The motoring book industry is clearly in fine fettle, with a fantastic, record-breaking 56 books in the running to become the Royal Automobile Club’s Motoring Book of the Year.
Now in its tenth consecutive year, the Motoring Book of the Year Awards recognises and celebrates the very best automotive books, authors and publishers from around the world.
Simon Taylor, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club Motoring Book of the Year Committee, said: “It’s been a bumper year for submissions, with 56 entries representing 36 publishers – from major houses to small independents and self-published authors. It’s been a delight to see such impressive and diverse titles across all categories, as well as so many debut authors. The judges had a healthy debate scrutinising each book for subject originality, writing style, depth of research, quality of illustrations and production before finalising the shortlist of contenders.”
Jeremy Vaughan, Head of Motoring at the Royal Automobile Club, said: “A decade on, the Awards are globally recognised and set a benchmark for the industry. The Club considers the Awards as one of the most important events during our annual London Motor Week. I would like to thank Simon Taylor and all the judges for their diligence and expertise, and I very much look forward to celebrating with the winners on the 1 November at Pall Mall.”
The Awards consist of four individual categories, in addition to the overall Royal Automobile Club Book of the Year. This trophy is awarded to a title in any category that is considered by the judges to stand above every other. In addition, the Graham Robson Trophy will be awarded for Best Debut Author, recognising an outstanding book by a previously unpublished writer.
As well as revealing the individual category winners on Wednesday 1 November 2023, the Club will also announce the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, to recognise an individual who has made a significant contribution to the UK’s motoring book industry.
The annual awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday 1 November 2023 from 6pm until 9pm at the Club’s historic Pall Mall clubhouse, with guests from the circles of publishing, motoring, and motorsport.
Members of the media wishing to attend this event should please contact: rebecca@eventspr.co.uk
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In alphabetical order, the 2023 Royal Automobile Club Motoring Book of the Year Award finalists are…
Books About Motor Cars and Motoring Costing No More Than £50.00
- Fast Lady – The Extraordinary Adventures of Miss Dorothy Levitt by Michael Barton, published by Butterfield Press Ltd, priced £40.00
- Max Hoffman Million Dollar Middleman by Myles Kornblatt published by Veloce Publishing Ltd, priced £30.00
- NSU Ro80 The Complete Story by Martin Buckley, published by Crowood Press Ltd, priced £30.00
- The Last Overland by Alex Bescoby, published by Michael O’Mara Books, priced £20.00
Books About Motor Cars and Motoring With No Price Limit
- Kim A Biography of MG Founder Cecil Kimber by Jon Pressnell, published by Dalton Watson Fine Books, priced £115.00
- The Automotive Alchemist by Andy Saunders, published by Dalton Watson Fine Books, priced £90.00
- The Last Bugatti Racing Cars by Johann Petit and Pascal van Mele, published by 110%, priced £685.00
- The Past and the Spurious by Paul Griffin, published by the Griffin Press, priced £75.00
Books On A Motor Sporting Subject Costing No More Than £50.00
- Driven To Crime by Crispian Besley, published by Evro Publishing, priced £40.00
- Gerry Birrell: Lost Before his Time by Darren Banks, published by Performance Publishing, priced £29.00
- Speed Queens: A secret history of women in motorsport by Rachel Harris-Gardiner, published by Pen & Sword Books Ltd, priced £22.00
- 24 Hours 100 Years of Le Mans by Richard Williams, published by Simon & Schuster, priced £20.00
Books On A Motor Sporting Subject With No Price Limit
- Bentley Speed 8: The Comprehensive Story of Bentley’s Last Le Mans Winner by Andrew Cotton, published by Sportfahrer Verlag, priced £225.00
- Colin Chapman The Biography by Jabby Crombac, Fred Bushell and William Taylor, published by Coterie Press, priced £125.00
- Superbears: The Story of Hesketh Racing by James Page, published by Porter Press Intl Ltd, priced £89.00
- Tyrrell: The Story of the Tyrrell Racing Organisation by Richard Jenkins, published by Evro Publishing Ltd, priced £90.00
Best Debut Author
- Andy Saunders, The Automotive Alchemist published by Dalton Watson Fine Books, priced £90.00
- Indira Flack, Great British Racing Drivers: A captivating journey into British Motorsport legends published by Narrative Books Media Limited, priced £39.98
- Alex Bescoby, The Last Overland: Singapore to London: The Return Journey of the Iconic Land Rover Expedition published by Michael O’Mara Books Limited, priced £20.00
