Badge of honour

Worn with pride — preferably on your bumper or over your heart— the BRDC shield, with Union Flag and generic pre-war single-seater, has become a motorsport calling card the world over

The BRDC is fiercely protective of its badges and the emblem thereon. Strictly speaking, they all belong to the Club and should be returned upon the member’s death. As early as March 1931 the Committee was looking to take “whatever steps possible to prevent badges getting into the hands of non-members”. This still stands true; trade in them at your peril!

Of course, the Club couldn’t cover every eventuality. When Mike Hawthorn’s Jaguar was half-inched from outside the Steering Wheel Club in London, the perpetrator was mortified to discover whose car it was and respectfully returned it the next morning minus its BRDC badge! This item is said to be in circulation, albeit with the original owner’s name ground off!

Suggestions for the emblem were made by Sammy Davis, and a sub-committee of Archie Frazer-Nash, Dr Benjafield, Leslie Callingham and Frank Clement, in May 1928.

Just two months later the Secretary had sketches and prices to show them. The lapel badges (to be no more than 0.75in high) would cost the Club 2/10 each, the car badges 6/-. The design and the price were approved forthwith, and 50 of each were ordered – to be sold at 7/6 and £1.