On Thursday afternoon October 10^th the Allard Chrysler Action Group (ACAG) received this e-mail from the International Historic Motoring Awards 2013.

 I’m delighted to tell you that, following multiple nominations, the Allard Chrysler has been shortlisted in the Restoration of the Year category in the 2013 International Historic Motoring Awards in association with Octane magazine and EFG International private banking. And – also as a result of multiple nominations – you yourself have been nominated in the Personal Achievement of the Year category! Many congratulations on being nominated by so many people, and on being shortlisted – and good luck in the judging!

 “Wow! To say I was ‘gobsmacked’ understates how I felt”, says ACAG Chairman, Brian Taylor. “I had to phone Doug Hill, Museum Manager at Beaulieu to check that it wasn’t a hoax”.

The Awards celebrate the very best of the best in this £multi-billion international industry. Nominations are received from around the world, and from a variety of disciplines, and the geographical spread of the historic motoring movement is emphasised by the list of finalists each year, which includes events, companies, cars and individuals from across Europe, the USA, Asia and Australia. It is the benchmark by which the world of historic motoring judges itself.

 Now established as the most prestigious celebration of this global industry, the Awards showcase the success and dedication of the people and businesses that make it all happen. These are the categories and out of hundreds of entries each year the restoration of Europe’s first dragster has been included in the short list of two of them: Restoration of the Year and Personal Achievement of the Year.

Those judging reflect the prestigious nature of these awards; Derek Bell, Horst Brüning, Ian Callum, Robert Coucher, Dick Crosthwaite, Berthold Dörrich, Tony Dron, Ed Gilbertson, McKeel Hagerty, Simon Kidston, Jay Leno, Nick Mason, Jochen Mass, Bruce Meyer, Lady Susie Moss, Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen, Patrick Peter, Murray Smith and Peter Stevens, Duncan Wiltshire (chair of Judges)

 Brian said, “These nominations are a tribute to the ACAG team and all of those who have supported us during the last five years. I’m so thrilled that drag racing is to feature at the prestigious occasion this year – not just in one category but two. And thanks to the dragster’s owners, the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. We took the dragster off display for a long time but they kept the faith while we solved many puzzles along the way. I better check that the DJ still fits”.

 The winners of the International Historic Motoring Awards 2013 will be announced at a gala dinner in London on Thursday, 14th November at the magnificent St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. More details about the awards from www.historicmotoringawards.com.