Hagerty announced the launch of Operation Ignite!, a series of youth-focused programs designed to involve young people in the collector vehicle hobby and ignite a passion for collector cars in the next generation of enthusiasts.
Under Operation Ignite! Hagerty will premiere a national Design Contest that targets teenagers ages 13 to 17 in an effort to discover the next great design talent. This program will be launched in conjunction with Hagerty's successful Model-Building Contest for kids ages 8 to 12. Last year, the Model-Building Contest featured a judging panel that included prominent collector car enthusiasts like NBC Tonight Show host Jay Leno and Lamborghini Head of Brand and Design Manfred Fitzgerald. Hagerty will also continue to offer youth-focused programs such as its Youth Judging Program and the turnkey Youth Judging Kit, along with their Kid Friendly Car Show Kit, which is designed to immerse kids in the car show experience.
"At Hagerty, we have always stood by the belief that today's hobby depends on tomorrow's collectors, which is why we encourage early exposure to the excitement and camaraderie the hobby provides," said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty Insurance. "Hagerty has always been committed to getting youth involved through our youth initiative programs, and this year we're expanding our efforts with our new Operation Ignite! program dedicated to igniting the passion of future collectors."
The programs offered under Operation Ignite! include: Model-Building Contest: Hagerty's Annual Model-Building Contest gives car clubs the chance to sponsor local youth in building plastic models. This year's contest will run from April 1 through May 1; online voting at Hagerty.com will begin June 1. Final judging of the top three vote-getters will be held Aug. 13 during the prestigious Classic Car Weekend in Monterey, Calif., where the grand-prize winner will receive a trophy and the sponsoring car clubs will each receive a check for $500 to use toward club materials and events. For more information or to sign up, visit www.Hagerty.com/contest
Design Contest: To be launched in conjunction with this year's Model-Building Contest, Hagerty's first annual Design Contest will invite teenagers ages 13 to 17 to draw a modern interpretation of a 1959 Cadillac, in honor of the car's 50th anniversary. All renderings will be presented in a manner that highlights each car's unique design and features and will be posted on Hagerty.com for online judging starting June 1. The top three designers as voted by the public will win a trip to the prestigious Classic Car Weekend in Monterey, Calif., for final judging on August 13. For more information or to sign up, visit www.Hagerty.com/contest
Youth Judging Program: Offered again this year at the 14th Annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance and several other collector car events throughout the summer, the Youth Judging Program is an opportunity for kids to learn about great cars firsthand. Participants are led by an adult guide through a car show field and allowed to judge selected cars and talk to the owners. This program is offered both as a Hagerty-sponsored event and as a turnkey kit provided to clubs for do-it-yourself applications at local car shows.
For more information, call (800) 922-4050 or visit www.hagerty.com.