2024 AAT Award Recipients
Nicola Bulgari Award
2024 Award Recipient: Sandra Button
As Chairman of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance since 2002 and as its Executive Director for decades prior, Sandra Button has helped to guide the growth of this Concours into a truly global celebration of the automobile. Sandra also seeks to encourage and support automotive enthusiasts around the world by traveling to, participating in, and often officiating at concours and car shows from Asia and the Middle East to Europe and South America. She and her husband, Martin Button, have acquired and have preserved or restored an eclectic collection of automobiles ranging from a 1904 Oldsmobile to a 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4—not to mention two Bentleys—and they regularly participate in driving events such as the 1000 Millas Sport Argentina, the Copperstate 1000, and the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. Sandra is also a member of the Royal Automobile Club, the Classic Car Club of America, the Motor Press Guild, and the Society of Automotive Historians.
edward t. welburn automotive designer award
2024 Recipient: Jim Hall
Jim Hall (born July 23, 1935) is a pioneering American racing driver, car constructor, and team owner whose influence on motorsport extends far beyond his success behind the wheel. Raised in Texas and educated as an engineer at Caltech, Hall quickly earned recognition as one of America’s top road racers of the 1960s, winning the United States Road Racing Championship twice (1964, 1965) and claiming major victories at Sebring, Road America, Watkins Glen, and in the Canadian Grand Prix for sports cars.
Yet his legacy is most firmly rooted in innovation: through his Chaparral race cars, Hall revolutionized vehicle design with breakthroughs in aerodynamics, composite chassis construction, semi-automatic transmissions, and the groundbreaking 2J “sucker car” that pioneered ground-effect technology. His cars won across USRRC, Can-Am, Trans-Am, Formula 5000, the World Sportscar Championship, and even the Indianapolis 500, setting benchmarks that continue to shape modern racing. Celebrated as both driver and visionary, Hall has been inducted into nearly every major motorsports hall of fame, cementing his place as one of the most influential figures in 20th-century automotive history.
jay C. ackley Master Craftsman award
2024 Recipient: Steve Babinsky
Steve Babinsky, founder of Automotive Restorations in Lebanon, New Jersey, is one of the nation’s most respected pre-war car restorers, known for his meticulous craftsmanship and commitment to authenticity. Since establishing his shop in 1981, he and his long-tenured team have handled some of the most challenging projects in the hobby, from concours-winning restorations to historically significant preservation efforts, including work on the 1911 Indy-winning Marmon Wasp. While Babinsky is renowned for flawless, period-correct restorations shown at Pebble Beach and other top events, he is equally influential as an advocate for originality, having helped establish the Pebble Beach Preservation class in 1998. His philosophy—that old cars tell stories worth preserving—has made Automotive Restorations a destination for collectors seeking both world-class restoration and thoughtful conservation.
hagerty Master Collector award
2024 Recipient: Steve Rimmer
Mr. Rimmer is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Altavair L.P. and has been involved in the commercial aviation industry including world-wide aircraft and engine trading activities for over 35 years. Mr. Rimmer co-founded Altavair in 2003 as a joint venture with Guggenheim Partners and remains responsible for its overall strategy and management of over $3.0 billion of Boeing and Airbus aircrafts. Following the purchase of the Guggenheim interest in Altavair back in 2016, Altavair entered a strategic partnership with KKR providing for joint ownership of Altavair and a $2.15 billion commitment of KKR fund capital for building out a commercial aircraft portfolio. With this dedicated capital and KKR world wide resources, Altavair has the ability to invest in all parts of the market. Prior to Altavair LLC, Mr. Rimmer founded XS Aviation Ltd., a commercial aircraft investment management and advisory company in 2000.
Before XS, he co-founded Curtis & Company, a boutique aviation lease and finance arranging company, where he remained a principal in charge of its London office from 1991 through 1999. During this same time, Mr. Rimmer founded Curtis Power Company, an early commercial engine leasing company, which he later sold to General Electric in 2001. At its height, Curtis Power Company managed and leased over 90 engines to airlines aroundthe globe. Mr. Rimmer has held senior management positions with several prominent firms in the commercial aviation industry, including Security Pacific. Mr. Rimmer also founded DirtFish Rally School in Snoqualmie, WA. Based around his love for rally and his desire to see the sport grow in the US, the school now sees an average of 3,000 students per year and is partnered with Subaru who outfits the DirtFish fleet.
What are the America's Automotive Trust Awards?
America is the nation of the car. At America’s Automotive Trust, we bestow several prestigious awards to recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the automotive industry, car culture, and preservation. These awards are presented each year during the annual Concours Club Gathering and Wheels & Heels Gala weekend hosted at LeMay – America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington. Each recipient is forever recognized in our awards hall of fame archive for future generations to honor and appreciate.