Nominations Open for 2019 Royal Automobile Club Historic Awards
With a summer of historic motoring and motorsport events in full swing now is the perfect time to celebrate success both on and off the track across the UK’s historic motoring scene, by making your nominations for the 2019 Royal Automobile Club Historic Awards.
Candidates can self-nominate or be nominated by a third party. The nominated activity, event or feat must have occurred entirely or at least in the main part within the UK and have a very strong, or exclusively, historic element to it. It must have taken place in the twelve months from 1 October 2018 to 30 September 2019.
So, if you’ve attended or organised a superb historic motorsport event or motoring spectacle, have completed an immaculate restoration, read or written an outstanding piece of classic motoring journalism or have been enthralled by spectating at, competing in or have organised an exciting historic race series, it’s time to think about making a nomination. Alternatively, perhaps you represent or have visited a UK-based museum or collection that has achieved something significant within the past year, or are aware of an individual whose achievements during the eligibility period make them a worthy ‘Personality’ winner? Make sure you have your say by submitting a nomination through the Awards’ website before the closing date of 30 September 2019.
A hand-picked panel of experts have been selected as Lead Judges for the Awards, giving all nominees the reassurance that submissions will be reviewed by independent panels with an in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for their particular category. The inaugural partners for the Awards have also been announced, with German luxury watchmaker A. Lange & Söhne, centre of excellence for historic motoring Bicester Heritage, wealth managers Brewin Dolphin, specialist insurers Footman James, classic motoring event organiser HERO and major energy player Total all confirming their support for what promises to become an integral part of the historic motoring calendar.
Nominations are sought within the following categories:
Competitive Event (Supported by Brewin Dolphin. Lead Judge: historic motorsport competitor and event organiser, Vanessa Marçais)
For any UK-based competitive classic motorsport event, from motor racing meetings and hillclimbs to navigation and stage rallies, regularity trials, and hot rod and drag races.
Motoring Spectacle (Supported by Footman James. Lead Judge: Alastair Clements, Editor-in-Chief, Classic & Sports Car)
Eligible events include concours d’elegance, tours, classic vehicle shows and club gatherings. Judges will be looking for British events – big or small – that have displayed a true sense of spectacle.
Race Series (Supported by A. Lange & Söhne. Lead Judge: Ian Titchmarsh, motor racing commentator and Chair of Silverstone Heritage)
This can be organised by one of the big international organisers or by one of the many UK-based historic racing clubs, but must have a predominantly UK-based calendar.
Collection (Supported by Total. Lead Judge: Simon Taylor, journalist, TV commentator and former Editor of Autosport and Managing Director of Haymarket Magazines)
This award will be presented to a British-based collection or museum which has made a significant contribution to the historic motoring movement in the UK or internationally.
Restoration (Supported by Bicester Heritage. Lead Judge: David Lillywhite, Editorial Director of Magneto)
The winner in this category will be a restoration that results from not only impressive technical expertise but also a significant amount of research and sensitivity to the vehicle and its history. The restoration must have been done in the UK. It can have been started at any point but must have been completed during the year ending 30th September 2019.
Personality (Supported by HERO. Lead Judge: Chairman of Motorsport UK Council and a Vice President of the Royal Automobile Club, Tom Purves)
Open to individuals from any part of the British historic motoring world, for example (but not limited to) private enthusiast, club organiser or specialist. They must have made a truly outstanding contribution to heritage, historic motoring or historic motorsport during the judging period.
Outstanding Journalism (Lead Judge: Steve Cropley, Editor-in-Chief, Autocar)
This award will be presented to the author of what the judges deem to be the best historic motoring-related written feature that has appeared in a British publication or digital platform within the twelve-month judging period.
In addition to the above categories, the Club will also present the Royal Automobile Club Lifetime Achievement Award, to recognise an individual who has, in the opinion of the Club, made an outstanding contribution to British motoring history and heritage, or to the British historic motoring and/or motor racing movement, across many years. This is the only category which cannot be nominated and is the only category recognising achievement beyond the previous twelve months.
The nominations will be shortlisted in October 2019 for judging and the winners will be announced at a gala evening to be held in the Club’s Pall Mall clubhouse on Thursday 21 November 2019.
Continuing the Club’s rich pedigree in celebrating motoring accomplishments, the Royal Automobile Club’s Historic Awards reward achievement and innovation by highlighting the wide range of companies, clubs, events, associations and individuals responsible for influencing and driving the British historic motoring movement.
Alongside the Historic Awards, the Royal Automobile Club also presents a series of internationally recognised trophies and medals celebrating motoring achievements. These include the Segrave Trophy, the Torrens Trophy, the Simms Medal, the Dewar Trophy and the oldest trophy in motorsport still being competed for today; the Tourist Trophy.
You can make a nomination at: royalautomobileclubhistoricawards.co.uk.
