Car enthusiasts rejoice as Audrain Newport Concours and Motor Week returns to Aquidneck Island for a weekend celebrating everything about vintage automobiles.
As one of Newport’s major events of the fall, the Audrain Newport Concours and Motor Week is expected to draw large crowds, and fancy cars, to the City-by-the-Sea this September. Here’s all you need to know about the weekend.
When is Motor Week 2023?
Motor week will be held from Thursday, Sept. 28 through Sunday, Oct. 1, however, there are member-exclusive events held on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Audrain holds several events throughout the weekend across the city of Newport and the full schedule is online on the Audrain Concours website.
How much are tickets?
Depending on which events you want to attend, ticket prices range from $40 per seminar to $1,300 for an all-inclusive ticket. Individual tickets for two of the main events of the weekend, The Gathering and the Concours d’Elegance, cost $350 and between $150-$450 respectively. Individual tickets for the Hilltop Hangout and the Wine by the Water events are already sold out, but admittance to both is included in the all-inclusive ticket.
The weekend begins on Thursday with the Bonhams Car Auction Preview at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, which begins at 9 a.m. and lasts until 6 p.m. Another auction preview will be held at the same place the following Friday. The actual auction takes place at 4 p.m. on Friday.
Here, car enthusiasts who purchase the $100 bid package can bid on 53 vintage collector cars, including a 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster which Bonhams estimates to be worth between $1.2 million and $1.4 million.
Throughout the weekend, Audrain Motor Week will host 10 seminars, four of which will be hosted by Newport resident and car enthusiast Jay Leno. The topics range from responsible estate and auto donation planning to remarkable automobile designs.
The Gathering, one of the main events of the weekend, is a showcase of cars from collectors across New England. Attendees, including Jay Leno, are served beverages and food as they peruse through rows of vintage cars on the lawn of Rough Point mansion.
Of course, the Concours d’Elegance closes out the weekend on Sunday. It will feature over 100 vintage cars competing to be this year’s Best in Show. The competition has several categories, including Most Elegant and Timeless Luxury. Last year’s Best in Show was a 1930 Bentley Speed Six Sports Saloon.
Free events to attend
The Village at the International Tennis Hall of Fame will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Guests will be able to walk the grounds and view automobiles on display. There will also be a Bellevue Car Display on Saturday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. with cars on display along Bellevue Avenue.
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The Audrain Tour d’Elegance, a parade of vintage automobiles across Newport County, will start at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. The tour begins at Second Beach and snakes its way up Aquidneck Island then down the coast of Tiverton to Little Compton before turning around and heading back to Newport all the way to Brenton Point before turning around again and finishing at La Forge Restaurant in Newport.
A Cars & Coffee event will also be held on Saturday from 8-11 a.m. at Fort Adams, giving guests the opportunity to view various automobiles at the historic venue.
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