“The most admirable trophy was the ‘Floatile’ for the Can-Am series”
DOUG NYE
Motor racing trophies embody an enormously wide range of aesthetic, commercial and cultural taste. How often has one seen an eye-popping podium presentation of some garish oversized fridge magnet to a momentarily dumbstruck driver? Still occasionally a ‘proper’ classical gold cup, like the British GP’s Mervyn O’Gorman Trophy, introduces at least a belated note of wellfounded values. An adequate racing trophy can still confirm this is an old-established sport of genuine stature.
Of all the racing trophies I recall, for me the most admirable in its concept and appearance was the remarkable ‘Floatile’ presented by Johnson Wax for the original Can-Am Championship series, launched in the US and Canada in 1966.
John Surtees and his Lola-Chevrolet T70 emerged as the first winner, followed of course – for five consecutive seasons – by Team McLaren, 1967-71. Johnson’s donated ‘Floatile’ was itself a truly remarkable piece. It comprised a lightweight magnesium and aluminium ‘nacelle’ tethered to a hefty base, above which it simply floated like a gas balloon, thanks to magnetic repulsion. Its creator was Venezuelan-born sculptor Alberto W. Collie, who specialised in such surreal levitating forms. As a trophy it was attractive, intriguing, innovative and active. When picked up by the base, that floating nacelle would drift and judder – wonderfully well-suited for a hightech competitive activity.