From: cjp53999@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Cory James Padfield)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.sport
Subject: Re: I had a (F1) dream...
Date: 4 Sep 92 22:50:09 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.Bu2srM.LM2
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

agwiii@fang.att.com (Grayson Walker (660-7949)(12/92)) writes:

>Alan F. Perry, George Brims, Grayson Walker, and
>shaman@cix.compulink.co.uk wrote:
>>>>>I had a Formula 1 dream...and it DIDn't include:-
>>>>Me too! And the cars were painted in national colours.

>[much stuff deleted.][

>>>The usual American fascination with nationalism is creeping in here.
>            ^^^^^^^^
>>>Do you really think Senna is racng for Brazil or Mansell for Britain?
>>
>>So, there is no nationalism in Mansell's statements that he wants to
>>see an all-British podium this year?
>>
>To quote that great American Hero, Felix Unger, "Never assume. When you
>assume, (ass u me) you make an ass out of u and me."
>         ^^^ ^ ^^
>As something of a purist, I happen to like seeing red Ferraris, Dallara, 
>BRG (British Racing Green) Loti, and so forth.


    I agree completely here. Who does not think BRG Loti look good on top 
of being a good car. The German silver on the last Mercedes WSC cars and
the Audi Avus was fantastic. (By the way, the Audi Avus and Spyder have to be
two of the best designs to come out in street car design in the last few years
- but maybe that is to far removed for this group. But national colors don't
have to be the only ones. Ferrari's red, or the familiar colors of the 80's
Benettons. In fact, the paint jobs of the Benettons is a very good place to
start on a debate of colors, etc. The cars always had the familiar green, red
blue and yellow of Benetton Formula. But then came Camel, and took over 2/3
of the car with their single color of yellow. I thought the Benettons, on top
of being a good team, looked good, which always impresses others. But then
again, maybe they knew how to look good because the parent company is a fashion
company :) :) :)    My point is that "national" or "team" colors are a wel-
come addition to the aesthetic qualities of a Formula One car, don't you agree?

>I certainly prefer these colors to the colors of Marlboro, Camel, Rothmans,
>or John Player.

>The original thread spoke to the dream of racing without the whinning of
>people like Prost, Senna, and Mansell. My piece of the dream (I dream in
>colors) has to do with national racing colors instead of advertising
>colors. It has to do with aesthetics rather than nationalism.

>But on that topic, I think Alan was right about Mansell. The desire for
>an all British podium certainly speaks more to Mansell's feelings for
>the UK than his feelings about the other drivers from the UK.

>Further, nationalism is certainly not the creation of the United States.
>It has been around much longer than the USA. Many of the geopolitical
>events of this Century have featured one or more countries doing something
>to one or more other countries for "nationalistic" reasons. To suggest
>this is somehow unique to the United States rings of the bad taste of
>racial or ethnic jokes. It has no place in civilized discussion. 

     Quite true that America didn't start nationalism, or even increase
it. How could we really, since we are all basically genetic mutts of all the
other countries. Nationalism isn't such a dreaded force that people should 
worry about overtaking the qualities or traits that we like in people or
favorite drivers as it seems to be used in this thread.


>-- 
>Grayson Walker                                           CHC, Maitland, Florida 
>Forza!                                            Internet: agwiii@fang.att.com
>Voice: 407 660 7949                        Big brown river..... Tuli Kupferberg

     Like usual, Grayson has an opinion that I like. It's nice to have someone
on the net that I can relate to, except of course for you George and dearest 
Toby....  :) :)

Regards,
Cory
Newsgroups: rec.autos.sport