RM SOTHEBY’S MAGAZINE WINTER 2018
ELEGANCE, SPEED, & VICTORY: The Story of Alfa Romeo
No Easy Task No Easy Task
RPM Foundation
WILLIAM HALL Special to Shift
William Hall is a writer and car collector based in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
Smiling through the pain: The author attempts to pass his love of old cars onto his godson
Smiling through the pain: The author attempts to pass his love of old cars onto his godson
One of the great rewards – if not duties – of a classic car enthusiast is to pass their passion of old cars onto a young person.
ASOne of the great rewards – if not duties – of a classic car enthusiast
How do we get young people interested in I recently found out, it’s never been more challenging to plant the collector old vehicles? I pondered each link of the chain that creates the next generation of classic car car-seed in today’s youth. Recently, my 15-year-old Italian godson tagged enthusiasts. Once you create the ember, how do along with me to one of Europe’s largest vintage you help it grow into a flame? As it turns out, there are smarter minds at work car exhibitions and swap meets, the Auto e Moto d’Epoca event in Padova, Italy. I thought it would on this. The RPM Foundation – which stands for How do Preservation, we get young interested in found out, it’s been andpeople Mentorship – works be a greatI recently opportunity to spark an never interest in Restoration, old vehicles? I pondered each link of the chain more challenging to plant the collector classic cars and motorcycles, as well as introduce to foster educational and vocational opportunities that creates the nextcargeneration car car-seed today’s the collector industry. of By classic providing him to a hobby thatinwe couldyouth. share for a lifetime. within enthusiasts. Once you create the ember, how do Recently, my 15-year-old Italian godson tagged There’s a lot of competition today for young grants and services to high schools, colleges, and you help it grow into a flame? along with me to one of Europe’s largest vintage people’s dwindling attention: cell phones, the technical and trade schools who offer automotive, As it turnsorout, there are smarter minds at work car exhibitions swap meets, Auto eyoung Moto motorcycle, marine restoration curricula, the Internet. Cars and don’t seem to the captivate on this. The RPM Foundation – which stands for d’Epoca event in Padova, Italy. I thought it would people the way they once did. Who needs mobility non-profit has created the pipeline with which Restoration, Preservation, and Mentorship – works be a great opportunity to spark an interest in when the world can come to your bedroom kids interested in old vehicles can pursue their to fosterand educational and vocational opportunities classic cars and motorcycles, achieve careers in the industry. through a Wi-Fi connection? as well as introduce passion within the collector car industry. By him to a hobby that we could share for a lifetime. The not-so-peripheral effect is that itproviding provides All of this weighed heavily on my mind as we grants and services to high schools, colleges, and There’s a lot of competition today for young for the multi-billion-dollar collector trudged through the seemingly endless bazaar of new blood technical and trade schools who offer automotive, people’s dwindling attention: cell phones, the Italy’s largest swap meet. Despite my godson’s vehicle industry, creating new enthusiasts and motorcycle,toor buttress marine restoration curricula, the Internet. I Cars seem young our investments—both patience, could don’t sense not onlytohiscaptivate disinterest, but craftsmen non-profit has created the pipeline with which people the way they once did. Who needs mobility collector also a profound disconnect from the mechanical financial and emotional—in our own kids interested in old vehicles can pursue their when the world can come to your bedroom car portfolios. world around us. passion and achieve careers in the industry. through a Wi-Fi connection? The not-so-peripheral effect is that it provides All of this weighed heavily on my mind as we trudged through the seemingly endless bazaar of new blood for the multi-billion-dollar collector Italy’s largest swap meet. Despite my godson’s vehicle industry, creating new enthusiasts and 38 Winter 2018 RPM Foundation is an entityour of America's Automotive Trust. to buttress investments—both patience, I could sense not only his disinterest, but Thecraftsmen also a profound disconnect from the mechanical financial and emotional—in our own collector car portfolios. world around us. Toll Free: 855.537.4579 Website: www.rpm.foundation
is to pass their passion of old cars onto a young person.
AS
If you are reading this now and have a young person in your life, I’d ask that you get up and take them out in the garage for 10 minutes. Pop the hood of your favorite classic, and ask them to hold a trouble light or wrench while you check the air filter. You will have just created the spark that the RPM Foundation hopes to someday fan If ayou are reading this now and have a young into flame. person in life, home I’d askfrom that Italy, you get and When I your returned I satupdown take them out in the garage for 10 minutes. Pop and wrote out a donation to the RPM Foundation. the hood your favorite classic, and that ask them to It’s cheapofinsurance for the hobby I love. hold a trouble light or wrench while you check And as I found out first-hand: like many things, the air filter.isYou created the spark mentorship bestwill left have to thejust pros. a that the RPM Foundation hopes to someday fan into a flame. When I returned home from Italy, I sat down and wrote out a donation to the RPM Foundation. It’s cheap insurance for the hobby that I love. And as I found out first-hand: like many things, mentorship is best left to the pros. a The RPM Foundation supports restoration and preservation training programs for the next generation of automotive, motorcycle, and marine craftsmen. As the educational arm of America’s Automotive Trust, the services, resources, and grants provided by the RPM Foundation safeguard the future of the collector vehicle industry by sustaining hands-on training for young adults. The RPM Foundation is based in Chicago with offices in Tacoma, Washington, and Detroit, Michigan, and ambassadors in 11 states and abroad. For more information, visit www.rpm.foundation, email info@rpm.foundation, call toll free +1 855 537and 4579.preservation training The RPM Foundation orsupports restoration
programs for the next generation of automotive, motorcycle, and marine craftsmen. As the educational arm of America’s Automotive Trust, the services, resources, and grants provided by the RPM Foundation safeguard the future of the collector vehicle industry by sustaining hands-on training for young adults. The RPM Foundation is based in Chicago with offices in Tacoma, Washington, and Detroit, Michigan, and ambassadors in 11 states and abroad. For more information, visit www.rpm.foundation, email info@rpm.foundation, or call toll free +1 855 537 4579.