CONFERENCE CENTRE AT BICESTER HERITAGE FOLLOWING UNANIMOUS PLANNING APPROVAL

CONFERENCE CENTRE AT BICESTER HERITAGE FOLLOWING UNANIMOUS PLANNING APPROVAL

The next stage in the vision for Bicester Heritage to become the world’s leading automotive destination will be the addition of a 344-room hotel to the successful Centre of Excellence.

Following unanimous planning approval, this critical milestone is not only a huge step forward in an overarching strategic vision for the unique destination for motoring past, present and future but also a vital step in ensuring a sustainable future for the UK’s best preserved WW2 RAF Bomber Station. 

Featuring an expansive four-storey atrium, restaurant and bar, courtyard, gym, swimming pool and spa, the hotel will encourage a wide range of visitors to Oxfordshire across the business and leisure sectors increasing dwell time in the area significantly, as well as bringing in a projected 250,000 visitors per annum and creating an estimated 180 full time jobs. Bicester Heritage has also been highlighted as a key player in the Oxford-Cambridge ‘growth corridor’ and seeks to provide the required business accommodation and high-tech conferencing facilities required for this. 

The hotel shall be situated within the 425-acre Bicester Heritage site, 1.5 hours from half of the UK population and within easy reach of major tourist attractions including Bicester Village, Blenheim Palace, Stowe House, Silverstone Circuit and the City of Oxford. Furthermore, the hotel will act as a gateway to the Cotswolds and has been validated by CBRE hotel specialists for this purpose.

In addition, the development is part of an integrated growth strategy for the region and the construction of this landmark hotel, amongst the top 15 largest UK hotels outside London, answers the question of under-supply in the regional hotel sector. 

Bicester Heritage is held as a national exemplar for constructive conservation by Historic England, and this conservation-led development will utilise materials inspired by the existing pre-war RAF buildings. The overall design language is in tune with the surrounding buildings, with the structure mimicking the shapes of the existing hangars and built on the same footprint as the 1936 C-Type hangars.  It follows the form, orientation and scale of one of the two planned, but unbuilt, hangars from the pre-war era. 

Dan Geoghegan, Managing Director of Bicester Heritage, commented “The unanimous approval by the Planning Authority demonstrates the strength of local government support for our vision.   It also reflects the high esteem in which Bicester Heritage is held alongside its national importance to the automotive sector.”

“The hotel will be at the vanguard of a new lifestyle-driven masterplan to provide a motoring experience worthy of the modern era.”

 

LIGHTS, CARBURETTORS, ACTION! FOOTMAN JAMES TO SPONSOR THE CAR YEARS TV SHOW

LIGHTS, CARBURETTORS, ACTION! FOOTMAN JAMES TO SPONSOR THE CAR YEARS TV SHOW

Launching in 2019, a new classic car show will be gracing TV screens, sponsored by Footman James - one of the UK's leading specialist vehicle insurance brokers.

A fresh take on the classic car scene, the premise is simple. Every episode of The Car Years will focus on a specific year of motoring. Vicki will choose her favourite car of that year, and Alex will have his, with both presenters then working to convince the expert panel of judges which is best. At the end of each show, one model will be crowned the car of its year.

Presenters Vicki and Alex are both excited by the possibilities the Footman James backed show allows. "I'm thrilled to be part of this beautifully shot series that allows us to tell the stories behind some of the best known and interesting cars ever made," said Vicki Butler-Henderson. 

Co-presenter Alex Riley added, "This show is a rare thing - it's all about the cars. We're not telling people how to be a dealer or a restorer and we're not just larking about, instead we're championing great cars and telling the fascinating stories behind them."

The presenters will have to win over the three judges, each of whom double up as expert commentators to tell the stories and backgrounds behind the cars. Famous faces include Chris Routledge, Managing Director of leading auction house Coys, Quentin Willson, presenter and journalist and ex-Top Gear and current The Grand Tour script editor, Richard Porter. 

Footman James is an obvious choice to sponsor the show. With 35 years experience in brokering classic vehicle insurance deals for owners, collectors, traders, restorers and competitors, Footman James will sponsor each of the episodes due to air in 2019. 

Footman James managing director, David Bond, said, "We are excited to embark on this new adventure with The Car Years and are thrilled to see such respected influencers in the classic vehicle industry jump on board. We can't wait to see the series hit our screens early next year and we hope everyone is looking forward to it as much as we are."

Footman James, the trusted name of classic car and motorcycle insurance, is delighted to be partnering up with The Car Years TV show. Ensuring that Footman James stays in the right company, the series has been created by production company Wiser Films. The production is led by Tas Brooker and Jim Wiseman who previously produced Wheeler Dealers and Top Gearrespectively. 

With the NEC Classic Motor Show just around the corner, lead presenters Vicki Butler-Henderson and Alex Riley will be available for one to one interviews after a press call on the Footman James stand in Hall 1, Friday 9th November at 12:45pm. 

So, stay tuned for the first episode of The Car Years where you'll see a 1964 Porsche 911 take on a 1964 Ford Mustang. 

LOTUS DESIGNER’S PERSONAL COLLECTION IS DONATED TO THE NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM TRUST AT BEAULIEU

LOTUS DESIGNER’S PERSONAL COLLECTION IS DONATED TO THE NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM TRUST AT BEAULIEU

An important personal collection of drawings and documents by Lotus sports car designer and inventor Ron Hickman has been donated to the National Motor Museum Trust at Beaulieu.

More than 100 sketches and concept drawings, as well as numerous reference photographs and documents, have been donated to the Trust by his widow Helen, following his death at the age of 78 in 2011.

The prolific designer was behind legendary Lotus sports cars including the Elan, Europa and Elite and also invented the revolutionary Black & Decker Workmate folding workbench during his successful and varied career.

The fascinating collection spans his years spent working on vehicle design, with a strong emphasis on his time as a Lotus Director. Most of the drawings are original works, complemented by copies of sketches. As many as 60 box files contain correspondence relating to his autobiography, as well as a complete project showing his proposed redesign of the Caterham Seven.

National Motor Museum Trust Director of Collections Andrea Bishop said: “We extend grateful thanks to Mrs Hickman for this generous and important donation. Ron Hickman’s significant contribution to automotive design adds a fascinating insight into the development of Lotus Cars to our motoring archive. We are looking forward to exploring this large collection and sharing some of its content on our website next year.”

Born in South Africa in 1932, Hickman trained in law before moving to England in 1954, taking up a design post in Ford’s Dagenham design studio. After meeting Lotus company founder Colin Chapman in the mid-1950s, Ron left Ford to become an integral part of the Lotus design team.

Heavily involved with the creation of the 1957 Lotus Elite, Hickman later masterminded the iconic 1962 Lotus Elan with Chapman, which became one of the most revered sports cars of the ‘60s. His later efforts included the Lotus Europa and Elan 2+2. Leaving the company in 1967, he focused on his most commercially successful design – the Workmate – which has sold millions worldwide and is still in production today.

The National Motor Museum Trust’s collection of over 250 vehicles is world-famous, along with its extensive range of motoring artefacts, photographic images, specialist reference library and film and video collection.

Dedicated to preserving the history of motoring in Britain, the National Motor Museum Trust is a charitable organisation with a mission to engage and inspire people through its diverse collections, which are housed in the Collections Centre at Beaulieu. The Collections have been designated by Arts Council England as being of national and international importance. As an Accredited Museum, the National Motor Museum adheres to nationally agreed standards of good practice and governance. For more information about its collection and services see www.nationalmotormuseum.org.uk.

Q BY ASTON MARTIN: ‘DBS 59’ MARKS LEGENDARY 1959 LE MANS WIN

Q BY ASTON MARTIN: ‘DBS 59’ MARKS LEGENDARY 1959 LE MANS WIN

Collection of 24 ‘DBS 59’ special editions

 One of the greatest moments in Aston Martin Lagonda’s (AML) illustrious motorsport history is the inspiration for the latest Q by Aston Martin: Commission; the ‘DBS 59’.

Inspired by Aston Martin’s historic 1-2 finish in the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans with its iconic DBR1, Aston Martin Cambridge has commissioned a collection of 24 very special DBS Superleggeras - one for every hour of the legendary endurance race. Called the ‘DBS 59’, each is identified by bespoke design features, hand-crafted interiors and graphic elements drawing directly from the DBR1 and the race it so famously conquered.

A marque synonymous with success in the world’s toughest endurance race - the most recent being a dramatic class win for the V8 Vantage GTE in last year’s race - Aston Martin’s outright victory in the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans is the stuff of motorsport legend. Facing stern opposition from works Ferrari and Porsche entries, plus a team of Ecurie Ecosse Jaguars, the David Brown Racing Aston Martin DBR1s fought valiantly to score a famous 1-2 finish in a masterful display of pace, reliability and teamwork.

Since described by Sir Stirling Moss - who helped Aston Martin win the 1959 World Sportscar Championship - as ‘the most important Aston Martin ever produced’, the DBR1 has deservedly attained iconic status. Just five were built between 1956 and 1959, making it one of the rarest Aston Martins ever, and when one last went to auction (at Monterey in 2017) it set a new world record as the most valuable British-made car ever with a sale price of £17.5m ($22.5m).

Immediately identifiable by its timelessly beautiful Aston Martin Racing Green paintwork, the DBS 59 features extensive use of gloss finish Carbon Fibre, most strikingly on the roof, roof strake and painted bonnet louvres. A classic combination of Obsidian Black and Chestnut Tan leather is used throughout the interior, together with fabric inspired by the DBR1 seat material used to trim the ‘DBS 59’s’ seat backs and door inserts. Bronze detailing is strategically deployed around the exterior and interior, with the front grille surround, ‘Superleggera’ bonnet script, rear Aston Martin script and Q Fender Badge amongst the items painted.

Additional Q by Aston Martin detailing include bespoke Saddle Leather Helmet Pods in the rear compartment to hold special ‘DBS 59’ crash helmets, race suits and gloves, and a bespoke ‘DBS 59’ logo embroidered in the seat headrests. Each of the ‘DBS 59s’ will be identifiable by a small painted white roundel adjacent to the side strakes, with each car numbered from 1-24.

Further accessories include period blue race overalls complete with Aston Martin and ‘DBS 59’ logos; replica string-backed racing gloves modeled on those worn by 1959 Le Mans-winning driver Caroll Shelby; replica 1959 race helmet; bespoke 2-piece luggage set to match interior trim; bespoke car cover in Aston Martin Racing Green and featuring white roundels with specific edition number.

The DBR1’s proud genetic legacy is very much evident in the 2018 DBS Superleggera. The fastest and most powerful series production model in Aston Martin’s multi-award winning range, this 211mph, 715bhp Super GT is an inspired combination of imperious performance and impeccable style. Having received the attention of Q by Aston Martin: Commission it is a truly covetable car; one aimed at those who appreciate the lasting significance of DBR1’s historic victory and world-beating contemporary performance and handling of the DBS Superleggera.

Speaking of the ‘DBS 59’, Aston Martin Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, Simon Sproule said: “When Aston Martin Cambridge expressed a desire to create a limited run of DBS Superleggeras inspired by the DBR1’s famous Le Mans victory we knew it had to be something special. The soft metallic hue of the Aston Martin Racing Green paintwork is classy and timelessly beautiful; the level of thought and detailing is exceptional. My favourite element on the ‘DBS 59’ are the seat backs that feature fabric inspired by the DBR1 seat material, but there are countless touches that will intrigue and delight”.

The ‘DBS 59’ limited edition is the fourth Q by Aston Martin: Commission from Aston Martin Cambridge, following on from the success of last year's Red Arrows Edition Vanquish S, and the earlier success of V12 Vantage S Spitfire 80 Edition, marking 80 years of the Supermarine Spitfire's first flight, and the Vantage S Blades Edition, developed in collaboration with the Blades Aerobatic Display Team.

‘DBS 59s’ 1 through 24 are available to order now from Aston Martin Cambridge. To place your order please contact Simon Lane at simon.lane@jardinemotors.co.uk.

Collection of 24 ‘DBS 59’ special editions

AUTO ADDICTS - MAGNIFiCENT CLASSIC ADVENTURES VOLUME 2 NOW AVAILABLE

AUTO ADDICTS - 

MAGNIFiCENT CLASSIC ADVENTURES VOLUME 2

NOW AVAILABLE

The second in a series of classic Journals from Auto Addicts hit the news-stands last week - with the release of Auto Addicts – Volume 2

Covering a diverse cross-section of classic races, rallies, speed trials and adventures around the globe. The beautifully designed, high-quality coffee table-style book features in-depth writing married to a collection of stunning imagery from some of motorsport’s finest photographers.

Editor and classic racer Sarah Bennett-Baggs commented “Our aim is to find the story or capture the moment and collate a series of adventure stories from those who are out there facing all the elements in their classic pride and joy. We hope to inspire others to dust off their classic motors, seize the moment and seek adventure.”

“The Journal celebrates today’s motor racing heroes whilst showcasing the best classic motorsport events through photography. We wanted to produce a high-quality keepsake publication for racers, motorsport fans, and collectors.”

Titled ‘Auto Addicts – Magnificent Classic Adventures’, Volume Two features stories about the Milano Taranto a six-day motorbike rally from Milan to Taranto. It features interviews of competitors on the Flying Scotsman rally, the Mille Miglia, Historique Grand Prix in Monaco and Spa Six Hours.

There are also in-depth human interest tales about people and their beloved cars, such as why you would buy, own and race an ex Jim Clark Lotus 21 which was involved in a serious accident plus stories about the pains of owning and racing a Porsche 962 and a Scarab F1 car.

Published October 2018, the high-end magazine is the second in a series of printed yearbooks introduced by Auto Addicts to complement its online classic motorsport reporting service followed by over 22,000 monthly readers.

Auto Addicts – Magnificent Classic Adventures’ has 132 full-colour pages printed on high-quality 140gsm uncoated paper, perfect bound with a matt laminated cover and costs just £10 + post & packing.

Copied can be ordered here: https://www.autoaddicts-shop.com/journals/volumeone-33xn2

You can sign up to the free classic racing newsfeed right here: http://autoaddicts.co.uk/subscribe/

FIVA CHOOSES UNEXPECTED WINNER OF ‘BEST PRESERVED VEHICLE’ AWARD IN JAPAN

FIVA CHOOSES UNEXPECTED WINNER OF ‘BEST PRESERVED VEHICLE’ AWARD IN JAPAN

La Festa Mille Miglia 2018, held in Japan, is now in its 21st year. As you can probably guess from the title, it’s a 1000-mile rally run along the lines of the current Italian 1000 Miglia and this year it started on 19 October in Tokyo, ending up in the same city on Monday 22 October. 

A representative from FIVA (the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens or international federation of historic vehicles) attended as the FIVA Steward, and for the first time La Festa Mille Miglia was chosen as one of this year’s 10 events at which a FIVA Best Preserved Vehicle award would be presented. 

And the winner of the FIVA Best Preserved Vehicle trophy? 

Whilst the FIVA Steward found it unusually hard to separate the many potential contenders, the trophy was finally awarded to the 1951 Panhard Dyna X 110/X85 owned by Yoshinobu and Miyoko Kato. This model of the marque is affectionately known to aficionados as ‘Louis XVth’ thanks to its marvellous baroque curves. 

While the Panhard Dyna might perhaps not be every enthusiast’s first choice for competing in a 1000-mile road rally, the diminutive Dyna X would certainly be a car that almost every participant would love to take home with them, judging by the reaction of other competitors. 

Meanwhile the winner of La Festa Mille Miglia itself was the Bugatti Type 40 of Kyoto and Junko Takemoto, with a Triumph TR2 and MG C-Type as runners-up in the 1000-mile rally. 

La Festa Mille Miglia was the tenth and final event this year at which FIVA presented a Best Preserved Vehicle award, having announced early in 2018 that eight of the ten events would be new to the awards. As FIVA President Patrick Rollet explained at the time, “We are keen to help promote not just the very ‘top-end’ occasions, but also to recognise the passionate individuals who take part in events that are more open to the majority of enthusiasts – hoping to encourage a wider spectrum of FIVA members to enjoy these valuable celebrations of historic vehicles.” 

THE ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB 1000 MILE TRIAL WINS RALLY OF THE YEAR 2018

THE ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB 1000 MILE TRIAL WINS RALLY OF THE YEAR 2018

The Royal Automobile Club 1000 Mile Trial has won the 2018 Rally of the Year Award at the International Historic Motoring Awards, which took place on Thursday 25 October 2018 at the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane hotel.

The International Historic Motoring Awards recognises and celebrates the skills and achievements of the worldwide historic motoring industry and comprises of a broad spectrum of award categories ranging from Restoration of the Year through to Motorsport Event and Personal Achievement awards.

Jeremy Vaughan, Head of Motoring of the Royal Automobile Club said, "We are delighted to have won Rally of the Year Award against such a high calibre of contenders. I would like to thank our event partner, HERO Events, for their expert organisation and challenging routes, which keep the participants on their toes. The event has won this award three times and it won the FIA Heritage Cup in 2015 so it's wonderful to add another accolade to its illustrious history".

The Royal Automobile Club and the Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation (HERO) partnered to revive the 1000 Mile Trial in 2014. The original 1000 Mile Trial, organised by the Automobile Club, was a demonstration trial held in the spring of 1900, from London to Edinburgh and back again. This event demonstrated the robustness and versatility of the motor car, in the process proving the doubters of the motor car wrong. It was a truly historic moment in the popularisation and development of motoring as we have come to know it.

The 2018 Royal Automobile Club 1000 Mile Trial set the standard for all other pre-war motoring events. 1090 miles of the best roads in Britain, 27 regularities, 19 tests and over 30 crews battled it out over 6 days. This year's trial was won by Peter Lovett and Matt Fowle in a Frazer Nash BMW 328.

With such an important anniversary coming up, the Royal Automobile ‎Club and HERO have decided the next event will be in June 2020 - 120 years on from the running of the original 1000 Mile Trial. It will retain the spirit of the original, with some of the world's best pre-war cars, a route that is both challenging and inspiring, and hospitality and celebration of the very highest order.

Patrick Burke, Managing Director of HERO said, “The Royal Automobile Club 1000 Mile Trial is a quintessentially British motoring event, whose 120th anniversary will be celebrated in 2020. For this historic occasion, we have some exciting plans for the Trial commensurate with such an anniversary

ASTON MARTIN LAGONDA PRESIDENT AND GROUP CEO RECEIVES HISTORIC MOTORING AWARD

ASTON MARTIN LAGONDA PRESIDENT AND GROUP CEO RECEIVES HISTORIC MOTORING AWARD

Andy Palmer

 Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group CEO, Dr Andy Palmer, was honoured with the Vantage Award at tonight’s annual Historic Motoring Awards at the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane Hotel. Although named personally as the winner, Palmer accepted the award on behalf of everyone at Aston Martin.

The Historic Motoring Awards, now in its eighth year, recognises the elite in the international classic automotive world. The winners are selected by the experts at Octane magazine and an international panel of judges from the motoring world. Brand new for 2018, the Vantage Award celebrates “an individual or company who has made an outstanding contribution to the world of Aston Martin”. The judges were looking for someone who not only champions the brand, but lives and breathes it and has made waves in making it what it is today.

After joining Aston Martin in late 2014, Palmer set to work on the ‘Second Century Plan, a transformative plan that would see the company replace its entire sports car range over the course of seven years. Starting with the DB11, followed by the new Vantage and most recently the DBS Superleggera, the plan is already ahead of its targets. Earlier this year it was announced that Aston Martin’s profits grew by a quarter of a billion pounds in 2017, heralding the completion of the financial turnaround of the iconic British luxury carmaker a full year ahead of schedule. With Palmer at the helm, the company made its stock market debut just a few weeks ago.

Palmer said: “The highest honours are always those made from within your peer group or own industry. In accepting this award, I do so on behalf of everyone at Aston Martin. I’m proud of everything we have achieved and I am excited by the future that this company has to look forward to.” 

CONCOURS OF ELEGANCE WINS CONCOURS OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE HISTORIC MOTORING AWARDS

CONCOURS OF ELEGANCE WINS CONCOURS OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE HISTORIC MOTORING AWARDS

Concours of Elegance 2018 Tim Scott

The world-famous Concours of Elegance has won the prestigious ‘Concours of the Year’ category at The Historic Motoring Awards 2018. Now in its seventh year, the Concours of Elegance has quickly become one of the most esteemed and acclaimed concours events in the world, welcoming some of the biggest names in the classic car industry and the most eminent collectors from around the world.

Regarded as one of the most distinguished motoring award ceremonies, The Historic Motoring Awards was hosted by Formula 1 pundit Steve Rider, with winners chosen by experts at Octane Magazine and an international panel of revered judges. The Concours of Elegance has now been nominated seven times for ‘Motoring Event of the Year’ and took home the ‘Concours of the Year’ award this week, with sister event London Concours a finalist in the ‘Breakthrough Event of the Year’ category.

From 31st August to 2nd September, Hampton Court Palace hosted a selection of vehicles the likes of which has never been seen in the UK. Over a century of the best automotive history graced the royal gardens in South-West London, from the 1903 Panhard et Lavassor O4R up to the latest 2018 Ferrari GTC4 Lusso ‘Tailor Made’. Star guests included a recently-restored 1997 McLaren F1 GTR Long-tail, as well as an incredible 1957 Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa ‘C’. The 1929 Mercedes-Benz S-Type Barker ‘Boat Tail’ took home the ‘Best in Show’ award with its period accuracy and attention to detail loved by all.

The 2018 Concours of Elegance was supported by a fantastic selection of automotive manufacturers, including Ferrari, McLaren, Aston Martin and Geely, as well as its presenting partner A. Lange & Söhne. Guests were able to enjoy a great selection of food and drink from luxury picnic company Tom’s Kitchen and Champagne Taittinger bar, alongside a tantalising array of lavish products from Augustine Jewels, art from Collier Dobson and fine scotch whisky from John Dewar & Sons.

Andrew Evans, Concours of Elegance Director, said: “We are incredibly proud to have received the prestigious ‘Concours of the Year’ award at The Historic Motoring Awards this year. The great work of our dedicated team and the contributions of our fantastic sponsors have helped the event become what it is today. Without the continued support of the owners and guests, we would not be regarded as one of the top concours shows in the world. The event continues to improve year-on-year with more exclusive vehicles, more guests and even more top-tier partners - next year will be even better still.”

TALBOT OWNERS’ CLUB PROVES ‘INVINCIBLE’ AS FOOTMAN JAMES’ CLUB OF THE YEAR AT HISTORIC MOTORING AWARDS

TALBOT OWNERS’ CLUB PROVES ‘INVINCIBLE’ AS FOOTMAN JAMES’ CLUB OF THE YEAR AT HISTORIC MOTORING AWARDS

Talbot Owners’ Club, Footman James’ Club of the Year

Fierce competition in the Footman James-sponsored Club of the Year award at last night’s Historic Motoring Awards.

With owners’ clubs being one of the most important facets of classic car ownership, alongside insurance and maintenance, Footman James is proud to announce the Talbot Owners’ Club as Club of the Year award winner at the Historic Motoring Awards 2018, in one of the most hotly-contested categories.

With an enviable shortlist, containing some of the most important and internationally-recognised car clubs, the judges and the Footman James team had a tough decision on their hands ahead of the eighth annual Historic Motoring Awards, held this year at the prestigious Sheraton Grand London Park Lane Hotel.

However, one stood clear of the rest and, on the night, the Talbot Owners’ Club was recognised for its significant growth in membership and innovative approach to reaching its community. The organisation’s 22% jump in new members has been driven by a new free-to-use website, which contains a database of every Talbot built since 1906 and a 350-page Technical Manual. These are supported by a revamped club magazine; not to mention tours, events and member displays, and a streamlined approach to its communications with stakeholders. Overall, the club had significantly changed its strategy and approach, and its success provides a clear blueprint for how car clubs can address the issue of falling numbers going forward.

Hosted by Steve Rider, the Club of the Year title was the first winner announced of this year’s Historic Motoring Awards, with a shortlist that included the Aston Martin Owners’ Club, Cardigan Classic Car Club, Ferrari Owners’ Club as well as the pre-war specialist club, Vintage Sports Car Club.

Footman James’ Managing Director, David Bond, said, “Talbots are famous for being invincible, being designed and run by engineers and fiercely competitive at Le Mans and Brooklands, on Alpine Trials and even, in later life, on the RAC Rally. Solely run by fans and owners of the marque, using modern communications and free tools to keep Talbot cars on the road for future members, we thank the Talbot Owners’ Club for their continued efforts and are delighted that they take home this important award.”

For further information about Footman James please contact 0333 207 6255 or visit www.footmanjames.co.uk.

WINNERS OF THE HISTORIC MOTORING AWARDS 2018 REVEALED

WINNERS OF THE HISTORIC MOTORING AWARDS 2018 REVEALED

On Thursday 25th October, 300 of the world’s biggest classic and performance car enthusiasts came together in London to celebrate the winners of The Historic Motoring Awards 2018.

Now in their eighth year, the awards celebrate the continued growth of the classic car industry, which has continued to flourish largely due to the efforts of the likes of the nominees.

The much-coveted Car of the Year category was voted for by thousands of Octane magazine readers. For the winning Triumph TR2, it was the culmination of a historically important but long-lost British sports car being brought back to its former glory. This was the very car in which the intrepid Ken Richardson shattered records for the 2-litre class in setting a speed of 124.899mph on a stretch of the Jabbeke Highway in Belgium in 1953. Having been taken off the road in the 1970s, it was eventually rediscovered and restored by Glen Hewett of specialist Protek Engineering.

Tony Dron is a legend in two fields: motoring racing and journalism. Having started in single-seaters, where he became a good friend of James Hunt, Dron was a British Leyland works driver and Touring Car great at his peak in the 1970s when he also took a brace of class wins at Le Mans for Porsche. In a career that lasted some 43 years, he was also one of the leading lights when historic racing really took off and famously competed in everything from his own Ford Zephyr to iconic Ferrari sports racers. Throughout his racing career, Dron was also working as a journalist and was on the true pioneers of classic car journalism as it emerged to become a force in the 1980s and has been a regular contributor to Octane.

Robert Coucher, International Editor of Octane magazine said: “In what has been the strongest ever year for entries – and the toughest ever for judging – all our nominees have made an invaluable contribution to the old car scene globally. A testament to the calibre of the shortlists was the fact that our panel of judges  – which included Derek Bell, Peter Stevens and Jay Leno – even asked us to split one category into two because they couldn’t separate two of the candidates.”

The full list of winners from The Historic Motoring Awards 2018 is available here:

CAR OF THE YEAR

‘Jabbeke’ Triumph TR

RESTORATION OF THE YEAR -  Sponsored by Deneb and Pollux

Lamborghini Miura (Lamborghini Polo Storico)

BOOK OR FILM OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by Horton Books

Gaston Grümmer: The Art of Carrosserie 
by Philippe Grümmer and Laurent Friry, Dalton Watson

CLUB OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by Footman James

Talbot Owners;’ Club

HERITAGE COLLECTION OF THE YEAR

Porsche

MOTORING EVENT OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by EFG Private Banking

Concours of the Year - Concours of Elegance

Show of the Year - Retro Classics Stuttgart

MUSEUM OF THE YEAR

Museo Nicolis

SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by Quick Fit

The Classic Motor Hub

Classic Motor Cars of Bridgnorth - highly commended

PERFORMANCE CAR OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by Lordes

Alpine A110

BESPOKE CAR OF THE YEAR

Jaguar E-type Concept Zero

RACE SERIES OF THE YEAR

The 2 Litre Cup

MOTORSPORT EVENT OF THE YEAR

Le Mans Classic

BREAKTHROUGH EVENT OF THE YEAR

Heveningham Hall Concours d’Elegance

INDUSTRY SUPPORTER OF THE YEAR

Richard Mille

PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT - Sponsored by HERO

Madan Mohan (21 Gun Salute)

THE VANTAGE AWARD

Andy Palmer (CEO, Aston Martin)

THE ENZO AWARD

GTO Engineering

RALLY OF THE YEAR

The Royal Automobile Club 1000 Mile Trial

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD


Tony Dron

The awards ceremony took place at The Sheraton Grand Hotel, Park Lane, London on Thursday 25th October.

CAMBRIDGE & COUNTIES BANK REACH £2 MILLION LENDING IN CLASSIC CAR FINANCE

CAMBRIDGE & COUNTIES BANK REACH £2 MILLION LENDING IN CLASSIC CAR FINANCE

Cambridge & Counties Bank attended the 20th anniversary Goodwood Revival last month with an invited gathering of its first clients to mark the first £2 million pounds worth of financed approved. All funded by the new classic car finance in just a few months since its launch, proving that the designed offering is meeting the needs of enthusiastic buyers and collectors.

Cambridge & Counties Bank launched Classic Car Finance in April and have already financed the purchases of a huge range of highly prized, historic vehicles. The marques range from 1920s Bentleys through to a unique 1980s Aston Martin. There are competition cars represented by a Ginetta GT5, noughties British Touring Car Championship legend, Porsche Carrera Cup Car and Jaguar XJR 10.

Neil Fender, lifelong classic car fanatic and Head of Classic Car Finance at Cambridge & Counties Bank explains, “As a team of enthusiasts ourselves, we can honestly say of all the vehicles we have financed so far, ‘we would have bought them too!’ When rare or significant cars come up for sale, you must act quickly to realise that ambition of owning them because once sold, it can be years before they come on the market again, if ever. We are here to help ensure clients are able to make the most of that golden opportunity to own the car of their dreams.”

The Cambridge & Counties Bank team invited their first clients along to celebrate in style at the 20th anniversary of the Goodwood Revival held over the weekend of 7th – 9th September 2018. The event, which is enjoyed by tens of thousands of historic vehicle aficionados every year, combines vintage and classic motorsport with superstar drivers, vintage fashion and classic car displays.

Neil Fender says, “Goodwood Revival was the perfect place for us to mark this significant milestone. Not only are we surrounded by so many of the cars we love but it was also a chance to share with our clients, the passion we all have for historic vehicles and the culture that surrounds them.”

Classic Car Finance operates from the Cambridge & Counties Bank head office in Leicester. The bank has a unique partnership between two established and respected institutions – Trinity Hall, Cambridge and Cambridgeshire Local Government Pension Fund. The bank can lend from £63,000 up to £1.5 million and will consider equity release on a range of historic vehicles as well.

Tom Senior, Director of Classic Car Finance at Cambridge & Counties Bank adds, “Our unique structure gives us the ability to offer a very personal service and the desire to build lasting relationships is at the heart of everything we do. That approach, combined with the genuine passion we have for classic cars sets us apart. We are very proud to be just as excited about the cars our clients want to buy as they are.”

Cambridge and Counties Bank will next be out and about at the NEC Classic Motor Show, held at Birmingham’s NEC over the weekend of 9-11th November and invite anyone wishing to meet for a coffee and an informal chat at that event, to contact the team on 0116 366 0800 or email classiccars@ccbank.co.uk

DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR CLASSIC & SPORTS CAR CLUB AWARDS

DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR CLASSIC & SPORTS CAR CLUB AWARDS

The UK’s classic car clubs will have further chance to submit their entries for the annual Classic & Sports Car Club Awards, with the closing date for entries extended until 11:59pm on Thursday 1 November 2018.

The Awards, supported by Lancaster Insurance, are free to enter and recognise excellence in 10 main categories for both individuals and clubs within the classic car community.

Highlighting two prominent categories, Alastair Clements, Editor in Chief of Classic & Sports Car, said: “It’s hugely encouraging to go through the Awards entries and learn about all the club initiatives that run throughout the year, and it’s particularly exciting to see that classic cars are being enjoyed across the generations. The ‘Best Contribution by a Youngster’ category always attracts a number of fascinating entries from the next wave of enthusiasts, while the ‘Initiative of the Year’ award provides a fantastic insight into new and creative ideas being employed by the clubs to successfully engage with new audiences and support their members.”

Winning at the Classic & Sports Car Club Awards means much more than adding to the trophy cabinet, as Graham Searle, General Manager of the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club, explains after winning the 2017 Best Club Show/Event award: “Winning was the icing on the cake for the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club,” he said. “We knew we had put on an amazing event, but to have it recognised by our ‘industry’ was particularly pleasing and gave us the incentive to improve on that level for the future. The competition was tough, with many excellent events organised that year. In fact, the standard of events put on by clubs continues to rise in line with members’ expectations, and prestigious awards like these help by recognising the considerable effort needed to achieve that standard.”

Alastair Clements continued: “Classic & Sports Car magazine has been – and continues to be – at the very heart of the classic industry since it was first published in April 1982. Over that time, classic car clubs large and small have played an integral role through their ongoing initiatives promoting and preserving the camaraderie and community spirit. Winning at the Club Awards can provide the impetus to reach a new membership audience as well as honouring those hard-working people that are the lifeblood of the club.”

To put forward your nominations, visit http://www.classicandsportscar.com/clubawards. Nominations close at 11:59pm on Thursday 1 November 2018 with the Club Awards winners announced at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at the NEC, Birmingham on Friday 9 November. Help us spread the word through our social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook – using #CSCClubAwards.