Piston Foundation

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Fueling the Careers of Future Technicians

Piston is an independent non-profit that empowers young enthusiasts to become collector car technicians by providing auto-tech scholarships, career guidance, and job placement assistance.

08/28/2026

We were proud to serve as a sponsored charity of the second annual The Paddock Monterey during Monterey Car Week.

Celebrating the breadth of automotive technology, design, and culture, from timeless classics to future concepts, the event brought together an incredible cross-section of the automotive community.

Our Piston Scholars joined us for the experience, giving them another opportunity to immerse themselves in Monterey Car Week, meet people working across the collector-car industry, and see firsthand where a career in the automotive trades can take them.

These experiences go beyond the cars. They give the next generation an opportunity to build connections, gain perspective, and begin developing the relationships that can shape a career.

We’re proud to help open those doors. 🏁

08/26/2026

The day after we visited Rancho Cielo Youth Campus we joined them at Concours Carmel, hosted by the Ferrari Owners Club in downtown Carmel.

Sharing a booth gave us the opportunity to introduce the Piston Foundation mission to local students and families, collectors, enthusiasts, and members of the automotive community. A friend from back east Lime Rock Park CMO Jamie Kistner stopped by to say hello.

Throughout the day, one thing was clear: there is a deep passion for preserving automotive heritage, and an equally important opportunity to connect that passion with the next generation.

Because preserving these cars isn’t just about keeping them on the road. It’s about making sure there are skilled technicians ready to care for them for years to come.

We’re proud to be part of that conversation. 🏁

08/21/2026

While at Concorso Italiano, we had the incredible opportunity to meet Monica Zanetti, better known as Monica Zanetti

Monica made history as Ferrari’s first female production mechanic and coachbuilder. Hired directly by Enzo Ferrari in 1979 at just 15 years old, she became the first woman at Ferrari to master the entire vehicle assembly line. In 1987, she was the only woman on the four-person team tasked with building the bodywork of the Ferrari F40, working on both the internal and external chassis assembly.

Her story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when opportunity meets talent, and why creating pathways into the trades matters.

And now, Monica is helping open that door for the next generation. She has invited two Piston Scholars to intern in Italy’s Motor Valley, giving them the opportunity to learn alongside some of the world’s most respected automotive craftspeople.

From the F40 to the next generation of technicians, we’re proud to help keep the knowledge, skills, and passion for these cars moving forward. 🇮🇹🏁

08/19/2026

The next generation was out on the show field at Concorso Italiano. 🇮🇹🏁

10 Piston Scholars joined us onsite, getting a firsthand look at the collector car world while putting their knowledge to work as judges. They also presented the Piston Foundation’s Next Generation Award to a car they felt represented the future of the hobby.

For us, this is what it’s all about: giving aspiring technicians opportunities to get out of the classroom, build connections, and see where a career in collector cars can take them.

A huge thank you to Concorso Italiano and duPont REGISTRY for helping make this experience possible and for supporting the next generation of the collector car industry.

🤝

08/16/2026

What does the future of the classic car industry look like? It starts with the next generation.

We spent the day at Rancho Cielo, working together to introduce more students to the skilled trades and the career opportunities within the classic car world.

There’s a growing need for talented technicians, and a huge opportunity to build meaningful careers around these cars.

We’re proud to be part of that pathway. 🔧

08/13/2026

A meaningful part of Monterey Car Week is building opportunities for future of the collector car community.

As a Rancho Cielo Youth Campus partner, the Piston Foundation was proud to join Education Day and spend time with students pursuing careers in classic car restoration.

Piston Foundation President Jeff Mason spoke with students and assembled guests about the strong interest in these careers, and the opportunity for industry leaders to invest in building career pathways that grow the next generation of skilled technicians.

The future of the classic car world depends on having skilled people to preserve, maintain, and restore these cars. We’re proud to support Rancho Cielo students as they take their first steps toward careers in the industry.

CollectorCars

08/05/2026

Piston People | Meet Board Member Alex Greene

Every car enthusiast has a story, and for Piston Foundation Board Member Alex Greene, it all started with a 1971 Chevy Vega.

From learning the quirks of one of America’s most infamous cars to navigating the English countryside on an unforgettable road trip, Alex’s automotive journey has been fueled by curiosity and adventure.

But what drives his commitment to the Piston Foundation goes far beyond the cars themselves.

For Alex, our mission is about paying forward the mentorship and opportunities that helped shape his own career while ensuring the next generation has the skills, support, and pathways needed to preserve the collector cars we all cherish.

In the latest edition of our Spark Newsletter, Alex shares the stories behind his first car, his favorite road trip memories, the soundtrack to his drives, and why investing in future collector car technicians matters so much to him.

📬 Subscribe to the Spark Newsletter through the link in our bio to read Alex’s full story.

08/04/2026

For the first time ever, the Piston Foundation is headed to Monterey Car Week!

We’re excited to be part of the largest gathering of Italian automobiles in the world with Concorso Italiano and The Paddock Monterey as an official charity partner and to present our Next Generation Award at Concorso Italiano on Saturday, August 15th, recognizing the next generation of collector car technicians.

Whether you’re attending the event or simply passionate about preserving automotive history, we’d love for you to stop by and say hello. Members of the Piston Foundation team, along with several of our Piston Scholars, will be there all weekend sharing how we’re fueling the future of the collector car hobby.

Grab tickets here: https://concorso.ticketspice.com/international-car-week?utm_source=piston&utm_medium=social

See you at Car Week!

07/31/2026

Piston is excited to join The Classics Forum and share what we’ve learned from our past five years of work helping young enthusiasts build careers in the collector car industry. The next generation is ready for opportunity.

07/30/2026

Five years ago, the Piston Foundation was built on a simple belief:
The future of the collector car community depends on the next generation of skilled technicians.
Today, we’re proud to share a major milestone.

🎉 For the 2026–27 academic year, we’ve DOUBLED our scholarship program, awarding 60 scholarships totaling $160,000 to aspiring collector car technicians across the country.

This year’s scholars were selected from our largest and most competitive applicant pool to date, representing hundreds of passionate young enthusiasts who are choosing careers dedicated to preserving automotive history.

But this milestone is about more than numbers.
It’s about the students turning their passion into a profession.
It’s about the donors, partners, schools, and supporters who believe skilled trades deserve investment.

And it’s about building a stronger future for the collector car community, one technician at a time.

Since 2022, the Piston Foundation has awarded 144 scholarships totaling $425,000, helping students launch careers at restoration shops, museums, private collections, specialty automotive businesses, and beyond.

To everyone who has supported our mission over the past five years: thank you. Together, we’re not just funding scholarships, we’re fueling the future of automotive craftsmanship.

https://pistonfoundation.org/blog/piston-scholarship-awards-2026/

FutureTechnicians AutomotiveEducation CarCulture WorkforceDevelopment

Address

Stamford, CT

Telephone

+14756192395

Website

http://pistonfoundation.org/, https://www.youtube.com/@pistonfoundation, https://pistonfoundation.org/apply/, https://pi

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