N° 159 White / Wakelin on Ford Pilot. Rallye Monte Carlo 1953. To prevent the competitors from taking the timekeepers by surprise and passing without being spotted the organisers decided to paint the front wings of the cars white with washable paint. This enabled the officials to identify them a long way off even if their rally plates were not easily visible because of dirt or their position on the car. (Louche p. 118)

The Ford Pilot, number 159, driven by White and Wakelin, arrives at the finish line of the 1953 Rallye Monte Carlo. Spectators watch as the road-weary car, its roof rack loaded with a spare tire, passes under the ‘ARRIVEE’ banner. The front wings are painted white with washable paint, a tactic used by organisers that year to ensure officials could identify competitors from a distance, even when their rally plates were obscured by dirt.

Keywords:

Cars, Racing, Rallye

Filename:

rallye1953_159c_406_1.jpg

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