The color of hope – and of leadfeet
Photo: Craig Howell, "Bentley 8 Litre" from 1931, wikipedia.com
This article was published in colore 19 #grassgreen
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The origin of the connection between the color green and British motor sport is shrouded in secrecy. However, its most famous version has surprisingly definite Irish influences that have shaped the familiar hue.
At the start of the 20th century, newspaper publisher and sports enthusiast James Gordon Bennet Jr. launched the Gordon Bennett Cup. The international car race specified that all participating vehicles had to be painted in the country's official color, so that they were easier to distinguish.
When Great Britain joined the race in 1902, blue, red, and white were the colors of the national flag, but these had already been assigned to France, America, and Germany. So the British instead opted for a dark green – and won not only the cup, but also the right to host the event the following year.
This proved to be problematic, as the then national speed limit was a very cautious 12 miles an hour – unimaginable for a race. In their plight, the British turned to the Irish, requesting that they host the event, as Irish laws were rather more generous. As a thank you, in 1903, Great Britain sent their three participants with cars designed in "clover leaf green" – a tribute to the emerald isle, which caused a sensation, and prompted the beginnings of the success story of "British Racing Green". Even today, this shade of green is a popular choice for sports cars, clothing, and accessories. And in fact, there is no official coding for the shade, even today. "British Racing Green" is a collection of emerald to dark green nuances.
British Racing Green represents decades of racing cars that have sported the green paint favored by the British team.
The color shade depiction on the screen is not binding.
