about the award
'Encouraging excellence through the power of opportunity'
Simon Diffey with his wife Sarah
The Award was created in July 2022 by Mrs Sarah J Adams-Diffey after the tragic death of her husband Simon, fondly known as ‘Diff’, in May of that year.
Simon always raced with his lucky black cat as a sticker on his race cars or his helmets. Please note the cat’s strategically placed historic racing goggles, which Simon drew on its head.
This inspired Sarah, and with the help of friend and graphic designer Julian Balme of Vegas Design, together they created the memorial ‘DIFF sticker’ in a Black and Gold Livery, paying homage to Simon’s first love of Historic Lotus F1 Cars.
The first memorial stickers were requested in July 2022 by Ecurie Bertelli. They were running a famous historic Aston Martin named ‘Green Pea’ at Paul Ricard in France, ahead of the F1 Grand Prix, in a demonstration parade celebrating 100 years of Aston Martin racing.
Sebastian Vettel was pilote, with Johnny Herbert as passenger.
The sticker was clear for all to see on Sebastian’s side of the car. With all the associated media coverage Simon's lucky black cat subsequently ‘went viral', creating tremendous demand.
This was the pivotal point at which the Award was created by Sarah, in association with John Pitchforth, Founder of the Heritage Skills Academy.
Aston Martin celebrating 100 years of racing
The stickers went on sale at £5 each and over £10,000 was raised in the next 12 months.
The fundraising was given an amazing head start by the extraordinarily generous offer from the Duke of Richmond, who invited Sarah to use the Drivers Club at Goodwood Revival to promote and raise funds for the newly created Award.
The Vintage Sports Car Club and The Heritage Skills Academy followed suit, promoting the sale of the black cat sticker at various car events. Funds were also raised through the Just Giving platform, and private individuals made very generous donations.
Stickers are still on sale and from these donations we are able to support the Award.
Maths dictates that there are 2,000 stickers out there on all manner of items from race and road cars to helmets and fridges!
Sebastian Vettel with 'Green Pea'
Sarah is Patron of the Award and, in January 2026, Andy Dee-Crowne, CEO of the Historic Sports Car Club, became Chairman. The HSCC are now heading up the Award and delivering the competition.
The competition encourages learning within the heritage skills automotive sector and demonstrates diversity and demographic inclusivity within historic motorsport.
Simon was always trying to get youngsters into historic cars. His view was that if they cannot ‘have a go’ then how would they truly understand the cars they were working on.
Many young apprentices have a burning desire to get behind the wheel of a race car, but financially it is often out of reach.
The competition encourages apprentices to show a little ‘Diffey sparkle’ during their apprenticeship, and,with that be given the opportunity to enter the competition and, if they win, to go racing.
"My employers had put me down for the Simon Diffey Award. After being whittled down to the final three and having our interviews at the Royal Automobile Club in Epsom, Sarah rang me the following Friday to tell me I had won! I couldn't believe it. What followed was one of, if not the, best years of my life."
2023 Award Winner, ADAM CAMERON
