Perhaps one of the biggest obstacles to getting young people interested in the vintage scene is the inability to drive manual cars. Hagerty Insurance has taken the first step in creating a whole new generation of enthusiasts by conducting classroom and hands-on instruction in the fine art of driving a manual transmission-equipped car. Held at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Mich., the session involved 35 participants aged 16-20 and included a 30-minute chalk talk followed by 15-minute sessions behind the wheel of such classics as a 1930 Ford Model A sedan, a 1940 Buick Super Convertible, a 1955 Porsche 356 Cabrio and a ’63 split-window Corvette. And newer cars were also included in the program as the youths were given turns behind the wheel of a 2011 Camaro convertible and a Mustang coupe. “In order to keep classics on the road for future generations to enjoy, we have to give youth access to these rare cars and teach them the ins and outs of driving such unique vehicles,” said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of the insurance company bearing his name. “The feedback we received was incredible. They really seemed to embrace the event.” Hagerty has its work cut out for it since Department of Transportation figures show that only 49 percent of 17-year-olds have their licenses, a 25-percent decrease since 1978 and that only 10 percent of currently produced cars come with manual transmissions.
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