Porter Press International wins top award at the Royal Automobile Club Motoring Book of the Year ceremony

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Porter Press International had a total of four books shortlisted for the prestigious awards…

They tell us:

(All words and images from porter press International).

• Overall trophy awarded to The Austin Pedal Car Story by Dr David Whyley
• Doug Nye’s The Last Eye Witness: The pioneering motor racing photography of Maurice Louis Branger 1902-1914 wins Motorsport Book of the Year

Specialist publisher Porter Press International has won two awards at the 2024 Royal Automobile Club Book of the Year ceremony, which was held on Wednesday 30 October at the Pall Mall Clubhouse in London.

The coveted overall trophy – which is awarded to the title that the judges consider stands above every other – was presented to The Austin Pedal Car Story. Written by Dr David Whyley (the world’s leading authority on the subject) for Austin Pedal Cars, this 488-page book tells the incredible, unique story of the Austin J40 in unprecedented detail, from the South Wales factory that was set up to rehabilitate former miners to the J40’s starring role in the Goodwood Revival’s annual Settrington Cup race.

Porter Press International also won the keenly contested category for ‘Books On A Motor Sporting Subject With No Price Limit’. The Last Eye Witness – written by pre-eminent motorsport historian Doug Nye and showcasing the remarkable pre-World War One photography of Maurice Louis Branger – saw off stiff opposition to claim the award. Produced in limited numbers, The Last Eye Witness was a passion project for author and publisher alike, and the first edition quickly sold out when it went on sale in late 2023.
Another tranche of 100 copies of this limited edition book will be released this December.

In total, Porter Press International had four books shortlisted on the night. Jaguar XJR-15 by Peter Stevens was nominated in the ‘Best Debut Author’ category, while Three Men in a Land Rover by ‘Waxy’ Wainwright, Mike Palmer and Chris Wall was nominated for both ‘Best Debut Author’ and ‘Books About Motor Cars & Motoring Costing No More Than £50’.

‘I’m incredibly proud that we had so many books shortlisted for these prestigious awards,’ said company founder Philip Porter. ‘For The Austin Pedal Car Story to win the overall trophy, and The Last Eye Witness to top its category, is an amazing result and testament to all the hard work that our small but brilliant team has put in over the past 12 months.’

Founded in 2013, the Royal Automobile Club Book of the Year awards are the most important of their type in the world. The independent, expert judging committee includes Mick Walsh of Classic & Sports Car, Gordon Cruickshank of Motor Sport and Mark Dixon of Octane – plus Ian Titchmarsh from the British Racing Drivers’ Club, Ben Horton of specialist bookseller Horton’s Books, and Christian Whitehead
of Blackwells. The panel is chaired by motorsport writer and broadcaster Simon Taylor.

About the authors Dr. David Whyley is recognised as the world’s leading authority on Austin pedal cars. Living near to the former Longbridge plant, and having close relatives who worked there, he developed a fascination with Austin cars from a young age. In the mid-1990s, David was fortunate enough to meet and interview the key members of the Austin pedal-car team which kindled his interest in the story of the cars. Following years of subsequent research, he has amassed an unrivalled Austin pedal-car archive. His previous book on Austin pedal cars has become much sought-after. He has also written a number of books about the Austin Counties cars, such as the A40 Dorset, Devon and Somerset models, from 1945–54 and writes regularly for the Austin Counties Car Club magazine. David has owned and restored several classic Austins and is an acknowledged expert and advisor for the rare Austin A40 Sports and Austin Atlantic Convertible, both contemporary vehicles to the Austin J40 and Pathfinder pedal cars. David was commissioned to write The Austin Pedal Car Story book by Austin Pedal Cars. Doug Nye is the author of more than 70 books on aspects of motor sporting history, including standard works on BRM, Lotus, Ferrari, Cooper, Tyrrell and McLaren cars and upon (and with) such great racing drivers as Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jack Brabham, Jim Clark and Juan Manuel Fangio. In his early career, he worked for Motor Sport magazine with the publication’s revered Continental Correspondent, Denis Jenkinson. Doug is considered by many to be the world’s leading motor racing historian.

About Porter Press International Porter Press International is renowned for publishing top-quality motoring books. Founded in 2005 by acclaimed automotive author Philip Porter, the company is now firmly established worldwide as a leading motoring book publisher. The unrivalled Porter Press team includes James Page, former editor of Classic & Sports Car, and Steve Rendle, former commissioning editor for Haynes Publishing. Both liaise closely with chief design contributor, Martin Port, former art editor of Classic & Sports Car. Authors include Doug Nye, David Tremayne, Ian Wagstaff, Keith Bluemel, James Page, Mick Walsh, Chas Parker, Rinsey Mills, J. Mac Hulbert, Richard Heseltine, Malcolm McKay, Gordon Bruce, Mark Cole, Michael Kliebenstein, Serge Vanbockryck and Philip Porter. Porter Press is proud to have worked with motoring icons including Martin Brundle, Stirling Moss, Murray Walker, Derek Bell, Gordon Murray and Michael Turner.