Audrain Concours & Motor Week 2023
Audrain’s Concours and Motor Week is a bucket list event for auto enthusiasts. It’s considered one of the top 5 car shows or concours events in the world. We not only had the opportunity to attend the 2023 celebration but were also honored to have our 1956 Chrysler 300B be selected. There are thousands of applications submitted each year, so we were fortunate to have been 1 of 170 proud owners participating in this memorable event.
There’s no better venue then The Breakers mansion, home to the Vanderbilt family during the Gilded Age, and located on the scenic Ocean Cliffs in Newport, Rhode Island. Even the 62 mile Tour d’Elegance brought together some of the world’s most rare and exotic vehicles with Rhode Island’s most scenic views.
Newport’s extensive automotive history dates back as early as the Gilded Age. The first American car circuit race was held nearby and the first Vanderbilt Cup trophy was given in a race on September 6, 1900 in Newport. Willie K. Vanderbilt and some of his closest friends traveled to the nearby horse track to race their newly-imported automobiles. Little did they realize the impact their racing exploits would have on American racing culture.
Audrain hosted several seminars throughout the week, featuring some of the biggest names in the automotive world, e.g. Jay Leno, Donald Osborne (CEO of Audrain Automobile Museum), Chip Foose, Ralph Gilles (Head of Design at Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Fiat), and Mike Simcoe (Head of Design at GM). Gaining new perspective on the automobile history and approach to design was amazing. Then having a chance to show them in person our ’56 300B was priceless.
Audrain’s Concours and Motor Week provided numerous opportunities to meet up with fellow enthusiasts who simply loves everything about cars given the large part they’ve played in both our personal and country’s history (and continue to do today), a passion for preserving that history and having an understanding for how it will inspire the future of the automobile culture.
Jay Leno is an iconic auto collector. So to have him be gracious enough to spend a few minutes looking at our ’56 Chrysler 300B was a proud moment. Our encounter started with a joke, “Hey, it’s Jamey Foxx”…Leno says, from which we both get a good laugh. As fellow Chrysler 300 Club, Inc members, we briefly discussed our common interest in the the 300 Letter Cars and Jay offers a few compliments on the ’56, and we conclude our introduction with a mutual appreciation for having met. Jay is one of the most down-to-earth and personable people I’ve ever met.
Here’s a few more pictures from that amazing week in Newport!
