Cars Yeah

Mark Hotchkis is a lifelong car and racing enthusiast whose family are legends in those industries. His father John was a partner in a SoCal Porsche/Audi dealership in the 80s and his brother John Jr. launched a performance suspicion company in the 90s. The family raced Porsches from the late 60s through the early 90s including at Le Mans, Daytona, Sebring and more. Mark developed the H-Sport brand with Hotchkis, created enthusiast forums, sales and advertising including Rennlist, 6 Speedlonline, Audiworld, and LS1 Tech. Mark raced in Formula Ford to Indy Lights and won a SCCA National Championship in a ’73 Porsche 914-4 at Mid-Ohio. He’s worked with Pelican Parts and for the past 7 years works with Porsche at their Porsche Experience Center in Los Angeles. He’s been a member of the Luftgekühlt production team since Luft 4 and along with Patrick Long and the team brings us Air | Water on April 27, 2024, in southern California at the Orange County Fair Grounds.

Chaya Milchstein is an automotive educator, influencer, and author of Mechanic Shop Femme's Guide to Car Ownership: Uncomplicating Cars for All of Us. She unapologetically stands out in a crowd, flaunting her fashion sense while teaching about cars, traveling the world, and breaking all kinds of norms. Chaya made it her life’s mission to educate women and queer people about their cars. She's dedicated her career to educating the average car owner, not the automotive enthusiasts, about their cars - a career she found and built after aging out of the foster care system. She's taught her popular car classes at libraries, universities, non-profits, and businesses. Chaya has worked with national and international automotive brands, including CarMax, TireRack, iFixit, and Jerry. She has been featured in AARP, NPR's Lifekit, Oprah Magazine, Car Talk, and The Chicago Tribune. She's written for AAA's Via Magazine, Parents Magazine, Shondaland, and PBS's Next Avenue.

Joshua Minson is the President and Owner of Redtide Canopies where they specialize in creating high-quality, custom-designed canopies for outdoor events and activities. After attending many events and realizing most canopies were not up to par, he saw an opportunity to do better. Along with better design, quality, and color options the focus at Redtide is sustainability. They use environmentally friendly materials that help reduce their environmental impact. Joshua and his team are dedicated to providing the best customer service, experience and products possible.

Jake Wolf is the visionary CEO and Co-Founder of Warehouse, a premier private car and social club located in Park City, Utah. His career has evolved from collector-grade clothing sales to exotic vehicle brokerage in Miami, specializing investment grade automobiles. Jake conceptualized Warehouse after securing funding and spearheading the development of Warehouse Motorclub, overseeing design, construction, and financing. The facility has become a premier destination for automotive and social enthusiasts alike. As the flagship Park City location, Warehouse sets the standard for what is slated to be a series of clubs across the country. Did I tell you Jake’s only 28 years old?

Genevieve Armendariz is a woman on a mission to change the world. As the Founder and Executive Director of The Limitless Mentorship and Scholarship Program, she provides resources and educational opportunities to empower girls and women, increase diversity, and support underserved communities. She is also the reigning Miss Monterey County and is competing to be Miss California. Genevieve is pursuing a career in Astrophysics.

Richard de Cabrol is the General Director of Grand Prix ACF AutoTech, a new French-based accelerator that helps select companies grow promoting efficiency, and sustainability. Each year they hold a contest to choose the top automotive startup that will be nurtured by the accelerator. Based in Paris, France, they leverage the expertise of local companies including Renault, Forvia, Plastic Omnium, Crédit Agricole, FIDAL, and MOTUL. These companies are part of the mentorship and growth of promising young companies. Grand Prix ACF AutoTech winners receive 35,000€ in prize money, investment assessment, business coaching, potential POCs with French partners, legal support, and tremendous networking connections through corporate affiliates.

Robert Ransom is a Master Craftsman of Bespoke Motorcycles, revered for his unparalleled dedication and visionary creations. With over 25 years in the motorcycle industry, his journey began at the age of 19 in an entrepreneurial journey by establishing his own motorcycle service shop, a move that catalyzed his destiny. A deep dive into the intricacies of artistry, craft, mechanics, and an unwavering thirst for knowledge Ransom perfected his art beyond motorcycle service. This thirst opened a new chapter in pioneering the creation of an exclusive and opulent brand bending old-world craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology. Today, each motorcycle bearing W. Robert Ransom's signature is a testament to his unwavering pursuit of perfection.

Karen McClaflin is the Executive Director of the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento, California. A California native she was the Executive Direcgro of the ALS Association and the California Automobile Museum from 2006 – 2015 before focusing on Development at Broadway Sacramento before returning for a second term. I had the pleasure of visiting the California Automobile Museum in 2018 when I filmed an episode of Cars Yeah TV that you can enjoy on the Cars Yeah YouTube channel.

Ethan Gibson is the Director of the North American Communications Team at RM Sotheby’s. He’s been a lifelong automotive enthusiast with a unique career path. At 22 he became a Federal Agent with the Department of Homeland Security. After becoming a field agent, Ethan began assisting the agency in public relations at the local government level, progressing through state and eventually onto the national and international stages. After 13 years of service Ethan transitioned to his passion, the automotive industry, where he found RM Sotheby’s. In his role he oversees their social media, earned media, and public relations efforts and now for their new venues, Moda events including the inaugural ModaMiami event and RM auctions.

Rich Kenney is the Co-Founder of AeroED Group whose motto is Flight: Inspiration for Learning”. He has been the FlyBy Chair for the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance since 2013 when he got a ride over the event in a Stearman biplane, previously owned by Steve McQueen. Rich has enjoyed being a member of the Organizing Committee ever since. He was selected to the Board of Directors and is now the VP of the World Acrobatic Society and in 2023 received their prestigious “Golden Achievement Award.”

Yuliia Lobodiuchenko is a transportation illustrator, an artist, and designer with experience in exterior automotive design, car design history, and cultural research. She has long held a fascination for the automotive industry and discovered that passion when, at 16, she joined the Faculty Industrial Design at the Kyiv State Academy of Decorative Arts and Design in Ukraine. In 2017 Yullia earned a scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in Car Design at the SPD Scuola Politecnica de Design in Milan, Italy. During her studies she collaborated with manufacturers including Lamborghini, Audi, and Volkswagen. After graduating she joined the exterior design team at JAC Italy Design Center. Today her focus is on illustration and research of various car production models. Yullia produced a 10-hour video course on the history of automotive design for Projector Institute, a Ukrainian educational institution. Today she runs a YouTube channel about the history of cars titled Transportii Istorii which translates to Transportation Stories.

Mark Beatty is Brand/Marketing Director for Red Line Synthetic Oil. His career includes time at V. Gaines in Denver Colorado as their Business Development Director for V’s family of racing companies including: Winberg Crankshafts, GRP Connection Rods, Gibtec Pistons, Fineline Graphics, and Black Diamond Media Productions. Mark has been a race car guy since high school when I worked at Bandimere Performance. They are the same Bandimere as the speedway and they used to own 3 speed shops in Denver as well. He was a counter guy at their big store on Alameda. Raced my first car which was a 63 1/2 Falcon Sprint, then shared a super comp dragster, and worked with Joe Shalkowski on his NHRA B-ED we ran in Comp. After that Mark announced at Bandimere Speedway for almost 9 years which lead to announcing opportunities at KRP and a few other tracks.

Alan Taylor is the Awards Co-Chair, designer, and maker of this year’s La Jolla Concours d’Elegance awards. He’s retired from a 55 plus year career and business he built, the Alan Taylor Company. It was a full serviced automotive restoration business specializing in European and American models from the prewar era through the 1960s. Alan and his team were known for their work on Alfas, Aston Martins, Avions Voisin, Bugatti, Delage, Delahaye, plus many other great marques. Their reputation for creating award winning automotive masterpieces with a focus on details and perfection is known worldwide. You’ve seen his work on concours lawns from Pebble Beach to Amelia Island. His motto: The impossible we do immediately. Miracles take a little longer. Alan is also a member of The Fédération International des Véhicules Anciens known as FIVA.

Bob Kerner is the Co-Chairman of the La Jolla Concours d’ Elegance, where he leads the Car Selection Committee. With a career in the insurance industry as a Sales Executive for Marsh & McLennan Agency, he brings over 25 years of expertise in insurance risk management for ultra-high net worth families. His work encompasses family offices, luxury homes, estates, museum-quality fine art, collectibles, umbrella liability, yachts, private aircraft, life insurance, daily driver autos, and collector automobiles. Bob's lifelong passion for cars started in childhood, leading to his involvement with the La Jolla Concours d’ Elegance in 2013. He is a past Docent at the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance and Las Vegas Concours, and an active member of numerous automobile clubs, regularly attending automotive events nationwide.

Nigel Matthews is the Chief Judge and on the Selection Committee for the annual La Jolla Concours d’Elegance. Originally from Oxfordshire, England, he has lived in Vancouver, British Columbia for 50 years where he worked as a red seal designated licensed automotive technician and member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen, repairing, and restoring Rolls-Royce and Ferrari automobiles. The past 29 years Nigel has been in the classic and exotic car insurance industry and currently serves as Global Brand Ambassador for Hagerty. Since 2005 Nigel has judged most of the major concours events around the globe and has written classic car columns in the Canadian press and numerous automotive magazines. In 2015 Nigel was one of the founding members of ICJAG (International Chief Judge Advisory Group) and took over from Ed Gilbertson, as the Chairman in 2020.

Michael Dorvillier is the Co-Chairman of the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance, a role he’s had for over a decade. This spectacular event takes place in La Jolla, California, just north of San Diego, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Michael is a Founding Partner of Symbio Financial Partners and a Registered Principal and Financial Advisor with LPL Financial. He has over 33 years of experience in the financial services industry. Michael is a passionate antique car collector who was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The La Jolla Concours d’Elegance takes place on April 19, 20, and 21 in beautiful La Jolla California, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. You can learn more about attending this event at La Jolla Concours.com

Jeremy Jackson-Sytner is the Founder and organizer of the Grand Tour, a luxury car tours experience with events and adventures around the world designed for owners of sports and GT cars. Known as Mr. Concours, Jeremy works at the top of the international historic automobile world. He is the creator of the world’s leading concours events, organizer of luxury car tours, and a consultant to a series of major car events around the globe. He is a consultant creating feasibility studies for new concours events including Hokkaido, Japan and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Jeremy has judged at numerous concours in India, Malta, Holland, the UK and numerous other events. He is a concours curator sourcing historic cars from around the world and is the Concours Curator for ModaMiami, a new event that include an RM Sotheby’s auction.

Scott Bannister is the founder and Managing Director of Regularity, an event company with the goal of opening the world of touring challenges to a wider audience of motorsport enthusiasts. Regularity is the evolution of an idea that participating in a classic motorsport challenge doesn’t need to be about large groups, stuffy rules, hard competition, or who posts the quickest time. It can be about the adventure, about discovering new countries and experiencing jaw-dropping scenery with a small group of likeminded enthusiasts.

Michael May is a performer and filmmaker, and is best known for hosting, creating, and executive producing the docuseries AUTO/BIOGRAPHY and its spinoff AUTO/BIOGRAPHY: COLD CASES for Motor Trend TV. He previously ran the media company Fun Size Horror where he produced hundreds of hours of digital content, feature films, and tv shows. Michael recently started his own production company, Convergent Content, where he's been actively developing content for TV, film, and podcasts. Currently he's directing a feature film that will come out later this year, and hosts the automotive themed podcast, "Fuel for the Future" for America's Automotive Trust which you can find on every podcast platform.

Tess Scaman is a Client Account Manager at RM Sotheby’s where, since joining in June of 2021, she has already had the opportunity to experience a multitude of auctions from their earliest beginnings to the hammer for the final lot. At RM Tess helps guide clients along the path of acquiring their dream cars. Her work at RM allows her to feed the traveling bug that’s had its clamps in her since a young age, she always stays active and looks forward to the opportunity to take a break and go off somewhere new, on her own.