Nominations open for 2024 historic awards

Nominations for the 2024 International Historic Motoring Awards are open! You can head across to the revamped website right now at historicmotoringawards.co.uk and make sure your favourites (or you!) are considered for a huge range of categories covering the entire classic car world.

The much-coveted International Historic Motoring Awards are the most prestigious accolades in the classic car hobby and industry globally and, since they were started in 2011, have become a benchmark for quality. For 2024 the awards’ presenting partner is Lockton, the world’s largest independent insurance brokerage. 

The process is simple: anyone can nominate for the categories (see right), from which a jury will create a shortlist that will then be considered and adjudicated upon by a panel
of well-known judges handpicked for their expertise in those areas. 

Two awards, however, are not decided by the IHMA judges. Car of the Year, of which details will be announced very soon, is decided by a public vote and honours the car that has had the single biggest impact in the past year, whether it has only recently emerged, been restored or otherwise come to prominence. Last year, you voted in your thousands and the winner was American architect Jonathan Segal’s 1954 Maserati A6G/54 Zagato. The Maserati, which had won its class, taken the Strother McMinn Trophy and made the final three at Pebble Beach in 2021, then pipped nine other astonishing cars, ranging from the London Concours-winning 1991 Schuppan 962R to the charmingly original, unrestored and much-used 1964
AC Cobra ‘Dirtbag’.

Also shortlisted, and of particular interest in this issue of Octane, was the Aston Martin Bulldog, on that occasion specifically for bettering the 200mph it was designed to achieve, with works racer Darren Turner at the wheel. The Bulldog has the rare distinction (only one other car can claim such an honour) of making the top ten contenders twice, having also featured in 2021 after it burst onto the scene following its incredible restoration by CMC.

The other big award not ruled on by the expert jury is for Lifetime Achievement, which celebrates someone (or something) that has made an invaluable contribution to the classic car world over a significant period of time. Illustrating the breadth and importance of the honour, past winners have been Sir Stirling Moss, Lord Montagu, Murray Walker, Willy Cave, Dan Gurney, Bonneville Salt Flats, Leonardo Fioravanti, Tony Dron, Robert Brooks, Lady Susie Moss, Bill Warner, Evert Louwman and Peter and Merle Mullin.

Last year was especially poignant because the avid collector and champion of pre-war French styling Peter Mullin had sadly passed away two months before the event, though his wife and co-collector Merle was there to collect their joint honour under the watchful eye of HRH Prince Michael of Kent. 

All the 2024 winners will be revealed at a glittering star-studded event in London, hosted by broadcaster Amanda Stretton. This year the awards have a new venue reflecting their status, the gleaming new Peninsula London by Hyde Park Corner, and will take place on 22 November. Around 400 guests will be at the event and tickets including a fabulous dinner and drinks can also be booked at the website. A table for ten costs £2600; single tickets are £280 apiece.

Geoff Love, who founded the awards in 2011 and reacquired them late last year along with the purchase of Octane, said: ‘Don’t miss your opportunity to make sure that either you or your favourites in the 13 judged categories are considered for this unique level of recognition in the classic and performance car world. Just imagine hearing your – or their – name read out as a winner on the biggest night in the classic calendar. Nominate away!’