Discussion
Curiously enough, the first iteration of BRM V16 was a very pale metallic green, and the colour chosen by Aston Martin for their team cars was also far from the colour we normally associate with BRG.
Green was simply the colour allocated to the team from GB for the early races organised for the Gordon Bennett trophy. (I think!).
Green was simply the colour allocated to the team from GB for the early races organised for the Gordon Bennett trophy. (I think!).
nicanary said:
Curiously enough, the first iteration of BRM V16 was a very pale metallic green, and the colour chosen by Aston Martin for their team cars was also far from the colour we normally associate with BRG.
Green was simply the colour allocated to the team from GB for the early races organised for the Gordon Bennett trophy. (I think!).
Chosen because the race one year took place in Ireland and the British entry was painted shamrock green which continued afterwards. It varied a lot in the early years, even into the 30s when the works Talbots were a very vivid shade of green. Green was simply the colour allocated to the team from GB for the early races organised for the Gordon Bennett trophy. (I think!).
The cars were painted 'Emerald' green as a gesture of respect for Ireland, where the Gordon Bennett race was held in 1903.
It came to be held in Ireland for good reason:
the French - drivers and cars - had dominated the race in 1900 and 1901 and popularity of the race looked like it would wane, that was until the unexpected win in 1902 by British driver, Selwyn Edge, in his Napier.
Thus Britain became the holders of the trophy and were obliged to hold the next race in 1903.
There was one big problem to holding it in Britain - its open hostility towards the automobile!
So, Ireland provided the solution because Britain exercised jurisdiction there. Ireland welcomed the idea as a boost to its ailing economy and tourism. The Napier team took the colour green to its full extent with team and pit crews all wearing green inc ties and caps.
The shade of green would vary over the years but Britain's national racing colour, Emerald Green, would become famous as British Racing Green.
An interesting anecdote to the green is that British driver Charles Jarrott in 1901 was assigned to drive a Clement in the Paris to Berlin race. The car had the number 13. Jarrott decided to have the car painted in a deep rich green, a then lucky colour in France. He hoped this would counter the bad luck of the 13 number. It didn't help that much as he finished 8th.
It came to be held in Ireland for good reason:
the French - drivers and cars - had dominated the race in 1900 and 1901 and popularity of the race looked like it would wane, that was until the unexpected win in 1902 by British driver, Selwyn Edge, in his Napier.
Thus Britain became the holders of the trophy and were obliged to hold the next race in 1903.
There was one big problem to holding it in Britain - its open hostility towards the automobile!
So, Ireland provided the solution because Britain exercised jurisdiction there. Ireland welcomed the idea as a boost to its ailing economy and tourism. The Napier team took the colour green to its full extent with team and pit crews all wearing green inc ties and caps.
The shade of green would vary over the years but Britain's national racing colour, Emerald Green, would become famous as British Racing Green.
An interesting anecdote to the green is that British driver Charles Jarrott in 1901 was assigned to drive a Clement in the Paris to Berlin race. The car had the number 13. Jarrott decided to have the car painted in a deep rich green, a then lucky colour in France. He hoped this would counter the bad luck of the 13 number. It didn't help that much as he finished 8th.
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