Origin of checkered flag ?

[ddewhurst]

I must admit this question originated from Paul Gipson on the Spec-7 site. It's to good to not have an answer for.

When was the origin of the checkered flag & please support your response.

Have Fun
David

[ITSRX7]

Originally posted by ddewhurst:
I must admit this question originated from Paul Gipson on the Spec-7 site. It's to good to not have an answer for.

When was the origin of the checkered flag & please support your response.

Have Fun
David

I think the exact origin is unknown. SOme say it morphed from one white and one black flag waving to signal the end of the race and some say it was used in place of actual men in checkered shirts signifying the finish line.

I have never seen the difinitive answer.

AB

------------------
Andy Bettencourt
06 ITS RX-7
FlatOut Motorsports
New England Region #188967
www.flatout-motorsports.com

[bodyshop]

try this

http://www.toolmandesign.com/flagspot.htm

[ddewhurst]

bodyshop, been there. Best they have is 1904. I have sent the Milwaukee mile an e-mail asking them if they used the checkered flag for the first car race at the mile on September 11, 1903.

Have Fun
David

[pgipson]

David

Thanks for posting, but where is the corollary question about which came first Green Flag, or Green Light?

God I miss racing

[TimM ITB]

Black and white because ?? a relatively higher percentage of men (rather than women) are color blind?? Black and white checker versus a specific color to signal the end of a race?

Green at the start wouldn't be a problem, yellow out on the course shouldn't be a problem, but if not a "checkered" flag at the end, you might not know (if you're color blind) what the heck the guy is waving at the END of a race??

just a thought.

Tim M
#86 ITB

[ddewhurst]

This response from a racing Historian parallels the info on www.toolmandesign.com/flagspot.htm & Andy had he stated bicycle racing.


****From: Davidson, Donald <[email protected]>

Subject: Checkered flag

I don't think there will ever be a definitive answer to this frequently asked question. The best theory I know of came from a panel of experts more than 50 years ago determining that the checkered flag evolved out of bicycle racing in France in the 1860s, two decades before there was any such thing as an automobile. It has been suggested that it was introduced to this country by Alexander Pope who was legendary in the bicycle industry. It appears to have been used in automobile racing since the very beginning.

Best I can do!!!

Donald Davidson***

Happy New Year
David