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Hagerty Hosts Youth Driving Experience On National Collector Car Appreciation Day


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More than 25 Chicago-area Youth Attend the “Ultimate Driving Course” at U.S. Cellular Field

Chicago, IL - On Friday, July 13, more than 25 young adults participated in a classic car driving experience designed to highlight the enjoyment of driving a vintage car. During the Hagerty Driving Experience, the 15- through 25-year-old participants enjoyed classroom and hands-on drive experiences at Chicago’s U.S. Cellular Field.


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The participants received 30 minutes of instruction in car basics before getting behind the wheel of a classic car for 15 minutes, driving on a closed course. Vehicles included a 1930 Ford Model A Sedan, 1963 Corvette “split window” Coupe, 1961 Porsche 356, 1966 Chevrolet Corvair, 1966 Ford Mustang, 1967 Porsche 912, 1969 Oldsmobile 442 and a 1970 Austin Mini Cooper.

All of the vehicles were manual transmission and teaching starting and shifting technique was part of the experience. The owners of each classic rode along with the young drivers to explain the nuances of their vehicle.

Recent research collected by Hagerty showed that young people have less interest in driving and likely possess less driving skill than teens three decades ago. According to the Department of Transportation, only 49% of 17-year-olds have their driver’s licenses; a more-than 25% decrease since 1978. Additionally, less than 10% of currently produced vehicles are equipped with manual transmissions, a technology prevalent on classics. Hagerty’s program, held on National Collector Car Appreciation Day, was developed to expose youth to the pleasures of driving a classic car.


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After driving all of the event vehicles Lucas Stimach, 16, of Forest View, Ill. said, “It’s an awesome event. You don't get this chance everyday - the chance to come out and drive classic cars with stick shifts. It’s great to go out there, meet new people and have fun.”

“In order to keep classics on the road for future generations to enjoy, we have to give youth access to these rare cars and teach them how to drive such unique vehicles,” said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty Insurance. “This was our fourth Driving Experience and students have embraced the event from the Midwest to the West Coast.”

The Hagerty Driving Experience has been held in Detroit, Los Angeles, and Dallas. Two more events this year are planed for New York and Atlanta.