Go green for summer with spec-tacular Guild offer

Guild members can claim a free pair of sunglasses thanks to a partnership with new eyewear brand Poloflair.

To celebrate the launch of the company in the UK today, Poloflair is offering a free pair of sunglasses with Guild logo lenses to the first 50 members to apply.

The high-quality green-tinted lenses are ideal for drivers and thanks to Poloflair’s advanced optical technology the addition of the logo on the outside of the lens is invisible to the wearer.

Guild photographer Jeff Bloxham was the first to try the new sunglasses. “I know good lenses when I see them,” he said. “Everyone seems to love these. I wore them at Silverstone the other week and everybody I met pointed and laughed.”

To claim your free pair just email your name and delivery address to poloflair@gomw.co.uk.

UPDATE: Guild members eager to avail themselves of this offer might like to note the date of the news story, and also consider whether ‘Poloflair’ might be an anagram…

Get on track with the Guild at Castle Combe

Join us at Castle Combe circuit in Wiltshire on 20 April for an action-packed day of track action at bargain prices – but act now because places on the event are going fast.

Honda returns as the main sponsor and will be providing a selection of cars to test – and they’re hoping to bring along BTCC drivers Gordon Sheddon and Matt Neal too.

Other guest racing drivers will be on hand to chat about racing lines and how to get the most performance from a car. Already confirmed is 11 times Le Mans entrant, former British Touring Car exponent and Porsche specialist Nick Faure.

Guild president Nick Mason has once again extended an invitation to join him for afternoon tea at his home Middlewick House, which is a short drive from the circuit, after the event.

All types of car are eligible, provided they can meet the 100dB noise limit imposed at Castle Combe, and drivers of all ages and experience levels are welcome provided they have a valid road licence. Entry costs just £25 for Guild members (and guests driving members’ cars) and £50 for non-members. Passengers must be at least 16 years old, and pay just £10. All prices include the essential bacon bap on arrival.

The number of cars is capped at 60 and all but the last few places are already filled, so you’ll need to sign up quickly. Details and entry forms can be obtained from Guild honorary secretary Chris Adamson at 

Timetable

9am Cars arrive, drivers sign on at the Tavern Restaurant, noise checks begin

9.30am All drivers required to attend a safety briefing

10am Track opens for groups of 12 cars at a time in 15 minute sessions

1pm Lunch break

2pm Track opens for groups of 12 cars at a time in 15 minute sessions

4.30pm Event closes

Take a look at Jeff Bloxham’s pictures from the Guild’s 2016 Castle Combe track day

Guild members recreate history in 1947 Austin

Guild members are among a team planning to commemorate an audacious road trip challenge in March 1947 by carrying out the same trip, hour for hour, 70 years on.

The Austin Motor Company based in Longbridge, Birmingham tasked the crews of three Austin Sixteen cars with covering 2,500 miles in seven days, visiting seven European capital cities and arriving in Geneva in time for the first post-war motor show. Among the participants was racing driver and motoring journalist Sammy Davis, a founding member and later chairman of the Guild of Motoring Writers.

The 70th anniversary recreation will see an Austin Sixteen, specially prepared to be as close in specification to the original cars, conduct the same trip. Participants will include Guild deputy chairman Guy Loveridge, plus Guild members Steve Berry and Philip Newsome.

Thanks to support from Mintex, the event is being called ‘The Mintex Austin Sixteen Goodwill Tour Platinum Anniversary 1947-2017’. Business development director at Mintex, Lawrence Bleasdale says: “We are delighted to support this event as it illustrates that we can supply the same cars now as we did then!”

Jaguar will provide an F-Pace support vehicle and other event supporters include Total lubricants and DFDS Seaways. The original event crossed from Newcastle to Stavanger and then went overland to the start in Oslo. That route is today unavailable: the team will instead cross to Holland and then drive to Copenhagen, before taking the ferry up to the start point. Luckily, the mileages will be virtually identical.

A Facebook page for the event has been created and fellow Guild member, Practical Classics magazine editor Danny Hopkins, will feature the restoration of the car and, hopefully, its successful trip in his magazine. “This is really exciting and shows just how ‘practical’ even a 70-year-old classic can be. I am really looking forward to following the progress of this one!”

Helèna wins Sir William Lyons award

Jaguar and the Guild of Motoring Writers marked 50 years of the Sir William Lyons Award at a celebration dinner in central London – and presented the latest award to 18-year-old Helèna Hicks.

Helèna (seen above with, left to right: Ian Callum, Andrew Noakes and Michael Quinn) is aged 18 from Colchester, is a keen motorsport fan and an aspiring journalism student. Her entry included an interview with Colombian GP3 driver Tatiana Calderón. She has just begun a placement at Autosport magazine as a junior reporter.

Helèna said: “I’m thrilled to have received the Sir William Lyons Award and hope to match the success of previous winners. The industry is incredibly competitive, so having The Guild’s seal of approval and support is fantastic!” 

Judge and Guild committee member Richard Aucock added: “Helèna’s entry was engaging, professional and showed great promise. Helèna is clearly ambitious and, despite being just 18 years old, has already had some significant achievements in her writing career. I am confident the award will help accelerate this.”

Guests at the dinner included Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum, Sir William Lyons’ grandson Michael Quinn, Guild vice president Ray Hutton and chairman Andrew Noakes, and previous winners Richard Aucock, Andrew Brady, Jonathan Noble, Tim Pollard and Alistair Weaver.

The award gave many notable winners their big break into the industry. Previous winners include Tony Dron, David Vivian, Angus Frazer, Mark Bishop, Tom Barnard, Tom Callow and Rhian Angharad Jones.

Ian Callum said: “The motoring media not only plays an integral role in my work as a designer, but also encouraged my early love for the industry. It’s great to see Jaguar continue the work of Sir William Lyons in supporting the next generation of talent. I look forward to being interviewed by Helèna one day.”

“I am pleased the award is still taken so seriously,” Michael Quinn added. “I recall visiting my grandfather as a youngster and all the motoring press he had delivered to his home each week. I would read everything and this gave me an early indication as to the high esteem in which he held motoring journalism. I hope this award continues to go from strength to strength.”

Former Jaguar Senior Press Officer Jon Morgan was also remembered during the evening. Jon was working with the Guild on exciting developments for the Sir William Lyons Award at the time of his sad death in March 2016; the 50th anniversary celebration is the first fruit of his efforts.

The Guild and Jaguar are working to carry through some of Jon’s other innovations. Exciting developments for the future of the Sir William Lyons Award will be revealed later in 2017.

2016 Guild Awards – The Winners

Phil Llewellin Student of the Year Sponsored by CAR

Winner: Martin Tilbrook

AA Campaigning Journalism

Winner: Louise Cole

Highly commended: Colin Barnett and David Williams

Audi Photographic – General

Winner: Luc Lacey

Highly commended: James Lipman and Matt Howell

Audi Photographic – Motorsport

Winner: Dan Bathie

Highly commended: Jakob Ebrey and John Mountney

BCA Feature Writer

Winner: Nick Trott

Highly commended: David Williams and Ray Massey

DS Automobiles Editor of the Year

Winner: Tim Pollard

Highly commended: Martin Kahl and Sarah Bradley

GKN Driveline Consumer Journalist

Winner: James Ruppert

Highly commended: Gustavo Ruffo and Christofer Lloyd

IAM RoadSmart Safety Award

Winner: David Williams

Highly commended: Jack Carfrae and Ray Massey

Market Engineering Award for Automotive Technology Journalism

Winner: Martin Kahl

Highly commended: William Kimberley and Graham Heeps

Newspress Young Writer of the Year

Winner: Andrew Brady

Highly commended: Christofer Lloyd and Greg MacLeman

Peugeot Motorsport Cup

Winner: Maurice Hamilton

Highly commended: James Taylor and Alistair Weaver

Prova PR Business Writer of the Year

Winner: Debbie Wood

Highly commended: Matthew Beecham and Jack Carfrae

RM Auctions Classic Writer of the Year

Winner: Ray Potter

Highly commended: Kim Henson and William Kimberley

TMD Friction Ltd LCV Writer of the Year

Winner: Louise Cole

Highly commended: Jack Carfrae and George Barrow

Mercedes-Benz Award for the Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy

1st: Nigel Trow

2nd: Russell Hayes

3rd: Adil Jal Darukhanawala

Renault UK Journalist of the Year

1st: Jim Holder (received by Luc Lacey)

2nd: Ray Massey

3rd: Nick Trott

Pemberton Trophy

Winner: Jeff Bloxham

Rider of the Year

Winner: Jonathan Rea

Driver of the Year

Winner: Lando Norris

Kia Special Commendation

Winner: EuroNCAP (received by chairman Andrew Miller)

President’s Trophy

Winner: Gordon Murray

Images by Jeff Bloxham and Jakob Ebrey

Gallery: 2016 AGM, Brooklands

Guild puts on a show at London Motor Show

Journalists visiting the London Motor Show in Battersea Park were greeted by a high-profile Guild presence writes Chris Adamson.

The show’s press centre was sponsored by the Guild and chairman Guy Loveridge was on hand to welcome journalists and photographers to the event.

General secretary Patricia Lodge, honorary secretary Chris Adamson and former committee member Sarah Bradley were encouraging non-members to join the Guild, showing existing members the new range of Guild merchandise and explaining to other visitors the work of the Guild.

Above: Guild chairman Guy Loveridge and son George welcome the media to the London Motor Show. Below: Sarah Bradley (left) and Patricia Lodge were on hand to talk to members and non-members.

There were a few teething troubles at this inaugural event: late delivery of press name badges meant media had to queue on entry to the show, and the press centre allocated by the show organisers could usefully have been bigger.

Event director Stephen Maitland-Oxley said these problems would be rectified for the 2017 event, planning for which is already under way.

Gallery: 2016 Big Day Out Track Day

Guild hosts London Motor Show press centre

The Guild of Motoring Writers will welcome the world’s automotive media when it hosts the Press Centre at the London Motor Show 2016 preview on Thursday 5 May.

The centre will be open to both Guild and non-Guild reporters from 3pm to 6pm and will offer power points, wi-fi, refreshments and a Guild display.

Chairman Guy Loveridge, general secretary Patricia Lodge and honorary secretary Chris Adamson will be looking after the press centre, which will be clearly marked within the Battersea Park site.

The official opening by show patron HRH Prince Michael of Kent is scheduled for 5pm during the press preview, which is to be followed at 7pm by a charity fund-raising VIP/celebrity reception and tour of the site (tickets £67 plus VAT).

Journalists can apply for accreditation via the show website or direct via email to tp@thelondonmotorshow.co.uk.

Guild applicants should supply details of their outlets and send a scan of their Guild press ID photo card to be automatically accepted.
Confirmation that an application has been received will be sent to journalists who only need to give their name and present their identification (Guild press ID card if a member) at the entrance when they arrive.

Guild 2016 AGM visits Brooklands

The Guild’s Annual General Meeting takes place at Brooklands on Tuesday 24 May. Members who wish to attend should inform the Guild secretariat at  no later than Tuesday 26 April.

This is also the closing date for motions to the meeting and nominations for new committee members.

The Guild day begins with registration at 10am prior to the annual meeting at 11am. The meeting will include the presentation of reports by the committee, including the annual accounts, the election of officers and the committee and any motions concerning the operation of the Guild and its activities.

Lunch is being sponsored by classic car insurance specialists Footman James who will be making a short presentation about their work.

The afternoon will feature tours of the current restoration and development work being carried out at Brooklands – details of which were first revealed to members when they visited the site in November 2014.

The £4.9 million project, backed by a Heritage Lottery grant, started in October 2015 and aims to “rediscover” the end of the finishing straight as it was in the 1930s (below).

Since then, thousands of tons of spoil covering the original Brooklands finishing straight has been removed, exposing the remains of the original supporting embankment which will be incorporated into the final landscaping scheme.

The next phase is the building of a new Flight Shed near the Members’ banking, the removal and restoration of the WW2 Bellman hangar and the creation of a new Archive Store for both aviation and motoring-related papers (including the Bill Boddy collection).

Other plans include re-installing the paddock railings and the scoreboard in the paddock.

It is hoped to re-open the finishing straight in June 2017, in time for the 110th anniversary of the opening of the Brooklands Motor Circuit. A formal opening of the new aviation exhibitions will follow shortly afterwards.

Members of the Guild are welcome to visit Brooklands at any time during the development to check on progress – admission is free on presentation of a Guild ID card. More information on the whole project is available from Paul Stewart on 01932 857 381 Ext 249 or paulstewart@brooklandsmuseum.com.