National colours

I have a few questions about national racing colours. They are developed for Gordon-Bennett Cup in 1900., I know - but how they were agreed back then? By chance or with some reason? They were:
French - blue
Belgian - yellow
German - white
American - red

Everyone knows how silver became second German racing colour, but how Italians obtained red? I know it was British colour for some time, until Napier started to wore British Racing Green (what was original name of that shade?)

And I would like to know about other colours - when and how they were developed (some are obviously developed from national flags but others are less certain). For example:
Scottish blue/white (was Ecurie Ecosse first to use it - Aroll-Johnston used tartan design in 1912 - any pictures of these cars?)
Australian golden/yellow (why? other Australian sportsmen are also usually dressed in that combination)
New Zealand black (was it usual in NZ entries in racing, like it was in other sports? Was winning GT40 in LM '66 black because of NZ drivers? Why McLaren used orange instead?)
American white/blue/(red) (before Cunningham and Shelby? How "go faster" stripes were developed?)
And, what do you think, did BAR choose Lucky Strike livery because of reminisscencing of Honda F1 cars/Japanese flag scheme?
Many questions, but I would really like to learn much more on this subject...

Here's a long thread on the subject:
http://www.atlasf1.c...ghlight=colours

I haven't had time to read the whole thing, so I'm not sure if it answers all your questions. Not sure if it answers all mine either.

Actually, except maybe BRG, nothing of my questions was answered in that thread, however fascinating and full of information it was...

dmj, I think I agree about the BAR ... although last year its main colour was white/silver with the red Lucky Strike circles/rising suns, this year's combination of white, red circles AND black stripe does look more than reminiscent of the 1960s Hondas. I'm sure it's no coincidence.