The 2023 Award Winners

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The  Royal Automobile Club Lifetime Achievement Award recognises 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 motor racing movement, across many years. This is  the only category which could not be nominated and is the only category  recognising achievement beyond the previous twelve months. 

Doug Hill’s name is synonymous with the National Motor Museum and is recognised internationally within the historic motoring movement. He is unwaveringly supportive of vehicle owners and fellow enthusiasts. “True ‘legacy’ and succession is a passion of mine,” he has said, “as I believe we have to look to the future and pass knowledge on.”

Shortly after the National Motor Museum was opened at Beaulieu in 1972, a quiet young fellow started work at the gleaming new complex in the New Forest. Some 50 years later, he is still there and is now

in overall charge of a collection of motor vehicles acknowledged as one of the world’s best.

In the 1970s, though, Doug Hill was part of a professional team of curators and experts in charge of displaying, maintaining and conserving a world-class collection. And through his sympathetic experience of everything from a humble Austin Seven to humdinging land speed record cars, he gathered a unique expertise. The job became more than just workshop mastery; to promote the Museum, Doug

frequently accompanied Edward Montagu on rallies and events all over the world, in vintage icons from a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost to a Bentley 4.5-litre Blower. No matter how much preparation was involved, these trips often did not go as planned, and called for a level of mechanical problem-solving few could match. 

As a consequence, his knowledge of technical innovations in the context of motoring history is unparalleled, and his title of Museum Manager & Chief Engineer at Beaulieu relays a uniquely knowledgeable status. There is no better human guide to the vehicles themselves. Doug is constantly leading delegations around the collection, being interviewed by media, and hosting a series of compelling ‘Under The Bonnet’ live evenings and filmed Youtube videos. Even the least technically-minded will know how to crank-start a Ford Model T after his good-natured explanation.

His skill in passing on knowledge to new generations has become a true asset to the historic car movement. This is also evident in keeping vital skills alive and building a team of what he proudly calls “mavericks”, including talented senior engineer Ian ‘Stan’ Stanfield, to maintain and overhaul almost 300 hugely diverse cars.

Working with the Trustees, Doug has been central to several key acquisitions. One of the most significant was the 1903 Napier, Britain’s first purpose-built racing car and first wearer of British Racing Green paintwork, which returned to this country in 2013. In recent years, Doug has been closely involved in projects to put the fire back into unique competition cars that have, for years, been simply static exhibits. These have included both Sir Malcolm Campbell’s Sunbeam 350hp ‘Bluebird’ land speed record car – he and ‘Mr Sunbeam’ Stan installed and modified a contemporary Bentley gearbox to make it function – and the incredible BRM V16 Formula 1 racer. They will soon be joined by the anticipated roar from the Sunbeam V12 1000HP record car whose rejuvenation has been masterminded by Doug and his team. In all cases Doug has planned the painstaking work involved and undertaken the early test-driving… no matter how daunting.

Judges' Comment

In January 2022 Tom Parrott made a left-field career change and joined his family firm, NP Veteran Engineering Ltd, becoming immersed in repairing, maintaining and conserving veteran cars. The 29-year-old has shown an extraordinary aptitude for learning about, and carefully handling, the oldest working cars of all time. His skills base has rapidly expanded – from sheet metalwork to manual milling and machining to hand painting - he soaked up these skills with absolute gusto. In parallel he’s established a brokerage uniting genuine veteran cars with keen new owners. The cherishing of veteran cars is something close to the heart of the Royal Automobile Club, and Tom’s achievements give us confidence that future generations will carry on the great work of the early restorers and specialists. 

Finalists in this category

·  Becca Treston 

·  Giles Gunning and Charlie Waller 

·  Tom Parrott

Judges' Comment  

The maiden running of the HERO-ERA Rally for the Ages on the 3rd of June 2023 proved such a hit that its entry capacity was achieved and raised twice. With the glamour of motor racing, historic regularity rallying is often overlooked and this initiative changed that - broadening the sport’s audience, increasing its accessibility and uniting the generations through a shared enthusiasm. Rethinking how a rally can run to embrace and encourage the next generation is what set this apart for the judges. It opened the world of historic rallying to those who might never have tried it. That it promoted sustainable fuel was the icing on the cake.

 Finalists in this category 

·  Autocar Digital Archive

·  REVS Restore

·  HERO-ERA Rally for the Ages

Judges' Comment

To win this category takes more than just a great event, it needs to be something new, different or unrepeatable, and the centenary of two of Britain’s most significant sporting marques certainly won’t be happening again. This was truly spectacular, with close dices on the Silverstone circuit juxtaposed against remarkably completist timelines of each marque, and a superb turnout of rare and significant models. All presented with a blend of superb organisation and a grassroots family atmosphere. A worthy tribute to a pair of great Britons

Finalists in this category 

·  Coventry MotoFest

·  Heveningham Concours

·  MG & Triumph 100

Judges' Comment

In another tough and eclectic field of entries, the Bugatti outshone the rest through the impeccable quality of its restoration, its heart-warming history and its understated style. It had been out of the public eye for decades and has been referred to as the world's last remaining 'lost' pre-war 57S. It had been owned for decades by a JCB engineer, who'd meticulously stripped down the Bugatti but never completed its restoration. When Lord Bamford, chairman of JCB, purchased the car he commissioned a sympathetic restoration by Ivan Dutton Ltd. and Clark & Carter Restorations, preserving as much originality as possible – and the result is perfection.

Finalists in this category  

·  1926 Amilcar CO: Walter Heale - Historic Motor Car Workshops 

·  1972 Lancia Fulvia 1600 Zagato Sport: Harry Metcalfe/Day & Whites/Prestige Refinishing 

·  1937 Bugatti Type 57S by Corsica: Clark & Carter Restorations & Ivan Dutton Ltd