Paul Ianuario Named Chief Judge of 2013 Pinehurst Concours d'Elegance

The entrant experience takes a leap forward for the inaugural Pinehurst Concours d'Elegance with the naming of Paul Ianuario as Chief Judge for the event, slated for May 2 through 5, 2013. In this role, Ianuario will oversee the highly-competitive judging process, including selecting judges and assigning vehicle classes.

Ianuario's reputation as a Concours judge is unimpeachable. He is a Master Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) and Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) judge, and has judged at Concours in Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, Hilton Head, Louisville and many others.

'I am honored to be chosen as the Chief Judge for the inaugural Pinehurst Concours d'Elegance,' said Ianuario. 'It took a lot of discussion with Concours founder Dean Kessel and director of events Brian Barr for me to come to the decision to accept this position, but I am very confident that this event will be a success – it has all of the elements to make it so and I hope that my consultation and assistance will only enhance it further.'

Hailing from Duncan, SC, Ianuario is a retired engineer with more than 45 years of experience working for companies such as Michelin Tire and his own company, SLR Support Services, which provides consulting and support for museums and vehicle-related events. Ianuario is also Curator of the BMW Zentrum museum in Spartanburg, SC, a Director of the AACA Museum in Hershey, PA, and is on the steering committee of the newly-opened LaMay Museum in Tacoma, WA. He also works for a variety of additional museums around the world, as well as consulting on collector-vehicle events.

But Ianuario's not just a judge. He's also the owner of an eclectic collection of several dozen automobiles, many of which are award-winning thanks to his meticulous nature. He regularly exercises many of these cars, which include a 1910 Chalmers Detroit, a 1912 Hudson, a 1941 Lincoln Continental, and a 1948 Chrysler Town and Country, at a variety of vintage events.

Over the years, Ianuario has won a variety of awards for his contributions for preserving automotive history, including the prestigious Lee Iacocca Award in 2008, for demonstrating an 'extraordinary dedication to the classic car hobby through vehicle preservation, club participation, and is one who has unselfishly assisted and encouraged others in perpetuating an 'American Automotive Tradition.''

'To have Paul Ianuario as the Chief Judge of the Pinehurst Concours d'Elegance is an incredible accomplishment,' said Dean Kessel, founder and CEO of the Pinehurst Concours d'Elegance. 'His depth of knowledge, resources, and contacts in the industry will elevate our Concours to a true top-tier U.S. event.'