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A new episode of Hot Wheels Legends: Local Icons spotlights the RPM Foundation and its mission to train the next generation of restoration professionals. Filmed during the 2025 Great Race, the video captures the energy and purpose behind RPM’s support of the X-Cup division—an educational rally experience for high school and college-age teams passionate about vintage vehicles and automotive preservation. During the 2025 event, RPM raised over $50,000 and awarded more than $60,000 in grants and scholarships to support participating youth teams. These funds help cover vehicle restoration, travel costs, and career-building opportunities, ensuring young enthusiasts have access to hands-on learning that honors the past and drives the future of car culture.
Per usual, summer is flying by! We hope you're racking up the miles and enjoying the sunshine. But let's not get ahead of ourselves, there's still plenty of exciting automotive events in the near future. Perhaps we will see you at Pebble Beach in a few weeks, or Hilton Head a little later this fall. Does car season ever really end? If you're as enthusiastic as us, the answer is no! In recent news, the RPM Foundation managed and participated in the Great Race X-Cup, racing from Minnesota to South Carolina. Throughout the journey, the Foundation raised ~$50,000 and awarded nearly ~$60,000 in grants and scholarships! Just a few weeks later, the RPM Foundation team, connected with Lucky Kraken production company, went cameras up at LaVine Restorations in Nappanee, Indiana to film the first episode of a new educational docu-series Endangered Skills , as seen in the cover photo above. At LeMay - America's Car Museum there has been a fantastic response to our current exhibit, Rare & Luxurious: 100 Years of Exceptional Automobiles . If you've yet to see it, be sure to visit soon. It will be closing at the end of September to make room for a brand new, can't miss exhibition. Keep an eye out for an official announcement about this exhibit that is being put together with the help of a guest curator with a name you'll surely recognize! In the coming weeks, we will be hosting Cars & Cigars followed by our annual gala, Wheels & Heels, both of which will take place at LeMay - America's Car Museum in Tacoma, WA. If you'd like to join us at the gala on September 6th for a celebratory evening don't hesitate to RSVP, as limited tickets remain! More information about Cars & Cigars can be found below! We here at the Trust truly appreciate your support, whether that's as a Museum visitor, donor, volunteer or someone simply sharing our passions for automotive history, vehicle preservation, and driving! Thank you for joining our mission to honor the past, celebrate the present, and drive the future of car culture.
Get ready for an unforgettable summer evening— Cars & Cigars: The Seventies Social is set for Saturday, August 2 from 6–10 PM at LeMay – America’s Car Museum , and tickets are officially on sale. This annual event is a favorite among those who appreciate fine cigars, elevated food and drink, and exceptional automobiles. Each year brings a new theme, and this summer, we’re turning back the clock to the 1970s. Expect an evening of laid-back luxury, classic style, and nostalgic fun in a setting unlike any other. Guests will enjoy: Premium cigars in a sophisticated outdoor lounge Handcrafted cocktails and refreshing beverages Savory bites from Stanley & Seafort’s, Table 47, and Anthony’s Live music inspired by the sounds of the era A curated selection of classic cars displayed on the plaza Whether you come for the cars, the company, or the warm summer breeze, Cars & Cigars offers the perfect blend of style, flavor, and atmosphere. It’s the ideal night out to gather with friends, meet fellow enthusiasts, and celebrate the finer things—1970s style. Tickets are limited and expected to sell out. Reserve yours now and prepare for a night of retro sophistication.
From cross-country adventures to exhilarating new exhibitions and youth-powered racing, the future is bright for America's Automotive Trust! Plans are already underway for the return of The Drive Home, set for January 2026. This time, we’ll be cruising the legendary Route 66 from California to Illinois before heading to the Motor City for the Detroit Auto Show, all in honor of the 100th anniversary of America’s most iconic highway. Stay tuned to find out where you can catch us as we drive classic cars more than 2,000 miles across the nation. In Tacoma, Rare & Luxurious: 100 Years of Exceptional Automobiles is now open at LeMay – America’s Car Museum . This stunning new exhibit explores a century of style, performance, and prestige, featuring icons like the Mercedes-Benz 300SL, Lamborghini Miura, Duesenberg Model J, and Ford GT. This tribute to the art of the automobile is a can't miss! On the RPM Foundation front, the future is shifting into high gear. Preparations are underway for the 2025 Great Race X-Cup, happening next month, where student teams will showcase their skill on the open road. The RPM team is also kicking off filming for Endangered Skills, an all-new video series spotlighting the vanishing techniques that keep restoration traditions alive. As we celebrate car culture past, present, and future, we wish everyone a joyful, thrilling, and safe car season. Stay tuned, stay engaged, and above all, keep driving what you love.
America’s Automotive Trust, the Detroit Auto Show , and the National Route 66 Centennial Commission are proud to announce The Drive Home VII: Route 66 – A Century of Adventure , a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country drive celebrating the 100th anniversary of the legendary Route 66. This commemorative event will begin on January 3, 2026, in Santa Monica, California, and span the full length of Route 66, arriving nine days later in Chicago, Illinois on January 12, 2026. The Route 66-era vehicles will then “drive home” to be on display at the world-class Detroit Auto Show beginning on January 14, 2026.
LeMay - America's Car Museum recently hosted our annual Wine & Wheels event, showcasing the fantastic wineries that have supported our Wheels & Heels Gala over the years. Taking place in the Showcase Gallery, 175 guests enjoyed tastings from ten PNW wineries and delicious bites from Café Pacific. Thank you to everyone who attended!
Have you heard? All new episodes of the Fuel for the Future podcast from America's Automotive Trust are out now! This incredible show, hosted by Michael May of Auto/Biography on MotorTrend, brings you in depth interviews with enthusiasts and industry professionals, shares tales of automotive history and explores innovative designs and technologies that are propelling us into the future. Check out a preview below and be sure to subscribe for free anywhere you get your podcasts or listen right here on the AAT website .
Join us for a celebration of the great wineries of the Pacific Northwest who have supported our Wheels & Heels Gala over the past 12 years. Enjoy tastings provided by participating wineries paired with light bites, entertainment and a self-guided tour of the Museum.
As the year comes to a close, we reflect on the incredible accomplishments we’ve achieved together in 2024 and look ahead to what’s possible in 2025. Thanks to supporters like you, our mission to honor the past, celebrate the present, and drive the future of America’s automotive heritage is more vibrant than ever. At LeMay – America’s Car Museum, we set new milestones this year. Our Shinka: An Immersive Japanese Automobile Exhibit saw the most attended opening in our history. Community engagement soared with festive events like Trunk or Treat and Día de los Muertos. We also expanded our educational programs and talk series, inspiring visitors of all ages, and topped 2,000 Museum members. Our Austin Healey sweepstakes has further energized our community, both locally and far beyond the Pacific Northwest, with donations coming in from 43 states and five countries, driving support for the Museum’s vital programs and automotive culture as a whole. The RPM Foundation is also celebrating transformative achievements. This year, 12 apprentices were placed to gain hands-on experience at world-class restoration shops. The Great Race X-Cup reached full capacity and we awarded a record 15 scholarships during the annual event. We're also excited to announce that a car is already secured for the 2025 Race! We proudly presented the prestigious Restorer’s Award at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals and Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance, allowing us to shine a light on excellence in restoration. All the while, America’s Automotive Trust continued to strengthen its foundation as we pursued these accomplishments. Wheels & Heels, our annual gala, raised more than $1 million, and we secured a grant to enable an RPM apprentice to join LeMay – America’s Car Museum’s talented team of classic car maintenance and restoration professionals. These successes reflect the incredible support of donors and enthusiasts like you—but there’s still much more to accomplish. Through the Drive Forward Campaign, we are committed to raising $15 million by the end of 2026 to expand STEM education programs, grow career training opportunities in restoration, and ensure that future generations can engage with and appreciate America’s automotive heritage. To date, we’re a quarter of the way to meeting our goal, and we look forward to working with incredible supporters like you to close the gap. As a nonprofit organization, we depend on your generosity to keep these programs running and to drive our mission forward. This holiday season, please consider making a year-end gift to the Drive Forward Campaign and support the work of America’s Automotive Trust and its entities. Together, we can honor our past, celebrate our present, and drive an inspiring future. Help us continue driving our mission by making a tax-deductible donation today!