I was invited back by Braford Rand to judge The Hampton’s Concours in Bridgehampton Long Long Island, NY. Since my daughter Ellie graduated from UVM and is looking for a job in NYC, I temped her with a trip to the beach so I could spend time with my kid!

Bradford knows how to throw an event, and the show kicked off on Friday night with a private beach party for the judges and sponsors.

I’ve been going to the Hamptons less and less through the years as beach destination because of the crowds and traffic, but it’s events like this that reminds me why it’s worth it.

In conversation at the Beach Party, we learned they were short on judges, so I “volunteered” Ellie to judge the Concours! I often complain that judges at some concours are simply warm bodies that volunteer for a thankless job for free food and a shirt, but I actually felt Ellie had something to bring to the table. Ellie grew up around Ferraris, helped me around the shop, and even helped install a 365GTB/4 engine. She rode in dozens of Ferraris since the age of 3, and even drove a 599GTB (we’re still working on a manual). How many judges have credentials like that?

I paired Ellie up with my friend Glenn Simon who was the Chief Judge at the event, and I couldn’t think of a better person to mentor Ellie in her first Concours.

Although most of the cars I judged were much newer than what I usually work on, I did my best to welcome the participants and admire their cars. I often surprise myself on how much I actually know about the newer cars simply because I’m immersed in the world of Ferraris. Since I talk to Ferrari techs all the time, we’re always swapping stories about our customers, our problems with their cars, and the solutions to fix them. It gives me great insight than simply admiring the newer cars from afar!

Thanks Bradford for another year judging your event, and I look forward to next year!