First, I want to say thank you to everyone who has wel- comed me so warmly as I step into my new role as President of the Foundation. I truly appreciate all of the kind words, encouragement, and well wishes. I’m excited about what lies ahead and grateful for the opportunity to be part of an organi- zation that cares so much about the future of our hobby.
I also want to give a special thank you to Dave and Doug for helping me learn the ropes. There is certainly a lot to learn, and I’m grateful for their guidance, experience, and willingness to help me along the way. I’m looking forward to continuing to learn from both of them and appreciate having their mentorship as we move forward.
My husband and I will be out enjoying plenty of late-season car shows, so if you see us, please come up and say hello! I’d love the opportunity to meet more of our fellow car enthusiasts, hear your stories, and learn more about all of those beautiful rides out there. One of the best things about this hobby is the people we meet along the way.
As I begin my term, one of my biggest goals is to explore ways we can improve our community outreach — not only sharing what our mission is, but also educating people about what we do and how they can help support the future of the hobby.
And that brings me to something I’m especially passion- ate about: getting more young people involved.
I believe we need to do a better job of bridging the gen- erational gap in our hobby. We need to be welcoming to the younger kids who pull into our shows driving a “newer” car — or even an import.
Let’s take a moment to remember where we were at their age and the cars we drove. Most of us didn’t have the awe- some rides we have today when we were 20 or 25. For many of us, it took years of working, raising our families, and finally having the time and resources to build or purchase the cars we had always dreamed about.
So, the next time you see a young person at a show with a car that may not be your cup of tea, start a conversation.
Ask them what they love about their car. Ask how they got started. Ask what they’ve done to it.
And hey… it gives you an opportunity to brag about your own car too!
Let’s remember that behind every car is someone who has invested their time, money, blood, sweat, and tears into making it something they are proud to bring to a show. I may not like every make and model out there, but I can certainly appreciate the work and passion that went into getting that car show-ready.
Let’s be welcoming of all makes and models.
We recently held our second car show of the year, and I want to thank everyone who came out and supported the event. Your participation and enthusiasm are what make these shows special, and we truly appreciate you being there.
As we look toward 2027, we are excited about making some new and positive changes. I recently gave a little pre-view of one idea I’d like to see us implement:
* How about a reduced admission fee when you bring a youthful passenger to the show?
* But we don’t just want young people to attend — we want them to participate.
One idea we’re looking at is getting those youthful passengers involved as junior judges for our Kid Picks Awards. What better way to introduce them to the hobby than to let them walk the show, look at the cars, talk with owners, and decide which cars catch their eye?
Let’s teach them what goes into building a great car and what makes a car stand out at a show. Who knows? That young person walking around with a “newer” car today might be the person bringing a classic to the show 20 years from now.
That is what this is all about — the future of the hobby.
Thank you again for all of the well wishes as I take on this new role. I’m excited about the road ahead and look forward to working with all of you.
And remember, if you see me out in the wild at a car show, please come say hello! I welcome the conversation, and I’d love to hear your ideas about how we can continue to support our mission and bring more people — especially our youth — into this incredible hobby.
See you all soon! Keep it shiny, keep it safe! Shine bright on every drive!
– Lisa
