XIX Concorso d'Eleganza

On Sunday, September 7, 2025 the Center will hold our XIX annual Dr. Robert D. Cess Concorso d'Eleganza. Display vehicles will rally on Stony Brook University campus, where registration (not yet open) and viewing will be free to the public. The rain date for this event is September 14, 2025. Stay tuned for more details. We hope you'll join us this year!

Please direct any inquiries to ctritalianstudies@stonybrook.edu or call us at (631) 632-7444.

History

The Center for Italian Studies founded its Concorso d'Eleganza in 2006, thanks to the efforts of the Center's founder Dr. Mario Mignone and SoMAS Distinguished Professor Dr. Robert ("Bob") Cess. In the academic realm, Cess was a world leader in atmospheric sciences, authoring several influential papers on the greenhouse gas effect and its effects on earth's atmosphere. For his outstanding contributions to the field, he was awarded the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal, which is NASA’s highest scientific honor. Outside of academia, Bob held an unparalleled love for classic Italian automobile design. He particularly enjoyed restoring post-war Alfa Romeos, which is what prompted him to approach Mignone about the possibility for a car show. Seeing an opportunity to further connect the Center with the local Italian and Italian American community through shared praise of one of Italy's finest exports, Mignone and Cess organized the first Concorso d'Eleganza on May 21, 2006. Today, to honor Bob's tremendous contributions, this annual car show is named the Dr. Robert D. Cess Concorso d'Eleganza, and it remains a celebration of Italian automotive excellence and beauty.

See below some snapshots of several past Concorsi!