Judge Spotlight: Honoring the People Behind the Awards, by Mike Thies

I believe my Blog provides an excellent platform to recognize the dedicated, long-term judges who support the car hobby and events throughout the country. Some have contributed decades of service while judging several major events every year. Their knowledge, fairness and willingness to share what they have learned help preserve the integrity of concours judging. I invite submissions for anyone to put up a Blog about your heros; stories, photographs and background may be posted for free at https://www.southeastwheelsevents.com/profiles/blog/list

In that spirit, I would like to recognize one of my heroes in the car show judging community, Paul A. Ianuario Sr., who recently completed his 25th year as a judge at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, an extraordinary milestone in a distinguished concours career.  Paul has also judged at Amelia Island and numerous other major concours events. He helped establish the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance, has served as its Chief Judge, and remains a Senior Consultant, board member and Honorary Judge. His contributions go well beyond simply arriving on show day and evaluating automobiles.

Paul is a retired engineer who spent more than 40 years in the automotive supplier industry and holds degrees in engineering, mathematics and physics. He served for 20 years as curator of the BMW Zentrum, has advised museums and collector-car events, and maintains a collection of historically significant automobiles ranging fro

m 1908 through 1972. He is an AACA judge, a CCCA Master Judge and a recipient of the Lee Iacocca Award for his work in preserving automotive history.  

Paul represents what serious concours judging should be: knowledge supported by experience, respect for the automobiles and owners, and a willingness to give back to the hobby year after year. His record deserves our recognition, and I hope his story will be the first of many Judge Profiles celebrating the people whose quiet dedication makes our events possible. And most of all he is just a great guy!