News

New book on Motor Racing in Northern Ireland supported by Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust

Paul Robinson has published his third book on motorsport in Northern Ireland, The County Down Trophy Races 1934 to 1936. As with his previous books, Cultra - Motoring with Panache and From Ballybannon Hill to Magilligan Strand, he has been supported by the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust. The Trust believe that these books shine the spotlight on a neglected aspect of motoring history in that the focus of previous histories in the Six Counties has been the TT races at Ards and Dundrod. The new book deals with the renewed efforts of the organisers of motorsport in Northern Ireland to attract entrants...

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Awards for Goldie Gardner book supported by MSMT

At the RAC Motoring Book of the Year Awards, in early November, John Mayhead's biography of Goldie Gardner won the award for the Best Motorsport Book with a cover price less than £50. The book was published by the National Motor Museum (NMM) as the first in a new series of publications and was financially supported by the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust (MSMT). The awards were presented on the evening of 30th October at the Royal Automobile Club on Pall Mall, where the author received his award in person. Also present was Patrick Collins, Research and Enquiries Manager at the National Museum...

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Michael Sedgwick Award for 2024 goes to Rover / Honda Book

As we draw towards the end of the calendar year, we enter the awards season, which includes those for books. For the last thirteen years, the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust has awarded a prize for the best motoring book published in the year prior to the 30th June. The Michael Sedgwick Award is decided by a panel of judges drawn from and organised by the Society of Automotive Historians in Britain (SAHB) and the winner receives a trophy and a cheque for £250. The 2024 award, presented at the Autumn Seminar of the SAHB on 20th October went to The Viking...

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Goodwood Revival shows Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust in tune

Since 1998, the Goodwood Revival has been a highlight of the automotive history calendar, as much for the off-track dioramas created as for the on-track action which represents the pinnacle of motorsport for cars and motorbikes of earlier generations. The 2024 event was no exception and featured several cars and motorbikes which have featured in books supported by the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust. 2022 saw the publication of Formula 1's Unsung Heroes - The story of the British Racing Partnership and how it launched motorsport into the modern era by Ian Wagstaff which was particularly remembered by the entry of a 1964 BRP-BRM...

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Sedgwick Trust supports publication of 2023’s Aspects of Motoring History – Aspects 20

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust has supported the twentieth edition of ‘Aspects of Motoring History’ (usually referred to as ‘Aspects’), published by the Society of Automotive Historians in Britain (‘SAHB’). This ‘Aspects’ is the fourteenth edition of this annual publication to be supported by the MSMT. It is free to full-members of the SAHB and a limited number of copies are available directly from the SAHB at https://www.thesahb.com/aspects/. ‘Aspects’ as its name suggests, comprises a selection of articles written by SAHB members (and others) on a variety of aspects of motoring history which do not in themselves merit a book but...

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Newslettter #5 emailed out July 2024

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust has published its fifth newsletter with latest news of Trust activities and more. This edition of the newsletter contains:

* New books on Mini Mikes, De Dion Bouton and Motorsport in Northern Ireland
* What the MSMT are looking for in "modern" history
* Nick Baldwin - an appreciation by Michael Ware - fellow founding Trustee of the MSMT
* Resources...

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New book – new ground – Mini Mokes to the fore!

Even after 40 years of supporting the publication of motoring history, the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust is still breaking new ground. To date, the Trust has supported books by single authors, or two, three or even four co-authors, but the latest project to attract support from the Trust has so many co-authors that they are not individually credited on the cover. Moke - The Early Years is credited to The Mini Moke Club in its entirety. As its title suggests, those looking for production statistics and variants, its use on the TV show The Prisoner and other later activities will not...

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A Triple-header of books supported by the MSMT

A  publishing first for the Trust, the first triple-book set to be supported by the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust has broken cover. Michael Edwards is well-known and acknowledged as an expert for his books on De Dion Bouton, which have delineated the Types, the Tricycles and the available sources of material. The three books now published as De Dion Bouton - The Veteran Years  1899-1904 cover the Company History in Volume 1, the single cylinder Models in Volume 2 and Volume 3 deals with the twin cylinder models and the subsequent years of the company. Fuller details appear below. When Michael Edwards acquired...

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Nick Baldwin

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust are sad to have to record the passing on 10th January 2024 of one of their longest-serving trustees, Nick Baldwin. A trustee from the first meetings of the Trust in 1984, Nick continued for over 35 years until 2019, latterly making the sometimes difficult journey from his then home in France for meetings. The Trust were pleased to be able to support his books  A-Z of Cars of the 1920s and Proprietary Engines - a Shire Book. Nick was editor of Old Motor and a publisher of motoring titles until the untimely death of his partner in...

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From Ballybannon Hill to Magilligan Strand

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust is proud to announce that it has supported the publication of a new book by Paul Robinson, From Ballybannon Hill to Magilligan Strand. Northern Ireland enjoyed a unique status from the 1920s onwards, as the only part of the United Kingdom where public roads could be closed for motor racing. Eventually that would lead to the TT races of the 1930s and 1950s which cemented the names Ards and Dundrod into motor racing annals. This book chronicles the earlier efforts of the Belfast motor dealers and other enthusiasts to organise events which also attracted drivers from the...

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Newsletter #4 Published November 2023

The fourth in the series of Newsletters issued by the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust was distributed in November 2023. The Newsletter provides an update on the activities of the Trust since the last Newsletter was issued, assisting with the publishing of three books, Goldie: The amazing story of Alfred Goldie Gardner, the world’s most successful speed-record driver by John Mayhead, Vintage Sunbeams: The new generation 1921–26 by Don Shapland (with Bruce Dowell) and Cultra: Motoring with Panache: The Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club motor meet and hill climbs 1905 to 1911 by Paul Robinson, plus at the end of September 2023, a...

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Self-Publishing Workshop Success

The Self-Publishing Workshop held on 30th September 2023 by the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust at British Motor Museum, Gaydon was a great success according to the feedback received from attendees and speakers. After a welcome from the Trust's Chairman, former Autocar Editor, Ray Hutton, the keynote speech was given by the Editor-in-Chief of Autocar, Steve Cropley, as shown in our headline illustration. In an entertaining speech, Steve confessed that he was a bit of a fraud at this event, having never self-published a book, but was keen to learn about the process which might come in handy in the future. The first speaker...

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Sedgwick Trust supports publication of new Goldie Gardner biography

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust is pleased to have supported the publication of a new title, Goldie - The Amazing Story of Alfred Goldie Gardner, The World's Most Successful Speed-Record Driver, the first National Motor Museum Publishing title.

Goldie is the first book about this unsung hero since his autobiography in 1951. It contains new, previously unseen photographs and information from various archives and interviews, and puts a new perspective on the life of this enigmatic hero. 

Goldie moves from the brutality of an Edwardian public school, through the jungles of Ceylon and into the blood-soaked trenches...

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Sedgwick Trust supports publication of 2023’s Aspects of Motoring History

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust has supported the nineteenth edition of ‘Aspects of Motoring History’ (usually referred to as ‘Aspects’), published by the Society of Automotive Historians in Britain (‘SAHB’). This ‘Aspects’ is the thirteenth edition of this annual publication to be supported by the MSMT. It is free to full-members of the SAHB and a limited number of copies are available directly from the SAHB at https://www.thesahb.com/aspects/. ‘Aspects’ as its name suggests, comprises a selection of articles written by SAHB members (and others) on a variety of aspects of motoring history which do not in themselves merit a book but...

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Mike Wilds’ book wins 2023 Michael Sedgwick Award

The winner of the Michael Sedgwick Award for 2023 was announced at the Society of Automotive Historians in Britain Autumn Seminar and AGM on the 8th October 2023, the twelfth time the annual award has been made. "Life on the Wilds Side" by Mike Wilds with Geoff Thomas, is Wilds' autobiography including his time as a Formula 1 driver and his time with Group C sportscars. One of the most popular and successful of the UK's racing drivers, Mike Wilds has a story like few others. The book is generously illustrated with photographs plus facts, wonderful stories and a driver's eye view...

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Founding Trustee retires at significant milestones

Well known photographer, author and previous Curator of The National Motor Museum, Michael Ware has retired at the 100th meeting of Trustees, which coincides with 40 years of the Michael Sedgwick Trust. In that time, Michael has twice served as Secretary of the Trust and acted as Vice-Chairman for three years and Chairman for ten years. The 100th meeting was interrupted by a delightful lunch hosted by the Trust's Patron, Lord Ralph Montagu, at Palace House where the National Motor Museum began. To mark the occasion, Lord Montagu presented a plaque to Michael Ware and our photographs show the presentation and...

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SELF-PUBLISHING WORKSHOP – How to get your motoring book into print – 30th September 2023

It is now seven years since the last MSMT conference, How to Publish Motoring History. Since then, the book market has changed significantly and a much larger proportion of books are now self-published. To reflect these changes we are running a new event focused on the self-publishing market, our updated programme for this event appears below, with the booking form below that: PLEASE NOTE - The last date for booking is 12th September 2023  SELF-PUBLISHING WORKSHOP How to get your motoring book into print Saturday 30 September 2023 British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire CV35 0BJ   A one-day conference to inform and advise authors planning or considering self-publishing. The...

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Cultra – Motoring with panache: The Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club motor meet and hill climbs 1905 to 1911

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust is delighted to announce the publication of a new book which has been financially supported by the Trust. Cultra – Motoring with panache is a small book recording the Motor Meet and Hill Climb held annually by The Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club from 1905 to 1911. At first sight it seems curious that motoring events should be organised by a Yacht Club, and certainly today that would not be something that would be entertained given the ubiquity of cars. Back in 1905 however, motor cars were still relatively novel and largely the prerogative of the...

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Unconscious Bias or Market Forces?

Some time ago, a prospective author, talking to one of the Michael Sedgwick Trustees made the remark that the Trust only supported books about early motoring and that subjects that were not Veteran or Edwardian were less likely to be supported. The initial reaction of the Trustees was that they represented a wide range of interests and that such a bias was unlikely. The other response was that the books the Trust supported reflected those that were brought to the Trust and this was influenced by what was being written about. There is a further qualification in that books of certain subjects...

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New MSMT Newsletter and The Past and The Spurious

The third MSMT newsletter was distributed via email in December 2022. It contains items covering MSMT activity for 2022, The proposed MSMT Self-publishing Conference for Autumn 2023, The Rise of the Mega Book, The History of the Classic Car Movement, Better Pictures for Your Book and the Third European Conference for Automotive History. If you did not receive an email copy, the newsletter is available on this website under the News and MSMT Newsletter dropdowns/tabs. To be added to the future email distribution please send your email address to msedgwickmt@gmail.com. There is a limited amount of space available in each MSMT...

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New Book Alert – Vintage Sunbeams, The New Generation 1921-1926

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust is delighted to announce the publication of another book which it has supported financially, Vintage Sunbeams, The New Generation 1921-1926 by Don Shapland with Bruce Dowell. A self-published book, this fills a gap in the published history of the Sunbeam Company in the years before they were absorbed in 1935 by the Rootes Group. Bruce Dowell has previously written and published a company history of this period which was supported by the MSMT and a further book chronicling the standout car produced by Sunbeam, the Three Litre Super Sports. Like many British car manufacturers, Sunbeam reintroduced pre-WWI...

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New Rover Book supported by MSMT

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust is delighted to announce that the book Rover Cars of the 1930s In Detail by James Taylor has been published by Herridge & Sons with the financial support of the MSMT. This is a book that will be welcomed by all enthusiasts of this respected marque. It extends its comprehensive and detailed coverage back into the late 1920s, when the first of the 1930s models were introduced, and forward into 1947, when the 1930s models that had been revived after the war finally went out of production. The story...

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Recording the History of the Classic Car Movement: A proposal

Recording the history of the Classic Car Movement: A proposal By Anders Ditlev Clausager The American anthropologist Kate Sullivan has researched the differing cultures among American and Scandinavian vehicle preservation movements and has published on the subject. Her paper at the European Conference for Automotive History in 2019 got me thinking. Why have we not had any similar study in Britain – a nation which can make as good a claim as any to have been the pioneer in fostering the preservation of historic vehicles? The last fifty years have seen enormous growth, in the preservation and use of historic vehicles and of archive...

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New Biography of S.F. Edge supported by MSMT

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust is delighted to record that it has supported the forthcoming publication of S.F. Edge – Maker of Motoring History by Simon Fisher. This important biography fills a gap in published history, where so much that has been published has been influenced by the self-publicity generated by this remarkable man. The book is now available. Overview Selwyn Francis Edge, invariably known simply as ‘SF’, was a highly significant pioneer of motoring in Britain. When, in 1902, he drove a Napier to victory in the Gordon Bennett Cup, a mighty event on public roads between Paris in France and Innsbruck...

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Formula 1’s Unsung Pioneers wins 2022 Michael Sedgwick Award

The winner of the 2022 Michael Sedgwick Award for the best Motoring Book of the past year was announced on 2nd October 2022 as Ian Wagstaff for Formula 1's Unsung Pioneers. The judges recognised that this was a passion project from an already accomplished motorsport writer, who had worked closely in the past with one of the key movers of BRP, Ken Gregory, probably better known as Stirling Moss's manager. Guy Loveridge, the chairman of the Society of Automotive Historians in Britain announced the result at the Society's Autumn Seminar and AGM at Towcester. Ian Wagstaff was...

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MSMT Supports SAHB’s Aspects Issue 18

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust is delighted to announce that the eighteenth edition of ‘Aspects of Motoring History’ (usually referred to as ‘Aspects’), published by the Society of Automotive Historians in Britain (‘SAHB’). This ‘Aspects’ is the twelfth edition of this annual publication to be supported by the MSMT. It is free to full-members of the SAHB and a limited number of copies are available directly from the SAHB at Aspects Aspects of Motoring History # 18 | (thesahb.com)  , priced at £18. ‘Aspects’ as its name suggests, comprises a selection of articles...

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Two New Trustees join the M.S.M.T

The Trustees of the MSMT are delighted to welcome two new member Trustees. Giles Chapman and Stephen Laing are both well-known figures in the world of classic motoring. Giles is the author of over 50 books on a diverse array of automotive subjects and is a past winner of the Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy for Chapman's Car Compendium. He launched Your Classic magazine and has written for many magazines and websites. He currently writes for The Automobile, Octane plus many other magazines and websites as well as owning one of the most comprehensive private...

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David John Bridges – Our very own MSMT mystery

The Trustees of the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust are simultaneously delighted and mystified by receiving a substantial bequest in the will of Mr Bridges who passed away in February 2020. Any donation is very welcome to ensure that the Trust is able to pursue its purpose of assisting research and publication of history relating to vehicular transport, but this is the first occasion when the donor is someone not known to the Trustees. Despite the presence of Trustees who knew Michael Sedgwick and have been with the Trust since its inception in the 1980s, no one knows...

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Hampton Cars – In the News, Nailsworth and the M.C.C. 120th Anniversary Trial

The Hampton Car, so-called because the initial examples of cars by its first designer, William Paddon, were constructed in Hampton-in-Arden, is a largely forgotten by-line in motoring history. Approximately 1,100 cars were constructed between 1911 and 1933 of which a mere six are known to survive. Some thirty-six years ago, when approached, the Trustees of the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust took the view that although Hampton merited a book to chronicle its products and tribulations, amalgamation, receivership, restructuring, receivership, receivership again, such a book would not be a commercial proposition and would need the...

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Barrie Price (1931-2022)

The MSMT has learned of the passing of the author of one of its supported books, Barrie Price, at the age of 90. Despite being best known as the owner of Lea-Francis Cars from 1962, after original production ceased, and being responsible for the Jaguar-based revival of that marque, Barrie Price's motoring interests centred around Bugatti. He was a founding trustee of the Bugatti Trust and the author's royalties from his 1999 book and the subsequent reissues - Bugatti 57 - The Last French Bugatti, as in our other photograph, were donated to the Bugatti Trust. This...

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Recreational Vehicles – A World History 1872-1939

Over the past 36 years, The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust has supported books on a wide variety of motoring subjects, from racing, hillclimbing and trials to marque and industry histories. The latest publication breaks new ground however being a history of the early days of what are now known but not referred to at the time, as Recreational Vehicles. Andrew Woodmansey has chronicled this in detail, an area of research never before published to our knowledge. Has there ever been a stranger idea in the vehicle world than putting a house on wheels and taking it on holiday? However odd it may...

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New F1 Title – British Racing Partnership

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust is delighted to announce the publication of Formula 1's Unsung Pioneers by Ian Wagstaff, the story of the British Racing Partnership, pioneers of the sponsorship that shaped modern motor racing. This book is the previously untold story of a very special British racing team. The British Racing Partnership (BRP), which operated from 1958 to 1964, is best known for its association with Stirling Moss, who was driving a BRP-entered car at Goodwood on that fateful day in 1962 when a serious crash ended his career. Less familiarly, BRP became the first fully sponsored team in Formula 1,...

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MSMT Newsletter and Self-Publishing via Amazon

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust issues a newsletter by email to keep those who are interested up to date with events in the publishing world as seen through the eyes of the MSMT. The latest newsletter, the second, came out on 28th December 2021. The current newsletter features items of interest from the world of books and automotive history not previously covered on the website and details of the MSMT-sponsored books expected to be published in the first quarter of 2022. One of the feature articles in the current newsletter, as...

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Two New Books Supported by MSMT

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust are delighted to have supported two new books published by the well-known specialists, Herridge & Sons. Both books fill gaps in motoring history and will be welcomed by enthusiasts and historians. The titles are Freestone & Webb 1923-1958 The Story of a British Coachbuilder and Herbert Austin's Heavy Twelve-Four. Freestone & Webb were one of the "big five" of English coachbuilders, and are credited with single-handedly starting the "razor-edge" style when they exhibited a Bentley. They were based in that hotbed of coachbuilders in the quadrant of London from the Great West Road where the U.S. importers...

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RAC Motoring Book of the year – Winners

The winners of the RAC Motoring Book of the Year Awards 2021 were announced at the awards ceremony on Wednesday 3rd November at the RAC Club Pall Mall. MSMT interest was originally thought to centre on just two award categories. In the event there were two additional links to the MSMT. The most significant was the award for lifetime achievement, which is not awarded every year, but by unanimous vote of the voting panel was given to Mark Hughes. Simon Taylor introduced the award, his introduction including the following: "He started out as a magazine journalist, becoming editor of a front-line motorsports weekly,...

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Brian Heath

With great regret we record the death back in September of Brian Heath at the age of 87. Brian was the third generation of a motor sporting family. His grandfather George Heath was an active competitor at the dawn of motor racing in the early years of the 20th century. His father Harold won the President’s Cup on Formula at Shelsley Walsh in 1928 at the wheel of a Darracq. From the early 1950s Brian, a prominent member of the BRDC, and later a Regional Co-ordinator for them, regularly competed in a variety of motor sport events at club level in Triumph...

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Jonathan Wood wins 2021 Michael Sedgwick Award

Distinguished motoring author Jonathan Wood is the 2021 winner of the Michael Sedgwick award with what he insists will be his last motoring book. The tenth annual award was presented to Hugh Palmer, the publisher of Aston Martin & LM10 at the Society of Automotive Historians in Britain Autumn Seminar on October 10th at The Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation at Paulerspury. This book has been described as two for the price of one, as not only is this the history of this particular works car that was the most entered at Le Mans, competing in 1932, 1933 and 1934, it...

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Kop Hill Climb Returns Part 3

As in the previous parts of this review, all references to books are to those the MSMT has supported, full details being available on the Supported Books pages of this website. Our next photograph is of a 1930s Singer, one of a number found in the club section of the paddock under the banner of The Singer Owners Car Club. This old established British company and its cars were chronicled by Kevin Atkinson in his 1996 book (reprinted in 2007) The Singer Story. Another car to be found in the club section was a Sunbeam-Talbot of the 1950s as illustrated and described in...

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Kop Hill Climb Returns Part 2

As with the other parts of this article, all references to books are those supported by the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust as detailed on the Supported Books pages of this website. Our next three photographs are of Model T Fords and their derivative commercial vehicles, reminders of not only The English Model T Ford - A century of the Model T in Britain and The English Model T Ford Volume 2 - Beyond the Factory, both by the Model T Ford Register of Great Britain, but also Aspects of Motoring History 12 which contained an article entitled The Rise and Fall of...

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Kop Hill Climb Returns Part 1

After a year out after the 2020 event was cancelled as a consequence of the Coronavirus pandemic, the eleventh running of the Kop Hill Climb in the modern era took place on the last weekend in September 2021. This two-day festival of motoring commemorating the original competitive hill climb, the last to be held on public roads in England, has always had close links with the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust. There was a big change this year, however, in that Graham Robson, a long-time MSMT Trustee and volunteer commentator passed away in August. Graham's easy manner when interviewing drivers, combined with...

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Graham Robson

It is with great sadness that the MSMT records the passing on 5th August 2021 of its former trustee and sometime secretary, Graham Robson. He was a prolific author with over 170 motoring titles to his credit by his own calculations. He read Engineering at Lincoln College, Oxford and initially worked for Jaguar as a graduate trainee in the Engineering Design Office, literally leaving his mark on chassis drawings for the E-type and Mark-X. At this stage Graham enjoyed rallying, co-driving in the local Godiva Motor Club and through meeting club member Lewis Garrard, son of the Rootes Works Team Manager,...

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Aspects of Motoring History 17

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust is delighted to announce that the seventeenth edition of 'Aspects of Motoring History' (commonly referred to as 'Aspects') has been published by the Society of Automotive Historians in Britain ('SAHB'). This 'Aspects' is the eleventh edition of this annual publication to be supported by the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust. It is free to full-members of the SAHB and a limited number of copies are available directly from the SAHB at Aspects | (thesahb.com) 'Aspects', as its name suggests, comprises a selection of articles written by SAHB members (and others) on a variety of aspects of motoring...

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New Book – The Spiders’ Web

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust supports books on a wide range of motoring subjects, but has not featured a book devoted to the niche sport of hillclimbing since 2007 when the history of South Harting hillclimb was published. The Trust is now delighted to announce the publication of a new book which has been financially supported by the Trust. This new book is the comprehensive story of just two cars: Spider I   -   the scarred and battered looking G.N. cyclecar special that dominated all the hill-climbs and sprints throughout the...

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Further Chapter in Lanchester History published

January 2021 marks the publication of the fourth volume in the "Lanchester Legacy" series of motoring histories. The MSMT are delighted to have supported the publication of Volume IV, having similarly supported the publication of Volume I (1895-1931) in 1995. Volume II (1931-1956) was published in 2016 and Volume III (A Celebration of Genius - Frederick Lanchester edited by John Fletcher) in 1996. An A4 volume to match the previous volumes,  this book is in landscape format in order to show at best enlargement numerous photographs from every period and aspect of the Lanchester story. This pictorial journey begins with the first...

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Coatalen Biography wins Michael Sedgwick Award

The Society of Automotive Historians in Britain has announced that the ninth annual Michael Sedgwick Award has gone to Louis Coatalen - Engineering Impresario of Humber, Sunbeam, Talbot and Darracq by Oliver Heal. The Michael Sedgwick Award is decided by an independent panel organised by the SAHB from a list of books recommended to them. It is normally presented, together with a £250 award from the MSMT at the SAHB Autumn Seminar at the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club's home, The Hunt House at Paulerspury near Silverstone. This year the event has had to be cancelled as a consequence of the pandemic, so...

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New De Dion Bouton book published

Over the past few years, Michael Edwards has published books detailing De Dion Bouton Types and Specifications 1899-1904, 1905-914, De Dion Bouton Tricycles 1895-1902 and other tricycles using De Dion Bouton parts 1895-1902. During the research for these books, the author has collected an enviable number and variety of references to the marque and related subjects which he has now collated into this new book. For the first time, this book presents a full bibliography of the De Dion Bouton company, with charts of passenger and commercial vehicle production, and introductory essays on the key stages of the company’s evolution. Like...

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Help for Potential Self-Publishers – “Books are in our DNA”

The prospect of moving from a completed manuscript to a fully-fledged book as a self-published author is a daunting one for many. There are many acronyms and arcane terms which can confuse the novice and so many decisions need to be made about the feel and look of the final product. Short Run Press Limited, specialists in low-run self-published books, have themselves published a booklet, “Books are in our DNA”, which answers many of the questions that the would-be author may have. There is a table of book sizes and a useful glossary of the terminology used by those designing, printing and...

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Publication of Crossley – The Rise of the Sidevalves

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust supports a wide range of publications in the field of motoring history. Our latest supported book takes us to the Edwardian period and chronicles the Crossley Motors works competition team which participated at sprint events between the years 1910 and 1914. As well as recording the successes, technical innovations and drivers of Crossley, it also provides a wider picture of motorsport in those halcyon days before the outbreak of the Great War. Against the general trend of ever-increasing engine size, the Crossleys stood out as developing greater efficiency whilst limiting engine size, with the benefits of...

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Michael Sedgwick Award 2020

The effect of the motor car on the built landscape, the story of the only British motor manufacturer to be detained as a potential fifth-columnist in the second world war, the man behind the successful world speed record attempts of the 1930s and 1940s as well as the histories of a racing garagiste and his team, and motor car manufacturers large and small. These are just some of the subjects covered by the first eight annual winners of the Michael Sedgwick Award. The award panel are looking for the ninth winner, which would normally be announced at the Autumn Seminar of...

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ERA – English Racing Automobiles, the road cars

The Automobile magazine published an article in its August 2020 issue by Doug Nye on the aspirations of the ERA organisation to market road-going sports cars as a means of financing its racing car programme. Our understanding of the ERA story is enhanced by reference to a stock of letters left by Raymond Mays which Doug Nye had the good fortune to discover in Mays’ old house at Bourne. These letters flesh out the dealings and tensions the creative duo of Mays and Berthon had with the originator of the ERA idea and financial backer, Humphrey Cook, and in turn their...

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Aspects of Motoring History 16

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust is delighted to announce that the sixteenth edition of 'Aspects of Motoring History' (commonly referred to as 'Aspects') has been published by the Society of Automotive Historians in Britain ('SAHB'). This 'Aspects' is the tenth edition of this annual publication to be supported by the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust. It is free to full-members of the SAHB and a limited number of copies are available directly from the SAHB at Aspects | (thesahb.com) 'Aspects', as its name suggests, comprises a selection of articles written by SAHB members (and others) on a variety of aspects of motoring...

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Newsletter

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust has issued the first in what will be a regular series of newsletters on the activities of the Trust and current matters in the motoring world. Articles in the first newsletter include:

  • Who was Michael Sedgwick ? by Michael Ware, former Curator at the National Motor Museum.
  • Self Publishing - Not as difficult as you may think by Ian Dussek, author of HRG - The Sportsman's Ideal. 
  • Patrick Collins, Research and Enquiries Officer at The National Motor Museum on how to access the NMM Reference Library.
  • A review of the recent book RGS Atalantas  by Alan...

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Sir Stirling Moss OBE

There can be few in the world of motoring who have not heard the sad news of the passing of Sir Stirling Moss OBE (seen here on the left of this Autosport photograph of the car and team that finished 2nd in the 1952 Monte Carlo Rally, his first attempt at this event) on 12th April at the age of 90. Whilst the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust has not supported the publication of any of the many books about the man himself, it is inevitable that his life and career has had an effect which has been recorded in other books. Most...

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Celebrity endorsement for MSMT supported book

Erstwhile TV talk show host Jay Leno is renowned for his eclectic collection of cars. Regular viewers of the series Jay Leno's Garage will have realised that although the programme is squarely aimed at a US audience used to muscle cars and pickups, Leno has a genuine interest in all kinds of cars. His enthusiasm for the flat-twin Panhard PL17 which is in his personal collection is contagious as he explains the technical features of the four door saloon and alludes to the DB racers at Le Mans which used the same engine. Having referenced the owners club, Leno takes some...

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New biography of Louis Coatalen supported by Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust published

Louis Coatalen was born a Frenchman, but spent much of his adult life in Britain and took British nationality, working for Humber, Sunbeam, Talbot and Darracq . The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust is pleased to support publication the first comprehensive biography of this influential figure in the British motor industry. Written by Oliver Heal, a Sunbeam enthusiast, married to one of Coatalen's Granddaughters has now published the results of twenty years of research. Coatalen emerges from this biography as a man full of Gallic charm and wit, determined to obtain success for his products by whatever means necessary. His perseverance and a...

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The Tricycle Book Part 2 published

The publication of The Tricycle Book 1895-1902 Part Two marks the fourth in a series on early motoring written by Michael Edwards, all of which have been supported by the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust and published by Surrenden Press, Michael Edwards own company. The first three volumes covered early De Dion Bouton history, Specifications 1899-1904, 1904-1914 and Tricycles Part One. The second tricycle book brings the story to the UK, covering all tricycles produced in period, many of which employed De Dion-Bouton engines or near-copies thereof. All known producers in the UK are covered by the new book with histories of...

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Awards continue to flood in for MSMT-supported book

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust supported the publication by Evro Publishing of "Reid Railton - Man of Speed" by the renowned author Karl Ludvigsen. This title has now won no less than 5 awards. Its fifth award is the Nicholas-Joseph Cugnot Award (English) 2019 by the Society of Automotive Historians, the premier US-based organisation in its field. The other US award was Best Automotive Heritage Book 2019 presented by the Automotive Heritage Awards. In the UK the book has been awarded the Mercedes-Benz Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy 2018 presented by the Guild of Motoring Writers, the Royal Automobile Club’s Specialist Motoring...

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Winner of 2019 Michael Sedgwick Award Announced

At the Autumn Seminar and AGM of the Society of Automotive Historians in Britain, the winner of the Michael Sedgwick Award for the best Motoring related book of the past year was announced. The winner was The All British Marendaz Special by Graham Skillen as judged by a panel of SAHB members. The presentation of the award and the £250 cheque of the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust, who sponsor the competition, to the winning author took place at the Sir Henry Royce Foundation at Paulerspury on 27th October. The Author is shown with his award and Peter Card, the Chairman of...

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MSMT Supported Book nominated for Award

The RGS Atalantas book by Alan Shattock has been nominated for the RAC Motoring Book of the Year 2019. The MSMT has previously announced the publication of this new book which primarily focuses on the activities of Dick Shattock, an innovator in the 1950s including his early use of glassfibre and his sports racing cars and activities. Alan Shattock has chronicled his Father's activities in the motor and allied industries, his motorsport successes and the part he played in the nascent special building boom of the 1950s, all born out of his initial desire to build his own car and the acquisition...

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De Dion Bouton Tricycles 1895-1902

Prolific author on all matters De Dion Bouton, Michael Edwards is shortly to publish the second part of his history of Tricycles made or powered by De Dion Bouton in the early years of motoring. Part 1, published in 2018, set out to paint the picture of  and cover the well-known French tricycle makes such as De Dion Bouton themselves, Gladiator, Phoebus, Marot Gardon, Clement and many others. The forthcoming Part 2 will cover Great Britain and will include marques such as Ariel, Brown Brothers, Dennis, Riley, Slinger, Singer and many smaller manufacturers. The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust is delighted to be able...

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V.S.C.C. Prescott 3rd and 4th August 2019

Through the good offices of the V.S.C.C. Library and the Society of Automotive Historians in Britain (SAHB), we will again have a presence at Prescott. If you would like to discuss any  books or other projects that the MSMT might be able to assist you with, please locate the SAHB stand, on the inside near the start line, and ask for an MSMT Trustee. The Prescott meeting is one of the highlights of the calendar and an excellent venue to observe the diversity of the cars that are owned and competed with by V.S.C.C. members. From radial - engined Austin Sevens through...

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Aspects of Motoring History 15

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust is delighted to announce that the fifteenth edition of 'Aspects of Motoring History' (commonly referred to as 'Aspects') has been published by the Society of Automotive Historians in Britain ('SAHB'). This 'Aspects' is the ninth edition of this annual publication to be supported by the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust. It is free to full-members of the SAHB and a limited number of copies are available directly from the SAHB at Aspects | (thesahb.com). 'Aspects', as its name suggests, comprises a selection of articles written by SAHB members (and others) on a variety of aspects of motoring...

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Forthcoming… The MGC GTS Lightweights: Abingdon’s Last Racers

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust are delighted to announce their support for the forthcoming book "The MGC GTS Lightweights: Abingdon's Last Racers" by David Morys, published by Veloce. Features: • The development of the production road car: its conception and compromised design • In-depth technical analysis of the development of the MGC GTS • Production process for the special aluminium panels and body construction fully explained • Comprehensive coverage of all the major/minor mechanical components and electrical systems • Rare insight into the conception of the flared arches and GTS testing • In-depth competition history of the cars, race reports and race results • The re-discovery of these last...

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New Book – RGS Atalantas

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust are delighted to announce that they are supporting the publication of a new book - RGS Atalantas by Alan Shattock, published by Troubador. This book incorporates first hand recollections by the author, who is the son of the principal of RGS. The book includes many photographs from the family's collection and other photographs never previously published. RGS Atalanta pioneered and were the first recorded firm to offer production car bodies made in glassfibre, a medium which became important in the specials, kit car and sports car arenas. TVRs and Bucklers were advertised and produced with RGS Atalanta...

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Michael Sedgwick Award 2018

The Society of Automotive Historians in Britain announced Reid Railton: Man of Speed by Karl Ludvigsen as the winner of the 2018 Michael Sedgwick Award at its meeting on 21st October 2018 at the Sir Henry Royce Foundation at Paulerspury. This was the seventh annual award, decided by a panel of experts drawn from the SAHB membership, made for books about aspects of motoring history in Britain, in the English language. The winning book demonstrated excellence in its research, presentation, readability and novelty, and materially furthered our understanding of the subject. The award comes with a prize of £250 from the...

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British Motorcycles 1945 – 1965: From Aberdale to Wooler

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust is delighted to support the forthcoming publication of "British Motorcycles 1945 - 1965: From Aberdale to Wooler" by Rinsey Mills. This new encyclopaedia, published by Herridge & Sons fills a gap in the bookshelves by bringing together histories, not only of the well-known marques from AJS to Velocette, and those with strong followings such as Scott, Triumph and BSA, but also the lesser known brands such as those in the title. This volume is the result of many years research and writing by the author. The book will be available from the publishers in early November. Please...

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The Tricycle Book 1895 – 1902

De Dion Bouton - The Tricycle Book - 1895-1902. The MSMT have been delighted to support in recent times, two books about the early years of De Dion Bouton manufactured vehicles, and hard on the heels of these successes, the author Dr Michael Edwards has been hard at work writing another book, this time about De Dion-Bouton powered Tricycles and Quadcycles dating between 1895 and 1902. The book is in the advanced stages of research, and is due to be published in the Spring of 2019. It promises to include much never previously seen photographs and colour images. The MSMT - Trustees...

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VSCC Prescott 4th & 5th August 2018

Members of the Society of Automotive Historians in Britain and Trustees of the MSMT were at the SAHB stand at Prescott over the VSCC weekend. The photographs show a few competitors who put one in mind of books that the MSMT has supported. First is this grey and red Vale Special. The marque history, Ave Atque Vale by Dave Cox was a book that the MSMT supported back in the 2006. Similarly HRG was a marque history by Ian Dussek supported in 1985, along with the revised and updated version published in 2010. This green prewar Morgan 4-4, competitor 80, wears...

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Vintage Prescott 4th/5th August 2018

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust will have a presence at the VSCC Prescott Hill Climb on 4th and 5th August 2018. The MSMT will share a stand with the Society of Automotive Historians in Britain. The MSMT will have representatives and leaflets at the SAHB stand and would be delighted to discuss current and future projects with potential authors and how the MSMT can help. The undoubted ‘jewel in the crown’ of the Vintage Sports-Car Club year, the long-established Prescott Speed Hill Climb takes its traditional slot on the first weekend in August, with 250 Pre-war Racing and Sports-Cars taking on the...

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Aspects of Motoring History 14

The Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust is delighted to announce that the fourteenth edition of 'Aspects of Motoring History' (commonly referred to as 'Aspects') has been published annually by the Society of Automotive Historians in Britain ('SAHB'). This 'Aspects' is the eighth edition of this publication to be supported by the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust. It is free to full-members of the SAHB and a limited number of copies are available directly from the SAHB at Aspects | (thesahb.com) 'Aspects', as its name suggests, comprises a selection of articles written by SAHB members (and others) on a variety of aspects of motoring...

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NMM – Motoring Picture Library

The Motoring Picture Library (M.P.L.) held at The National Motor Museum, is one of the largest motoring picture collections in the world, with over one million images covering all aspects of motoring from the 1880s to the present day. This includes motor-cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles; the motor industry, motor sport, the social history of motoring, and a huge range of motoring and motor sport personalities. Many of these images have not previously been published but remain a valuable resource for historians and authors. It also features spectacular motoring art in the form of sales brochures, posters and paintings. These resources are available to...

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National Motor Museum’s Reference Library

The National Motor Museum’s Reference Library is widely recognized as one of the largest resources of its type anywhere in the world. Its holdings cover motor-cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles and horse-drawn carriage literature dating from the 1880s onwards. The type of material held is wide and varied and includes approximately 13,000 books, 31,000 workshop manuals and handbooks, 9,000 event programmes, 2,400 auction catalogues, around 100,000 manufacturers’ sales brochures and 88,000 periodicals. Mainly in English, the collection includes a number of foreign language publications. The Museum’s Motoring Archive holds 100,000 items including original documents relating to land speed records, personalities and company records. Researchers...

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