Have a blast with classic cars and boats

With Hagerty Operation Ignite!, there are tons of ways to have hands-on fun with classic cars and boats. Check out our list of offerings.

Youth Judging

At many events around the country, Operation Ignite! gives kids the chance to get up close to collector automobiles and boats through our Youth Judging program. Led by an adult guide through a car or boat show, Young Judges learn the basics of judging while taking a look at select vehicles, interacting with owners and learning details, facts and the history of each vehicle. Young Judges also typically present awards to their top three place finishers during the event award ceremony. Find an existing event>> Request a kit for your event>>

Youth Reporter Contest

In 2011, the contest’s first year, one lucky young ‘car guy’ and a guardian won an all-expense-paid trips to four major classic car events across the country to be the face of Hagerty Operation Ignite!, and a bonus trip to visit Jay Leno at his Big Dog Garage. The Youth Reporter recorded stories at cool events and interviewed industry leaders to help share the hobby with others through the eyes of the next generation.

Hagerty Driving Experience

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, only 31% of 16-year-olds and 49% of 17-year-olds today have their driver's license. Also, less than 10% of all vehicles sold in the U.S. are equipped with manual transmissions. What will happen to our hobby if these trends continue?

Young adults (ages 16-25) now have the chance to drive collector cars, and more specifically, learn to properly drive those equipped with manual-transmissions, with the Hagerty Driving Experience. For more information, please contact Tabetha Salsbury, Youth Advocacy Coordinator at operationignite@hagerty.com.

Next Gen News

Next Gen News, the official newsletter of Hagerty Operation Ignite!, is designed to keep young enthusiasts up-to-date on the hobby, while also providing fun stuff to get them excited about cars and boats. It's a quarterly publication, sent to subscribers and past participants of Operation Ignite! programs. Subscribe today>>

'Car Kid' Birthday Club

Register for our birthday club and we'll send our special Operation Ignite! birthday cards to help young car guys and gals celebrate their special day. Register today>>

Kid Friendly Car Show Kit

The Operation Ignite! Kid Friendly Car Show Kit is available to anyone who puts on a car show to help make them more educational, entertaining and interactive for young enthusiasts. The kit includes printable resources such as a scavenger hunt, word games, trivia, Car Show Bingo and a 'Pin the License Plate on the Classic' game. Request your kit>>

Kids and Classics Fun Kit

The Kids and Classics Fun Kit is a branch from the Kid Friendly Car Show Kit and includes fun and educational collector car-related resources for kids that will help make automotive events more exciting. Kits include a backpack, activity book, water bottle, paper car, newsletter, silicone tire tread wristband and other exciting items! A limited numbers of kits will be given out at select shows by Hagerty employees.

Young Designers Contest

Hagerty's Operation Ignite! Young Designers Contest reaches out to young people who are passionate about design for great cars of the future, providing an opportunity to showcase their skills. Based on a specific theme each year, designers are asked to submit their renderings showing several different angles of their designs. Submissions are displayed on Hagerty's website, with an overall winner chosen by the public.

Model-Building Contest

The Scale Model Building Contest provides kids aged 8 to 12 the chance to partner with a supporting car club to build a scale model car. Each participating car club hosts several participants, helping them build the model and teaching them about cars. Once models are complete each club votes on the best, which is then submitted to Hagerty as a finalist. We'll post all the finalists on www.hagerty.com for public voting, with prizes for the top place finishers and their host clubs.

Return to the top