A leek on the grille of a rally car - Why?

[threespires]

This MG was on the Monte Carlo Classique last week.
The owner told me that he'd seen period photo's of the car on the Monte with a leek on the grille, so he emulated this.
The Jaguar MkVII also had a leek on the grille on the 1954 Monte Carlo rally.
Does anybody know why folks put a leek on the grille of their rally cars?

[Riley Blue]

Welsh crew?

[threespires]

Riley Blue said:

Welsh crew?

Not that I know of. The crew were Ken Rawlings who worked at PJ Evans in Birmingham and Jack Hay who was motoring correspondent for the Birmingham Post [his daughter was actor Richard Burton's last wife]. My dad was the owner of the car and there is no Welsh connection there.

[Funky Squirrel]

Took a shortcut through a field maybe?

[threespires]

Maybe!

[silentbrown]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robertgrounds/571377...

[threespires]

Yes, that's the car

[Ambleton]

I really hope the answer is:

The radiator already has a leek, thus pointing out the obvious when someone says "you've got a leak"

[threespires]

Ambleton said:

I really hope the answer is:

The radiator already has a leek, thus pointing out the obvious when someone says "you've got a leak"

Ha!

[alfaspecial]

threespires said:

Ambleton said:

I really hope the answer is:

The radiator already has a leek, thus pointing out the obvious when someone says "you've got a leak"

Ha!

Well, if the Dutch can hold a 'Tulip' Rally https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip_Rally
then why cant the Welsh hold a 'Leek' Rally


Perhaps we'll see a French 'Iris Rally', a Canadian 'Maple Rally' and a Japanese 'Chrysanthemum Rally'..........

[Ambleton]

alfaspecial said:

Well, if the Dutch can hold a 'Tulip' Rally https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip_Rally
then why cant the Welsh hold a 'Leek' Rally


Perhaps we'll see a French 'Iris Rally', a Canadian 'Maple Rally' and a Japanese 'Chrysanthemum Rally'..........

What about a Scottish 'Irn-Bru' rally

[tapkaJohnD]

Did Richard Burton support/sponsor the entry?

Born, Pontrhydyfen, son of a coal miner and native Welsh speaker. Can't get much more Welsh than that!

John

[nicanary]

The rally was held 18.1.54 to 25.1.54 . I thought maybe it was to celebrate St Davids day but that's in March.However, St David ordered Welsh soldiers to wear a leek in battle to identify themselves. and maybe the driver of the Jag liked the idea of "going into battle" as a Welshman?

[threespires]

Thanks for all your replies.
Richard Burton's dates don't fit.
Neither does St David's day.

[Riley Blue]

threespires said:

Riley Blue said:

Welsh crew?

Not that I know of. The crew were Ken Rawlings who worked at PJ Evans in Birmingham and Jack Hay who was motoring correspondent for the Birmingham Post [his daughter was actor Richard Burton's last wife]. My dad was the owner of the car and there is no Welsh connection there.

Another photo here showing a 'posy of thistles' also attached to the grille:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robertgrounds/146721...

[threespires]

Riley Blue said:

Another photo here showing a 'posy of thistles' also attached to the grille:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robertgrounds/146721...

Yes, I was confused by the thistle too.
That Jaguar was competition spec. XK120 steering and competition diff.

[tapkaJohnD]

Did he start with an English rose there too?

[threespires]

tapkaJohnD said:

Did he start with an English rose there too?

I don't think so! ☺

Here's a photo of the winner of the 2020 Rally Monte Carlo Historique.
Henrik Bjerregaard & Jaromir Svec
1979 Ford Escort RS2000