What is the Lifetime Achievement Award?

“Beginning in 1998, the Lifetime Achievement Award has been given to an individual who has, in the eyes of his or her peers, made a substantial contribution to the craft for a period of twenty-five or more years, and has contributed to the craft through the development and inspiration of automotive journalism’s next generation.”

Criteria & Submissions

The Lifetime Achievement Award, historically presented by the International Automotive Media Competition, had honored a person within the broad definition of automotive journalism. This new version will narrow the focus to those whose are substantially involved in covering the stories and subjects related to antique, classic and collectible automobiles, automotive history and culture and related topics. Jurors for this award will be former winners, as much as possible.

Nominations

Nominations will be received through this Website and should include a brief biography, list of accomplishments and accolades earned over his/her career. Nominator should explain why this person should receive the award. Self-nominations are welcome. No fee is required for the nomination.

Awards & Winner

The physical award is a sculpture by renowned fine artist, Alex Buchan – a bust of Louis Chevrolet. A larger version of the sculpture resides in a special display at the LeMay – America’s Car Museum, in Tacoma, Washington. The names of all the honorees are engraved on the permanent trophy at the LeMay.

alexander buchan automotive heritage awards

Lifetime Achievement Award Alumni

Pat Bedard
2022

Patrick Bedard wrote a monthly column and hundreds, perhaps thousands, of car reviews, and feature stories for Car and Driver magazine over more than 40 years making him not only one of the most prolific auto journalists of our time but his “voice,” or writing style, made him one of the most beloved.

Lindsay Brooke
2021

Lindsay is the Editor-in-Chief of Automotive Engineering and Autonomous Vehicle Engineering magazines, published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE International). He also produces SAE’s “Eye on Engineering” podcast, aired weekly on Detroit’s WJR 760-AM.

Jim McCraw
2020

Jim McCraw has been writing about cars, motorcycles, design, technology, car people and racing for 50 years, in such publications as Hot Rod Deluxe, Super Chevy, Muscle Mustangs, Road & Track, Car and Driver, Popular Mechanics, Popular Science, Penthouse, Winding Road, The Mercedes-Benz Star, AutoWeek, The New York Times, and a number of European publications. He was executive editor of Motor Trend, editor of Hot Rod and Super Stock. He co-holds the record for the drive from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Key West, Florida, 96:22, and has run in major events such as the Mille Miglia Storica in Italy, Goodwood, the California Mille, the Colorado Grand, the New England 1000, Forza Mille, and four One Lap Of America competitions He owns a pristine Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan.

Don Sherman
2019

Don melded his education as a mechanical engineer with a passion for automobiles into a long and fruitful career as an automotive journalist beginning in the 1970s when he joined the staff at Car and Driver magazine where he served as editor from 1985 to 1988. His exceptional skills as a driver, performance analyst and clever writer kept him at the top of his profession for more than four decades, and there he remains today. His enthusiasm is also exemplified by the restoration of a 1967 Corvette (about which he wrote a book), a 1960 Cadillac and multiple motorcycles.

Peter Egan
2018

For over three decades, Wisconsin-based Egan has skillfully told a broad variety of stories about vehicles, travels, and people he has met along the way. He was acknowledged by the New York Times Book Review as one of “America’s standout auto writers.” Other honors include: the Motor Press Guild’s Dean Batchelor Award for Excellence in Automotive Journalism and the International Motor Press Association’s Ken W. Purdy Award.

Csaba Csere
2017

Csaba Csere is a former technical director and editor-in-chief of Car and Driver magazine. He specialized in stories about technical issues and first-person experiences in competition machines ranging from NASCAR stock cars to Formula One cars. In the process, he raced in fifteen 24-hour events and performed an automotive backflip at over 200 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Tony Swan
2016
Jesse Alexander
2015
Pete Lyons
2011
Peter Brock
2010
John H. Davis
2009
Ken Gross
2008
Karl E. Ludvigsen
2007
Jim Dunne
2006
Beverly Rae Kimes
2005
Jerry Flint
2004
John Lamm
2003
Brock Yates
2002
Chris Economaki
2001
Denise McCluggage
2000
Leon Mandel
1999
David E. Davis
1998