A Night to Remember

Hall of Fame Hosts Avanti Awards Winners

The Avanti Awards Night was a "Night to Remember" for all those who attended the first annual event in the beautiful Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan. In attendance were the distinguished sponsors, the engaging hosts, several Avanti owners whose show class cars were on display, and of course, the competition winners, their beautifully excecuted entries, and their handsome trophies. Selecting the winners must have been very difficult judging by the high calibre of those selected. Presented here are the three winners with trophies and their superb designs. Shown at the top of the page is the rendering of winner, Evan Pipta who poses at right with his black Avanti Trophy. All Photography by Philip Dattilo.

Joseph Douglas Earl 2009 Avanti Awards

In memoriam to Ford management supervisor Joseph Douglas Earl, the Avanti Awards have been established to recognize and encourage classic contemporary designs created by Metro Detroit high school students and submitted through their art instructors. Cash prizes totaling $4400 plus an additional $1000 in Dick Blick Art Materials Gift Certificates were awarded to the top designs at the Automotive Hall of Fame on March 31, 2008. The Design Committee hopes to cultivate innovation and elan in future car stylists. In the early 1960s, the most popular car model was the 2-door hardtop, It was an era of space age adventure and the romance of the open road. Fast-forward to the early 21st century. Euro four-door sedans and box-shaped SUVs abound. Utility takes precedence over style. The Joseph Douglas Earl Avanti Awards Committee seeks submissions that recapture the spirit and flair of more daring times when designs were new and strikingly different. Model to be designed: Two-door sports hardtop or coupe seating four or five. The design can incorporate retro styling cues but it should be a 2009 model. Be original. Medium to use: Any art medium from charcoals, pastels, oils, watercolors, pencils, inks, airbrush, or mixed media. Computer-enhanced entries with color and halftones are acceptable but they cannot contain photo elements of real cars, past or present. Submission copies: All entries must be 8 x 11 color copies. No originals. Contact Frank Dattilo (313) 271-8339 or for more information go to stellarscholars.com