On August 22, the Brazilian Federation of Antique Vehicles (FBVA) organized the 2024 FIVA Hall of Fame award ceremony, held by the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA), to honor Roberto Suga as a member of the prestigious group of antique car enthusiasts worldwide.
The ceremony took place at the Legislative Assembly of the State of São Paulo and was attended by several members of the antique car community, including FIVA Ambassador for South America, Alec Daly, who presented the honor.
Júlio Penteado, an antique car enthusiast, led the ceremony, which also included the President of FBVA, Andrés Pesserl, and Maria Lúcia Pozzoli, the wife of the late Og Pozzoli, the first Brazilian to be inducted into the FIVA Hall of Fame.
“This tribute today is not a one-off. You don't reach this Olympus just by having a good four-year tenure in the Federation or being a good club president. You need to have dedicated your entire life to classic vehicles,” emphasized Penteado during the opening of the ceremony.
The FIVA Hall of Fame award, established in 2021, featured a jury for this edition made up of eight classic car enthusiasts from around the world. The jury included the current president of FIVA, Tiddo Bresters (Netherlands), his predecessor Patrick Rollet (France), as well as Alberto Lenz (Mexico), Eli Solomon (Singapore), Gaby von Oppenheim (Germany), Navaz Bhathena Sandhu (India), Nick Mason (United Kingdom), and Shiro Nakamura (Japan).
"Roberto Suga, the former president of the Brazilian Federation of Antique Vehicles (FBVA), is known for defending collectors regardless of their purchasing power. He played a significant role in breaking the stigma that preserving antique vehicles is an activity reserved for the wealthiest classes," highlighted the text accompanying Suga's selection.
“In Brazil, a great deal of work has been done over the years, and this work continues. Doubling the number of clubs in 10 years is a tremendous achievement. My role covers South America, and even though I am from Buenos Aires, I must admit that the activity in Brazil is remarkable. The Federation in Brazil is tremendous. I follow what they are achieving with the government to take care of our hobby and protect it. This work requires dedication, perseverance, and knowledge, and that is why the movement in Brazil has a great future,” testified FIVA Ambassador for South America, Alec Daly.
The ceremony was recorded by TV Alesp, and the images were provided to FBVA. You can watch the full footage at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi2y008Yrfw