The Superstitions And Good Luck Rituals of Race Car Drivers

The Superstitions And Good Luck Rituals of Race Car Drivers

The Superstitions And Good Luck Rituals of Race Car Drivers

Lucy Wyndham
13 April 2020

Ron Fellows at Road America in 2011. Despite having the #7 car, his luck would only result in a second place finish.

Racing is part skill, part knowledge and sometimes, you just need that little bit of luck. We all have our own superstitions and charms, from counting magpies in the sky to wearing lucky jewelry. In fact, 13% of Americans say that they are superstitious and this affects the actions and decisions that they make in life. Racing drivers are no exception, many of whom have their own rituals and carry good luck charms before a race. These interesting personal superstitions give them confidence in their own abilities and help them to believe that Lady Luck is on their side.

The case of the lucky underpants

Back in 1980, the penultimate round of the World Driver’s Title in Canada went to racing sensation Alan Jones. He said that one of the factors to his success was his lucky red underpants. A few days before the race started, he was actually concerned that he’d lost his underpants. So, he got his very understanding wife to drive to Brands Hatch, where he’d left them in his motorhome. Alan’s wife then arranged for the red pants to be sent by special delivery all the way to Montreal in Canada. Sporting a pair of lucky underpants isn’t uncommon in the world of motor racing — even top F1 drivers Felipe Massa and David Coulthard have spoken about the special pairs of underpants that they reserve for race days.

Lucky Charms

Many drivers carry a lucky charm in their pocket that has sentimental meaning to them. If you know someone who loves racing, then a charm would make an ideal gift for a special occasion. For instance, the Welsh Lovespoon is a charm that was traditionally given by someone that was going on a long journey as a token of their affection. The 24 hours of Le Mans is definitely a long journey! Sebastian Vettel is known to carry several good luck charms in his clothing when he is out on the track. He has two pieces of silver that were a gift from his grandmother sewn into his boots, as well as a St. Christopher (the patron Saint of Travelers) charm under his laces. Then, there is the lucky pig that sits in his race suit pockets.

It’s all in the numbers

In many cultures, certain numbers are considered to be good luck. For instance, the Japanese believe that the number 8 can bring great fortune and wealth. Car license plates with the number 8 on sell for more money in Japan. In America, the number 7 is considered to be good luck, and of course, 13 is unlucky. In racing, Michael Shumacher always favors odd numbers and tries to steer away from even ones. He won every one of his world titles in odd-numbered cars and always requests to be placed on an odd number in a starting line up.

Superstitions and good luck charms are common in the world of motor racing - they may even help drivers get the psychological edge if they feel that luck is on their side. And a little luck in racing certainly goes a long way!