a public charity
serving the
car community
our mission
Helping To Build a New Generation of Automotive Tradespeople
The Piston Foundation’s mission is to bring more young people into the collector car industry. By funding skilled trades programs in collector cars, we’re working to help today’s craftspeople transfer their skills to a new generation and help young technicians build rewarding careers in the trades and services of the collector car industry.
What we do
We direct the charitable giving from car enthusiasts back into the car community, helping to build awareness and respect for automotive skilled trade career choices.
Our goal is to fund skilled trade education for automotive students and to develop and establish vehicle restoration apprentices. We’re creating career opportunities for people who want to take a different path and we’re helping to build a new generation of automotive tradespeople.
Who We Serve
We support students seeking skilled trade education as an alternative path to a rewarding career, different from the “college-at-all-costs” approach and help working auto technicians find apprenticeship placement and achieve a career in collector car restoration and services.
We serve restoration shops and auto industry businesses who need skilled technicians and specialists ready to learn the craft and trade, and we serve the car enthusiast community who want to continue to enjoy their hobby, share their passion, and keep their beloved cars on the road.
we’re car enthusiasts, too
Everyone in our organization has a passion and a drive for keeping vintage, classic, and collector cars on the road.
Our founder, Robert P. Minnick, has always been a car guy and sees the Piston Foundation as the way in which he, and others like him, can give back and affect real positive change in the car community.
GIVE TO WHAT YOU LOVE
Young or old, we all love classic cars. A generation of craftspeople built rewarding careers keeping these cars on the road. Now they’re retiring and the collector car industry needs new technicians. Young people are interested in learning the trade, but they need help from the car community to get the education and hands-on training they need.
The high cost of education and limited access to hands-on training makes it difficult for young car enthusiasts to enter the auto restoration industry. Together, we can help aspiring technicians overcome these barriers and put them on a career path into the collector car industry.
From the Piston Blog
This Mazda Miata Is Going Straight to One-Sixty
Harvey Siegel has donated his prized race car to the Cars for Piston Scholar campaign. This Spec Miata racer and a Bonneville land speed record holder will be featured at MiataCon and auction to support the Piston scholarship program.
The 2023 Piston Technician Award at Lime Rock Historic Festival 41
In a pit lane ceremony, The Piston Foundation awarded Chris Kvaka from Vintage Racing Services with the 2023 Piston Technician Award. The award was presented by racing driver Joe Colasacco and Lime Rock CEO Dickie Riegel during a beautiful weekend of vintage racing.
Piston Awards 23 Scholarships to Aspiring Auto Restoration Technicians
Piston Foundation scholarships totalling $105,000 have been awarded to 23 deserving students. Through the support of our donors, we’re helping these young people get the education they need to start a career in the collector car industry.
Cars for Piston Scholars
Turn your collector car into education and hands-on training for aspiring collector car technicians. Your car can change lives. 100% goes to fund scholarships.
Sponsor a Piston Scholar
Piston Foundation scholarships are awarded to aspiring technicians to help them begin an auto restoration career. Give to the car culture you love. 100% goes to fund scholarships.
Become a Piston Founder
The Founders Club is a unique group of car enthusiasts and collectors who are helping us provide skilled trade education and create career opportunities in the collector car industry.
Cars for Piston Scholars
Turn your collector car into education and hands-on training for aspiring collector car technicians. Your car can change lives. 100% goes to fund scholarships.
Sponsor a Piston Scholar
Piston Foundation scholarships are awarded to aspiring technicians to help them begin an auto restoration career. Give to the car culture you love. 100% goes to fund scholarships.
Become a Piston Founder
The Founders Club is a unique group of car enthusiasts and collectors who are helping us provide skilled trade education and create career opportunities in the collector car industry.
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