Ritzy parties, billion-dollar auctions: 2 events are changing the car hobby

Chris Sattlberger via Getty Images

(MIAMI) — Historic sports cars, million-dollar roadsters and one-off supercars will be on display when two of the auto industry’s flashiest events take place next month.

Enthusiasts from all over the country will travel to Florida March 1-3 to revel in classic and modern cars that are seldom shown in public.

ModaMiami, billed as the “ultimate car show on America’s East Coast,” and The Amelia, “one of the world’s most recognized lifestyle concours,” are likely to draw more than 30,000 spectators. Both events will also feature auctions that could shatter sales records.

The fact that gearheads may be forced to choose between Moda and Amelia has divided the enthusiast community. The inaugural ModaMiami is hosted by RM Sotheby’s at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables; The Amelia, in its 29th year, takes over the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island and is organized by Hagerty.

“It does not do the hobby any favors by having these on the same weekend,” said one longtime auto analyst who has taken part in The Amelia. “People in South Florida may not opt to come up north to show their car. ModaMiami is trying to draw attention away from Amelia.”

The scheduling conflict has a backstory: When Hagerty took over control of The Amelia Concours d’Elegance from founder and car collector Bill Warner, it replaced RM Sotheby’s, the event’s official auction house, with its newly acquired company, Broad Arrow Auctions. Rob Myers, CEO of RM Sotheby’s, said he decided at that point to explore the “concours business” and organize a show that was “the opposite of Amelia and Hagerty.”

“ModaMiami will be a different crowd from Amelia … a lifestyle event, not just an auction,” Myers told ABC News. “I plan on being in Miami next year and maybe do a few of these around the country. This is our first year and I don’t know what to expect. But we’re doing the best we can.”

The auto analyst noted that Myers, though a “savvy business guy,” can be an “absolute pit bull” and has “axes to grind” with Hagerty.

Michigan-based Hagerty has come under fire recently for trying to “own the collector space” and raising ticket prices at its events, which include RADwood, the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, Motorlux and the California Mille.

“I look forward to how ModaMiami turns out,” the analyst said, though RM Sotheby’s departure “has been an unfortunate loss for Amelia and the local businesses and people.”

At least 25,000 people will attend this year’s multiday car culture celebration on Amelia Island, said McKeel Hagerty, The Amelia chairman and Hagerty CEO, who conceded that ModaMiami would make it challenging for enthusiasts to experience both gatherings.

“It’s unfortunate there’s been a purposeful event to pull some people away from Amelia and all the things happening around it,” Hagerty told ABC News. “We’re going to produce a great show this year and make it exist for another 29 years.”

Hagerty also addressed the recent criticism from fellow enthusiasts.

“We have been attending these events longer than when we were first approached by owners to buy,” he said. “Some people have seen our growth and are questioning it. We’re trying to execute at a high level … our job is to steward these events for the long term.”

Hagerty said this year’s activities will appeal to a broad group of motoring fans. There’s a seminar and a movie night. Saturday’s “Cars & Community” will include a RADwood display, Concours d’Lemons, ride and drives and a Bavarian beer garden. Guests can check out Ricky Hendrick’s car collection including the Garage 56 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 that was prepared for the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans. Hendrick, a 15-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and owner of Hendrick Motorsports, is this year’s honoree.

Broad Arrow’s auction includes more than 150 cars including a 2020 McLaren Speedtail; 1958 BMW 507 Series II Roadster; a 1967 Ford GT40; a 1971 Porsche 914/6 GT; 1966 Shelby 427 S/C Cobra; and a 1988 Porsche 959 SC Reimagined by Canepa, among others. On Sunday, The Amelia Concours d’Elegance will highlight more than 250 historically significant vehicles in more than 30 classes, according to Hagerty.

“The level of cars at Amelia are on par with Pebble Beach,” Ian Kelleher, vice president of marketing at Broad Arrow, told ABC News, referring to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance that takes place every August. “These events provide an up close and personal opportunity to come face-to-face with the cars hobbyists love and lust after.”

ModaMiami attendees have a specially curated weekend of automobiles, art, cuisine and design. Myers said the event culminates in a car spectacle on the Biltmore Hotel’s golf course, with “100 of the world’s best supercars” parked on the green for ticket holders to ogle.

An exclusive collection of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, including the legendary Formula One Mercedes-Benz W 196 R, five Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwings, two 300 SL Roadsters and a 540 K Special Roadster, a previous Pebble Beach Best in Show winner, will also be on the showfield. ModaMiami activities range from exclusive driving opportunities to sampling cuisine from celebrity chefs.

“I have friends who are bringing cars from Reno and California and all over the U.S,” Myers said. “Eight Best of Show cars are coming to Miami.”

Aaron Weiss, president of The Concours Club, a private racing circuit for members, said ModaMiami will attract a diverse group of collectors who are seeking unique experiences.

“Purists will still go to Amelia … they’re looking for specific cars,” he told ABC News. “Miami has a vibrant car culture. There are lots of ways to indulge in the car passion. ModaMiami is going for the lifestyle crowd and young collectors.”

Mac Morrison, executive editor of Motor Trend, said there has been a “big explosion” in luxury-type vehicle shows, which is helping to boost interest in car culture again as traditional auto shows become smaller and less influential.

“Car enthusiasm is waning in the era of EVs and technology, but there is a reinvigoration and interest in cars as a lifestyle,” he told ABC News. “A whole culture has sprung up around these events. It’s encouraging to see car guys and car girls finding an outlet to indulge in this passion.”

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Ariana Grande drops new album track list, considers touring: “I miss my fans so much”

Katia Temkin

Ariana Grande‘s new album, eternal sunshine, is coming out in on March 8, and she’s finally revealed the track list on Instagram, as well as snippets of some lyrics.

Fans seem excited to hear the final song on the album, “Ordinary Things,” because it says it features “Nonna,” otherwise known as Ariana’s grandmother. Others are intrigued by lyrics like “I’ll hold your hurt in a box here beside me” and “how could we know we’d make the bad stuff delightful?”

As for whether or not Ariana plans to tour behind eternal sunshine, well, she says that’s still “TBD.”

Speaking to the Zach Sang Show on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, Ariana says, “I think I would love to do shows. I love being onstage. I miss being onstage. I miss my fans so much.”

But, she notes, “I had a really hard time emotionally on my last tour, but I think that’s because that’s where I was at. So just like music, I’m really excited to redefine my relationship to shows when I’m ready and to see what that looks like.”

Ariana points out that she has a “very busy year” thanks to the new album and Wicked. Next year, she’ll have Wicked Part II. So, if she did tour, she explains, “It would obviously be shorter. If it was anything, it would be a littler … something.”

“But I definitely do have the itch,” she reiterates. “I miss my fans. I miss being onstage. But then again, I’m not ready to announce any sort of thing or get people too excited because I don’t want to disappoint.”

If Ariana does tour, it’ll be her first since the Sweetener World Tour, which wrapped up in 2019.

Here’s the track list for eternal sunshine:

“intro (end of the world)”
“bye”
“don’t wanna break up again”
“Saturn Returns Interlude”
“eternal sunshine”
“supernatural”
“true story”
“the boy is mine”
“yes, and?”
“we can’t be friends (wait for your love)”
“i wish I hated you
“imperfect for you”
“ordinary things” (feat. nonna)

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Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, Robert Plant set for Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival

Live Nation/Blackbird Presents

The Outlaw Music Festival is set to return this summer with an all-star lineup that features Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, John Mellencamp and more.

The tour is set to kick off June 21 in Alpharetta, Georgia, and wrap September 17 in Buffalo, New York. Nelson and Dylan are confirmed for the entire run, with Plant and Krauss on the bill for 10 shows through July 7 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and Mellencamp joining the tour for 15 shows, starting July 29 in Chula Vista, California.

The lineup also includes Celisse, Brittney Spencer and Southern Avenue, with Billy Strings booked as a special guest for the August 10 show at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Gorge, Washington.

“This year’s Outlaw Music Festival Tour promises to be the biggest and best yet with this lineup of legendary artists,” Willie shares. “I am thrilled to get back on the road again with my family and friends playing the music we love for the fans we love.”

Tickets for all shows go on sale Friday, March 1, at 10 a.m. A complete list of dates and lineups can be found at outlawmusicfestival.com.

Nelson launched the Outlaw Music Festival in 2016; previous lineups featured such artists as Neil Young, Van Morrison, ZZ Top, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Chris Stapleton and others.

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Americans missing from boat in the Caribbean: A timeline

Suellen Desmarais

(NEW YORK) — It’s been over one week since an American couple went missing from their yacht in the Caribbean after three escaped prisoners boarded their boat.

Police said Monday that Ralph Hendry and his wife, Kathy Brandel, are likely dead, however, their bodies have not been found.

Here’s how the case has unfolded:

Feb. 18
Hendry and Brandel, from Falls Church, Virginia, were last seen alive by their boating neighbor at the dock in Grenada on Feb. 18, according to Hendry’s sister, Suellen Desmarais.

The couple, married for 27 years, had been living on their yacht, Simplicity, since they sold their home in 2013.

Feb. 19
On the morning of Feb. 19, the neighbor said the couple and their boat were gone, according to Desmarais.

Three escaped prisoners allegedly stole the couple’s boat before heading to the nearby island of St. Vincent, where they arrived on the yacht on Feb. 19, police said.

Feb. 21
The three suspects were arrested on Feb. 21 and are cooperating with investigators, police said.

Feb. 26
On Feb. 26, Junior Simmons, head of the public relations and complaints department at Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, said investigators determined “the suspects committed several criminal acts, including bodily harm, to the couple.”

Police processed the scene on the yacht and found signs of violence, Simmons said.

“Several items were strewn on the deck,” Simmons said, and in the cabin was “a red substance that resembled blood.”

“Based on the investigation thus far it is presumed that Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel are deceased,” Simmons said.

Their bodies have not been found.

The three suspects have appeared in a St. Vincent court on immigration-related charges and pleaded guilty, police said. Sentencing was scheduled for March 4, police said.

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Biden addresses his age, Taylor Swift conspiracies and more on Seth Meyers’ late-night show

Lloyd Bishop/NBC via Getty Images

(NEW YORK) — President Joe Biden, while campaigning in New York Monday, stopped by 30 Rockefeller to appear on NBC’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers.”

The president’s sit down with the comic late Monday included questions about his age and his 2024 agenda versus that of former President Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner for the nomination.

“Some documents recently leaked, some classified documents — and this isn’t a gotcha show but I do want to ask about it — that says you are currently 81 years old,” Meyers began.

“Who the hell told you that?” Biden joked. “That’s classified.”

Meyers then turned to a more serious note, highlighting the fact that polls show voters are concerned about Biden’s age as he runs for a second term and asking how Biden plans to address that on the campaign trail.

“No. 1, you got to take a look at the other guy, he’s about as old as I am,” Biden said, swiping at Trump, who is 77.

“No. 2, it’s about how old your ideas are,” Biden continued. “Look, I mean, this is a guy who wants to take us back. He wants to take us back on Roe v. Wade. He wants to take us back on a whole range of issues that for 50, 60 years they’ve been solid American positions.”

“I think it’s about the future,” Biden said. “And everything, every single thing we’ve done, and I think we’ve got some good things done … they told us we couldn’t get them done, because things were so divided.”

The interview comes as Biden (who has largely eschewed traditional press conferences or press interviews) seeks to tamp down voter worries and Republican criticisms about his age and stamina by ramping up his appearances. The choice of venue was also curated for an important demographic: younger voters.

In another moment of levity, Biden joked about conspiracy theories about Taylor Swift scheming with Democrats when it comes to everything from the Super Bowl to the 2024 election.

“Where are you getting this information?” Biden quipped when Meyers broached the subject. “It’s classified.”

Meyers also questioned Biden on Republicans holding up aid to Ukraine, Trump’s “dictator” remarks and the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Biden, facing criticism by some Arab and Muslim communities in Michigan and elsewhere for his position on the Israel-Hamas war, said he believed there is a path forward — albeit a “difficult” one — on a cease-fire and hostage release.

“Ramadan is coming up and there’s been an agreement by the Israelis that they would not engage in activities during Ramadan as well, in order to give us time to get all the hostages out,” he said.

Earlier in the day, at an ice cream shop with Meyers, Biden said his hope is that there will be a cease-fire reached by next Monday — comments that a senior Israeli source told ABC News caught Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by surprise.

On his late-night appearance, Biden said without Israel, no Jewish person would be safe — but also warned of diminished support for the country if it continues its current tactics in Gaza.

“Israel has had the overwhelming support of the vast majority of nations. If it keeps this up without this incredibly conservative government they have … they’re going to lose support from around the world,” he said. “And that is not in Israel’s interest.”

ABC News’ Lauren Minore contributed to this report.

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On This Day, February 27, 1974: Queen releases ‘The Works’, featuring hit song “Radio Ga Ga”

On This Day, February 27, 1974…

Queen released their 11th studio album The Works, which featured such tracks as “Radio Ga Ga,” “Hammer to Fall” and “I Want to Break Free.”

“Radio Ga Ga,” written by drummer Roger Taylor, was the first single released from the album. It went on to hit #1 in 19 countries but only went to #2 in the U.K. and #16 in the U.S.

The video for the track “I Want to Break Free” caused some controversy because the band dressed in drag. Backlash in the U.S. led to the band’s decision to not tour the album in North America. 

The Works, which peaked at #23 in the U.S., went on to sell over 6 million copies worldwide.

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Pregnant Amish woman killed in Pennsylvania, police say

Sheila Paras via Getty Images

(SPARTA TOWNSHIP, PA.) — Police are searching for leads after a 23-year-old pregnant Amish woman was killed in Pennsylvania, authorities said.

On Monday afternoon, police responded to a home in Sparta Township, about 35 miles southeast of Erie, where they found Rebekah Byler dead, Pennsylvania State Police said.

Byler’s death is considered a homicide and “police are aggressively investigating all available leads,” police said.

Police ask the public to report any suspicious people, cars or activity in the area of Fish Flats Road to the authorities at 814-663-2043.

 

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Place your bets: Online casino lists potential Oscar records that could be broken

ABC

With the Oscars fast approaching, online casino site USBets has compiled a list of what records could be broken on March 10.

For example, if Cillian Murphy wins Best Actor for Oppenheimer, he’d be the first Ireland-born actor to do so, the site explains, noting three-time winner Daniel Day-Lewis is of Irish descent but was born in London.

Killers of the Flower Moon Best Actress nominee Lily Gladstone could become the first Indigenous woman to nab the prize.

Her co-star, Best Supporting Actor nominee Robert De Niro, could snag a third acting Oscar, something only seven other performers have done.

Also, if Martin Scorsese wins Best Director for Flower Moon at 81, he’d best then-74-year-old Clint Eastwood‘s 2005 record for the oldest filmmaker to win Best Director when he won for Million Dollar Baby.

And also in the “age is just a number” category, 92-year-old John Williams could become the oldest-ever winner of a competitive Oscar if the composer snags a sixth trophy for scoring Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. The record is currently held by James Ivory, who was 89 when he won the Best Adapted Screenplay trophy for 2017’s Call Me By Your Name.

Just nine people have won the Best Picture Oscar two or more times, and that record could tilt to either The HoldoversMark Johnson or Steven Spielberg, who produced Maestro. Both of those are considered long shots with Oppenheimer‘s trophy magnet run.

Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the 96th Academy Awards will air live on ABC and broadcast outlets worldwide from Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. This year, the show will begin at 7 p.m. ET.

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Green Day’s “Basket Case” hits 1 billion Spotify streams

Disney/Chris Willard

Spotify users have officially listened to Billie Joe Armstrong whine 1 billion times.

Green Day‘s hit “Basket Case” has joined Spotify’s Billions Club, a playlist of all the songs with at least 1 billion streams on the platform. It’s the first Green Day song to hit the milestone.

In a Facebook post responding to the news, Green Day writes, “What’s that, you say!? Basket Case is in Spotify’s BILLIONS CLUB?!” alongside a trio of exploding head emojis.

“Basket Case” originally appeared on Green Day’s breakout 1994 album, Dookie, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier in February.

Green Day put out a new album, Saviors, in January. They’ll launch a U.S. tour in support of the record in July, during which they’ll also be playing Dookie and 2004’s American Idiot in honor of their respective 30th and 20th anniversaries.

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Madonna removes image of Luther Vandross from montage of AIDS victims in her show

Ricardo Gomes

One of the moving moments of Madonna‘s Celebration Tour comes when, while singing “Live to Tell,” she displays various photos of creatives who died of AIDS, including artist Keith Haring, photographer Herb Ritts and Queen‘s Freddie Mercury. According to Page Six, one star’s photo was mistakenly included during her show in Sacramento, California, and has now been removed.

A photo of the late Luther Vandross was part of the montage during the show on February 24, reports Page Six. A rep for his estate told Page Six, “Luther Vandross passed away in 2005 due to complications from a stroke suffered two years earlier. While we appreciate Madonna’s recognition of those lives lost to AIDS, Luther was NEVER diagnosed with AIDS or the HIV Virus.”

“We’re not sure where she or her production team received false medical information claiming otherwise. We’re currently in contact with her management to remove Luther Vandross from the tribute,” the statement continued. 

Page Six reports that reps for Madonna now say the photo’s been removed. 

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