The annual NER Concours was held on Saturday, October 5, at The Elms in Newport, RI with beautiful sunny weather. The Concours coincided with the fifth Audrain Concours and Motor Week activities that took place October 3-6, culminating on Sunday, with an international Audrain Concours d’Elegance held at The Breakers, the former summer residence of Cornelius Vanderbilt II.
The Elms was the summer residence of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Julius Berwind of Philadelphia and New York. Mr. Berwind made his fortune in the coal industry. In 1898, he engaged Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer to design a house modeled after the mid-18th century French chateau d’Asnieres (c.1750) outside Paris.
The NER Concours included two categories: Full and Werks. The Full category used traditional judging sheets, examining Porsche exteriors, interiors, storage compartments, engine compartments (where viewable), and wheels/wheel wells. Each entrant started with a perfect score, with point deductions for soil or uncorrected blemishes. The entrants, in class, were ordered in descending point order. First place and two runner-up trophies were awarded per class.
Participants in the Werks category prepared their cars for the Concours, however unlike traditional Full or Parade style judging, Werks judging considers not only the appearance but also the history of the car, its usage by the owners, and overall aesthetic appeal. Werks judging creates a somewhat more relaxed environment and encourages participation by a wide variety of interesting Porsches. At PCA Werks Reunions in Monterey and Amelia Island, everything is found from highly authentic restored cars, Le Mans winning race cars, outlaw & hot rod style Porsche builds, and unique original cars.
This year’s Concours had almost 200 Porsches on the lawn, between 103 Concours entrants and 95 spectator Porsches. Porsches began arriving at 7:00 am with volunteers, followed at 8:00 am by entrants and spectators. George’s Food Truck was ready for all the early arrivals with hot coffee and tasty breakfast pastries for purchase, followed later with delicious lunches.
Volunteers quickly got to direct the parking of Concours entrants in ther respective classes, supervised parking of spectator Porsches to the designated area, setting up the registration and scoring area, and hooking up the P/A system. By 9:30 am, a judges meeting run by Head Judges Paul Whooten for Full and Ceileidh Segal for Werks assembled the judging teams and provided final instructions.
Thanks to the many NER member volunteers, judge teams were able to begin the judging at 10:00 am. The awards ceremony commenced shortly after 1:00pm.
The Concours trophies consisted of 7 ½” tall rectangular inscribed glass and base and were presented to recipients by NER President, Glenn Champagne. He and Betty Mae Mosley, NER Secretary, spent all day helping make the Concours function by assisting in numerous capacities.
Mark Shane, NER VP Admin, was instrumental in facilitating the parking of spectators all day. All their help was very much appreciated.
Several special trophies were presented by some of the sponsors. Rick Lavigne, of Quonset Motor Sport, selected Sonny Roussel and his pristine 1971 white 911 for his special sponsor’s award. Grenon’s of Newport awarded a “Spirit of Speed” award to Gina Catalano and her 1974 yellow 911 Targa, presented by Ceileidh Segal. Glenn presented the Cayman Island Tourist Office special trophy to Earle Assanah for his immaculate 2020 Cayman 718 GT4.
Complete Concours results are reflected in the accompanying tables. The high quality of Porsches entered in the Concours was only in keeping with the impressive surroundings of The Elms and the gorgeous weather. Whether attendees were participating in the Concours or parking their Porsche as a spectator, an elegant time was available to all. Many thanks to the numerous volunteers who allowed this event to function with timely precision, particularly to those who shared their enthusiasm and expertise by serving as judges for the Full and Werks categories.
Several special Porsches were on display including a Carrera GT, two 964 Turbos S flat nose Coupes, a tribute Mark Donahue IROC winning 1974 RSR, a Lola/Porsche race car, 2018 911 GT2 RS Manthey, 2024 992 GT3 RS and Kim Saal’s Concours winning 1958 356 Coupe.
Special gratitude goes to key volunteers who were instrumental in the execution of another fine NER Concours including Bob Hinrichs (Concours Vice Chair), Sterling Vernon (motorsportreg, t-shirts, scoring) Paul Whooten, Rick Boyer (spectator parking), Ceileidh Segal, Patricia Collins (registration), and Roberta Melchar (registration). A special thanks goes to those who helped on Friday to set up the lawn including Bob Hinrichs, Pat Burke, Luis Lebrun, Pete Johnson, Fred Johnson, Tony Miraglia and Bill Cambra.
Lastly, the ability of Concours attendees to leave their Porsches on the lawn of The Elms until 6:00 pm after the conclusion of the Concours to visit nearby Audrain exhibits, including the Audrain Concours entrant display on Bellevue Avenue, Motor Village and the Audrain Museum was very helpful due to difficult Newport parking. We hope to see everyone at next year’s Concours!
NER would like to thank Dave Melchar and the volunteer crew that put on this amazing event!
CONCOURS WERKS RESULTS
| Werks Category | Rank | Entrant | Porsche |
| 356 | 1 | Michael Alves | 1960 356B Cab |
| 911 ’65-‘73 | 1 | Susan Silberberg | 1970 911T |
| 2 | Rob Nudelman | 1965 911 | |
| 3 | Blaine Stein | 1970 911 S Targa | |
| 911 ’74-‘89 | 1 | Karl Spooner | 1986 911 Turbo |
| 2 | Aaron Pring | 1986 911 Carrera Targa | |
| 3 | Gina Catalano | 1987 911 Carrera Targa | |
| 914 | 1 | Ellen & Bruce Hays | 1974 914 |
| 964/993 | 1 | Elizabeth Henderson | 1992 964 Targa |
| 2 | Frank & Jill Chicherchia | 1991 964 Targa | |
| 3 | Sokol Kodrasi | 1995 993 C2 | |
| 996/997 | 1 | John Nai | 2011 997 GT3 RS |
| 2 | Ralph Trepanier | 2003 996 GT2 | |
| 3 | Ted & Lisa Shaw | 1999 996 C2 | |
| 991/992 | 1 | Kevin Donaldson | 2017 991 Carrera |
| 2 | Andrew Lewis | 2023 992 GT3 | |
| 3 | Kevin Moran | 2018 991 GT3 | |
| 4 | John Buckley | 2019 991 GT2 RS | |
| Boxster/Cayman | 1 | Anthony Curreri | 2011 Boxster Spyder |
| 2 | Michael Ladouceur | 1999 Boxster | |
| 3 | Judith Wojcik | Boxster | |
| 924/944/968/928 | 1 | Timothy Lippold | 1989 944 S2 |
| 2 | Christopher Hoell | 1991 944 S2 | |
| 3 | Peter Feinstein | 1987 924S | |
| Panamera/Cayenne/Macan/Taycan | 1 | Peter Palermo | 2015 Panamera |
| 2 | Dave Wojcik | 2006 Cayenne Turbo | |
| 3 | John Bentley | 2013 Cayenne Diesel |
CONCOURS RESULTS
| Full Category | Rank | Entrant | Porsche | Points |
| 356 | 1 | Tom Moses | 1960 356 S-90 Coupe | 284.5 |
| 914/914-6 | 1 | Joseph Moccia | 914 2.0 | 279 |
| 911 ’65-‘73 | 1 | Christopher DeGrace | 1973 911S Coupe | 297 |
| 2 | Fred Johnson | 1971 911T Coupe | 292.5 | |
| 3 | Sonny Rousell | 1971 911 | 292 | |
| 4 | Mark Lappin | 1970 911T | 277.5 | |
| 911 ’74-‘89 | 1 | Keith Bianchi | 1989 Carrera | 292.5 |
| 2 | Joseph Venturoso | 1986 Carrera Targa | 284 | |
| 3 | Robert Leonhardt | 1988 Carrera | 271 | |
| 4 | David Reilly | 1989 911 Turbo | 270.5 | |
| 5 | Jeremy Pinsly | 1988 Carrera | 269.5 | |
| 6 | Jaime Barnes | 1974 911 Targa | 251.5 | |
| 7 | Richard Towle | 1984 Carrera | 205 | |
| 964/993 | 1 | Justin Pessa | 1997 993 C2 | 295.5 |
| 2 | Jack Bevilacqua | 1995 993 C2 | 285.5 | |
| 3 | David Flynn | 1995 993 C2S | 281.5 | |
| 996/997 | 1 | George Castellano | 2012 997 C4 GTS Cab | 299.5 |
| 2 | Paul Whooten | 2011 997 Turbo S | 295.5 | |
| 3 | Mark Hinckley | 2004 996 C4S Cab | 294 | |
| 4 | Luis Lebron | 2004 996 C4S Cab | 293.5 | |
| 5 | Pete Johnston | 2010 997 C2S Cab | 291.5 | |
| 6 | Tony Magnanelli | 2005 911 | 278.5 | |
| 7 | Brian Kearney | 2002 996 C2 | 275 | |
| 8 | Constantine Tsivelekidis | 2008 997C2S | 274 | |
| 9 | Robert Gauvin | 911 | 271 | |
| 991/992 | 1 | Joshua Teverow | 2019 991 Speedster | 261 |
| 2 | Alanso Bonifacio | 2024 992 GTS | 254.5 | |
| 3 | Ian Haan | 2018 991 Carrera T | 251.5 | |
| 4 | Dale Roberts | 2024 992 Carrera S | 249.5 | |
| 5 | Emanuel Coelho | 2023 992 C4 GTS Cab | 243 | |
| 5 | Mark Popeleski | 2024 992 Carrera S | 243 | |
| 7 | Robert Bowie | 2015 991 | 241 | |
| 8 | Ann Fagan | 2014 C2S 50TH Anniversary Edition | 234 | |
| 9 | Robert Seigel | 2015 991 C4S | 228.5 | |
| 10 | John Davidson | 2013 991 Carrera S | 219 | |
| Boxster/Cayman | 1 | Earle Assanah | 2020 718 GT4 | 299.5 |
| 2 | Daniel Neri | Cayman | 254.5 | |
| 3 | Robert Reyes | 2021 718 GTS 4.0 | 253.5 | |
| 4 | Gary Cooper | 2013 Boxster | 253 | |
| 5 | Kevin Fitzgerald | 2013 Boxster S | 252.5 | |
| 6 | Michael Panarello | 2015 Boxster S | 252 | |
| 7 | Rick Archambault | 2012 Boxster S | 250.5 | |
| 8 | Coleman Maguire | 2024 Cayman GTS 4.0 | 250.5 | |
| 9 | Larry Levin | 2022 Cayman GTS 4.0 | 250 | |
| 10 | Ryan Kitlinski | 2010 Boxster | 249.5 | |
| 11 | Cindy Teverow | 2023 718 Boxster Spyder | 248 | |
| 11 | Craig Desrosiers | 1999 Boxster | 246 | |
| 13 | Don Derosiers | 2014 918 Boxster | 244.5 | |
| 14 | Eric Letson | 2015 Boxster S | 243.5 | |
| 15 | Jose Alberto | 2006 Cayman S | 242 | |
| 16 | Bill Porter | 2007 Cayman S | 238 | |
| 924/944/968/928 | 1 | Austin Spooner | 1983 944 | 296 |
| 2 | William Cambra | 1990 944 S2 | 289.5 | |
| 2 | Ken Pelletier | 1987 928 S4 | 289.5 | |
| Cayenne/Macan/Panamera/Taycan | 1 | Lauren Pagani | 2024 Macan GTS | 299.5 |
| 2 | James Burgarella | 2017 Macan GTS | 298.5 | |
| 2 | Scott MacDonald | Macan | 298.5 | |
| 4 | Cathy Spooner | 2015 Macan S | 296 | |
| 5 | Lou DiRienzo | 202 Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid | 295.5 | |
| 6 | Reginald Macari | 2016 Cayenne GTS | 294 |
