“I’d like to thank the universe for this wonderful weather and great breeze,” said Donald Osborne, Audrain Automobile Museum’s Consulting Director (and recent former CEO), about the clear skies. Osborne was on hand at the Youngtimers event to oversee competition between the classic cars of tomorrow: those hot wheels from the 1980s, 1990, and 2000s. It wasn’t just the style of car that was judged last Saturday, July 12, but the retro spirit, flair, and fashion of those decades.
“And remember, we’re rewarding the cars and the fashion,” Osborne emphasized.
Car enthusiast and comedian (and famous part-time Newport resident) Jay Leno made an appearance midway through to congratulate the winners in their respective categories.
Leno was super generous with his time, taking pictures with everyone and he spoke with several individuals about their cars (he really is the nicest!). One overheard conversation entailed two gentlemen and Leno talking about a certain vehicle that prompted them to get on the phone with a friend. That friend couldn’t recall all the details, to which one of them quipped, “You’re embarrassing me in front of Jay Leno!”
Hilarious stuff.
There were awesome vintage tunes provided by a live DJ, including the Pointer Sisters’ “I’m So Excited” and Daft Punk’s “One More Time” (that song is my jam). I wasn’t the only one vibing to the music as I caught Osborne jamming to the beat as he made his way to the line of cars.
The outfits were outrageous, just like the loud decades they represented (well, mostly the 80’s in that case). There was plenty of tie-dye and fluorescent colors, but there were also race car jumpers, Pokémon, a Miami Vice-inspired suit and a blinged out dog (my personal favorite). Dressing the part was very important and contributed largely to the winning entries!
The Audrain Youngtimers is about curating the car enthusiasts of tomorrow and cultivating “the growth of the world of automotive enthusiasm through the celebration of iconic vehicles of recent vintage.”
According to Audrain, what constitutes a youngtimer is “a vehicle not yet old enough to meet the traditional criteria of ‘vintage’, but that speaks to its time in a compelling way and has in short time begun to resonate with both the people who remembered how much they loved them when they were new and a younger generation discovering the appeal they’ve never lost.”
Lucas Guite, a 12-year-old boy who, along with his dad, Nathan Guite, won Second Place for their 2002 Acura NSX, is part of the next generation of car curators. He’s grown up around cars and signed up to be a Youth Judge during Audrain’s Newport Concourse d’Elegance Week last year and loved the experience. He proudly wore his Youth Judge t-shirt at the Youngtimers event while his dad was resplendent in tie-dye.
“It was pretty cool,” he said about the judging experience. “They gave you a paper, and then you write how good you think it is on the different parts like electronics and condition.”
Nathan said he was the only kid who looked under the cars for further inspection. Lucas explained that he was looking for rust or “if it’s clean.”
He said his favorite was a Blue Peugeot that he got to judge at Concourse Week. “I like Japanese stuff,” he added as well. Lucas is interested in becoming an engineer or doctor when he’s older.
What a fun event Youngtimers was, and quite different from Audrain’s swankier Concourse Week. From the car choices, vibes and fashion, Youngtimers has a fun energy that was on full fabulous display last weekend.
Here’s the full list of winners:
1980s:
• Fashion Award: Jill Grayson – 1984 Camaro Y28
• 2nd Place Vehicle: Ulisses Varela – 1986 Audi S1E2
• 1st Place Vehicle: Michael Lovering – 1986 Toyota AE86 Corolla
1990s:
• Fashion Award: Benjamin Lescaut – 1997 Caterham Super 7
• 2nd Place Vehicle: John Lopes – 1992 VW GTI
• 1st Place Vehicle: Benning Wentworth – 1992 Tommy Kaira M20
2000s:
• Fashion Award: Christopher Lamoie – 2007 Ford Shelby GT500
• 2nd Place Vehicle: Nathan Guite – 2002 Acura NSX
• 1st Place Vehicle: Dave Clayman – 2006 Saleen S281 Extreme Mustang
Best overall “collecting moving forward award”: Tobias Aldrich – 1981 VW Jetta Coupe
Photo Gallery
All photos by Veronica Bruno for What’sUpNewp
