J. PANDORA PAÚL AAT Curator of Exhibitry

Whether I was galloping on horseback playing hide-and-seek in the eucalyptus forests of Southern California, or careening up California’s Pacific Coast Highway 101 in my dad’s Red ’59 Convertible Corvette, I have always felt the need for speed. Throughout high school, I cruised beach streets in my bomber 1977 Malibu Classic station wagon, affectionately called “The Moose,” or buzzed around in my mother’s 1970 Opel GT. I had a great appreciation for the freedom the automobile afforded and the adventures to be had, traveling internationally throughout Mexico and Canada in my family’s GMC camper as we competed in international dog shows.

Sharing the excitement of cars through museum education, training and curation over the last ten years has been an epic journey. Be it discovering the delightful Jowett Jupiter or experiencing the rollicking Baja 1000 in a chase truck doing emergency repairs at midnight, I have loved the ride.

I am a curator of experiences, wonder, and awe. Seeking to instill a feeling of discovery and joy. I love showcasing vehicles not seen before or interpreting cars in unique ways – creating conversations between the vehicles and the viewers. Experiential moments last a lifetime.

Cars are more than personal transport. They are also works of art and color, cultural trendsetters, time capsules, technological wonders, and purveyors of hopes and dreams. They are Automotive Snapshots of Culture. All of this, I hope to bring to life with America’s Automotive Trust, LeMay – America’s Car Museum, and America On Wheels Museum.

TIM WILLARD ACM Collection Manager

I remember being a 4-year-old sitting on my father’s lap, steering the family's Pontiac Chieftain down a dirt road near our house in East Tacoma. I remember his joyous laugh – and my mother’s screams! I’ve been a car guy from the beginning. My first car was a 1969 Opel Kadett wagon with a high-performance, twin-carb 1100 cc engine. In high school, I worked at a local Alfa Romeo dealership, learning my craft on Italian marques such as Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini.

I moved on to pursue an interest in racing, working as a mechanic with some of the top teams competing in Formula Atlantic, Indy Lights, and IMSA GTP. Later, I worked with Pete Lovely and Butch Dennison as a mechanic and fabricator, restoring race cars and classic Ferraris, winning multiple Best in Class awards.

Eventually, I burned out by the tight schedules that came with producing Pebble Beachlevel cars year after year, and began working in dealerships writing service and selling cars. I met and became friends with Richard Griot and joined Griot's Garage in 2001, where I started working as their merchandise specialist, testing and developing car care products before being promoted to collection curator. My background as a mechanic, fabricator and restoration technician served me well as I managed Richard’s outstanding collection of cars. I recently left a job managing a car collection in the Seattle area to join LeMay – America's Car Museum in my home town of Tacoma, where I live with my wife Carla.