Hagerty Hosts Southern California Classic Car Driving Experience
Youth Attend the Ultimate "Driving Course" in Redondo Beach
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Nov. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, November 12, young adults from the Los Angeles area participated in a classic car driving experience designed to highlight the enjoyment of driving a vintage car and how to properly operate a manual transmission. During the Hagerty Driving Experience, participants age 15-20 enjoyed classroom and hands-on driving experiences near Ruby's Diner in Redondo Beach.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111115/LA06371)
The participants received 30 minutes of instruction in car basics before getting behind the wheel of a classic car on a closed course. Vehicles included a 1937 Oldsmobile, 1939 Ford Deluxe Coupe, 1947 Davis, 1958 Edsel, 1966 Mustang Convertible, 1968 Mustang Fastback, 1974 MGB and a pair of brand new Ford Fiestas. The students also learned car care essentials in front of a 1971 Lamborghini Espada.
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 drivers' 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. The Hagerty Driving Experience program, which was unveiled in Detroit this summer, was developed to expose youth to the pleasures of driving a classic car.
After driving all of the available vehicles, 19-year-old Kevin Islas, of Whittier, Calif., said, "I am a proud co-owner of a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 220s sedan that my father and I restored when I was really young. I never could drive it because I didn't know how. This event allowed me to drive it all over Los Angeles today to show that young people like me do enjoy the classics."
"The feedback we received after the success of our first Driving Experience in Detroit was beyond anything we imagined and we knew we had to continue this program," said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty Insurance. "With its strong car culture, Southern California was the perfect place for this event and we look forward to continuing the program nationwide in 2012. Giving youth the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of driving such unique vehicles has been really rewarding for everyone involved."
Hagerty Insurance Agency, LLC, is the leading insurance provider for classic vehicles in the world and host to the largest network of classic car owners. Hagerty offers insurance for classic cars, motorcycles and motorcycle safety equipment, tractors, automotive tools and spare parts, and even "automobilia" (any historic or collectible item linked with motor vehicles). Hagerty also offers overseas shipping/touring insurance coverage, commercial coverage and club liability coverage, and a host of hobby and car valuation resources. For more information, call (800) 922-4050 or visit www.hagerty.com.
SOURCE Hagerty Insurance Agency, LLC.
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