On a recent balmy Friday morning in Scottsdale, Ariz., fifth-graders at Tavan Elementary School are racing slot cars and building wind-powered vehicles. While it might seem like play to the students, it’s serious business for educators at Hagerty Insurance. Hagerty, which specializes in insuring classic automobiles, is on a mission to reverse the trend of young people losing their enthusiasm for cars.
The Hagerty Test Garage at Tavan is one of two education programs the insurance company sponsors during the annual Collector Car Auction week in Scottsdale. Earlier in the week, Hagerty hosted the NextGen AutoFest, giving teens the chance to drive mini vintage race cars, review auction cars from Worldwide Auctioneers, and meet television celebrities from the Velocity Channel. The idea was to make auction-like events accessible for young people between the ages of 16 and 25.
Cars Versus Connectivity?
A recent University of Michigan Transportation Institute study revealed that, between 1983 and 2014, there was a 47-percent decrease in 16-year-olds getting their driver’s license. While baby boomers saw driving as a ticket to freedom, millennials can connect with friends via the Internet.
Hagerty spokespersons admit that they can’t single-handedly turn that tide. But they believe that education events and providing car-related tools might stir some interest. “It’s not as doom and gloom as some people perceive it to be,” said Tabatha Hammer, Hagerty’s senior manager for car culture. “A lot of young people are interested in the cars they grew up with from the 1980s, ‘90s and early 2000s,” she said. “While a Pontiac Trans Am or Ford F-150 might not fit some people’s definition of a collector car, their interest becomes a pathway to older collectible automobiles.”
According to Hammer, millennials are using social media channels such as Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest to share their interest in automobiles. “Cars still turn their heads,” she said.
Breaking Down the Cost Barrier
“We hear about top sales and rising vehicle values at major collector-car auctions, so kids don’t think they can afford to become car collectors,” said Hammer. “Part of our youth program is to break down these barriers, by showing them that they can buy a fun car such as a Triumph Spitfire or MGB for $10,000 to $15,000.”
“Of the 65 kids who attended the NextGen AutoFest, only 10 had been to a car auction before,” said Hammer. “These kids are not participating in nationally recognized car events taking place in their backyard. We need to change that.”
Hagerty’s ongoing Restoration, Preservation, and Mentorship (RPM) program is a pathway for young people with interest in the auto industry to gain access to tools and resources. While RPM has an industry focus, Hagerty programs are also a conduit for young people wanting to pursue cars as a hobby.
“I often see kids who want to work on their cars but don’t have the skills,” said Hammer. “We can help to connect them with restorers in their area to get them started.”
