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.
Vermont Automobile Enthusiasts Offers
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Recent Wheel Tracks Articles
- 1996 Mazda Miata MX-5
It all started back in 2017 at our 59th annual car show. Dave Sander had brought the 1990 Mazda Miata to the Stowe car show. I had been wanting to drive it, but I didn’t know how to drive a manual car. He got into the passenger seat and said, “Hop in!” We stayed on the show field for the… Read more: 1996 Mazda Miata MX-5 - Time to Vacuum
Well, they’re driving me crazy again this year! I always thought they were an infestation of the common ladybugs that we see in the garden in the summer and think “how cute.” Not! I have come to learn these are Asian lady beetles. The Asian lady beetle arrived in New England through both intentional introductions and accidental stowaways on ships from Asia.… Read more: Time to Vacuum - AI and Us
The media, Wall Street gurus, and us plebeian folks are all atwitter about A1 (Artificial Intelligence). What is it? Where is it? Will it take away our jobs? Will it make our lives better or will it terrorize our lives? I’ll define AI as any computer coded algorithm that can access stored or new information and use it to make… Read more: AI and Us - 2025 Awards – Vermont Antique & Classic Car Meet
Vermont Automobile Enthusiasts club’s award-winners by class, plus Special Awards from 2025 Vermont Antique & Classic Car Meet
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.