-> Note to Editor: This story should accompany the Member Spotlight of Tom Truitt. Please choose from the provided photos below. The photo of Tom below (taken by me) is different from the one for the Member Spotlight – you can decide if it’s appropriate/necessary to use this (or any) image of him in this story. >
Story and photos by Tom Truitt
I co-founded the Small Car Company in 2013 with my friend and then neighbor Dave Abelow. It was named after the first Volkswagen dealership in New England, located in Westport, CT. Our goal was to bring all kinds of people together and share the love of air-cooled cars. We started in my driveway and then rallied through the twisty back roads of lower Fairfield County. Our love for air-cooled cars has evolved from rallies and shows, to a commitment in education and producing classrooms on show fields across Connecticut, in the automotive community.
Our Mentors & Motors™ program has created a unique space where car enthusiasts and industry professionals connect with high school and automotive technology students. In this collaborative environment, mentors shepherd students through the show field and evoke conversation.
Our students are primarily from inner city magnet schools, high schools and automotive tech programs, and range from freshman to seniors, with a focus on those with less means. These students gain confidence, and enhance their networking and public speaking skills, along with other tools they need to succeed. With visits to private automotive collections, car museums and garages, students gain hands-on experience with our mentors.
Our mentors share their professional experiences across all sectors of the industry, as well as wisdom gained from involvement in our automotive community. Our mentors get as much out of this program as the students, many making bonds and offering jobs. Education fuels our mission to mentor and inspire Connecticut’s next generation of automotive innovators and technicians, for the vintage cars we cherish.
The Small Car Company is dedicated to equitable education for all. We’re building new programs and working with technical colleges and local foundations to move into the future, with opportunities in all avenues of tomorrow’s automotive technology.
For more information, visit smallcarcompany.org on the internet, Facebook or Instagram
