12 replies to this topic

[Flicker]

Who can share his knowledge about the history of this... Cup?

[BRG]

I see that Max has had grooves put onto it...;)

[Gary Davies]

It's a bugle for someone with huge lips.

[Vitesse2]

I remember seeing something on TV about the creation of this trophy, probably about two or three years ago, perhaps as part of an ITV season preview. Someone might have this on video???

[Gil Bouffard]

Hawthorn has a picture of his Formula One Champion trophy that looks a little like a spitoon.

Gil

[MrAerodynamicist]

I think Indy has to have the coolest trophy ever. The above, is quite new IIRc there was an article in F1 racing's first year. What was given before that?

[Ursus]

It was designed by Richard Fox in 1994. There's som info at http://www.foxsilver...port/index.html

[Flicker]

Great, Usrus !

Thanks a lot !!!

[MrAerodynamicist]

Apprently is has all the drivers' signatures on it, shame you can't make it out on the image. The WDC appears to have the constructors logos on it. Not sure about the "FIA Television Trophy"

[Gil Bouffard]

I agree with MrAerodynamicist about the BorgWarner Trophy at Indianapolis. The idea that each year's champion should be embossed (sorry, bas relief) on a perpetual trophy would be fitting for the F-1 World Championship. It would also capture the history of the championship over the last fifty years.

AAAaaannnnndddd, would be far more attractive than the current aberation or even Hawthorn's "spitoon." The picture was in his book, "Champion Year." Pretty disappointing, that.

As I remember it, The winner of the Indy 500 is given a replica of the larger BW trophy as his/her (can't discount Sarah Fisher) personal trophy. The heads of past winners obviously stop on the personal trophy with the current winner.

Consideration: The BorgWarner Trophy is spomsored by the Borg-Warner Corporation. This from The BorgWarner website http://www.bwauto.co...ermar/about.htm

"Since 1928, our name has been synonymous with pioneering innovation in the worldwide automotive industry. We are proud of our long and distinguished history of engineering excellence.

We’re proud of our association with one of the world’s greatest racing events through our sponsorship of the BorgWarner Indianapolis 500 Trophy™. Since 1936, the BorgWarner Indianapolis 500 Trophy™ has been synonymous with top performance, speed, and leading-edge automotive technology—the same qualities that characterize BorgWarner"

Additional Information about the trophy:

"Borg Warner trophy

One of the most recognizable trophies in sports, the 64-year-old Borg Warner dates to 1936, when it was first presented to three-time winner Louis Meyer. Made of solid silver, it was worth $10,000 in its infancy, but, according to Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) historian Donald Davidson*, is "insured for a fairly hefty sum today." The original four-foot-tall trophy contains bas-reliefs of the 59 winners' faces -- 15 more than once. It is housed in the IMS Museum, leaving the premises only for race festivities and ceremonies. Since 1989, a $25,000 replica called the "Baby Borg" has been presented to each winner."

* An interesting sidelight concerns Donald Davidson. Young Mr. Davidson first showed up at Indy in the '70's. A British teenager, Davidson was a fount of Brickyard history, and had his head full of even the most arcane information. As I remember it, he came to the 500 as a tourist and demonstrated his ability toanswer any question about any of the Indy 500's run to that time. He was invited into the radio booth by the announcers to help them with the broadcast. After that first year, he was invited back and finally took a job at the IMS.

A couple of other sites of interest:
Indy Site. http://www.brickyard.com/
http://sportsillustr.../18/traditions/

From whence I stole the other bit of BW Trophy info:

Anyone interested in raising the issue with Max or Bernie?

I think it would be an excellent way to commorate the accomplishments of the F-1 World Driver's Champion.

I'm off my soapbox now.

Gil

[MrAerodynamicist]

I guess putting the faces on to the F1 trophy would just seem like too much of a copy, so they've gone with signatures and team logo [which IMO looks a bit of a mess given the varying sizes and colours. Should have embossed the logos or something] But its the history of the indy500 tropy that is impressive, a modern f1 tropy is never going to be the same. History is something you can't buy. However, if F1 survives to 2050 [as quoted on the page given] then the trophy will be a bit more impressive

[Mike Argetsinger]

Not mentioned in this thread is the fact that the Grand Prix Driver's Association (GPDA) annually presented a very handsome trophy to the World Champion. I recently saw the 1965 trophy in the Jim Clark Room in Duns. That same year the GPDA presented an identical trophy (except for the inscription on the base) to my father - Cameron Argetsinger - for organizing the best Grand Prix of the year. The ceremony was in December at the Waldorf Hotel in London. Within arms reach on my desk as I write this is a photo of my father holding the trophy - he is flanked by Jo Bonnier and Graham Hill (who were President and Vice President respectively of the GPDA). Right next to the photo on my shelf is the trophy itself!

I know these awards (using the same design) were presented for many years in the 60's and at least in to the early 70's. Likely until the demise of the GPDA. But I do not know when this tradition started or for certain when it ended.

[Gil Bouffard]

You guys are looking at two different trophies. The F-1 Constructor's Championship Trophy has the Marques logos on it and begins, rightfully at 1958.

The F-1 World Driver's Championship Trophy has signatures of all the champions on it.

Both trophies look very similar.

Gil