Wheels and Heels

They came by plane, boat and—of course—car for an event that can only be called an auto lover’s dream come true. That’s because Russo and Steele’s second annual auction at Newport Dunes offered a chance to bid on 400 of the rarest wheels in the world. But before guests threw down the dollars for the rides of their lives, they opened their wallets for charity at Heels2Heal’s kickoff bash benefiting CHOC Children’s. Russo and Steele owners Drew and Josephine Alcazar joined 500 aficionados for a first look at classics, hot rods and custom motors, such as a 1939 Ford Woody Wagon and a 2013 Mercedes SLS. When they weren’t ogling the vehicles, attendees munched on nibbles from local restaurants and enjoyed a fashion show featuring menswear from David August. It all helped raise $307,000 for the nonprofit medical institution—and the car auction drove home with more than $5 million in sales. Now that’s auto magic! –Photos by Barber Photography and Bob Hodson