IRISH RACING GREEN!!!!
Discussion
With apologies - no racism intended! up-the-dubs said:No, Germany.
Petition for what?
For re-naming the colour. Top Gear went through the origions of BRG and it came from here! Green for Ireland.
Have a look: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_racing_green
speedy_thrills said:
Petition for what?
For re-naming the colour. Top Gear went through the origions of BRG and it came from here! Green for Ireland.
Was mentioned speedy, however only within the context that the colours varied and that GB has used hannoverian hunting green as one of the shades..... after it originally was to honour the green isle Ireland when a GP had to go there because of a ridiculous (labour? greenslime? conservative?) speed limit of 12 mph!
The Irish origin of Racing Green has ben a source of debate for over 100 years now. The story is that when Britain hosted the 1903 Gordon Bennett Trophy races in 1903 (there were no GPs at that time) the races were held at a series of venues in Ireland (Phoenix Park, the Curragh, Athy etc). Ireland was chosen because racing on British public roads was not allowed (nothing to do with Labour - the law had been passed in the 1890s long before Labour were anywhere near government). It is often said that the British Napier cars entered were painted green in honour of the race being hosted by Ireland. In fact, Napier had painted their cars green the previous year when the races were held in France. Green appears to have been Napier's "hosuse" colours anyway - irresepective of venue. It was the fact that Napier had won the trophy in 1902 which determined that the races be held in "Britain" the following year.
The last Gordon Bennett Trophy races were held in 1905. The following year, the Automobile Club de France instigated a replacement race to be held in France called Le Grand Prix - the first GP.
The last Gordon Bennett Trophy races were held in 1905. The following year, the Automobile Club de France instigated a replacement race to be held in France called Le Grand Prix - the first GP.
tvrbob said:
Germany wasn't silver originally. I think they took white. One year the turned up with unpainted (silver) cars and this became their country colour.
Almost true. Mercedes Benz used to race in the German national colour of white, but owing to their cars exceeding the maximum weight for one particular race back in the '30s, they went to the extreme measure of removing all the paint and managed to get the cars down to the required weight - and at a stroke, the Silver Arrows were born.
Just seen up-the-dubs reply...must learn to type quicker!
>> Edited by chim666 on Monday 21st November 10:08
Actually, there is serious doubt over the "weight saving" theory. The story first emerged in Alfred Neubaur's "history" of running the Mercedes Grand Prix team pre-war which is full of factual errors and downright "made up stories". The general concensus now is that Mercedes AND Auto Union both decided that it was pointless painting their cars and that silver or natural aluminium looked better. Indeed, weren't some of the cars actualluy PAINTED aluminium, which sort of knocks the "weight saving" story on the head.
Try reading up on stuff written by Rudolph Uhlenhaut. He was the technical director of Mercedes and he is far more accurate in his recounting of their history compared to Neubaur.
Try reading up on stuff written by Rudolph Uhlenhaut. He was the technical director of Mercedes and he is far more accurate in his recounting of their history compared to Neubaur.
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