Which driver's name should be on a vintage racer?

[flemke]

Yes, this is a meaningless question, but I'm curious as to what PHers' opinions are.
Suppose that you've got a vintage race car with real provenance, and you run it in vintage races. Does it make more sense to:

- run it with the name of the original driver on the side (which to a fantasist can suggest that an all-time great is somehow again behind the wheel)?

- run it with one's own name on the side (which to a fantasist can suggest that one's own inadequate self is the intended and proper driver for this magnificent bit of racing history)?

- run it with both names on the side (which to a fantasist can suggest that the all-time great driver and one's own inadequate self are somehow complementary teammates)?

- run it with no name on the side?

There's no right or wrong, but I'd love to hear what different people think is the choice with the most integrity.

>> Edited by flemke on Saturday 30th July 23:35

[FourWheelDrift]

If it had a name(s) on the side when originally raced then that would be the how I'd run with it now, keeping the livery as original as possible.

[agent006]

From a race marshal's point of view, i'd rather have your own name on the side. Maybe have:

Fred "The Stig" McPlonker (1952-1957)
Fred "The Stig" McPlonker Jnr (1968-1981)
You (2005 -)

[Trackside]

I noticed a few of the F1 cars at Silverstone today had both names on them, which seemed fine to me. It makes it more interesting when you're wandering round the pits and paddock to be able to identify a certain car with a certain driver. I was particularly pleased to see that the Ferrari 312T3 and Williams FW08 still had the names of their respective original pilots who were my boyhood heroes (Gilles Villeneuve and Keke Rosberg).

I think it's a shame though if there's no mention of the original driver on the car. I don't know so much about other series but I'm fairly certain that in the TGP championship, the cars have to be presented in their original period race livery, save any change of race number. Presumably that includes keeping the original name on the cockpit.

[andy mac]

The fact that they are historic cars mean that you like to have a link with them. Its nice to know who drove it, and probably makes tham that little bit special. I'd say have both names on the car.

[daydreamer]

Absolutely. Have every name on the car that has raced it.

Original name for provinance and that you are proud of its history

Your name as you are proud to race it.

Take the comments about marshalling - possibly best to put the dates on too.

[Hilts]

Concur with both names, that would look good.

Perhaps a date next to the original driver.

What would the 'supposed' vintage car be BTW ?, just curious. Something says Maserati 250F to me.

[pistol pete]

I didn't think you were allowed to have a different name on the side to that of a driver. Deffinatly, people I know, when borrowing a car have been told to cover the original drivers name up. I suppose it must be ok if you have multiple names though.

Pete

[rubystone]

If you're running the car in historic livery (as opposed to Kockney Koi writ in Benetton style letters on the airbox) then to my mind it HAS to have the original driver's name on the side. ASSUMING that the car ran in that way originally.

There is clearly an issue where a chassis was driven by several drivers (wasn't the McLaren M26 run in a number of global series for a number of years for example - how does one decide on a livery and driver's name for one of those!!!).

Thre's an example of this for sale right now - a Piquet/Schumacher 1991 Benetton. Which name gives it the most value?...the over-the-hill triple champion driving for cash per point or the young thruster with a glittering career ahead of him?

[ettore]

If the question is about integrity then the answer depends upon what the original livery was. If we are talking about a genuine car with world-class history then the livery should accurately replicate the original i.e if the drivers name was originally there, then it should be there now. Equally if it wasn`t, I cannot see the point in creating false history. In this circumstance I think it would be folly (and rather gauche) to plaster the current owners name all over the car...

If, however, we are talking about a fairly normal series-production racing car (i.e Lotus 23B, Lola T70 etc) then, unless it has particular historic resonance, it doesn`t really matter what you do with it as long as it looks vaguely period.

[rubystone]

Just to add to Ettore's and my comments - the value of a car increases if it is associated with a famous driver or even a livery (I can remember the "Pink Pig" and the Pink Panther" Group C cars, but not who was driving them, for instance), so that run of the mill T70 could have value in being restored to a certain livery that it ran in.

[RobbieMeister]

If it's an international event run to FIA rules the Drivers name and I think nationality and blood type HAVE to be on the car.

[flemke]

Interesting point about whether blood type has to be on the car (or helmet or uniform).
As a professional said to me not long ago - "Do you think we'd give you a transfusion based on what's written on your uniform? What if the uniform (or car) is borrowed?"

[RobbieMeister]

flemke said:

Interesting point about whether blood type has to be on the car (or helmet or uniform). As a professional said to me not long ago - "Do you think we'd give you a transfusion based on what's written on your uniform? What if the uniform (or car) is borrowed?"

Good point!

I've just checked MSA Blue book E11.2.11:

In Internation events the name(s) of the driver(s) and the national flag of the country must be displayed on the front wings or body work.

[anonymous-user]

there is an interesting point in this months octane magazine in stirling moss' column. he writes about teh le mans classic this year where he has a bit of bohter before racing as he intends to use his "period" race suit. the official has abit of a go and stirling produces what must be similar to a disclaimer from none other than max mosely staing that stirling can use the suit. seems crazy to me that this can be. especially as further in the magazine the review of the festival of speed has another comment about the varying choice of headwear for drivers which seems to be dependant upon the age of the car. new car = new helmet, old car = leather cap and goggles.

i am all for "keeping things period" where appropriate but when you look at the picture on page two of this weeks motorsport news, it makes you question whether or not its right. i dont like to see D type Jaguars with Roll bars but I certainly dont want anyone dying at an historic motorsport event purely becasue they didnt want to ruin the lines of the car! the guy in the picture is seriously lucky!......

[Incorrigible]

flemke said:

"Do you think we'd give you a transfusion based on what's written on your uniform? What if the uniform (or car) is borrowed?"

Boxers have their BG tatooed on their shoulder

The only tattoo I'd consider actually

[vladd]

I'd have the original drivers name on the car in the original period type face, and mine on it in a more modern and different one. It would show that I was the current driver, but hopefully the different type face would show that I wasn't trying to make any personal connection with the original driver but that they just drove the car in the past.

[calorus]

Personally - I'm of the opinion that Cars are about engineers, not drivers anyway and that the pedigree of the car is the same irrespective of the pilot. I'd go with the name of the current driver only. People who know about the car will be able to recognise it, anyway.

[aasc]

I think I'd have to ask myself a serious question before getting behind the wheel of say one of Senna's pole setting Lotus' with his name still on the side & then being a tad on the slow side when it comes to rnning a lap or three in an historic race.

So maybe this is a question about driving hero's - I certainly wouldn't feel as apprehensive about snicking an ex-Mansell car into first before heading out of the pits...

[Andrew Noakes]

calorus said:

Cars are about engineers, not drivers

You think an engineer can develop a race car all on his own, without needing a good driver?