ENTRIES OPEN FOR THE ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB MOTORING BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019

ENTRIES OPEN FOR THE ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB MOTORING BOOK

OF THE YEAR 2019

With less than six weeks to go before the cut-off date for entries, the 2019 Royal Automobile Club Motoring Book of The Year judging process will soon be underway.

Now in its sixth consecutive year, entrants can choose between two categories: the Motoring Book of the Year or the Specialist Book of the Year award.

The two accolades are open for books issued between July 2018 and June 2019 (12 months), with the Motoring Book of the Year title being awarded to ‘an exceptional book with wide appeal’ and costing no more than £75. The Specialist Book of the Year award is given for a book demonstrating ‘impeccable research with flawless writing’.

The Royal Automobile Club awards celebrate the many automotive great books, authors and publishers, and their importance in both exploring and documenting the many key events, vehicles and individuals who have helped shape the history of motoring.

Jeremy Vaughan, Head of Motoring at the Royal Automobile Club, said “It’s been wonderful to see so many new launches over the past year and we want to encourage as many authors and publishers to submit their new titles for our awards. This sector of the industry is in good shape with many publishers having a healthy a pipeline of launches up their sleeve, which is very encouraging”.

Every year, the Club’s judges are given the challenging task of singling out one of a dozen titles to be crowned the Motoring Book of the Year, while also deciding which author will receive the Specialist Book of the Year award, designed to recognise the talent of combining impeccable research with flawless writing.

New for 2019 – The Royal Automobile will also award a Lifetime Achievement award to honour an individual or business who has made a major contribution to the automotive publishing industry.

The judging panel includes some of Britain’s most experienced car book reviewers: Gordon Cruickshank of Motor Sport, Mark Dixon of Octane, Mick Walsh of Classic & Sports Car, avid book collector and editor of the BRDC Bulletin Ian Titchmarsh. Representing the book retail sector are Ben Horton of specialist bookseller, Horton’s Books, and Christian Whitehead of the London bookstore, Foyles.

With a rich pedigree in celebrating motoring accomplishments and a heritage bound to the history of the motor car, the Club is well suited to recognising excellence in motoring literature.

The Royal Automobile Motoring Book of The Year takes place at the Pall Mall clubhouse during the Club’s London Motor Week in October 2019. It is the crowning moment of an evening which includes an entertaining interview with a ‘motoring book legend’.

The event forms part of the Club’s London Motor Week, which culminates in the world famous Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run supported on Sunday 3 November 2019.

The Club urges all automotive authors and publishers to make the judges aware of eligible titles. The closing date for submissions is Monday 1 July. For further submission details please contact: rebecca@eventspr.co.uk or visit www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk

ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB ANNOUNCES SHORTLIST FOR ITS 2018 MOTORING BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS

ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB ANNOUNCES SHORTLIST FOR ITS 2018 MOTORING BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Now in its fifth year, the Royal Automobile Club Motoring Book Awards are recognised as the most prestigious awards to be bestowed in the automotive publishing industry. The annual awards, hosted by respected broadcaster and journalist Simon Taylor, will take place on Wednesday 31 October at a special evening held at the Club’s historic Pall Mall clubhouse, amongst many distinguished industry guests.

Two awards will be presented - the main Motoring Book of the Year Award for a book with a wide appeal at an affordable price, and a Specialist Book of the Year Award which, in the opinions of the judges, is an impressive feat of research and endeavour regardless of its retail cost.

“We never fail to be amazed at the quality and variety of titles that our experienced judges propose for the Awards, and this year is no exception,” said Peter Read, the Club’s Motoring Committee Chairman.

 “The Royal Automobile Club possesses one of the world’s finest motoring libraries in the world, one we add to constantly. The history of the Club spans that of the car itself, and it is our duty to stoke enthusiasm in all aspects of motoring history including literature” said Peter Read.

The award committee consists of six expert judges who are totally independent of the Royal Automobile Club, that represent the UK’s most informed motoring literary critics. Tom Wiltshire, book reviewer for leading weekly magazine Auto Express, and Mark Dixon, the respected deputy editor of Octane magazine. They are joined by Christian Whitehead from the motoring department of London bookstore Foyles, leading independent motoring bookseller Ben Horton of Hortons Books, Gordon Cruickshank from Motor Sport magazine and Mick Walsh international editor of Classic & Sports Car magazine.

2018 shortlist of contenders includes works on racing driver biographies, marque histories and general motoring to legends in engineering and vehicle design.

Motoring Book of the Year Contenders

The six titles shortlisted for Motoring Book of the Year Award are:

• Pironi: The Champion That Never Was by David Sedgwick, published by Pitch Publishing
• Enzo Ferrari: Power, Politics and the Making of an Automotive Empire by Luca Dal Monte, published by David Bull Publishing
• Donald Healey’s 8C Triumph Dolomite, by Jonathan Wood, published by Jonathan Wood
• Drive: The Definitive History of Motoring by Giles Chapman, published by Dorling Kindersley
• Adrian Newey: How to Build a Car, by Adrian Newey, published by Harper Collins
• Hobbo: Motor-Racer, Motor-Mouth, The autobiography of David Hobbs by David Hobbs with Andrew Marriott, published by Evro Publishing

Specialist Motoring Book of the Year Contenders

The six titles shortlisted for Specialist Motoring Book of the Year Award are:

• Daimler Days Volume 3 - More Than a Celebration of 100 Years of Daimler Motor Cars by Brian E. Smith, published by Daimler Days Publishing
• Inside Track: Phil Hill, Ferrari's American World Champion - His Story, His Photography. Volume 1 1927 – 1967 by Phil Hill with Doug Nye, published by The GP Library Ltd
• Reid Railton: Man of Speed by Karl Ludvigsen, published by Evro Publishing
• Jim Clark: The Best of the Best by David Tremayne, published by Evro Publishing
• Gaston Grümmer The Art of Carrosserie by Philippe Gaston Grümmer and Laurent Friry, published by Dalton Watson Fine Books
• Turbo 3.0: Porsche's First Turbocharged Supercar, by Ryan Snodgrass, published by Parabolica Press

The Royal Automobile Club Motoring Book of the Year Awards is one of the one of the most important events during the Club’s annual London Motor Week during which the Club hosts an array of high-profile motoring events, including the Art of Motoring exhibition, Motoring Lectures, the Motoring Forum, a dinner with former BMW Board Member, Dr Ian Roberston and the Dewar and Simms Trophy presentations awarded for British engineering excellence. The week culminates with the free-to-view Regent Street Motor Show on Saturday 3 November and the world-famous Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run supported by Hiscox on Sunday 4 November.

FINALISTS REVEALED IN NATIONAL CAR CLUB AWARDS 2018 IN ASSOCIATION WITH TOURISM IRELAND

National Car Club Awards

FINALISTS REVEALED IN NATIONAL CAR CLUB AWARDS 2018 IN ASSOCIATION WITH TOURISM IRELAND

The finalists of the 2018 National Car Club Awards have been revealed with the most nominations received since its inception in 2016 for the popular awards celebrating the UK’s classic car clubs, which are the heart and soul of the classic motoring community. 

So many nominations that some categories such as Unsung Hero and Printed Magazine have more finalists while the award for Club Event had so many enter, it has been split into two, creating two awards – Club Event: Show or Event and Club Event: Run, Rally or Tour.

The National Car Club Awards are held in association with Tourism Ireland, supported by Classic Car Weekly and endorsed by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC). The winners will be revealed at the Awards dinner on Saturday 24^th March 2018, alongside the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, with Discovery. 

Awards Director Lee Masters said: “Once again the clubs continue to raise the bar and have made deciding the finalists a very tough job for the judges, who now have the difficult task of agreeing on the overall winners in the coming weeks. Good luck to all those selected.”

The finalists in ten award categories have been announced with a further seven awarded to clubs exhibiting at the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, with Discovery by the Award Judges. The finalists in the coveted Lifetime Achievement award are also yet to be revealed.  The 2018 judging panel includes Danny Hopkins, editor of Practical Classics; David Simister, editor of Classic Car Weekly; David Whale from FBHVC and David Boyce from main sponsor Tourism Ireland. 

2018 sees the addition of some new awards including the National Car Club ‘Young Member’ of the Year, the Best Car Club Contribution to Charity, and Best Live Demonstration on a Car Club Stand at Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, with Discovery.

Finalists are invited to attend the Awards Dinner and Presentation on Saturday 24^th March at Birmingham’s NEC. Tickets for other clubs and individuals are on sale at www.nationalcarclubawards.com.

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National Car Club Award Finalists

Classic Car Club category: National Car Club of the Year 

Sponsored by Lancaster Insurance

SHORTLIST

Enthusiasts of British Motors build before 1985 

Gay Classic Car Group 

Lotus Drivers Club                  

MG Car Club

Morris Register 

National Street Rod Association 

Skoda Owners’ Club GB 

TR Register

Volvo Owners Club 

Classic Car Club category: Outstanding Club Magazine of the Year (printed)

SHORTLIST

BMW Car Club GB – for Straight Six

Gay Classic Car Club – for Big End 

Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club – for Jaguar Enthusiast 

Jensen Owners’ Club – for Jensen 

MG Car Club – for SafetyFast!

Midget and Sprite Club – for MASCOT

Mini Cooper Register – for CooperWorld 

National Street Rod Association – for Street Gasser

The Porsche 924 Owners Club – for TwoFour 

The Series 2 Club – for Built 2 Last 

Triumph 2000 2500 2.5 Register – for SIXappeal 

Volvo Owners Club – for Volvo Driver

Classic Car Club category: Outstanding Online Presence by a Car Club (including social media, website and other online presence)

SHORTLIST

BMW Car Club GB

Enthusiasts of British Motors build before 1985 

Lotus Drivers Club 

Maestro & Montego Owners Club

MK1 Golf Owners Club 

National Street Rod Association

Opel Manta Owners Club 

Skoda Owners’ Club GB 

The 1100 Club

Classic Car Club category: Outstanding Car Club Event (single venue event, show)

Sponsored by Classic Car Weekly

SHORTLIST 

BMW Car Club GB – for BMW Car Club National Festival 2017

Jaguar Enthusiasts Club – for The Royal Windsor Jaguar Festival

MG Car Club – for MGLive!

National Street Rod Association – for 27^th NSRA Hot Rod Supernationals & 21^st ESRA European Street Rod Nationals

Rover Sports Register – for Roverfest

TR Register – for TR Register drivers parade at the British Grand Prix

Volvotuning – for Volvo 90 …The VT Revolution celebrating 90 years of great Volvo cars 

Classic Car Club category: Outstanding Car Club Event (Run, rally or tour)

SHORTLIST 

Bright Yellow Car Group – for Bright Yellow Car Convoy to Bilbury

Club Triumph – for 10CR (Ten Countries Run)

Jensen Owners Club – for Saxony Tour

Marcos Owners Club - for British Classic Welcome Le Mans France

Midget & Sprite Club UK & Spridget Club Switzerland – for Alpine Miglia Tour

Classic Car Club category: Outstanding Club Initiative to encourage the Next Generation

Sponsored by FBHVC

SHORTLIST

Morris Minor Owners Club 

Morris Register 

National Street Rod Association 

Classic Car Club category: Best Car Club Contribution to Charity – NEW AWARD

Sponsored by Carole Nash

SHORTLIST

Crash Box & Classic Car Club 

Jaguar Enthusiasts Club 

Rover 200 and 400 Owners Club

Sporting Bears Motor Club

Triumph Classic Owners Club 

West Berkshire Classic Vehicle Club 

Wolseley Register 

Devoted Member categories: National Car Club Unsung Hero of the Year 

Sponsored by Footman James

SHORTLIST

Glen Bunting - Post Vintage Humber Car Club

Steve Conry - Avenger Sunbeam Owners Club 

Anthony (Tony) Hipperson (posthumous nomination) - Riley Motor Club 

Ron Kirby - Volvo Owners Club

Bob Langston - Wolseley Register 

Dave Lawton - Morris Register

Matt Ollman - Rootes Archive Centre Trust 

Mike Parker - MG Car Club

Will Punchard - Scirocco Register 

Ian Roberts - Gay Classic Car Club 

Thelma Smith (posthumous nomination) - Jensen Owners Club

Devoted Member categories: National Car Club Ambassador of the Year

Sponsored by Meguiar’s

SHORTLIST

Sean Fleetwood - Scirocco Register 

Peter Lee - Transit Van Club 

Kevin Price - Volvo Enthusiasts Club 

Wayne Scott - TR Register 

Nigel Thorley - Jaguar Enthusiasts Club 

Devoted Member categories: National Car Club ‘Young Member’ of the Year – NEW AWARD

Sponsored by Lancaster Insurance

SHORTLIST

Benjamin Crosby - Racing-Puma.co.uk 

Ben Hatton - MG FWD Register 

Gemma Weeks - The Imp Club 

Neal Welch - Austin A30/A35 

Still to be announced

National Car Club Lifetime Achievement Award

‘At Show Awards’ – Cherished Car categories and Classic Car Club Display awards – judged at the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, with Discovery

Best Car at Show, sponsored by Classic Car Auctions

Best Stand and Car Club Display (under 80 square metres)

Best Stand and Car Club Display (over 80 square metres)

Best Live Working on Vehicles at Show

Best Live Demonstration on a Car Club stand at Show – NEW AWARD

Best Restored Car at Show, sponsored by Practical Classics

Judges Special Recognition Award – this will be presented on the night to a worthy winner.