racing car colors

[Chris S.]

Looking at some old auctions books, i noticed a Jag with the white body and blue strip and got to thinking. I was wondering why most of the old racing cars where white with a blue strip or soild blue or blue with a white stripe? Figured someone knows the answer to that one out there. Stupid question but thought i would ask, there's always a story.......

[Steven B.]

Re: racing car colors

Looking at some old auctions books, i noticed a Jag with the white body and blue strip and got to thinking. I was wondering why most of the old racing cars where white with a blue strip or soild blue or blue with a white stripe? Figured someone knows the answer to that one out there. Stupid question but thought i would ask, there's always a story.......

Chris, way back early in the last century nations were assigned racing colors. Originally the USA was assigned white with a blue frame. When the frames were no longer greatly exposed the blue frame became racing stripes. Italy was assigned red, and I am sure you have heard of British racing green. British cars, Aston, Healy, Jag, etc. carried different shades of green. Interesting note is that Germany was assigned white. While trying to reduce weight mercedes removed paint to bare metal and thus became silver. The white Jag you saw with blue stripes was likely Briggs Cunningham's. Adherence to these colors in international events wained in the 60's. Not a stupid quesiton at all. It is an interesting note of how teams were very national in their make-up and them became very international. Today sponsors play a big part color and graphics design.

Steve

[David G.]

Re: racing car colors

Not only that. Some of us just think that it looks cool.

Dave

[Chris S.]

Re: racing car colors

That explains the jag due to an american running the car. Cool thanks for the education. I'm slowly learning the history of these great cars. This was before my day as i am only 35 but love the cars and lucky enough to own a few! I sure loved the article in this months issue about finding the 57 number 3. What a great find and piece of history!

Chris

[Steven B.]

Re: racing car colors

That explains the jag due to an american running the car. Cool thanks for the education. I'm slowly learning the history of these great cars. This was before my day as i am only 35 but love the cars and lucky enough to own a few! I sure loved the article in this months issue about finding the 57 number 3. What a great find and piece of history!

Chris

Chris, Google "international auto racing colors" or something like that and I believe Wikipedia has a list of all assigned colors/countries. One of the exceptions in the '50's was the Ecurie Ecosse "D Type" Jags which was dark blue, Ecurie Ecosse's color, with the blue and white shield on the bonnet, not the GB Racing Green.

Steve

[Chris S.]

Re: racing car colors

thanks i will check it out.

[Duke W.]

Re: racing car colors

Back in the days of international racing colors there were no major commercial sponsors like today. Racing teams were usually run by wealthy amateurs, like Briggs Cunningham with "works" (factory) support or direct factory involvement, like Ferrari.

Some drivers were paid a modest amount by the teams, but some just raced for the glory, including various European royalty.

"Commercialization" of racing began in the mid to late sixties, and cars began being painted in the colors of their major commercial sponsors. Early examples were the Gulf Oil Team run by John Wyer (GT-40s and later Porsche 917s painted light blue with orange strips), Bruce McLaren's Orange Can-Am cars (also sponsored by Gulf), and Roger Penske's Sunoco Blue race cars which began with their big block GT Corvette in 1966. In fact, Penske may have been the first guy to get a major coporate sponsorship with his "Zerex Special" racing in SCCA in the early sixties.

Probably the reason for this was the increasing cost of racing as technology advanced and race cars diverged farther and farther from road cars. Racing was also becoming more popular with increasing gate receipts and TV coverage. Corporations saw this as an additional marketing avenue, which meant the factories could concentrate on development and not have to support the team on the road. It was a win-win situation, but I miss the days when teams raced in their international colors for the glory of country and marque.

In the US, the SCCA was formed after WW II by some northeast bluebloods with the intent of it being strictly amateur. No prize money could be paid, but I think team/car owners could pay drivers. A good example was Bill Mitchell's campaigning of the original Stingray, which won the C-modified national Championship in 1961. Mitchell bought the Corvette SS "mule" chassis from GM for one dollar and had Larry Shinoda design and build a body after hours at GM, but my understanding is that Mitchell paid the team's expenses out of his own pocket.

The first "professional" SCCA series that paid prize money was the US Road Racing Championship beginning in the mid sixties. This series then evolved into the Can-Am.

Duke

[Chris S.]

Re: racing car colors

wow and holy cow you know some great info. Racing for the glory not the money! Some of our professionals should go by this. Honest buck for an honest days worth of work. It is a disease we the public have created paying out these high prices. But then agian this also created the frenzy of car prices. Carrol Shelby junked his cars in Europe do to costs involved tansporting the cars home. go figure them cars are going for 7 million. he sure didn't, although i think he has done well. Thanks for sharing.

[Duke W.]

Re: racing car colors

wow and holy cow you know some great info.

That's because I'm old enough to be your father, and I've been a sports car racing fan (and also spent over 30 years as a racer myself) since I was about eleven years old.

Now ol' Clem - he was racin' when I was in diapers, so he's old enough to be your grandfather!

Duke

[Chris S.]

Re: racing car colors

I hear ya, thanks for the info agian.

[Edward B.]

Re: racing car colors

I've read this thread with much interest, wondering why we would be repeating things that are common knowledge. Then I realized that most common knowledge is the product of our ages and experiences and that what I was reading was the passing of information from one generation to another and that the system was working to perfection. Kudos to those who have provided concise and accurate explanations on the color issue. My first Corvette, a '59, was white with large blue stripes - I wish it were still with me.

[Todd L.]

Re: racing car colors

Great info, thanks guys!

[Steven B.]

Re: racing car colors

Duke and Edward, I was thinking the same thing yesterday reading the posts and recalling some things Corvette. I remembered Mid Ohio and Elkhart Lake in the 60's, the cars and the sounds and alot more. I realized there are many who have not had those experiences and many experiences I have not had but others on the TDB have. Sharing these experiences and knowledge keeps Corvette alive all the way back to the NY Auto Show when many saw it for the first time and before.

Also yesterday I looked at some old pics. and my ancient helmet with the scratches and it brought back some good memories. Thanks to all who rekindle those memories and are so willing to share.

Steve

[Sam K.]

Re: racing car colors

This is the Wintersteen Colours of the Grand Sport #002, and #003 was Blue with white stripe & Penske #001 went with the Sunoco Blue.[/IMG]

[Chris H.]

Re: racing car colors



It talked about national colors on racing cars, but what I found most interesting is the behind the scenes stories of the personalities involved: Ford, Ferrari and the racers and the team managers. Ken Miles, the man who developed the GT40 and Carroll Shelby who ran the team that finally beat Ferrari in 1966. And John Surtees, the only 2-wheeled and 4-wheeled world champion who Ferrari could not control. And the danger. Racing back then was so incredibly dangerous, especially fire.

For those who have an affinity for the Golden Age of racing, I highly recommend this book.