WORDS: WAYNE BATTY | PHOTOGRAPHY: PORTER PRESS
The inaugural Motoring Literary & Art Festival it set to take place on the weekend of December 2-3, 2023 inside The Wing at Silverstone Circuit, UK. Organised by renowned automotive and motor sport book publisher Porter Press International, the festival aims to appeal to a broad range of motoring enthusiasts (or discounted tickets, see the end of this story).
A host of artists, from painters to sculptors, will be displaying their creations. Exhibitors from Alpine to Girardo & Co., Hortons Books to Amalgam, Jarrotts to Dalton Watson, and MHD Watches to Ludlow Bookbinders are among the 40-plus exhibitors.
The Festival is partnering with both the Guild of Motoring Writers and Coventry University; students currently engaged in a Masters degree in Automotive Journalism will be manning the event and gaining valuable work experience.
Expect several new book launches, selected book-signing sessions and a line-up of cars that have been the focus of recent Porter Press books including the Ferrari ‘Breadvan’ and Jaguar E-type 9600 HP, as well as the ear-splitting V16-engined BRM race car – probably not wise to start that one up indoors. Downstairs, Alpine will have a classic A110 alongside its current A110, A110S, A110R and the A110 San Remo ’73 Limited Edition on display.
Great cars and books wouldn’t exist without the people behind them, of course. In fine literary tradition, the festival is built around an extensive programme of panel discussions and talks involving more than 50 industry leaders and experts, authors and designers from across the wide world of motoring and motor sport, held across three theatres. Subjects cover a broad spectrum, but embrace F1, motoring art, sports car racing, automotive design, the motor industry, Land Rovers, car-themed movies, and even crime and cheats.
Personalities include Lord Hesketh, Peter Stevens, Lee McKenzie, John Watson, Karun Chandhok, Andy Palmer, Ian Callum, Jackie Oliver, Sir John Egan and many more. Authors include Richard Heseltine, James Page, Philip Porter, Martin Port, Matthew Field and Crispian Besley.
Theatre sessions are priced from £22 each, in addition to the entrance price of £22 – but Magneto readers get a discount. Enter the code EVENTM10 at the checkout stage. For further detail and booking, visit www.motorlitartfest.co.uk.
