wasn’t present to collect it. Jay Leno actually called her up on the phone to inform her that she had won. Her reaction was priceless, and the impromptu phone call made for a memorable interaction with the crowd.
For a debut event, the Audrain Automobile Museum truly exceeded expectations. From the dynamic hosting by Jay Leno and Donald Osbourne to the delectable brown sugar bacon in the VIP tent (cue laughter for those in the know about the bacon), this show left a lasting impression on many. I have a strong feeling that attendees will eagerly return for the next Audrain/Newport Concours in 2021.
A huge thanks is owed to Executive Director David Muzio, Donald Osborne, Jay Leno, Benjamin Mercer, Ben Chester, and the entire staff for orchestrating such a spectacular event for everyone to enjoy! If you're interested in viewing more photos or purchasing some wall art, please click the link below.