The Cortile Cup to Be Renamed in Honor of Wayne Long

The Cortile is honored to announce that, beginning this year, the Cortile Cup will be awarded in memory of Wayne Long—automotive enthusiast, passionate collector, and co-founder of the Cortile. Wayne passed away on May 5, 2025, and his absence will be deeply felt throughout the automotive community, particularly here in Pittsburgh where his vision helped shape the Cortile Italian Car Show into what it is today.

Wayne Long was more than a founding partner. He was a driving force behind the evolution of the Cortile from a celebration of Italian style into a true Concours event.

"Wayne, with the encouragement of Steve Barney, approached me and said that in order to elevate the prestige of the Cortile, we should make it more than just a car show by bringing in a judging staff,” said Cortile Founder Bernie Martin.

​“Wayne recruited and funded—entirely on his own—the lodging and accommodations for the judges, and each year he personally created the Cortile Cup trophy. He also came up with the idea of a permanent Cortile Cup, akin to the Borg-Warner Trophy, listing each year's winners."

The Cortile Cup is awarded annually to the finest Italian car on display, judged by a panel of respected concours judges from around the country. Wayne’s belief in the importance of design, heritage, and presentation lives on in every award presented. In recent years, additional Cortile Cup honors have been named in memory of other Italian car icons—Walt Spak for Lancia and Pietro Castiglioni for Ferrari. Wayne now joins this distinguished group, and his name will remain a permanent part of the legacy he helped build.

Wayne’s efforts at the Cortile were just the beginning of his lasting impact on the concours world. As a direct result of his work with the Cortile Cup, Wayne went on to found Concours LLC, a company dedicated to growing and elevating concours-level events across the country. One of his proudest achievements was the creation of the Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance, an event he conceived and brought to life with his characteristic determination and eye for excellence.

His influence extended even further. Wayne motivated Dan Panoz to step into the concours scene, which led to the Panoz Reunion being held at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix in 2025, as well as Panoz being named the Spotlight Car of the PVGP in 2023.

In 2022, Wayne was also instrumental in organizing the Viper Spotlight Show, helping to bring modern American performance into the PVGP spotlight alongside its deep historic roots.

Wayne was also part of the initial planning team behind the inaugural Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance at Dragon Ridge, bringing his vision and strategic thinking to help shape that event’s early direction. At Amelia Island, he helped develop driving tours that brought collectors and enthusiasts closer to the spirit of motoring.

Friends and fellow enthusiasts are invited to attend a memorial service for Wayne Long on Sunday, July 6, 2025, from 3pm - 6pm in the afternoon at his shop at Mid Atlantic Sports Cars, 1000 Business Park Drive, Suite 101, Morgantown, WV 26508.  It will be an opportunity to gather among the cars, community, and spirit that meant so much to him.

As we prepare to celebrate Lamborghini as our 2025 Proiettore Macchina, we do so knowing that Wayne's vision continues to guide the Cortile—from the paddock to the podium.

To learn more about Wayne’s remarkable life, please visit his obituary here.

To read our full tribute: Farewell to Wayne Long – Co-Founder, Visionary, Friend

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A Personal Note
On a personal level, losing Wayne has been incredibly difficult. He was not only my trusted business partner, but one of my closest friends—someone whose passion, conviction, and humor were constant sources of inspiration. We dreamed up ideas together that others thought impossible, and then he made them real. His absence leaves a void, but his vision and energy will always be part of everything we continue to build.
~ Bernard Martin