Speedmaster Pro Racing 3570.40Its Speedy TuesdayThe moment youve all been waiting for. This weeks Speedy Tuesday is about the Speedmaster Professional Racing models, both old new. You probably know the re-edition that OMEGA did in 2004, the reference?3570.40.00 Speedmaster Professional. Last week, we received photos from one of our readers (Martijn Hofman) Speedmaster Pro 3570.50 that was converted to this Racing edition by his watchmaker. The reference 3570.30 model was for the Japanese market, but apparently the dial and hands are still available as spare parts. More about customization? Check Shanes Speedmaster Paramedic here.As you can see, the orange chronograph hands, hour markers and logo really stand out. The racing pattern on the dial is in red and white. Now, this configuration was not all new when it appeared in 2004. Weve seen similar dials on the Speedmaster Professional Mark II and on the vintage Speedmaster Professional ref. 145.012.Speedmaster Pro 145.012 RacingIn the Time Capsule book, weve seen a photograph of this OMEGA Speedmaster Pro 145.012 with a racing dial. The photo in that book was taken by editor and collector Imran Khan. Imran sent me a photo of that same watch a few months ago, clearly showing the same dial pattern as on the modern Racing models. However, on this watch, all hands are red except for the chronograph hands. So they inverted them.Baselworld 2013 OMEGA Speedmaster Pro RacingOnly 2 days left before Baselworld 2013 and some of the news already leaked through the consumers, such as the new Speedmaster 9300 models ?Dark Side of the Moon and the Speedmaster caliber 9300 57 edition. One of the novelties that is already on the OMEGA website, is the Speedmaster Professional Racing, reference 311.30.42.30.01.004.A regular Speedmaster Professional based on the 3570.50, but with the checkered dial and red engraving on the caseback. It concerns the normal Flight-Qualified by NASA for all Manned Space Missions and First Watch Worn on the Moon engravings, not referring to any racing.So, why the racing you might ask? Well, in the late 1950s, when there was no link yet with NASAs race for the Moon, the Speedmaster was meant to be a watch for sports purposes like car racing. Thats why it has a tachymeter (a tachymeter doesnt make sense with regards to Saturn V rockets or Space Shuttles) in the first place. An easy to use, very legible chronograph. As you can see below, even the later Speedmaster references like the 105.003 and 105.012 (basically the same as the 145.012) have been used for racing-related advertisements.We will definitely ask the OMEGA representatives in Basel why they decide to relaunch a Speedmaster Professional Racing to get a bit more of background. Make sure to follow us during Baselworld (we are there on the 25th of April to the 2nd of May) on this blog, our @fratellowatches instagram account and our Facebook page.