Behind the wheel of the California Mille

The Hagerty tour expert, Alison McMaster has planned, organized and executed countless driving tours for enthusiasts all over the United States and Canada. But her knack for convening car lovers only begins with driving tours. Since joining the Hagerty Events Team in 2018, Alison has worked on hundreds of events, is a key stakeholder in the planning of the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance and the Detroit Concours d'Elegance, and still finds time for backcountry camping, scaling mountains, cruising off-road on her BMW F650GS Adventure Bike and volunteering as a ski instructor for Northern Michigan Adaptive Sports. Having grown up drag racing with her dad and tinkering in their garage, Alison loves automotive culture and bringing together car lovers in the name of our shared passion.

A recent Oregon transplant raised in San Francisco, Sue Counselman is the consummate event design, coordination and production professional, currently specializing in multi-day automotive rallies, charity auctions, car shows and events that effect positive change in the community. Her catalog has included the Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance, the Shifting Gears Rally, the Ferrari Owners Charitable Foundation's annual FOG Rally, and the Shift to Electric EV Rally, and most recently she is at the helm of Sports Car Market's SCM 1000 Touring Events. Along the way, she earned the nickname "Sue the Glue" for her ability to hold everything together.

In 2018, Sue joined the California Mille team in the role of co-organizer. With enthusiasm and a passion for elevating the guest experience, Sue delivers a high level of service while always wearing her trademark smile.

Dave Hord began his career in route-planning more than a decade ago, sketching out long-distance tours accessible to a broad range of vehicles and enthusiasts. His passion for travel in classic cars stems from lifetime's obsession with Volkswagen Beetles, which he restores, modifies, and often uses to scout course routes. Thanks to an event calendar of 12-14 events per year, he’s become an expert of roads and event routes. He regularly logs more than 60,000 miles a year all over North America, virtually all of it done behind the wheel of vintage automobiles.

Dave's philosophy of classic car touring is to craft an adventure that is as much about the camaraderie as the cars. A successful event involves not only great roads, but making lasting memories and forging new friendships. Hagerty has long been a partner in Dave's efforts to help owners enjoy their machinery out on the open road. Beginning in 2017 together they created the Hagerty Touring Series of events, which has included the Amelia Island or Bust tour since 2018. As route master for the California Mille, he looks forward to sharing his favorite Californian driving roads with other classic driving enthusiasts.

Jess Meyers cannot remember a time when he did not love cars. Coming from a background in marketing and events, in 2020 Jess brought his longtime love for working with cars to Hagerty. Jess is very active in the Columbus, Ohio cars and coffee scene as well as his local watch club. Jess is passionate about making the events he works on unforgettable and loves seeing people happy around cars. He’s been delighted to see his goals come to life with his work on the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, the Detroit Concours and many regional shows. Next up, Jess can’t wait to dive into the California Mille and hopes everyone enjoys it.