Fellow fiends:
A member of my local car guy support group corrects me on national racing
colors:
Japan: white with a red stripe (Honda)
US: blue with a white stripe. Examples include the Gurney Eagle,
Reventlow's (sp?) Scarab, and (I think) some early Penske cars. Briggs
Cunnigham did indeed race white with a blue stripe.
Germany: started out as pure white but changed to silver with the "silver
arrows" (which were actually unpainted aluminum). The idea was a weight
saving measure but the car's appearance 'stuck' and subsequent German GP
cars were painted silver.
Still not clear on the origins of the Brit/Green nexus; but my associate
suggests it was established back in the 20's, even pre-ERA. These were not
hard and fast "rules." Ecurie Ecosse (sp?) raced Jags but painted them a
dark blue. BRM's BRG was, if memory serves, a blue-green with an orange or
dark-orange stripe, while Cooper was more of a straight green.
How's that for fascinating info?
WZ
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