Nominations have opened for the annual International Historic Motorsport Awards, to be presented on Saturday 21 February as part of the International Historic Motorsport Show at Stoneleigh Park.
Awards will be made in ten categories:> Championship or Series or the Year> Speed Event of the Year (this includes all events where crash helmets are required, including special stage rallies)> Road Rally of the Year> Off Road Event of the Year> Competition Club of the Year> Motorsport Company or Product of the Year> Driver of the Year> Restoration of the Year> Journalist/Writer/Photographer of the Year> Outstanding Contribution to Safety.
Nominations are welcome from anyone involved in historic motorsport. Lists of nominees should be sent to Don Griffiths by fax (0239 226 4923), email (donpatgriffiths@aol.com) or post (The White House, Hill Pound, Swanmore, Hampshire SO32 2UN).
Final award winners will be chosen by a panel consisting of John Aley, Colin Francis, Karl Ludvigsen, Carol Spagg, Helen Bashford-Malkie, Don Griffiths (chair), Martin Grant Peterkin, Stuart Turner, Dean Butler, Simon Hope, John Quenby and Grahame White.
The winners will receive their awards at a Charity Awards Dinner at the Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth, Warwickshire (one mile from Stoneleigh Park), where presenters will include Sir Stirling Moss, Pentti Airikkala, Paddy Hopkirk, Russell Brookes and Rosemary Smith. Hostess for the evening will be Amanda Stretton; guest speaker will be Stuart Turner.
Tickets (£60 each or £540 for a table of ten) can be ordered from Tracy Li at the Motorsports Industry Association by telephone (0247 669 2600), email (tracy.li@the-mia.com) or online (www.the-mia.com).
The International Historic Motorsport Show itself is very nearly fully booked, with fewer than 40 stands remaining in the three main halls at Stoneleigh Park (plenty space remains in the competition car sales area in Hall 4).
This new annual winter event, on 20-22 February, brings together the major historic and classic event organisers, motor clubs, preparation companies and equipment suppliers under one roof. Races, road & special stage rallies, speed events, trials and touring assemblies are all represented at every level.
Also full is the entry list for the Live Rally Stage, which features stars like Stig Blomqvist, Pentti Airikkala, Tony Fall, Russell Brookes and Rosemary Smith driving historic rally cars on Saturday/Sunday 21/22 February;
Tickets are now on sale. Admission for Friday 20 February is fixed at £20 per person (no discounts); for Saturday 21 February and Sunday 22 February, advance tickets at £12 are significantly cheaper than tickets bought on the day. Extra discounts are also offered for motor clubs. Details from the Ticket Hotline:0870 906 2002
