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 and The Samurai - The inside story of the collaboration between British Leyland / Rover and Honda by John Bacchus. This first hand account of the Anglo-Japanese ventures was considered a worthy winner, beating Citroën Traction - The Numbers by Jens Moeller Nicolaisen which was the runner up and other books. The Viking and The Samurai is published by The Rover 200 and 400 Club, from whom this book is available at £15 plus post & packing at https://rover200.org.uk/shop.
John Bacchus, now aged 87, retired from the position of Director, Honda Collaboration, Rover Group in 1995 having spent the previous 25 years working for the Group and its predecessor companies. A dedicated car man, he worked for Ford and Chrysler before joining the newly hatched BLMC in 1969. In a company notorious for what he calls ‘Management by upheaval’, his own record of continuous service at a senior level is probably unmatched, reflecting the pivotal role that he played in making a complex and difficult ‘marriage’ work far better than many people thought was possible. Internal conflicts and dilemmas are discussed, while the mutual respect which developed between John and his Japanese counterparts is obvious throughout. The products resulting from the collaboration are also described, including their reception in the marketplace.
This account was written in 1996 when events were fresh in the author’s mind, but it was never published. Thirty years on from the BMW takeover, its historical importance has grown. It is now time to share this fascinating story with everyone who has an interest in the history of the British automotive industry. The production of this book is itself a collaboration by ex-employees and John’s friends.
At the request of the Bacchus family, all profits from the sales of this book will be donated to Dementia Research UK, a grant-making charity, raising funds for research projects across the dementia community in all regions of the UK. It provides grants to national research bodies based at universities and hospitals and to regional centres delivering services and support directly to those suffering with dementia. Its website gives more details of their important contributions in this field - https://demruk.org/
The runner up, Citroën Traction - The Numbers studies this revolutionary cars' more than 23 years of production history, which has been described in a large number of books through the years. Still, this book brings a huge amount of new and unknown information. The history of the cars is told by their four principal numbers: the serial number, the factory number, the body number and the engine number. Most of the information comes directly from the ultimate and unique source: the old factory ledgers, where every single car that ever left the Citroën factory at Quai de Javel in Paris is listed.
In this book you will find detailed information about all the different Traction models through the years, including factory codes, production series and much more. With the information in the book it is possible to identify any Traction with far more accuracy than before, now based on the factory number rather than the serial number. But the book also brings new information about the evolution of the different TA-models and how they are connected. The book is available from Citroën Traction - The numbers – citrovisie at £58 plus post and packing
