From cars, trucks and motorcycles to fire engines, tractor and military vehicles, we care passionately about vehicles from the early era of transportation right up through the present so that everyone can experience the history and fun preserving and driving these vehicles can bring.

VAE is 501(c) Educational & Charitable Organization that awards scholarships to encourage and support young men and women who wish to pursue a career in automotive trades. VAE has funded hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships for Vermonters like you.

Recent Wheel Tracks Articles

  • 1978 Land Rover Series 3
    Workhorse or a Royal 4WD? We do not know her past, but today, this is Terry Hook’s workhorse and go-to-town vehicle.  When you get a new horse, you wonder what they’ve done and where they’ve been, but they’re not talking. It’s much the same with a “new” car. It’s got a history, but you just can’t get them to talk… Read more: 1978 Land Rover Series 3
  • Rain Barrel Songs
    The other day, during yet another rainy spell, I was watching the rain gutter downspouts spill water into a flower bed and thought about rain barrels. I went on Amazon and, sure enough, they had rain barrels. I  ordered one and it came two days later. It is now installed and works great. The mention of rain barrels reminded me… Read more: Rain Barrel Songs
  • 1922 Paige Lakewood Tourer
    When the car sold new, the buyer paid $53,000 in today’s funds.  From the “Standard Catalog of American Cars (1805-1942)… Mr. Harry Jewett made his fortune in West Virginia’s coal industry and had the idea he could do the same in this new industry that involved automobiles. In 1909, he took a test-ride in a 3-cylinder, 25HP automobile built by Andrew Bachle… Read more: 1922 Paige Lakewood Tourer
  • If Someone Gave Me a Lot of Money…
    You have probably been asked this question many times; I know I have. If you had a lot of money……. The question next is… What is a lot of money? It probably depends on who you are asking. To some, a lot of money might be $1,000 or $10,000 or $100,000, or more. But it is interesting to hear what people… Read more: If Someone Gave Me a Lot of Money…

About Vermont Auto Enthusiasts

The Vermont Automobile Enthusiasts was founded around a kitchen table in Essex Junction, Vermont by a small group of vintage automobile enthusiasts in 1953. It has continued to grow in membership and activity, and now has members not only from Vermont, but nationally and even internationally, among people who share an interest in all things related to automobiles and automotive history. VAE members are invited to monthly meets to explore Vermont’s scenic drives at the wheels of their prized autos in warmer months and visit historic sites and facilities of automotive or historic interest when indoor venues are called for. These include garage tours, restoration shops, and historically significant museum collections which add to each member’s enjoyment. And, yes, there’s a fair amount of car talk too. To the general public, we are probably best known for our annual Vermont Antique and Classic Car Meet, now held in Waterbury, Vermont which is the high point of our yearly activity.

The VAE is now a 501 c (3) non-profit educational and charitable organization devoted to encouraging and supporting education of young people in fields related to automotive technology and history. Proceeds from our car show, as well as individual donations, go to support this educational outreach.

The VAE proudly provides and supports these educational programs:

  • The Golden Wrench Award: This award is presented annually to one junior in each of the sixteen automotive technical career centers in Vermont. The award consists primarily of a valuable tool set and $500 scholarship for continued post- secondary education in an automotive related field. The winning students are selected by their teaching faculty in recognition of their demonstrated dedication to their education.
  • Skills USA: We provide financial support to help career center students who are first place winners in the state wide Skills competition in four automotive related competitions. This support helps with the expense of representing Vermont in the national competition to which they are invited.
  • VAE Automotive Seniors Scholarship: We are now annually awarding six $1,000 scholarships to Vermont high school seniors who intend to pursue further education in the automotive field. They are selected based on their applications which describe their career goals and indicate how they intend to achieve them through further education.