John Nikas
AUTHOR

John Nikas

Biographies & Memoirs
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Described as "one of the best and brightest academic minds in the automotive space," John Nikas is an automotive writer who specializes in weaving social, cultural and economic themes into his compelling narratives about automotive history. Raised in an Anglophile household, John first fell in love with British sports cars, but his motoring interests have evolved to encompass prewar and postwar performance cars, motorsports, automotive design and musings on the future of the automobile in the 21st Century. He received the Denise McCluggage Award in 2012 and five years later was the runner-up for the Mercedes-Benz Award and the Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy for Book of the Year. In 2021, John received an Automotive Heritage Award for Healey: The Men and Machines, along with critical and popular acclaim for Badass, an insightful examination of rear end styling from the world's most respected designers with an embedded biography from Bruce Meyer, America's most popular car guy. Among his best known titles are Rule Britannia: When British Sports Cars Saved a Nation, Lord Almighty and The Face of Change: Portraits of Automotive Evolution. His books have reached the top of the Amazon sales rankings (for automotive books) on seven separate occasions and been recognized as Book of the Month by Octane, Classic & Sports Car and The Automobile. The list of individuals that he has collaborated with comprise an Automotive Who's Who, including the Duke of Richmond, Alain d'Cadenet, Wayne Carini, Denise McCluggage, Bob Tullius, Jim Busby, Norm Dewis, Jackie Oliver, Trevor Harris, Tony Southgate, Bruce Meyer, Bruce McCaw, Sir Michael Kadoorie, Gordon Murray, Stewart Reed, Robert Cumberford, Graham Robson, Fred Simeone, Tom Matano, Henrik Fisker, Franz von Holzhausen, Louis de Fabribeckers, Ed Welburn and Andrea Zagato A noted vintage racing driver, Nikas has campaigned a broad array of classic racers in a number of different series, where he has collected multiple class championships and received special recognition for his on and off track accomplishments. One of the nation's most respected driving instructors, he has played an instrumental role in the development of countless racers, including several talented professionals. Among his many successes is an overall victory in the 2011 Mille Miglia North American Tribute, which was the focus of a television special that appeared on the Bravo Channel. John is frequently asked to speak or make special appearances at various automotive events around the world, which have included stops at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Forum, Amelia Island, Goodwood Revival, Goodwood Festival of Speed, Hampton Court Palace, The Quail, Blackhawk Museum, Monterey Car Week, The Simeone Foundation Museum and the Concours d'Lemons. Known for his authoritative knowledge, quick wit and entertaining delivery, he has also been featured on various television programs, including spots on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News, EXTRA! and L'Equipe in France. John always has a number of book projects underway, but continues to write for a number of automotive publications around the world, including magazines located in France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
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