2025 AAT Awards
October 1, 2025
In early September, we hosted our annual Concours Club Gathering and Wheels & Heels Gala, in which we celebrated not just the achievements of America's Automotive Trust and its entities, but the efforts of several people who have left a major mark in the automotive world. From racing and design to collecting and restoring, the America's Automotive Trust Awards honor individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the automotive industry, car culture, and preservation. Our 2025 winners are:
- Nicola Bulgari Award: Keith Flickinger
- Edward T. Welburn Automotive Design Award: Ralph Gilles and Wayne Cherry
- Jay C. Ackley Master Craftsman Award: Travis LaVine
- Hagerty Master Collector Award: Wayne Carini
- American Racing Legends Award: Bob Bondurant (posthumous) and George Follmer
We hope you join us in congratulating each of them and their loved ones. You can read more about the winners of our 2025 AAT Award winners here.
share this
Related Articles
Related Articles
Earlier this month, America’s Automotive Trust and our partners set out on a journey that embodied everything we stand for, celebrating and preserving America's automotive heritage.
America’s Automotive Trust (AAT), in partnership with the Detroit Auto Show and the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, is proud to help lead the Route 66 Centennial Exhibition, recently designated an Official Route 66 Centennial Project by the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission. The Drive Home: Route 66 – A Century of Adventure is the seventh installment of AAT’s annual cross-country winter drive spotlighting America’s automotive heritage. Beginning January 3, 2026 in Santa Monica and traveling the historic highway to Chicago before continuing on to Detroit with a shedule arrival of January 14, the convoy will showcase nine classic and modern vehicles curated for a trip on the Mother Road. These vehicles, each representing a distinct era of design, innovation, and open-road exploration, will be featured inside the Detroit Auto Show: Route 66 Centennial Exhibition at Huntington Place, running January 14–25. Visitors will experience an immersive look at Route 66 through film, photography, and stories gathered along the journey, highlighting small-town landmarks, vintage diners, motels, gas stations, and other icons that have shaped the road’s legacy. This collaborative effort reflects the shared mission of AAT, the Detroit Auto Show, and the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership to honor the past while inspiring future generations of drivers and enthusiasts. Together, the organizations are bringing the spirit of Route 66 to life in the Motor City during this landmark centennial year. The exhibition will also be featured on route66centennial.org as an officially recognized Centennial Project. Fans can follow The Drive Home VII in real time with updates from Jim O’Brien of 94.7 WCSX and through Detroit Auto Show and AAT social media coverage. America’s Automotive Trust is excited to be part of this significant celebration of automotive culture, community, and adventure—100 years in the making.
Former Curator of Savoy Automobile Museum appointed as VP of Curation and Education at LeMay – America’s Car Museum Tacoma, WA – November 19, 2025 – America’s Automotive Trust is proud to announce the appointment of Bruce Patton as Vice President of Curation and Education for LeMay – America’s Car Museum. Patton joins the organization with an impressive multi-decade career in the automotive industry particularly at Bosch. He also has strong knowledge of automotive history and the collector community most recently serving as Curator of Savoy Automobile Museum in Georgia. At Savoy, he led curation of world-class displays celebrating the art and innovation of the automobile, fostering public connection with the stories behind the vehicles and their creators. In his new role at America’s Automotive Trust, Patton will oversee the Museum’s exhibition strategy, collection stewardship, and educational programming, helping to advance ACM’s mission to preserve automotive heritage and celebrate car culture. Curation of the Collection will also include shaping it for effectiveness in promoting the Trust’s national activities. “We are absolutely delighted to have Bruce join us as our first Vice President for Curation and Education of the Trust,” said David Madeira, CEO of America’s Automotive Trust. “Bruce’s experience, knowledge of the automobile, connections in the industry and collector community will bring us Curatorial leadership at a level we have never enjoyed. Bruce’s passion for education prompted us to bring that important department under his stewardship as well. As the Trust undertakes development of a Robotics and Innovation Center at America’s Car Museum, Bruce will provide us with the leadership necessary for success.” “I look forward to working with the Curatorial and Education teams in place at America’s Automotive Trust to help expand and build on the incredible work that has already been accomplished,” said Bruce Patton. “With the assistance of our Board Members and newly appointed CEO Joe Jacuzzi, the future looks very bright for increasing the Museum’s reach for expanding the curiosity of our youth through the Robotics and Innovation Center. We will also investigate making slight modifications to our vehicle curation and programming cycles to help promote additional attendance, membership, and support of the Museum.” Bruce will be reporting to recently announced new CEO of America’s Automotive Trust Joe Jacuzzi. Under Bruce’s leadership, the Museum will continue to expand its programming and showcase new perspectives on automotive artistry, design, and cultural impact — reflecting the institution’s national role as a hub for enthusiasts, educators, and families alike. ### About America’s Automotive Trust America’s Automotive Trust works to preserve America’s automotive heritage and inspire the next generation of enthusiasts and innovators by bringing together like-minded organizations that honor the past, celebrate the present, and drive the future of car culture to make a greater impact. Founding member organizations LeMay – America’s Car Museum, RPM Foundation, and premier membership programs Club Auto and Concours Club, as well as our affiliated partners, work together to foster a strong community where any enthusiast can thrive – from the classroom, to careers, to the open road. America’s Automotive Trust is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit americasautomotivetrust.org. For the latest news, stories, photos and videos, visit americasautomotivetrust.org/aat-news