What happens when an automotive museum stops playing it safe and starts thinking bigger? In this episode of San Diego Automotive Museum Radio, Dave Stall and Lenny explore how the museum is evolving through rare cars, youth education, major new exhibits, and an ambitious vision for the future of San Diego car culture.

One of the biggest highlights is the Ignite Academy, where approximately 35 students each week get hands-on experience working on real vehicles. Lenny shares the story of one determined teenager who spent five weeks troubleshooting a donated, non-running Mercedes before finally bringing it back to life—a perfect example of what hands-on automotive education can accomplish.

In This Episode:

• 🔧 Ignite Academy and hands-on automotive education
• 🏎️ Koenigsegg, Pagani, and the museum's hypercar exhibition
• 🎨 Upcoming Art Deco automotive exhibit
• 🎷 Roaring '20s-themed museum gala
• 🚗 2001 Corvette raffle
• 🏁 Lenny's 1991 Honda CRX Si project
• 🏛️ Plans for a major museum expansion
• 👨‍🎓 Inspiring the next generation of automotive enthusiasts

The museum's current hypercar exhibition represents just how far the organization has come. Cars from Koenigsegg and Pagani now share space with an increasingly ambitious collection, while the upcoming Art Deco exhibit will shift the spotlight toward another fascinating era of automotive design.

Lenny also previews the museum's Roaring '20s-themed gala on September 26, featuring live jazz and a speakeasy-style experience. There's also a chance to support the museum through its raffle for a restored 2001 Chevrolet Corvette, complete with distinctive ghost-flame paintwork.

The conversation gets personal when Lenny talks about his 1991 Honda CRX Si, his third CRX and a car he'd been searching for years to find. When he tells Ignite Academy students about his plans to transform it into a serious performance build, their reaction perfectly captures what the program is all about: getting young people excited about cars by letting them become part of the process.

"Could we have ever gotten a Koenigsegg four years ago? Could we get a Pagani? None of those cars ever graced the Auto Museum." — Lenny

Dave and Lenny also discuss the museum's ambitious $10 million expansion plans and the organizational changes happening behind the scenes. Their conversation touches on leadership, fundraising, building the right team, and why surrounding yourself with people who bring different perspectives can make an organization stronger.

Whether you're a collector, weekend wrench-turner, automotive history fan, or someone who wants to see the next generation discover a passion for cars, this episode shows why the San Diego Automotive Museum is becoming much more than a place to look at vehicles.

Listen to the full episode for the stories behind the cars, Ignite Academy, upcoming exhibits, Lenny's CRX project, and the museum's plans for the future.

YouTube: @MrDaveStall

Website: davestall.com

SD Auto Museum Show 08/02/26