All of the acquisitions, partnerships, and big business moves Hagerty has made recently have also been on-ramps to the car hobby. Together with you, we’re building as many of them as possible. Gran Turismo 7, played by millions of kids of all ages, is an on-ramp. Virtual car love inevitably becomes real car love, which is why we established the Hagerty Collection for the game earlier this year. Our venture into the gaming space has been a big win for us, but even I was unprepared for one particular person’s reaction.
I was at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance a few months ago when Jay Ward, the creative director of the Cars film franchise for Pixar Animation Studios, and his wife, Trish, approached with a boy in tow.
“We just have to tell you something,” they said. “There’s one person this whole weekend that our 7-year-old son Henry wants to meet, and that’s you.”
Say whaaat? I mean, I think I’m a perfectly lovely fellow and all, but I’m certainly not a celebrity. How would a little kid even know who I am, much less want to meet me?
“He’s crazy about cars, and one of his favorite video games is Gran Turismo 7,” they explained, “and he sees your face in there all the time.” Henry is also a big fan of the Hagerty Collection, which features some of the greatest cars and trucks ever produced. Gamers build up points to access and drive them. I appear as an avatar who tells them about each. Seeing yourself in a video game car is cool. But not nearly as cool, let me assure you, as being looked up to by a 7-yearold. That’s truly something special. Score one for the video game on-ramp.
This magazine is also an on-ramp. As a kid, I devoured car magazines. You probably did, too. In an age when many print magazines have folded or become ghosts of their McKeel Hagerty CEO former selves, we continue to produce it to keep the flame alive so that generations of future kids like Henry catch the bug.
Hagerty Marketplace, our new online portal for buying, selling, and financing cars, is a major on-ramp, too. There are an estimated 69 million Americans who are into collector cars and like buying, selling, and browsing them. As a lifelong collector, I am frequently asked which of my cars is my favorite. My answer is always: “My next one.” If you’re like me, check out Marketplace. It’s a great place to scratch the itch. Plus, it’s safe, secure, and easy to use.
Our growing stable of top-quality events is probably our most high-profile on-ramp. is year, we added the Detroit Concours d’Elegance, but we also own and operate e Amelia, the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, Concours d’Lemons, Radwood, the California Mille, and Motorlux. We run these events because they excite us. And because we know that they excite you, too.
That excitement is precisely the point. Hagerty is determined to build an ecosystem of exciting things to do, places to go, and experiences to have for people who love cars.
That means you. As 2022 draws to a close, I want to thank you for your support. Without you and the entire community of Hagerty car enthusiasts, none of this would have been possible. As we move into a new year with new possibilities, I would love to hear your thoughts on growing the hobby. mhagerty@hagerty.com
