British Racing Green - why?

[Graham]

So why is Britain's national racing colour that particular green? What's the history behind it? Something to do with Brooklands and Bentleys?

Also, what about the Dutch or Belgian colours?

What other national colours are there?

[TimD]

Off the top of my head...

France = Blue
Italy = Red
Germany = White (later Silver)
Belgium = Yellow
Netherlands = Orange
USA = Blue and White
Japan = White and Red
Thailand (Siam) = Pale blue and Yellow (Bira's ERA?)

The colour British Racing Green, officially Deep Brunswick Green, actually goes back further than Bentley and Brooklands. We have to go back to 1902, and SF Edge's Napier entered in that year's Gordon Bennett Cup.

This was Britain's first international involvement of any consequence, and green it was. I cannot remember if the system of national colours was already in place at this stage, but from the Napier onwards, British cars adopted the deep green. I've heard it said that a green car is traditionally unlucky, and that SF Edge liked cocking a snook at superstition - a bit like racing under the number 13.

Deliciously, did you know that British Racing Green actually has a BS Standard Reference code?

[Michael M]

Tim is correct, the Gordon Bennett Cup was a competiton nation against nation, and part of the rules was the colour of the national cars. This rule as far I know then has been taken over by the ACF for their Grand Prix's, and consequently for the whole international racing scene.

[Graham]

That's really interesting stuff - it's a pity sponsors colours have become pretty much dominant these days.

Do you have any history on how other national colours were established?

[SL]

Graham,

A full list of the colours as allocated in the first race are as follows:-
Country Colours of vehicle Colour

Netherlands: orange,

Argentina Body: Blue
Bonnet: Yellow
Chassis: Black Red on white

Belgium Yellow Black

Brazil Body & bonnet: pale yellow
Chassis & wheels: Green Black

Chile Bonnet: Blue
Body: Red
Underframe: White Half blue & half red or all red on white

Czechoslovakia Bonnet: Blue & white Blue
Body: White
Underframe: Red


Egypt Pale Violet Red on white

Finland Black Blue on white

France Blue Blue on white

Germany White (sorry, not Red
silver)

Great Britain Green White

Holland Orange White

Hungary Bonnet: Red Black
Body, front: White
Rear : Green

Ireland Green (horizontal White
band of orange all
round body & bonnet

Italy Red White

Luxembourg Pearl grey White on red

Monaco White (red horizontal Black on white
band around the body
and bonnet

Poland Body and bonnet: White Red
Undeframe: White

Portugal Body & bonnet: Red White

South Africa Body: Golden Black on white

Spain Bonnet: Yellow Black on yellow, Body: Chassis & springs, white on red
red

Sweden Body & bonnet, lower part White
blue.Upper part: Yellow
three cross bands of blue
on the top of the bonnet)

Switzerland Bonnet: White Black
Body & underframe: Red

Thailand Body & bonnet: Pale blue White on blue
with yellow horizontal
band round body & bonnet
Wheels: pale yellow

United States Body & bonnet: White Blue on white
Underframe: Blue

These were the colours allocated by the sponsering newspaper in something like 1902, so you see sponser-ship is nothing new, several have altered since.
I thinhk that the US was either red before or after the agreement, hence the Panoz's at Le Mans in that colour.

Source:- Autosport 1955

Simon

[Graham]

Cheers, I think I'll save that off for future ref...

[Gerard]

The racing colour of the Netherlands comes from our national flag. It's red, white and blue.
But the flag was originally orange, white and blue and has been used since 1572 by Dutch pirates who served under Willem van Oranje (William of Orange).
The colours represent the livery of Willem van Oranje and can be found in the coats of arms of the royal houses of Oranje and Nassau.
The flags were used at sea, but probably because the colour orange wasn't very fast-dyed, it changed to red.
However, the colour orange is still used as a national colour.

[Michael M]

The Gordon Bennett races had been initiated and sponsored by Mr. Gordon Bennett, owner of the International Herald Tribune newspaper.

Gerard, I believe during the last couple of days everybody realized what the Dutch national colour is ...

[Neil C]

TimD, you are right about the color green and superstition. In US racing in particular, there was a time when no driver would allow green on his car. In an old story, I recall reading that Mario Andretti, when handed a green pen for an autograph on race day, would refuse to touch the pen.

I think everyone got over that when big sponsorships took control. Superstition dies quickly when its "no green on car, no green in pocket!"