Q2. Is the latest Disney car cartoon movie related S. McQueen? As my little nephew always shout “McQueen” “McQueen” with his little toys…so I guess the name must be after American’s well known household name Steve McQueen?
Answer by Will-Laura de Boer-Corsan
Before I talk about the two finger salute, th McQueen your nephew is talking about is lightning McQueen from the movie cartoon called ‘Cars’. I found a Forum answer that makes sense of the two fingered salute. If anyone has a better reponse feel free:
‘The book “A French Kiss with Death” describes the origin of the 2 finger salute.
English longbowmen who fell into the hands of the French, would have their string pulling fingers cut off. This insured that the flower of French knighthood would not suffer again from the same bowman. It goes on to say that before a battle, the English would taunt the French by waving the 2 fingers in the air as a gesture indicating that the fingers remain and the French would move at their peril. Steve McQueen originally wanted to use the American single finger salute, but was offered a more elegant 2 finger version by a British photographer on the set.
Update: Jan 1, 2015
Update: Jan 16, 2016 After almost a year, this figure has been cancelled, what a pity!
” I confirmed this with TSM today. Apparently the Steve McQueen foundation decided not to go ahead with the project. “
Q: Lotus Red Gold Leaf, Then Black Gold JPS after Jim Clark passed away…can someone tell me what’s the story behind Red Gold Leaf in the first place pls? Thx.
Answer by David Steele:
Colin Chapman innovation! Jim drove the F2 car at Hockenheim in the Players ‘Gold Leaf’ livery and was intended to then drive the 49 in its next GP in the same colour scheme. It of course never happened so it was G. Hill that drove the first ’sponsored’ car in F1. The ‘Black Gold’ John Player Special (JPS) cigarettes were not around then. They came out as a ‘more sophisticated smoke’!!!! The Gold Leaf brand was still available but John Player wanted to promote the JPS brand, thus creating the most iconic branding on any race car with the ‘79 (IMHO of course). John Player then exited in 1980 after winning the WC with Andretti. A period followed with Martini but Andretti hated it as it was considered unlucky to drive a green racing car! Then along came Essex Petroleum and some dodgy money! Chapman then got embroiled in the Delorean scandal and it is said the stress of that and his constant desire to look thin caused him to experiment with diet drugs which in the end killed him. Peter Warr along with Ayrton brought back JPS for a period before Camel took over and the steady decline of Lotus set in…
You simply can’t miss this documentary if you like the F1s back in the 60-70s. It’s just a fantastic one, I enjoyed watching it very much.
Almost every big star is in the documentary and not to mention the history, I have never seen those pictures/movies before, now I understand a lot more than before and appreciate my Exoto F1 models more as well.
“Aerodynamics is for people who cannot build engines”
Said Enzo Ferrari. I think he was pointing to Colin Chapman (for his design of the raised wings on Lotus).
There is also a large portion dedicated to Lauda/Hunt 1976/77 race, as a diehard fans of 312T2 and Lauda, I am thrilled to watch those passionate moments again.
These two are definitely something related to the above.
Question from me: Can someone tell me why it’s called Grand Prix in the early days of motor car racing, but after 1979 (I think), it’s been renamed to Formula 1 (or simply F1)?
Answer by David Steele:
It was originally the Gordon Bennett Trophy. A race organised by a wealthy American Businessman between nations. Hence the colours of cars.
White = Germany, Red = Italy, Green = GB, etc, etc.
This then became the Grand Prize or Grand Prix and run by the Federation International Automobile (FIA), from Paris France.
Bernie Ecclestone then got his hands on it! The rest is history as they say. Formula 1 or F1 as it is known became a branding exercise. No longer does Grand Prix mean what it should …
Question from me: Just saw a car show, the host mentioned F1 was started in 1951, the very 1st F1 in Silverstone UK…Alfa 159 won 1-2-3…so I guess GP & F1 was used interchangeably between 50s-70s?
Answer by Wolfgang Beinhauer:
The Formula 1 World Championchip series started 1950, every race of this series is called a Grand Prix. Though, there was a couple of races in the 1950s and 1960s called a Grand Prix that didn’t count for the Formula 1 World Championchip. Prior 1950, there was no Formula 1 hence no official World Championchip.
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