Hagerty Announces Winner of 2010 Young Designer Contest as Selected by VIP Judging Panel

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Aug. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Hagerty, the world's leading provider of collector car insurance, has announced the winner of its second annual Young Designer Contest, "Designing Your Future." A VIP judging panel selected the winning designer from five finalists on Aug. 12, 2010 in Pebble Beach, Calif. Monica Taeschner, age 15, from Edmonds, Wash. was awarded the top prize for her design of a 2060 Ferrari 330 TRI /LM Testa Rossa.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100813/LA50264)

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100813/LA50264)

Judges included McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty Insurance Agency; Thomas Gale, retired Chrysler Chief of Design; Wayne Carini, host of "Chasing Classic Cars" on Discovery HD; Dutch Mandel, Associate Publisher and Editorial Director of AutoWeek magazine; and Stewart Reed, Chairman of the Transportation Design Department at Pasadena Art Center College of Design.

Earlier this year, the Young Designer Contest, held under Hagerty's Operation Ignite! youth program, invited teens age 13-17 to create a futuristic design of what their favorite collector automobile would look like if built in the year 2060. Participants were also required to submit a short essay describing their concept, its unique features and how their personalities are expressed in the design. The five finalists, determined through a public vote online, were provided an expense-paid trip to the famed Monterey Classic Car Week to attend Hagerty's annual party at The Lodge at Pebble Beach for final judging of the designs.

"One of Hagerty's most important initiatives is youth participation in the collector car hobby, as that's truly where the passion begins," McKeel Hagerty said. "Our design contest was created as an outlet for young enthusiasts to showcase their original ideas. This year's participants showed a great deal of creativity with their designs, making it a treat to celebrate the five finalists' creative work and select the winner."

Hagerty's Operation Ignite! Connecting Kids with Cars is a suite of programs designed to grow the interest of the hobby among young people through interactive events including Youth Judging, Young Designer Contest, Scale Model-building Contest, Kid Friendly Car Show Kit, Motorsport Paddock Tours and a youth-oriented website.  Through Hagerty's Operation Ignite! young people will have hands-on experiences that will increase their knowledge and enthusiasm for collector automobiles, boats and tractors.  As the world's leading provider of collector car insurance, Hagerty is dedicated to helping ensure the future of the collector vehicle hobby through its proactive youth advocacy efforts.  For further information, please visit www.hagerty.com/contest or contact Tabetha Salsbury, Youth Advocacy Coordinator, at 800-922.4050, ext. 8137 or [email protected].

Hagerty Insurance Agency, Inc. is the leading insurance agency for collector vehicles in the world and host to the largest network of collector car owners. Hagerty Insurance Agency offers insurance for collector 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 Insurance Agency also offers overseas shipping/touring insurance coverage.

SOURCE Hagerty Insurance Agency, Inc.