Origin of flags

miwingless · 1/21/08, 12:38 PM

Does anyone here know the origin of racing flags? Where did the "checkered" flag come from? Why does a "white" flag mean one more lap? Etc....

Thx - just curious.

Z-man · 1/21/08, 12:59 PM

I would say that the use of flags for racing started at the race track.:rolleyes: The white flag does not always mean 1 lap to go. I found this on the web. http://www.toolmandesign.com/flagspot.htm

Seadog · 1/21/08, 1:28 PM

For what it's worth, some info from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racing_flags

1/21/08, 8:43 PM

Chris Economaki once told that the origin of the checkerd flag comes from one of the first cross country races in France back in the early early 1900s. The organizers of the race were at a resturant eating (wine and cheese perhaps..hmmm?? lol) when they heard a car coming over the horizon. One asked the other how they should mark the end of the races and he replied by saying, let's waive the table cloth which happend to be black and white checkered.

Pretty funny and believable. When I tell it, I still hear Chris's wraspy voice calling the events...that is what makes the story that much more fun :checkered:

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1/21/08, 12:38 PM	#1 Origin of flags
miwingless Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 325	Does anyone here know the origin of racing flags? Where did the "checkered" flag come from? Why does a "white" flag mean one more lap? Etc.... Thx - just curious.

1/21/08, 12:59 PM	#2 Re: Origin of flags
Z-man Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 880	I would say that the use of flags for racing started at the race track.:rolleyes: The white flag does not always mean 1 lap to go. I found this on the web. http://www.toolmandesign.com/flagspot.htm

1/21/08, 1:28 PM	#3 Re: Origin of flags
Seadog Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,136	For what it's worth, some info from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racing_flags

1/21/08, 8:43 PM	#4 Re: Origin of flags
HOT227 Posts: n/a	Chris Economaki once told that the origin of the checkerd flag comes from one of the first cross country races in France back in the early early 1900s. The organizers of the race were at a resturant eating (wine and cheese perhaps..hmmm?? lol) when they heard a car coming over the horizon. One asked the other how they should mark the end of the races and he replied by saying, let's waive the table cloth which happend to be black and white checkered. Pretty funny and believable. When I tell it, I still hear Chris's wraspy voice calling the events...that is what makes the story that much more fun :checkered: