We would like to thank our independent panels of specialists judges who had the very difficult task of selecting finalists from all the nominees - and who now have to choose their winners from these very worthy finalists!
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Born from an idea spawned by a 32-year-old Austin Maestro, and after four years in the making, the UK’s newest visitor attraction Great British Car Journey opened its doors in Ambergate, Derbyshire in May 2021.
Visitors are guided round the exhibition with specially-produced handheld audio devices which give an audio commentary and pictures and guides the visitor through the decades as the cars roll out before them. QR codes provide further details on the display vehicles, while an army of volunteers is on hand to explain the finer details of the vehicles, from hidden petrol caps masquerading as taillights to the split bumper on the Morris Minor and one car once owned by a British music icon.
This is the story of a British industry which in its heyday was a worldwide force and its products could be found in all corners of the globe. Its heroes are the popular cars from a bygone era when for half a century, British cars did literally "rule the road". Visitors go on a journey which starts in the early 1920s when the working family could only dream of owning a car. The journey ends as they venture into the new millennium and most of Britain's great car factories fall silent.
Many of the cars on display have their own story: a 55 year old Mini with 7700 miles on the clock, the last MG Metro ever produced showing less than 400 miles and one of the 360 Morris Minor "Millions" produced in 1961 to celebrate a production record and sent to every Morris dealer in the UK.
And the cars aren’t purely for looking at; some of them can be driven. For an authentic, hands-on trip down Memory Lane, 32 cars, including the Maestro that started it all, are available to drive on a private road as part of the Drive Dad’s Car experience.
Judges’ Comment: The Great British Car Journey is unusual in the very 'ordinariness' of its core collection - the British family cars of the classic era - but unique in making a significant part of that collection available for its visitors to drive. In an age where 'interactive' in museum terms almost inevitably means 'touchscreens', this approach of allowing hands-on experience of the cars that visitors (or their grandfathers or grandmothers) once drove is an impressive departure from the norm.
On 17 May 2021, the Silverstone Experience Museum reopened its doors with a new name: the Silverstone Interactive Museum.
The Silverstone Interactive Museum has been designed to inspire the next generation and has over 60 hands-on exhibits where visitors can try out a wide variety of activities – from operating a wind tunnel, piloting a Wellington bomber, taking part in a pit stop and climbing into a replica Grand Prix car. Visitors can even see whether they have got what it takes to commentate on a Formula 1 Grand Prix, and go on a Heritage Track Trail outside around the iconic track.
In addition to the hands-on fun, the museum features some of the most iconic cars and bikes that have played a part in the 70-year history of Silverstone circuit including Mansell’s iconic Red 5, an E.R.A from the first ever Grand Prix held at the venue in 1948 and Barry Sheene’s 1979 Suzuki motorbike.
New for 2021 is a display featuring Lewis Hamilton’s 2020 race overalls and an enhanced outdoor area where parents can relax with a coffee while younger members of the team can play on an original stretch of the iconic Grand Prix Circuit. Rounding off a visit is a thrilling immersive film show – the ultimate lap of Silverstone – bringing together some of the circuit’s most famous racing moments with commentary from Murray Walker, Martin Brundle and David Croft.
In November this year the museum will open the Collections and Research Centre. The library of the British Racing Drivers’ Club forms the cornerstone of the books on the shelves, with red bound volumes of Autosport lined up for researchers to discover relatives’ racing careers or if their car ever competed at Silverstone. Other shelves contain decades of race programmes and key historical and reference books from across the years.
Judges’ Comment: As the home of the British Grand Prix and headquarters of the BRDC, Silverstone is ideally placed as the site of this spectacular celebration of the history of Formula One. With the demise of the much-loved Donington Collection, the Silverstone Interactive Museum is now the pre-eminent display of grand prix cars and the stories behind them in the UK. It is, however, much more than that, with its emphasis on involving its visitors – especially the young – in that story through Interactive presentations.
In May 2021 the Morgan Motor Company completed the redevelopment of its visitor attraction, the Morgan Experience Centre, with the opening of its all-new interactive museum experience, The Archive Room.
The Archive Room is home to the full company archives, containing more than a century of artefacts, documents, photographs and footage that chart the unique history and heritage of the brand. The centrepiece of the room is a full-length cabinet that houses individual items of historical significance, each with their own story. Next to each item is a button that allows visitors to bring the artefact to life as part of an audio-visual installation.
Some of the more prominent items include a 1930s Leica camera belonging to the company’s founder, HFS Morgan, thousands of original press cuttings dating back to 1910, each beautifully documented in ‘scrap books’ by George Morgan (father of HFS), and original blueprints and historical parts from the earliest days of the company.
Five large-scale projectors situated around the room display rotating content that delves into all aspects of company history and provide a backdrop to the room. The remaining walls are adorned with artwork and abstract frames, Morgan parts and trophies. In the centre, seven cars are displayed and represent all eras and models, with a mixture of company heritage fleet and vehicles loaned by private owners.
A ‘Design Your Morgan’ area introduces visitors to the basic principles of drawing a Morgan car, and how the design and development process works, with added insight from Morgan’s designers and engineers. A lightbox drawing board, tracing paper templates and pencils allow budding designers to put the Morgan creations of their imaginations onto paper, to take home or share on social media.
Judges’ Comment: In the nicest way, the world-famous Morgan factory is a living museum, with time-honoured crafts of woodwork and metal-forming running cheek-by-jowl with the very latest in automotive technology. The company's new Archive Room gives a new focus to its public face, combining historical context to its hugely popular factory tours with access to its archive and a selection of previous models for visitors to savour. As with the rest of the Morgan site, it is on a very human scale compared with the often grander museums of its competitors.
The Historic Formula Ford 2000 Association (HFF2000) was established in 2006 by Alan Morgan and Iain Rowley with the aim of providing a base for owners, drivers and enthusiasts of Formula Ford 2000 cars built and raced between January 1975 December 1981.
Today, with Alan and Iain still enthusiastically at the helm, the Association has become one of the most popular choices for drivers who want to compete in historic racing with wings and slicks, but without incurring the daunting expenditure often associated with this form of motorsport.
As a Motorsports UK Recognised Club HFF2000 races at all the top circuits, including the Silverstone and Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuits, Spa, Pau and Dijon. The UK based championship is part of the HSCC championship series.
Its grids demonstrate the popularity of the series and this was reinforced by a 2020 Autosport survey ranking HFF2000 as the fastest growing HSCC race series. Strict adherence to original specifications and control over the number of tyres a competitor may use in a season mean close and spirited but fair and safe racing throughout the field.
In 2021 HFF2000 has managed to stage a full season of races. This year’s grids have routinely been around 30 with some exceeding 40 entries, making it by far the largest HSCC contributor. The Association believes that for a series to be truly successful it needs to provide not only top quality racing opportunities but also to provide a friendly, relaxed and enjoyable experience for drivers, their families, friends and supporters.
HFF2000 is rightly famous for its generous paddock parties and catering, which reinforce the Association’s family friendly and inclusive ethos. The Association epitomises the spirit of Formula Ford 2000 racing in late 1970s. Championship regulations require that all cars run as they did in period, using the 2 litre Ford Pinto engine and complying with original spaceframe chassis and body designs. Many retain their original livery and, with some 38 known different manufacturers producing cars in period, current grids contain an interesting range of marques.
Judges’ Comment: This series continues to thrive because it offers incredible value, is well managed and policed by co-founders Alan Morgan and Iain Rowley and has a fine paddock camaraderie.
The HERO-ERA event 'Per Ardua Ad infinitum' ran on 19 December 2020. This event was organised on a very tight calendar as a one-day replacement to the yearly LE-JOG rally.
Such was the eagerness of teams to get the chance to compete, that there was a clamour for entries with people determined to blow 2020 out of their exhaust pipes in the last of five events HERO-ERA managed to run in that COVID affected year. Some took the opportunity to brush up on their navigational skills before the event, alongside others trying to acquire the skills, from Elise and Seren Whyte in their HERO-ERA Training Academy Webinars. An extra night had to added to cope with 94 people online!
The change of tiers affected some competitors being able to travel plus a few parts of the route which Guy Woodcock and his Competition team adjusted accordingly, whilst the rally was run in full compliance with Government and Motorsport UK COVID regulations. There were still 11 tests around the fast, tricky airfield sections of Bicester Heritage with all its surface changes, plus three challenging regularities to give the event its red code. The action promised to be ‘full on’... and it was!
The last-chance 2020 rally blast lured out the cream of regularity rallying, determined to make up for the lack of action and the inevitable postponement of the RAC Rally of the Tests and Le Jog. Starting and finishing in a huge aircraft hangar adjacent to the historic runway at host venue Bicester Heritage, 70 crews were grateful that HERO-ERA had managed, against the odds, to reroute and reorganise the rally according to new tiers within 24 hours.
Within COVID government and Motorsport UK regulations, all the crews were relieved to get out rallying and complied with the organiser’s requests to make themselves and their rally cars as festive as possible! Snowflake decals, mini Xmas trees on grills with lights, tinselled bumpers mixed with a mass of Christmas jumpers worn by drivers and navigators alike, creating a Christmas atmosphere.
Judges’ Comment: An object lesson in how to overcome and work around all the COVID 19 restrictions while providing a keenly competitive event with a distinctive festive spirit which was enjoyed by experienced and rookie competitors alike.
On 10 July, at Cheshire’s famous Oulton Park, the return of a series not run since the 1970s was hugely anticipated – The Longstone Tyres Light Car Race, the first running of the Light Car Race this century.
The pinnacle of motorsport is often considered to be the race to be fastest, to gain hundredths of seconds to beat your peers. The revival of this race proved the antithesis of the above sentiment but also demonstrated that the beating heart of motorsport is having fun and providing a spectacle. This race had that in bucketloads and certainly had the crowd on their feet.
Supported by Longstone Tyres to enable a reduced entry fee for competitors, the VSCC and its Light Cars provided a bumper grid, including several drivers who took their ARDS test just to get a race licence at the event.
The day was a roaring success, enticing several retired drivers back to the fray and with many young drivers also taking part. The Club’s staff and competitors had even broader grins than usual watching a multitude of novices and experienced racers battle in slightly more sedate cars than usual. It certainly got the most crowd participation as the full grid of 38 drivers were cheered and waved at around the Oulton Park International circuit for the 40-minute race. Fortunately, the slower speeds than usual allowed the drivers to soak up the atmosphere as they circulated.
Whilst the official results recognised the first three winners, for the unofficial prizes, they were duly disqualified for ‘being too quick’ and champagne was given to three more ‘appropriate’ winners. Rumours the organisers were considering disqualifying all entrants for no longer being fully standard after the fitment of catch tanks and rain lights were almost entirely unfounded!
The Longstone Tyres Light Car Race was a great success. It was even overhead being referred to as the race of the century. Several seasoned marshals and the normally reserved scrutineers all remarked after the event about the simple joy it had brought to them. It was the epitome of the joy we should all experience at a motorsport event.
Judges’ Comment: Bonkers but brilliant, the event caught the interest and imagination of VSCC members of all ages who supported the idea with a full entry of 38 cars. Everyone had a smile on their faces throughout. Speeds may have been low but the enjoyment factor among participants and spectators was sky high. A great idea,superbly executed. Pure magic!
E-type 60 at Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb on 12 & 13 June 2021 celebrated the 60th anniversary of the 1961 launch of this iconic British car in fine style. For many, it was the first motoring event after the lockdowns of the previous 14 months and was very well received by visitors, historic car owners, exhibitors and the media.
Around 400 E-types and their owners, 60 specialist exhibitors and enthusiastic visitors gathered in the stunning Teme Valley in Worcestershire. The event, sponsored by SNG Barratt Group and Twyford Moors, was held under the sunniest skies of the year at the historic and spectacular Shelsley Walsh motorsport setting.
For many, the opportunity to get up close to the three Geneva Motor Show cars – together for the first time in 60 years – was worth the entry ticket alone. For others, it was the competition E-types: 4 WPD, ECD 400, 49 FXN, Egal and the E2A prototype, that set pulses racing.
The historic Black Barn at Shelsley Walsh was an absolute treasure trove of motoring art as it played host to the first Brush with Speed exhibition. On display, a dazzling array of works from more than a dozen prominent British artists and sculptors. While the E-type was the central focus, the sheer variety of styles and media was remarkable.
A non-stop entertainment schedule included regular hillclimb action; an outstanding motoring art exhibition, Sixties scooters, engaging theatre chats with E-type experts; hilarious reminiscing with racing legends: Hopkirk, Attwood, Fitzpatrick and Sutcliffe; a fabulously ’60’s-themed party; and a raucous tribute to The Italian Job.
Judges’ Comment: In a year that wasn’t short on celebrations of Jaguar’s icon, this one really stood out. A phenomenal effort from a tiny team led to an amazing collection of 400 E-types flooding the evocative grounds of Shelsley Walsh. As well as reuniting the original Geneva show cars for the first time in 60 years, the event drew a remarkable selection of historic E-types and famous names.
They came, they parked, and they admired. More than 3,000 fans of ordinary, everyday cars took to the manicured lawns of Grimsthorpe Castle, in Lincolnshire, to celebrate some of the rarest cars remaining on UK roads, at the world-famous 2021 Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional.
The green lawns were awash with the distinctive hues of once common cars, with beige, mustard and brown dominating the lineup of cars which stretched as far as the eye could see.
The wheels were, more often than not, steel. The trim levels were basic, rather than plush. And optional extras were few and far between. These were, after all, cars of the people – once sold at prices people could afford before the advent of PCP-type finance products.
As ever, the celebration of everyday cars included a competitive element, with a 50-strong concours that saw owners and their prized vehicles put through a rigorous vetting process that could, ultimately, only result in one winner. And that winner proved a popular one. Jon Coupland and his remarkable 1989 Proton 1.5 GL Black Knight Edition fended off a truly impressive field of exceptionally unexceptional cars to take the ultimate prize in concours competitions – a Hagerty trophy, shaped like a mug of tea.
Danny Hopkins, editor of Practical Classics and a judge at the Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional since its inception, said “We think this Festival, more than any other, has really taken the demographic down. There are more young people here, with classic cars, than we have ever seen before, and we think it is absolutely fantastic.”
Paul Cowland, television presenter, commented “The fact that the second-placed car cost just £500 car shows how inclusive this scene is – everyone is welcome and there are no egos.”
Judges’ Comment: A regular showgoer can quickly become immune to truly mouth-watering machines, and stumbling across a long-forgotten poverty model can thrill as much as a rare Ferrari. Just the video that came as supporting evidence for this event had our judges cooing as they picked out Toyota Tercels and Hyundai Stellars from a collection of 3000 once-rubbish cars at regal Grimsthorpe Castle.
This fully MSUK-permitted, untimed multi-venue historic demonstration rally was the first event of its kind in the UK, emulating the success of similar 'Legend' events in Europe. And what a spectacle it was!
Organised by the Rallying History Group, and the brainchild of Warner Lewis and Mick Covill, the inaugural Historic Rally Festival was originally due to launch in 2020, but following numerous postponements (including one for the June 2021 date), it actually debuted in August 2021.
Staging this event would have been challenging enough. To have to do so in the face of the challenges of lockdown and other COVID restrictions took things to a new level of stress! But the event did finally take place, attracted some 7,500 spectators, and it was superb.
Weston Park was frequently a location for a stage of the Lombard RAC Rally in the 1980s. The Historic Rally Festival brought together cars from the 1960s to the early part of the 21st Century, including the Ford Escort Mk 1 in which Roger Clark won the 1972 RAC Rally and the Mk 1 Fiesta XR2 he drove in the 1979 European Rally Championship.
The potent Group B machines were out in ear-splitting force, including a Metro 6R4 and the ex-Fabrizio Tabaton Lancia 037. Naturally, there were also fabulous power demonstrations from the Peugeot 205 T16 and Audi Quattro Sport A2.
Famous cars were accompanied by famous faces such as Louise Aitken-Walker (in the ex-works Peugeot 205 she campaigned back in period). Harri Toivonen took to the tarmac in a Mitsubishi Evo 9 N5, bringing back memories of his 1983 RAC Rally activities, while Jimmy McRae delighted everybody with some spirited performances in the V8 Chevrolet Firenza Can-Am.
(image credit: Syd Wall)
Judges’ Comment: Anyone brave enough to put on a motorsport festival at a non-motorsport venue deserves respect, but this COVID-delayed inaugural event was also a huge success. Without the pressure of timing, owners were able to demonstrate some exceptional cars in a relaxed atmosphere, while crowds could enjoy some of their favourite machines in a beautiful setting.
Here was a subject, and an interviewee, on the vanished world of the milk float yet also its relevance to British roads in future.
It was a challenge to get it out of nerd-dom and shape the story to give proper context, but Giles Chapman managed it perfectly.
Judges’ Comment: Only Giles Chapman, famed for his appreciation of obscure forms of classic motoring, could have written this excellent story about Britain’s once-extensive fleet of electric milk floats. As well as finding a collector with a large collection of disparate vehicles, Chapman dons the milkman’s garb himself for the full experience. He also charts the milk float’s social history (blame the politicians for their demise) and finds a new place for them in the modern world as “last-mile” delivery vehicles in a society increasingly concerned with clean air. The whole thing is written in Chapman’s usual jaunty style, which easily carries the reader to the happy ending.
Martin Port’s outstanding feature on the history and restoration of the first production Land Rover was published in the Winter 2020 edition of Magneto magazine. The vehicle had to be researched from scratch. Incredibly the history had been completely lost in time and along with the accompanying book involved hundreds of hours of research and many blind alleys.
Not only is the article 100% fresh research, it is informative and engaging, and not just to Land Rover fans! The photography, also all by Martin is exceptional.
Judges’ Comment: Martin Port’s amazing story of the discovery and restoration of the world’s first production Land Rover has been one of the highlights of 2021. Written for Magneto off the content of a very successful book, this feature comprises material that is entirely new, adding much depth to a subject (early Land Rover history) which has already been very thoroughly researched. The text is expertly written by an author who would class himself more as a designer-photographer than a writer, and takes readers effortlessly from the joy of and challenge of the vehicle’s discovery to the ultimate triumph of an extremely difficult restoration.
What do we know about Donald Campbell the man? Not a huge amount generally, other
than the usual plaudits about his bravery and patriotism. But actually the real Donald Campbell
was much more complicated, always in the shadow of his rather remote father’s achievements, in Donald’s mind at least.
David Tremayne produced a deep but highly readable feature on the life of Donald Campbell, and the effects of his upbringing on his beliefs and personality, which was then beautifully combined with precious archive imagery in a stunning design by Magneto art director Peter Allen.
Judges’ Comment: David Tremayne’s incisive profile of land and water speed record-holder Donald Campbell was written to coincide with what would have been his 100th birthday. Tremayne presents new information in lots of detail and employs his own deep knowledge of record-breaking to bring new depth to a complex character, whose life was a complex amalgam of triumph and tragedy. Tremayne is especially illuminating on how the achievements and behaviour of his father, the 'speed king' Sir Malcolm Campbell, influenced the young Donald’s character, and greatly affected what he did in later life.
Dougal, along with his company Longstone Classic Tyres, has been a great supporter and sponsor of the Vintage Sports-Car Club (VSCC) for several years and despite the uncertain times during the pandemic his support never faltered, if anything it increased at a time clubs needed the most support.
The Club quite properly recognised the top three finishers in the results but the ‘unofficial’ Longstone result promptly disqualified them ‘for being too fast’ and awarded a champagne prize to the next three. Only Dougal could get away with it – much like the Vintage Top Gear videos he records from time to time.
Dougal has probably done more to promote vintage motorsport and youth participation that anyone in recent years. As well as offering general support and mentoring to all the younger members in the VSCC, putting his money where his mouth is, Dougal, through Longstone Classic Tyres, paid for all under 30s to have a second race at the Club’s only race meeting at Mallory Park in 2020.
Anyone who has met the larger-than-life front man will know that he is a lover and supporter of historic motorsport to his core.
Judges’ Comment: Dougal Cawley was selected for his support and never-ending enthusiasm for Vintage racing, for encouraging and cajoling the VSCC to bring back the Light Race and his generosity in supporting it and subsidising competitors, as well as financially supporting the younger VSCC members to race. Whilst the VSCC is full of great characters, Dougal and his racing family certainly stand out from the crowd and the judges felt Dougal deserved recognition for ensuring there is a next generation of historic racers.
In 2020 the Reverend Adam Gompertz became a digital rock for the historic automotive community on Facebook, creating the REVS Limiter community. Over the past year, he has not just maintained that position, he has built on it.
REVS' ethos is summed up in the welcome Adam has posted for new members: "It's great to have you with us - we really hope you feel at home here, a safe space to talk about the cars/bikes and other stuff with an engine that you love. It's a place for those who are doing well and those who are struggling. It's a place of stories, of people, of restoration and hope, of faith, though you dont have to have a faith to be part of this. All are welcome whether you are into Ferraris or Fiats, Astons or Austins, Lambos, Lotus, Lambrettas or Land Rover. Whatever your age, gender, whether you have a collection of cars, or just a poster on the bedroom wall you are welcome and its chuffing brilliant to have you here. "
As lockdown restrictions ended, rather than REVS Limiter fading, it continued to grow. It now has more than 7,000 members and there are now three 'real-life' REVS groups - REVS Limiter in real time - with two more groups launching soon.
REVS Limiter now has a thriving YouTube channel with numerous videos covering a wide range of subjects from Robert Blakemore talking about the Le Mans Classic to a lengthy and lively debate between motoring journalists Matt Prior, Matt Saunders, Vicky Parrott, Alex Goy, Designer Nir Khan, publisher Richard Webb, and Adam about the ultimate hand for classic motoringTop Trumps.
New for 2021 is the Garagistas trading cards game, and REVS has embraced the opportunities presented by life starting to open up again. In September this year it staged the first REVS-Limiter Pilgrims Tour, travelling to ancient pilgrim routes in North Wales in their classic cars.
Judges’ Comment: From fund raising for Mission Motorsport to Mental Health Wellbeing, the multi talented Reverend Adam Gompertz isn't just the Station Chaplain of Bicester Heritage any more, he has become the minister for the classic automotive community! Following on from creating his digital community during lockdown in 2020, Adam has not rested on his laurels post-lockdown but embraced the release by staging a REVS-Limiter Pilgrims Tour. The judges felt Adam had gone above and beyond the extra mile of his job description, in continuing to work tirelessly to engage people with new ideas and bring communities together and help others. Adam is a very worthy candidate in the category.
Four years ago, when Richard Usher owned and managed Blyton Circuit, a man approached him to ask if he’d like to buy his 1989 Austin Maestro in mint condition with just 10,000 miles on the clock.
"My first thought was ‘no’, but it then got me thinking about when I last saw an Austin Allegro, Metro, original Mini, or even a Ford Cortina on the road. These were cars that were once on virtually every street in Britain and sold in their millions.”
The seed was planted and Richard, together with four private investors, set about amassing one of the largest privately owned collections of British designed and manufactured cars in the country.
It all came to fruition in this year when, after four years in the making, the UK’s newest visitor attraction Great British Car Journey opened its doors in Ambergate, Derbyshire in May.
There are many excellent car museums in the UK but Great British Car Journey is a little bit different.
As the title suggests , visitors are taken on an interactive journey celebrating an era when British entrepreneurs and engineers were at the forefront of a transport revolution. Specially-produced handheld audio devices give an audio commentary and pictures and guide the visitor through the decades as the cars roll out before them. QR codes provide further details on the display vehicles.
Along with Henry Ford in America , Herbert Austin and William Morris were the leaders who put the working population behind the wheel and gave us all the freedom of mobility which we now take for granted.
And there's a twist - visitors can actually drive some of the cars from the museum's collection...
Judges’ Comment: Richard Usher was shortlisted for this award not just for his unfaltering dedication to the classic car industry but showing bravery, determination and creativity with his new venture: The Great British Car Journey, the interactive museum. He has not only rescued and preserving a huge collection of Britain's automotive history for future generations to come, but he's done it without prejudice of how ugly or terrible the cars once were. The judges felt that it takes a special kind of personality someone with real vision to imagine a future child looking at an Austin Allegro as a thing of beauty and be inspired.
Taken to the Mille Miglia as a factory entry in 1956 (car #545), HWM 1,unfortunately, did not finish the race due to a grave accident with HWM marque owner, John Heath at the wheel. HWM 1 was swiftly rebuilt in the carry-on spirit of the times and went on to be raced by a veritable Who’s Who of 1950s British sports car racers including Noel Cunningham Reed, Peter Blond, Jack Fairman, Les Leston and Duncan Hamilton.
From 1974 she was owned for 34 years by Kirk Rylands; driven, raced, and rallied as intended, by the ideal enthusiast owner. HWM 1 was acquired by actor, driver, and world-renowned Alfa Romeo guru Paul Grist in 2008 who was the next to add a chapter in her history. .
The car passed to Gregor Fisken in March 2020 and David Brazell and his team at Brazell Engineering were hired to develop the car for modern usage without destroying her history. The goal was to return her to 1956 Mille Miglia state, complete with her resplendent historic livery.
In Spring 2020, Brazell began his work, first stripping her back to bare metal where the
original welds were visible. The bodywork and lines were in exceptional condition and careful reshaping of the wings brought them back to their original shape. Using the Mille Miglia photos for reference, the cold air box installed by a previous owner was removed from the bonnet, the grille returned to the correct period one and the inner wings and interior finished in the correct shade of grey. Thanks to her fastidious previous owners, the upholstery leather was original and in reasonably good condition for a car that had been used as extensively as HWM 1 had. Sympathetic work was needed in areas where period distress had worn her, but period, colour-matching Jaguar hides were sourced and used supplementary to the original material. All this work shone even brighter thanks to a return to her original colour. Extensive research was done into the colours of the time and those used by HWM in particular.
HWM 1 then underwent a ground-up mechanical rebuild during which she was developed with input from Gregor Fisken and his former Le Mans teammate and preeminent race car driver Sam Hancock.
In David Brazell’s own words, “It’s not about what they do these days, it’s about what happened in
the past. The auspice was to maintain her historical integrity whilst also keeping her a
genuinely competitive race car."
Judges’ Comment: HWM 1 was rebuilt by the factory following a serious crash in the 1956 Mille Miglia and went on to become one of the best-known HWMs of all time, campaigned by a Who's Who of British sports car racers. It has thankfully escaped extensive restoration during its lifetime but did receive many modifications – and so, the decision was made to strip it back to bare metal, sympathetically return it to original specification and prepare it for historic racing, while keeping its originality largely intact. Not an easy task but crucial given the history.
Father and son, Rob and Sam Wilson were nominated for returning this historically important Lotus barn find Formula Junior to its original works specification. All areas of the rebuild and restoration were completed in-house, from chassis repair, engine building, bodywork and paint which were all carried out at their small workshop in Cosby, Leicestershire.
This Lotus single-seater was discovered on Hayling Island and appeared to be a 1964 Lotus 31 Formula 3 car, but on closer inspection the number stamped into the chassis showed that is was XX100, the missing 1961 Lotus 20 Formula Junior originally owned by Peter Warr.
In 1961 time Peter Warr was the young Sales Manager at Lotus Components. He was also an accomplished driver winning the FJ race at the Nurburgring in this car, updated by the works to 20B specification in 1962. Peter’s original winners gold laurels and trophies have been acquired for display with the car. In 1962 billionaire Jean Paul Getty drove the car for the TV cameras to promote his oil brand Veedol .
Peter Warr then went on to win the first Japanese Grand Prix in 1963 before retiring from racing to marry the Lotus bookkeeper Yvonne Bell. Warr became the Lotus Team Manager - and the most famous Team Manager of the time, winning seven Constructors' Championships and notching up 71 race wins with drivers from Hill and Clark through to Fittipaldi, Peterson, Mansell and Senna before retiring in 1989 after 30 years with Lotus.
In 1963 car was loaned to Sir Frank Williams to make his single-seater debut on the continent before being uprated to to Lotus 31 specification and sold to Jon Derisley for the new Formula 3 season. Simon Diffey acquired the car from the Derisley estate, researched the car’s history and managed the restoration with the Wilsons.
The car is now fully restored and race-ready with current FIA Papers and was raced by Simon Diffey at the Goodwood Members Meeting in October carrying race number 17, the same number allocated to the car exactly 60 years ago when it appeared for the first time at the circuit with Peter Warr at the wheel in 1961.
Judges’ Comment: We all love a barn find, especially when the car in question turns out to be far more important than first thought – in this case, what was initially thought to be a Lotus 31 Formula 3 car turned out to be XX100, the long-lost Lotus 20 Formula Junior once owned and raced by Peter Warr and later by Frank Williams. Warr went on to become one of the most successful team managers of all time, notching up 71 wins for Lotus. His car has been carefully researched and restored in time for the 2021 Goodwood Members Meeting.
In the late 1970’s Aston Martin designed the ‘Bulldog’ a British supercar that would show off the capabilities of its new engineering facility. Only one Aston Martin Bulldog was produced, making it very special. Designed by William Towns, it was to be the fastest production car on the road and take Aston Martin to new heights. In 1981, the Bulldog recorded a top speed of 191mph at MIRA, agonisingly close to the magical 200.
The rebirth of this legend has been special indeed, from researching its history, to meeting the engineers that developed it and hearing stories of sightings.
In February 2020 the car arrived at Classic Motor Cars in Bridgnorth for a full nut and bolt restoration. Richard Gauntlett, son of the late Victor Gauntlett, the former Chairman of Aston Martin managed the project on behalf of the car’s new owner Philip Sarofim, who not only wished to restore the car but, to finish it to such a standard that it would finally make the 200mph record that Aston Martin originally requested.
Upon arrival, the Bulldog was in a sorry state, had not been run in years, had damage where it had been lifted by a forklift and had no spares. Passing through various owners, its colour had changed and rear view mirrors and cameras had been added.
Managing Director Nigel Woodward and a team of more than a dozen technicians and specialists set about taking the car apart in preparation for restoration and immediately realised that various parts of the car would have to be sympathetically re-designed and re-engineered to both return the car to its original design layout and to undo many decades of well-meaning if poorly thought-out modifications, and allow the car to run safely and reliably at 200mph.
Original drawings were searched for and two of the original engineering team that had worked on the car in the day were employed to assist the CMC team whenever they could. Almost two years later the future of Bulldog is now assured.
Final assembly of the car was completed in late August 2021 and setup and testing got underway in September in readiness for the car's high-speed tests which will take place at a Royal Naval Air station. The date and venue for Bulldog's 200mph will be announced in due course.
Judges’ Comment: Bulldog began life as an ambitious project from cash-strapped Aston Martin to build the world's fastest supercar, with eye-popping styling by William Towns. Despite having achieved a remarkable 191mph in 1981 the project had to be canned by incoming Aston Martin chairman Victor Gauntlett. The car then disappeared to the Middle East, was modified and damaged before being left unused. Now it's been painstakingly restored and prepared for another attempt at 200mph – overseen by Victor Gauntlett's son.
Billy joined Project Shop when he was 15. He had started his apprenticeship at a local bodyshop and had been let go. I offered him a lift and in five minutes I knew that he had an understanding of engineering I had never encountered in a boy of his age.
My engineers quickly understood that Billy was a sponge for information. He would go away and watch YouTube videos on the tasks they had undertaken during the day. In the morning he would talk through everything he had taught himself over night and how he was going to apply it through the day.
Between us we helped him with his college work and taught him to drive. Throughout his time at Project Shop Billy has had an unquenchable interest in electronics. He would build his own diagnostic tools from bits lying around the workshop to solve issues with EFi and ECU problems as well as calibrate gauges. The only infuriating part was that he had a habit of disassembling our electric drills for components!
In his final years with Project Shop the student became the teacher. Staff would ‘check their homework’ with Billy and he was always willing to help another person with a problem or teach them what he knew. During his last 3 years Billy oversaw our restoration department. We were delighted when Michael Kerr at Everrati recognised Billy's abilities and offered him a role at that company earlier this year. Billy is the very essence of this award.
Simeon Cattle, Project Shop
Billy began working closely with Everrati through Project Shop at the beginning of 2021 and is now our lead workshop technician. He has been involved in the design and integration of the Land Rover S2 EV conversion as well as running in issues/fault diagnosis on the Porsche 964 project.
Billy’s enthusiasm has quickly made him an invaluable member of our engineering team. He has interfaced extremely well with the Everrati Systems Engineering Team. He contributes his practical knowledge of classic vehicles to the integration of EV systems on our cars.
Most importantly for me, Billy has demonstrated a very unique combination of practical skills and intellect that I’ve rarely come across in someone so young in my career and I feel that this alone is deserving of recognition.
Mike Kerr, Everrati
Judges’ Comment: Billy displayed a passion and understanding of engineering from a very young age, battling adversity in his personal life at the very time that he joined Project Shop. Displaying astounding talent for retaining information and a knack for creating his own tools, his role at Everrati showcases his knowledge of classics in a new EV setting.
Given his grandfather’s legacy it perhaps will not come as a surprise that William Heynes has been driving E-types and XKs from the time he could reach the pedals! As Jaguar’s Chief Engineer and Technical Director, Bill Heynes developed the XK Engine and persuaded Sir William Lyons to enter Le Mans, resulting in five Jaguar victories, along with being responsible for the design and engineering of all Jaguar cars from 1935-1970.
Over the years William has heard many stories from his father about his time spent at Browns Lane and all the period races - and, most importantly, the people involved who are as passionate about these cars as his family. When William was growing up, his father made available every 50s and 60s Jaguar sports cars designed by his own father (excluding a C-type and D-type) to him to practise his driving skills and learn the intricacies of these machines. This knowledge is part of his family’s heritage and it has given him a true understanding of the values and the historical importance of these cars.
He is extremely proud to be continuing his grandfather’s work by ensuring his company restores and preserves these special vehicles with as much originality as possible for many generations to come.
William has assisted in procuring a number of 1961 and 1962 E-types from all over the world and personally deconstructed over ten early E-types, gaining a monumental amount of knowledge. This knowledge led him to form the family business with his father, Heynes Heritage. Whilst working there, William project managed a number of very high calibre E-type projects including a preservation project which has been accepted into 2022’s Pebble Beach Concours.
William’s knowledge of early E-types has been considered by some as one of the best in the world. In 2021, he was a judge at Hampton Court’s Concours of Elegance for the Jaguar Trophy Award and was also asked to talk at the Goodwood Revival Make-Do and Mend about the art of restoring Jaguar E-types.
In the summer of 2021, William left the family business and launched Williams Heynes Ltd., his own restoration business. He has now embarked on the new company's very first restoration - fittingly, an E-type...
Judges’ Comment:William has Jaguar in his blood, having driven E-types and XKs from the time he could reach the pedals! Celebrating in his family’s heritage, he has judged at both Hampton Court and Goodwood this past year, with his second to none knowledge of Jaguar and classic design making him a truly unique representative of an ongoing legacy.
Karim is a well-known name in classic motoring circles, which is amazing considering his young age. A mechanic specialising in pre-war cars, his expertise has been sought out from the likes of Gregor Fiskin and the Halusa family, working on cars like the Ferrari Breadvan and race winning Vauxhall 30/98s.
Karim has not only turned spanners at some of the most impressive historic race meetings one can think of (such as Goodwood & Le Mans Classic) he has also become a known quantity on the endurance rally scene, seemingly able to get almost any car back on the road with limited time, equipment and often sleep!
He has a never ending love for classic cars and making sure they run to their very best ability, and that enthusiasm is truly infectious, he has a passion to learn everything he can and teach anyone who will listen.
Having young talent as specialist and rare as his is a true blessing to the world of historic automobiles and he is someone we should all be very proud to have leading the next generation of specialists and enthusiasts!
In 2019, at the age of 25, Karim was approached by Pendine Historic Cars to set-up his own workshop, a dream he has had for many years. Just as this dream began to get off the ground, the global pandemic hit - but Karim and his workshop worked tirelessly, without evenings and weekends off, to make sure this new business stays afloat, and these efforts have paid off.
Starting a new business is hard, but doing so and making it a success in the midst of a pandemic is a testament to how universally loved and supported Karim is by the industry and how well-regarded his abilities are.
Judges’ Comment: A well-known name in classic motoring circles, Karim has turned spanners at both historic race meetings and endurance events, with his boundless enthusiasm and resourcefulness setting him apart. After being approached by Pendine, Karim worked tirelessly to get his own workshop off the ground when COVID-19 struck, with his grit and determination ensuring a resounding success.
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