17 replies to this topic

[Victor]

Apologies if this has already been discussed before:

I always though Emo's helmet was black and that he changed it to dark blue for his Copersucar time. However, I clearly remember reading an interview in which he stated his helmet has always been blue, I have recently been watching all the 1970-75 GPs and his helmet seems as black as I always remembered.

Can someone enlighten me, please? (and yes, I am sure he said that during the interview).

Cheers

[E1pix]

My understanding is it was such a dark blue, the films of the time couldn’t capture such shadow detail as to not look black.

[Parkesi]

My understanding - watching him live in 1970-1973 - is it was such a dark blue, my eyes of the time couldn‘t capture such shadow detail as not to look black...

[Collombin]

How close to black did it look in comparison to the very dark blue sported by Ickx from 1971?

[E1pix]

My understanding - watching him live in 1970-1973 - is it was such a dark blue, my eyes of the time couldn‘t capture such shadow detail as not to look black...

That was you?

[TennisUK]

I think it was dark blue - in the same sense that Graham Hill’s helmet was blue.

[ensign14]

It's like, how much more dark blue could this be?  And the answer is none.  None more dark blue.

[john aston]

In my recollection it was indeed very dark blue. Ickx' s was just dark blue . You could  spot Fittipaldi instantly , in a pack of cars, so visible was the helmet. Unlike now  , where they change constantly and their intricate design can only be properly seen in a close up.  Vanity and folly.  

[chdphd]

[Sterzo]

Add me to the list of old codgers who remember Fittipaldi's helmet as dark blue, right from his days in Formula Ford and F3 in 1969 in the UK.

[68targa]

Photo colours can vary of course.

 

This is in 1973

 

1974

 

1978

[chr1s]

Its quite possible that the helmet in the 1973 picture is the same one as in the 1974 one, I don't think they changed them as often in those days!

[funformula]

This photo is the best I could find to give an idea of the very dark blue of Fittipaldis helmet.

As it was said before it´s the same with Graham and Damon Hill´s helmets and also Gerhard Berger for example, all of them were dark blue rather than black.

 

1972 Canadian Grand Prix. Mosport Park, Ontario, Canada. 22-24 September 1972. Emerson Fittipaldi (Team Lotus). Ref-72 CAN 10. World Copyright - LAT Photographic | 1972 Canadian Grand Prix. | Motorsport Images

[Doug Nye]

Sigh... 

 

Weren't helmet designs simple then, and consistent race to race.

 

I was once involved in a celeb driver charity crash helmet sale at Monaco.  Johnny Herbert donated one of his helmets. "How many did you have that year?".

 

"I think it would have been twenty-two...".

 

Speechless silence from me.  From him: "Yeah - I guess I just sweat a lot".

 

DCN

[Victor]

Thank you all for your kind responses. I am now convinced that Emmo's helmet was very very very very very dark blue and not black and that he changed it to a very very dark blue in his Copersucar/Fittilapaldi's years

Cheers

[E1pix]

A shot of mine of Emmo in (Edit: Montreal) 1978 shows almost a “beehive effect” on the blue that I don’t see on the photo above, maybe as it’s blurry.

I guess it’s possible that effect wouldn’t have popped in a darker blue, so maybe that’s when a lighter blue was used.

Another of mine in 1990 Indycar has the blue darker again.

Edited by E1pix, 13 October 2023 - 18:33.

[LittleChris]

Sigh... 

 

Weren't helmet designs simple then, and consistent race to race.

 

 

DCN

 

Around 1970/71 my Dad received a magazine called Drive from the AA ( Automobile Association not the USA  AA !) and I remember a competition where you had to identify something like 20 drivers from a picture of  their helmet.  At the ago of 8 or 9 I could easily do this as they were so different and immediately recognisable. I wonder how many current 8 or 9 year olds can do that these days ?  It also amazes me that in the modern world and its obsession with "brand awareness" how many drivers can be so dim as to change their helmet colours so frequently and into a hotch potch that looks like all of the others on the grid. 

 

Mind you I think it must be catching with this weeks announcement of the Nationwide Building Society whereby it's changed from a very recognisable logo to one that features Pac Man eating a house in Nat West Bank colours............

 

My favourite helmet colours ?  Ronnie then NGH & Damon, Michele, Elio, Stefan & Henri 

Edited by LittleChris, 13 October 2023 - 20:41.

[B Squared]

This Yearbook in my collection, covers the 1972 season. Contributors include Denis Jenkinson and Doug Nye. The helmet illustration is in the color photo section between pages 180 and 181. Printed by Collier Books,