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The Piston Foundation Partners with Lime Rock Park

The Piston Foundation announced a new partnership with Lime Rock Park in which both parties will have an active role in providing automotive career opportunities for talented men and women who want to learn and practice the skilled trades needed by the car enthusiast community.

By Jeff Mason

March 2, 2022

“The Piston Foundation’s mission is to promote and fund skilled-trade education to create rewarding career paths for a new generation of collector car specialists and technicians,” said Robert P. Minnick, CEO and Founder of the Piston Foundation. “Since the Piston Foundation and Lime Rock Park serve similar communities, a partnership makes sense for everyone, including racers who use the track and car enthusiasts who enjoy events at this storied facility.”

Our goal is to bring more young people into the collector car industry so the craftspeople who built this American touchstone can transfer their skills to a new generation.

“All of us at Lime Rock are excited for this new partnership,” said Dicky Riegel, President and CEO of Lime Rock Park. “It is up to all of us to propel the future by encouraging young people to join our industry. Our agreement with Piston Foundation is manifest of the rich history of the track and our exciting vision for the future.”

Kira Mundhenk auto restoration apprentice at Steel Wings working on an Aston Martin.
Kira Mundhenk auto restoration apprentice at Steel Wings working with craftsman Jon Clerk.

Mr. Minnick added, “The Piston Foundation is an independent, national automotive charity. Our goal is to bring more young people into the collector car industry so the craftspeople who built this American touchstone can transfer their skills to a new generation. We offer a philanthropic platform where car enthusiasts and members of the automotive industry, like Lime Rock Park, can come together to directly support career opportunities for young people and help build a sustainable future for the trade of vehicle restoration.”

Kira Mundhenk auto restoration apprentice at Steel Wings.
Kira Mundhenk is a restoration apprentice at Steel Wings.

Mr. Riegel said, “There is a great deal of interest in our plans for the future of this historic racetrack. Robert’s ideas for the Piston Foundation create a vision and a pathway for our shared automotive enthusiasm to be nurtured in the next generation. Lime Rock Park looks forward to providing the dynamic setting where the Piston Foundation can share career opportunities with young men and women.”

Photos of Steel Wings by Bearded Mug Media

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