Guild’s President Elect named

Posted on 01/21/2008 under: News

Rock musician and car enthusiast Nick Mason has accepted an invitation to stand as the new President of the Guild of Motoring Writers. Though best known to many as the drummer with Pink Floyd, Nick has been involved in motor racing since the early 1970s and has entered Le Mans five times. He is the son of late Guild member and film-maker Bill Mason who regularly raced a 1930 4.5-litre Bentley which Nick still owns.

Nick has accepted the Guild committee’s invitation to stand for election at the AGM in April. Besides his track exploits, Nick is a regular contributor to Octane and has contributed to a number of magazines on motoring issues over the years. He co-authored the book Into the Red with Guild member Mark Hales in 2004, taking 22 of his cars to Silverstone for a comprehensive comparison, complete with CD of the soundtrack. Among the cars were: a V16 BRM, one of only three known to exist; a Ferrari 250 GTO; Bugatti Type 35B; Maserati 250F; and the Gilles Villeneuve Ferrari T3 which took honours in the 1978 Montreal Grand Prix.

Since David Strathcarron’s death in August 2006, the Guild committee has adopted a cautious and considered approach to finding a successor. It was impressed that, as well as demonstrating an enduring commitment to automotive journalism, Nick is a trustee of the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, and chairman of the advisory committee. He has already expressed enthusiastic support for a new event for members that could be staged at the museum. The President Elect is also a life member and Guardian of the BRDC. At Nick’s request, however, if he is elected we shall review the presidency after five years. “You may have had enough of me by then,” he reckons.

Finding a successor to David was never going to be easy. In Nick Mason, we believe we have found a candidate who far exceeds our expectations.