[DeTomaso] Indicator lights on race cars?

[Charles McCall]

Hmm. You are probably right. I'm going by memory from many years ago, so
I'll either blame Mike Drew (who I think told me this) or French beer (which
was also present at Le Mans).

Charles McCall
1985 DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S #9375
"Raising Pantera Awareness Across Europe"
http://www.poca.com/index.php/gallery/?g2_itemId=2323

-----Mensaje original-----
De: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com] En
nombre de Tomas Gunnarsson
Enviado el: viernes, 12 de noviembre de 2010 22:11
Para: 'List'
Asunto: Re: [DeTomaso] Indicator lights on race cars?

The leader theory doesn't make any sense to me. Far from all cars had
red/blue/green sets of lights on them or were the cars seeded and had lights
installed pre-race if they were likely to fight for podium places? Was the
driver supposed to update the lighting manually as needed during the race?
This was pre-telemetry you know. A friend of a friend built a cosmetic
replica of one of the MGB GTs that had raced in the day and he put a red
light on the hard top. I was told that it was used to distinguish between
the cars during the night.

Tomas

-----Original Message-----
From: Charles McCall [mailto:charlesmccall at gmail.com]
Sent: den 12 november 2010 20:39
To: 'Tomas Gunnarsson'; detomasoregistry at gmail.com; 'List'
Subject: RE: [DeTomaso] Indicator lights on race cars?


I was told at Le Mans many moons ago that those lights were used to identify
the leaders in class at night. I did a quick google and couldn't find
anything to corrobarate that or give more details, but it was something like
the first place in each class had a red light, second a blue light, and
third green. I made up the colors, but the system was to allow to you tell
the order within classes at night.

The answer to a question that nobody asked but I know? Stay tuned!

The Le Mans prototype cars (the really fast cars) have white headlights. The
production cars (the Ferraris, Porsches, and other comparatively slow
production cars) have yellow headlights. This helps tell what is coming up
behind you. If you are driving a slow Porsche and you see white headlights,
brace yourself because you are about to have your doors blown off. If you
are driving a prototype car and see yellow headlights, relax because you are
faster.

Charles McCall
1985 DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S #9375
"Raising Pantera Awareness Across Europe"
http://www.poca.com/index.php/gallery/?g2_itemId=2323

-----Mensaje original-----
De: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com] En
nombre de Tomas Gunnarsson
Enviado el: viernes, 12 de noviembre de 2010 19:20
Para: detomasoregistry at gmail.com; List
Asunto: Re: [DeTomaso] Indicator lights on race cars?

I thought they were for nighttime ID but it does seem plausible that they
could be used to e.g. announce coming into the pits also. At Le Mans Classic
I saw many cars running with them on continously in the dark.

Tomas

-----Original Message-----
From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com
[mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com]On Behalf Of
detomasoregistry at gmail.com
Sent: den 12 november 2010 18:36
To: List
Subject: [DeTomaso] Indicator lights on race cars?




Several times I have noticed colored lights on the (outside) body of race
cars, mainly
1960's and 1970's vintage cars.



Sometimes on the (pit) side, other times on the roof, like Pantera 1189, for
example.



Sometimes 2 lights, other times 3 (red, blue, green).



How are they used?  (Pit signal, oil pressure, etc. ?)



Chuck

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