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Entries Open for the Royal Automobile Club Motoring Book of the Year 2020

Entries Open for the Royal Automobile Club Motoring Book of the Year 2020

The Royal Automobile Club Motoring Book of The Year awards are now open for entries. The awards are some of the most prestigious accolades to receive in the automotive book publishing industry.

Now in its seventh consecutive year, entrants can select between two categories: The Motoring Book of the Year or the Specialist Book of the Year.

The Motoring Book of the Year title will be awarded to ‘an exceptional book with wide appeal’ costing no more than £75.00 and the Specialist Book of the Year award to a book demonstrating ‘impeccable research with flawless writing’. Both categories are open to books published in the UK between July 2019 and June 2020.

Jeremy Vaughan, Head of Motoring at the Royal Automobile Club, said “It’s so encouraging that, despite the challenging environment, automotive books continue to be published and sales are reassuringly strong. Last year we had a terrific response with entries received from 18 different publishing houses including international, independents and specialists as well as from self-published authors.

We are once again encouraging as many authors and publishers as possible to submit their new titles for the awards. Whether it be marque histories, biographies, general motoring, motor sport or vehicle design, we want to champion the outstanding quality and diversity of automotive books”.

The Royal Automobile Club awards recognise excellence in the many automotive books, authors and publishers, and their importance in both exploring and documenting the many key events, vehicles and individuals who have helped shape the history of motoring.

The list of past winners is a roll call of outstanding literary success – from John Surtees: My Incredible Life on Two and Four Wheels and Delage – Champion Du Monde, by Daniel Cabart and Christophe Pund to The Self-Preservation Society, 50 Years of the Italian Job by Matthew Field.

Last year the Royal Automobile Club also introduced a Lifetime Achievement award to honour an individual or business who has made a major contribution to the automotive publishing industry. The Club would welcome proposals for suitable nominees.

The independent judging panel includes some of Britain’s most experienced car book reviewers: Gordon Cruickshank of Motor Sport, Mark Dixon of Octane, Mick Walsh of Classic & Sports Car, avid book collector and editor of the BRDC Bulletin Ian Titchmarsh.

Representing the book retail sector are Ben Horton of specialist bookseller, Horton’s Books, and Christian Whitehead of the London bookstore, Foyles. The judging panel will be chaired by respected motor sport writer, commentator and historian, Simon Taylor.

The Royal Automobile Club Motoring Book of The Year will be announced on Wednesday 28 October 2020.

The closing date for submissions has been extended to Friday 28 August 2020. For further submission details please contact: [email protected] or visit www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk

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