The Maryland Collectible Auto Association was built by passionate automotive enthusiasts who believe that preservation, advocacy, and community matter.
Our founding board members bring together decades of combined experience in classic car ownership, restoration, event participation, legislative engagement, and community leadership. From historic plate advocacy to environmental and regulatory awareness, this board was formed with one clear mission: to protect and promote Maryland’s automotive heritage for future generations.
These individuals stepped forward not because it was easy, but because it was necessary. When legislation began impacting collectors and hobbyists across the state, they organized, collaborated, and created a unified voice for Maryland’s car community.
The founding board is committed to:
- Protecting historic and collectible vehicle rights
- Monitoring and responding to legislative changes
- Educating enthusiasts across Maryland
- Building a statewide network of informed and engaged members
- Preserving the culture, history, and passion behind collectible automobiles
MCAA is not a social club. It is an advocacy-driven organization rooted in action, transparency, and accountability. Our founding board members set that tone from day one.
Together, they are ensuring that Maryland remains a state where automotive history is respected, preserved, and celebrated.
Mike Lechlitner, President and Founding Board Member
Mike Lechlitner has been a Maryland resident since 1985 and a lifelong automotive enthusiast whose passion for collectible vehicles began with his grandfathers.
On his father’s side, he inherited a deep appreciation for Ford, especially the 1964 Ford Galaxie that remains a personal favorite. From his maternal grandfather, he developed a taste for the eclectic, ranging from a 1967 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser and a 1969 Oldsmobile Toronado to a Volkswagen Squareback that Mike was driving on Michigan country roads at just 12 years old.
After serving in the United States Army and attending the University of Michigan, where he worked two jobs to fund his first purchase, a 1974 Porsche 914, Mike relocated to Maryland for his career. His professional life included numerous overseas assignments and deployments, including the USSR and former Soviet states, Eastern Europe, Japan, Afghanistan three times, and Australia. These assignments limited his involvement in the hobby for many years.
Following his first deployment to Afghanistan in October 2001, Mike returned home and, with the encouragement of his wife Theresa, made a uniquely personal automotive purchase: a 1989 Pulse Autocycle, number 325 of 347 produced. Powered by a 1984 Honda Goldwing engine, the Pulse required hands-on ingenuity. Mike rebuilt and repaired the vehicle from the ground up, sourcing parts creatively, including adapting components from a Singer sewing machine and rebuilding pop-up headlights originally designed for a Pontiac Fiero. That project marked his full immersion into mechanical restoration and hands-on problem solving.
While the Pulse was distinctive and entertaining, its practicality diminished in the increasingly congested Washington metropolitan area. In 2012, Mike acquired a 2001 Panoz Esperante, a limited-production sports car built in Georgia with a successful racing pedigree and powered by a Ford SVT Cobra engine. The Panoz represents the perfect blend of his grandfathers’ influences: Ford performance and distinctive, unconventional automotive character.
Mike became directly involved in Maryland automotive legislative matters after returning from an overseas assignment in Australia in 2024. Upon converting his Panoz to Historic registration after it surpassed the 20-year threshold, he discovered the state’s interpretation effectively excluded vehicles newer than 1999 from historic eligibility. Recognizing the broader implications for collectors across Maryland, he began organizing outreach efforts.
Through engagement with car clubs, Cars and Coffee groups, and fellow enthusiasts across the state, Mike identified a clear need for a centralized advocacy organization to monitor legislation and protect collector interests. His efforts gained broader attention, including contributing to coverage in The Wall Street Journal regarding Maryland’s historic plate policy challenges.
In conversations with fellow enthusiasts Jason Miller, Ryan, and Blake, Mike proposed the creation of the Maryland Collectible Auto Association as a unified advocacy platform. With Jason’s leadership in building the organization’s digital presence, MCAA was launched to serve as a watchdog, resource hub, and voice for Maryland’s collectible vehicle community.
After retiring in January 2026 following 44 years of government service, Mike now dedicates his time and experience to ensuring the future of the automotive hobby remains protected for generations to come.
Jason Miller, Founding Board Member
Jason Miller is a founding board member of the Maryland Collectible Auto Association and a lifelong automotive enthusiast dedicated to protecting and preserving car culture in Maryland.
As the creator of jamzDOTnet, a recognized automotive media brand focused on cars, DIY, and adventures, Jason has built a platform that has reached millions of enthusiasts nationwide. Through in-depth vehicle features, restoration projects, event coverage, and legislative awareness content, he actively connects collectors, hobbyists, and everyday drivers to the broader automotive community.
Jason’s involvement with MCAA stems from a deep belief that Maryland’s collectors deserve a clear, informed, and organized voice when legislation impacts historic and collectible vehicles. Leveraging his experience in digital media, community building, and advocacy, he works to ensure enthusiasts stay informed and engaged.
His passion spans from classic British and American vehicles to modern collector platforms, and he is deeply involved in regional automotive events and preservation efforts. Jason’s car collection includes a 1948 Crosley and modern-day cars, with a focus on the rare and quirky ones. Through both MCAA and jamzDOTnet, Jason is committed to strengthening the automotive community, protecting enthusiast rights, and ensuring the next generation can continue to enjoy Maryland’s rich automotive heritage.
Mark Hauf, Founding Board Member
Mark Hauf is a lifelong Maryland resident who has proudly called White Marsh home for the past 30 years. He and his wife Lisa have been married for decades and are the proud parents of two grown children, Sarah and Matthew.
Before retiring six years ago, Mark built a distinguished 37 year career as a Regional Manager for Hilti Inc., working extensively within the Steel and Automotive industries across the United States.
Mark’s love of cars began early. His first vehicle was a 1969 Ford Falcon, followed by a Dodge Warlock, a 1976 Corvette, and many additional classics and modern muscle cars over the years.
Today, his pride and joy is a 1970 Chevelle SS, a car whose future is firmly secured within his family for generations to come. He is also blessed to own a Corvette Z06 along with several Silverado and Sierra trucks.
Racing has been a major chapter of Mark’s automotive journey. He drag raced for many years, primarily campaigning Corvettes before joining the NMRA series. Over time, he raced several supercharged Mustangs, including a pristine Fox Body and multiple high performance Cobras. Although he stepped away from competitive racing 13 years ago, he still enjoys track days at Capitol Raceway with the Jake’s Tavern crew, running his factory Z06.
Community and Car Culture
Mark is deeply rooted in Maryland’s local car community. Jake’s Tavern serves as his regular cruising spot, where he and fellow enthusiasts gather on Tuesday evenings throughout the season. Their group actively supports local car shows and hosts several events each year.
The circle includes Car & Cruise Guide leaders, automotive photographers, respected painters, performance shop owners, GM parts experts, mechanics, and passionate hobbyists. It is a strong, connected community built around shared respect for classic and performance vehicles.
Commitment to Protecting the Hobby
Mark’s involvement with the MCAA was driven by concern over increasing state overreach into Maryland’s automotive hobby. In recent years, historic and classic vehicle owners have faced rising registration costs, increased tag and title fees, and restrictive eligibility changes such as the fixed 1999 cutoff year that disproportionately impacts owners of early 2000s vehicles, including many trucks.
Mark believes common sense enforcement is appropriate when addressing misuse of historic plates. However, he strongly opposes legislation that broadly penalizes responsible hobbyists through higher fees and reduced eligibility, particularly when those changes appear motivated by revenue generation rather than fairness.
His goal, alongside fellow MCAA board members, is straightforward:
Protect responsible enthusiasts
Preserve Maryland’s automotive heritage
Encourage more participation in the hobby
Prevent unnecessary and harmful legislation
Mark remains committed to ensuring that Maryland continues to celebrate classic, historic, and performance vehicles rather than legislating them out of existence.
He invites all enthusiasts, clubs, and organizations to join the MCAA in standing together to protect the rights of collectors and preserve the future of the hobby for the next generation.
Kyle Blake, Founding Board Member
It is often said that Kyle was raised in a rumble seat. Coming from a family with a strong passion for automotive preservation, Kyle is continuing the tradition of sharing automotive history with others. His personal collection includes over a dozen vehicles ranging from the Brass Era to 70s Imports. One area of the hobby in which Kyle has been a real spark plug is in the area of young adult involvement. Creating events for those who have aged out of youth programs and are still facing the unique challenges of forming careers and families, while still enjoying the automobile hobby.
An AACA Lifetime Member, Kyle is also an annual member of the Buick Club of America, Cadillac-LaSalle Club, Dodge Brothers Club, Horseless Carriage Club of America, Hupmobile Club, Lambda Car Club International, Model A Restorers Club, and a few others. Active at both the national and local levels in many of the above clubs.
Currently on the National Board of AACA as VP of Youth Development and Vice-Chair of National Activities, he is also serving as President & Co-Founder of the Greenhorn Non-Geographical Region for
Young Adults, Vice President of the Queen City Region, and a member of the AACA National Youth Committee. In 2011, Kyle initiated the AACA Young Adult Action Committee after identifying the divide that existed in AACA between the Student Membership level and the General Membership Level, this committee served to identify and experiment with ideas to engage & connect young adults within
AACA.
Kyle is an active AACA Senior Master Judge and has served as Team Captain at many National Meets- specializing in pre-war and Full Classics judging. Kyle enjoys the face-to-face interactions with the AACA general membership that judging provides. He has worked on several of his own personal vehicles up to AACA Senior and Junior winning vehicles. One accomplishment Kyle is proud of is that he has fielded a different car at the AACA National Fall Meet in Hershey, PA, for the past 7 years. He is very active on the AACA Forum & Social Media Accounts.
Kyle also routinely attends and shows at many automotive events around the country. Events such as The Amelia, Old Car Festival, Audrain Motor Week, and of course, AACA’s Eastern Spring and Fall Meets are all staples on his calendar. Kyle visits many transportation museums and personal collections along the way to these events. This has led him to being appointed to the board of The Museum of the Horseless Carriage and is their Chairperson for the Celebration of Brass at the Gilmore Car Museum- the premiere event for Pre-1916 vehicles.
Outside of AACA, Kyle is LCCI Northeast Regional Director and President of the Tri-Valley Region. Kyle has been Chairman for the 2019 LCCI International Meet and Co-Chair for the 1997 Dodge Brother’s Club National Meet, Day Captain for the 2023 HCCA 1&2 Cylinder Tour, active in the 2008 AACA Eastern Spring Meet & 2011 Revival Glidden Tour planning, and currently organizing three days of the 80th Revival Glidden tour being held in 2026.
Dave Bielecki, Board Member
Dave Bielecki has spent decades supporting and promoting the automotive hobby throughout Maryland. He currently serves as Vice President of the Custom & Classic Car Educational Foundation and Manager of the Car Show & Cruise Guide magazine, and is an active member of SaveTheHobby.org.
Over the years, Dave has held numerous leadership and media roles, including serving as Executive Director of the Custom & Classic Car Educational Foundation. He is also the founder of both the Car Show & Cruise Guide and Upper Bay Boating magazines, and has more than 25 years of experience in media, including with The Baltimore Sun. In addition, he successfully founded, operated, and sold TLC Services.
A lifelong Harford County resident, Dave has been married to his wife, Diane, for 47 years, and they have two adult children. His passion for automobiles began at an early age. After working from the age of 13 to save for his first car, he purchased a 1965 Plymouth Fury (cost $400!!) at 16, a car that sparked a lifelong enthusiasm for classic vehicles. Today, Dave continues to enjoy the hobby and currently owns two collector vehicles, including one registered with Maryland Historic tags. His experience and dedication make him a valued advocate for Maryland’s automotive enthusiast community.