MINI2

mojomini · Jul 23rd, 2003, 05:03 PM

Does anyone know where this color came from? Why they call it British Racing Green? I can imagine that British race cars were painted this color, but I would like some facts. A little history lesson if you will...

I searched all over the web and could not find any historical matches. Heck I could even find a non-historical match either. Just a bunch of BRG vehicles for sale, or reviews about BRG vehicles.

I do love history.

Help me please

Grimfool · Jul 23rd, 2003, 05:13 PM

If I remember correctly and I may well be wrong British Racing Green was first used after WWII by Vanwall. They certainly used it but I don't know if the old Bentleys of the Bentley Boys era (when they won Le Mans) in the thirties were BRG as well.

uptick · Jul 23rd, 2003, 05:24 PM

Check this link:
http://www.f1-grandprix.com/history3.html

Seems like BRG was made the "official" color of F1 in the 60's, during British dominance in grand prix racing.

(Just took delivery of my BRG MC 2 days ago!!

)

PMM · Jul 23rd, 2003, 05:25 PM

Have a look at http://www.pitpass.com/features/feat...sid=558&page=1 for the two main theories.

claire · Jul 23rd, 2003, 05:31 PM

I'm not fussed where it came from, I just know that my BRG looks dead cool!!

mojomini · Jul 23rd, 2003, 07:42 PM

Thanks for the info...

Wonderfully insightful.

Now I know, and knowing is half the battle.......

jsteine2 · Jul 23rd, 2003, 10:52 PM

PMM... Thanks for the great link. Informative and fun.

moorlockx · Jul 23rd, 2003, 11:08 PM

Well Mojomini, you've managed to come up with one of the more interesting questions I've seen in a while. On reading the related threads that were posted I found out the version I knew was only about half the actual history of the color.

pk_lonestar · Jul 24th, 2003, 12:29 AM

Germany - silver
Japan - white
Italy - Red
France - Dark Blue
Canada - Yellow
Britian - Kelly green (BRG)
USA - Red, White, Blue

You'll see these colour often represented at the oylmpics, bobsled races etc.

mojomini · Jul 24th, 2003, 12:31 AM

Thanks for the compliment Moorlockx. I just got a little weary of people asking me, "Why do they call it British Racing Green?" and me not knowing the correct answer. It was beginning to drive me crazy.

Once again thanks to everybody for the info.

Beester · Jul 24th, 2003, 10:17 AM

It goes back to the time when most raceteams were country teams.

Each country had a different color, making it easier to see in an instant which country-team the car belonged to.

The color are mentioned above. Belgium used the color yellow too tho!! And in European races only Belgium could use that colour. (Being a bit chauvenistic here

)

pk_lonestar · Jul 24th, 2003, 03:58 PM

found this on the net, interesting matix at the bottom. learn something new everyday!

http://www.miata.net/misc/racecolor.html

Tonyt3 · Jul 24th, 2003, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pk_lonestar
Germany - silver
Japan - white
Italy - Red
France - Dark Blue
Canada - Yellow
Britian - Kelly green (BRG)
USA - Red, White, Blue

You'll see these colour often represented at the oylmpics, bobsled races etc.

German cars only became 'Silver' after they realised that they could save weight be not painting the cars - about 10lbs of paint I think.... The silver is in fact just the metal colour. Silver has now been adopted as the 'German' colours. I'm not sure what colour they were before, but I know that white is a traditional colour of old BMW sports cars...

Wouldn't it be nice to see these colours dominating the sport again, instead of 'fag packet' colours.....

xplode · Jul 24th, 2003, 08:17 PM

the paint the germans stripped off was white. hence was born the silver arrows which really should have been white arrows. also, i thought france had a paler shade of blue, not dark. think bugatti?

rob_lewis · Jul 24th, 2003, 08:44 PM

At least you're happy with the color hue of BRG. It's been a long standing arguement in the classic British car camps as to the "hue" of BRG. From the lighter green in the early days to the almost black of the Jaguar racecars. I love my BRG/B Cooper, but would love to see MINI bring back that REALLY dark BRG.

-Rob

Beester · Jul 25th, 2003, 08:03 AM

Nice article

Jul 23rd, 2003, 05:03 PM	#1
mojomini MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Jacksonville, Florid Local Time: 06:23 PM Posts: 105 Offline	What's the Origin of BRG?????? Does anyone know where this color came from? Why they call it British Racing Green? I can imagine that British race cars were painted this color, but I would like some facts. A little history lesson if you will... I searched all over the web and could not find any historical matches. Heck I could even find a non-historical match either. Just a bunch of BRG vehicles for sale, or reviews about BRG vehicles. I do love history. Help me please I have enough troubles overcoming my own limitations without fretting over the fact that God has not seen fit to distribute evenly the gift of intelligence.

Jul 23rd, 2003, 05:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
Grimfool MINI2 Regular Join Date: May 2003 Location: Baltimore Local Time: 01:23 PM Posts: 185 Offline	If I remember correctly and I may well be wrong British Racing Green was first used after WWII by Vanwall. They certainly used it but I don't know if the old Bentleys of the Bentley Boys era (when they won Le Mans) in the thirties were BRG as well. Bill BRG/W MCS with UJ decal & white bonnet stripes

Jul 23rd, 2003, 05:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
uptick MINI2 somebody Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: NY Local Time: 02:23 PM Posts: 901 Offline	Check this link: http://www.f1-grandprix.com/history3.html Seems like BRG was made the "official" color of F1 in the 60's, during British dominance in grand prix racing. (Just took delivery of my BRG MC 2 days ago!! ) >MAXAMINI

Jul 23rd, 2003, 07:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
mojomini MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Jacksonville, Florid Local Time: 06:23 PM Posts: 105 Offline	Thanks for the info... Wonderfully insightful. Now I know, and knowing is half the battle....... I have enough troubles overcoming my own limitations without fretting over the fact that God has not seen fit to distribute evenly the gift of intelligence.

Jul 23rd, 2003, 10:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
jsteine2 How well, not how much. Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio Local Time: 01:23 PM Posts: 246 Offline	PMM... Thanks for the great link. Informative and fun. Hers: '02 LY/white, CVT ...... His: '04 BRG/white In order to possess what you do not possess You must go by the way of dispossession. In order to arrive at what you are not You must go through the way in which you are not. (T.S. Eliot, East Coker III)

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Jul 23rd, 2003, 05:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
PMM - Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Cambridgeshire Local Time: 07:23 PM Posts: 100 Offline	Have a look at http://www.pitpass.com/features/feat...sid=558&page=1 for the two main theories.

Jul 23rd, 2003, 05:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
claire MINI2 Regular Join Date: May 2003 Location: London Local Time: 06:23 PM Posts: 50 Offline	I'm not fussed where it came from, I just know that my BRG looks dead cool!!

Jul 23rd, 2003, 11:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
moorlockx MINI2 Master Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Fayetteville, NC, US Local Time: 01:23 PM Posts: 893 Offline	Well Mojomini, you've managed to come up with one of the more interesting questions I've seen in a while. On reading the related threads that were posted I found out the version I knew was only about half the actual history of the color. -- '03 S B/W

Jul 24th, 2003, 12:29 AM	#9 (permalink)
pk_lonestar MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Orange Country, Cali Local Time: 10:23 AM Posts: 30 Offline	Germany - silver Japan - white Italy - Red France - Dark Blue Canada - Yellow Britian - Kelly green (BRG) USA - Red, White, Blue You'll see these colour often represented at the oylmpics, bobsled races etc. http://www.mini2.com/gallery/persona...star/39295.jpg

Jul 24th, 2003, 12:31 AM	#10 (permalink)
mojomini MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Jacksonville, Florid Local Time: 06:23 PM Posts: 105 Offline	Thanks for the compliment Moorlockx. I just got a little weary of people asking me, "Why do they call it British Racing Green?" and me not knowing the correct answer. It was beginning to drive me crazy. Once again thanks to everybody for the info. I have enough troubles overcoming my own limitations without fretting over the fact that God has not seen fit to distribute evenly the gift of intelligence.

Jul 24th, 2003, 10:17 AM	#11 (permalink)
Beester MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jun 2003 Local Time: 10:23 PM Posts: 177 Offline	It goes back to the time when most raceteams were country teams. Each country had a different color, making it easier to see in an instant which country-team the car belonged to. The color are mentioned above. Belgium used the color yellow too tho!! And in European races only Belgium could use that colour. (Being a bit chauvenistic here ) Currently driving my Mini Cooper and having alot of fun! +10000 miles and counting. MC VR/W, man Airco, SS+, alarm, profile leather, sportseats, spoiler, radio boost, chrome pack, white racestripes, 16" 5 spoke rims,

Jul 24th, 2003, 03:58 PM	#12 (permalink)
pk_lonestar MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Orange Country, Cali Local Time: 10:23 AM Posts: 30 Offline	found this on the net, interesting matix at the bottom. learn something new everyday! http://www.miata.net/misc/racecolor.html http://www.mini2.com/gallery/persona...star/39295.jpg

Jul 24th, 2003, 04:11 PM	#13 (permalink)
Tonyt3 Track addict Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hants Local Time: 07:23 PM Posts: 6,258 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by pk_lonestar Germany - silver Japan - white Italy - Red France - Dark Blue Canada - Yellow Britian - Kelly green (BRG) USA - Red, White, Blue You'll see these colour often represented at the oylmpics, bobsled races etc. German cars only became 'Silver' after they realised that they could save weight be not painting the cars - about 10lbs of paint I think.... The silver is in fact just the metal colour. Silver has now been adopted as the 'German' colours. I'm not sure what colour they were before, but I know that white is a traditional colour of old BMW sports cars... Wouldn't it be nice to see these colours dominating the sport again, instead of 'fag packet' colours.....

Jul 24th, 2003, 08:17 PM	#14 (permalink)
xplode minimalist Join Date: May 2002 Location: here Local Time: 02:23 PM Posts: 586 Offline	the paint the germans stripped off was white. hence was born the silver arrows which really should have been white arrows. also, i thought france had a paler shade of blue, not dark. think bugatti? cooper s '05 x brg/white/chrome, cordoba/anthracite/chrome, flik wasp 17x7 x delivered july 26th 2005 cooper '02 replaced x brg/white, R83 white, chrome, cordoba x built june 21st, arrived july 15th on the traviata, delivered july 26th 2002

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Jul 24th, 2003, 08:44 PM	#15 (permalink)
rob_lewis MINI2 Regular Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cedar Park, TX Local Time: 01:23 PM Posts: 80 Offline	At least you're happy with the color hue of BRG. It's been a long standing arguement in the classic British car camps as to the "hue" of BRG. From the lighter green in the early days to the almost black of the Jaguar racecars. I love my BRG/B Cooper, but would love to see MINI bring back that REALLY dark BRG. -Rob "Hey, where am I going?" "And why am I in this handbasket?!?"

Jul 25th, 2003, 08:03 AM	#16 (permalink)
Beester MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jun 2003 Local Time: 10:23 PM Posts: 177 Offline	Nice article Currently driving my Mini Cooper and having alot of fun! +10000 miles and counting. MC VR/W, man Airco, SS+, alarm, profile leather, sportseats, spoiler, radio boost, chrome pack, white racestripes, 16" 5 spoke rims,

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