Checkered Flag
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What is the origin of the checkered flag?
I have read of the historic beginning and the “urban legend” tale. I would like to know what you know.
How did it all start?
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Take your pick:
The exact origins of the use of a checkered flag to end races are lost in history, although there are many theories. A possible though unlikely theory is that horse races during the early days of the settlement of the American Midwest were followed by large public meals and that to signal that the meals were ready and racing should come to an end, a checkered tablecloth was waved.
Another origin theory claim is that the checkered flag’s earliest known use was for 19th century bicycle races in France.
A more likely explanation is that a high-contrast flag would be more conspicuous against the background of a crowd, especially when early races were run on dirt tracks (and therefore dust reduced the driver’s visibility).
The earliest known photographic record of a checkered flag being used to end a race was from Long Island, New York in 1904 at the inaugural Vanderbilt Cup race. Some historians dispute the dating of this photograph, and attribute it to the Vanderbilt races of 1906 or 1908.
A 2006 publication “The Origin of the Checker Flag – A Search for Racing’s Holy Grail”, written by historian Fred Egloff and published by the International Motor Racing Research Center at Watkins Glen, traces the flag’s origin to one Sidney Waldon, an employee of the Packard Motor Car Company, who in 1906 devised the flag to mark “checking stations” (now called “checkpoints”) along the rally-style events of the Glidden Tour.
In 1980, USAC starter Duane Sweeney started a tradition at the Indianapolis 500 by waving twin checkered flags at the end of the race. Previous starters had only used a single flag. Sweeney also marked the first use of twin green flags at the start of the race.
Taco-Man Plays Checkered Flag (Atari Jaguar)
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Bob Byerley “JACKPOT” & “CHECKERED FLAG” Litho on Canvas offered @ 2-for-1 Price $4,750.00 |
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Snap On Modis-12.2 Checkered Flag With 30 Keys 2 Batteries $3,700.00 |
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Autographed 34X60″ Checkered Flag, SIGNED BY 18 DRIVERS $1,000.00 |
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#12 New Zealand Wool Hand Tufted Modern Area Rug Soft Black Ivory Checkered Flag $845.00 |
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#14 New Zealand Wool Hand Tufted Modern Area Rug Soft Blue Ivory Checkered Flag $845.00 |
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Checkered Flag Signed by 11 MotoGP Riders including Marco Simoncelli $649.95 |
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Indy 500 CHECKERED Flag DAN WHELDON SNEVA MARIO HORNISH JR & More HAND SIGNED $500.00 |
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Custom 4″ Hooker Side Pipe Heat Shields Checkered Flag $450.00 |
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Motoracer w/ Checkered Flags $399.00 |
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BRM Premium Factory Leather Watch Strap Black & Red Leather checkered flag. $395.00 |
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#12 New Zealand Wool Hand Tufted Modern Area Rug Soft Black Ivory Checkered Flag $385.00 |
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#14 New Zealand Wool Hand Tufted Modern Area Rug Soft Blue Ivory Checkered Flag $385.00 |
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ShelterLogic 10 x 20 ST Pop-up Canopy, Checkered Flag Cover, Black Roller Bag $379.99 |
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WHITE TOP BAR TABLE PUB SET W/4 CHROME RACING CHECKERED FLAG NASCAR BAR STOOLS $379.88 |
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NEW CHROME BLACK BAR TABLE 2 ADJUSTABLE SWIVEL RACING CHECKERED FLAG BAR STOOLS $378.88 |
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FULL COLOR CAR VINYL GRAPHIC CHECKERED FLAG WRAP 033-1 $339.99 |
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5 PIECE BLACK & CHROME PUB TABLE SET W 4 CHECKERED FLAG RACING SWIVEL BAR STOOLS $359.88 |
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NEW CHROME BLACK BAR TABLE 2 ADJUSTABLE SWIVEL RACING CHECKERED FLAG BAR STOOLS $348.88 |
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NEW CHROME WHITE BAR TABLE 2 ADJUSTABLE SWIVEL RACING CHECKERED FLAG BAR STOOLS $348.88 |
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FULL COLOR CAR VINYL GRAPHIC CHECKERED FLAG WRAP 032 $299.99 |
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FULL COLOR CAR VINYL GRAPHIC CHECKERED FLAG WRAP 032-1 $299.99 |
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ShelterLogic 10 x 15 ST Pop-up Canopy, Checkered Flag Cover, Black Roller Bag $319.99 |
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5 (five) 15′ CHECKERED blk/red SWOOPER FEATHER FLAGS KIT with poles+spikes $314.65 |
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5 (five) 15′ CHECKERED red/wh SWOOPER FEATHER FLAGS KIT with poles+spikes $314.65 |
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5 (five) 15′ CHECKERED blk/red SWOOPER FEATHER FLAGS KIT with poles+spikes $314.65 |
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5 (five) 15′ CHECKERED blk/wh SWOOPER FEATHER FLAGS KIT with poles+spikes $314.65 |
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5 (five) 15′ CHECKERED blk/yel SWOOPER FEATHER FLAGS KIT with poles+spikes $314.65 |
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5 (five) 15′ CHECKERED red/gr/wh SWOOPER FEATHER FLAGS KIT with poles+spikes $314.65 |
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5 (five) 15′ CHECKERED red/wh SWOOPER FEATHER FLAGS KIT with poles+spikes $314.65 |
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5 (five) 15′ CHECKERED red/wh/bl SWOOPER FEATHER FLAGS KIT with poles+spikes $314.65 |
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5 (five) 15′ CHECKERED red/white SWOOPER FEATHER FLAGS KIT with poles+spikes $314.65 |
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Custom Checkered Flag Decals RV Motorcycle Trailer $300.00 |
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5 (five) 15′ CHECKERED black/red SWOOPER #3 FEATHER FLAGS KIT with poles+spikes $299.99 |
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5 (five) 15′ CHECKERED black/white SWOOPER #3 FEATHER FLAGS KIT $299.99 |
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5 (five) 15′ CHECKERED black/white SWOOPER #3 FEATHER FLAGS KIT $299.99 |
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5 (five) 15′ CHECKERED blue/white SWOOPER #3 FEATHER FLAGS KIT with poles+spikes $299.99 |
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5 (five) 15′ CHECKERED red/white SWOOPER #3 FEATHER FLAGS KIT with poles+spikes $299.99 |
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ShelterLogic 12 x 12 ST Pop-up Canopy, Checkered Flag Cover, Black Roller Bag $299.99 |
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4 (four) 15′ CHECKERED blk/red SWOOPER FEATHER FLAGS KIT with poles+spikes $291.21 |
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4 (four) 15′ CHECKERED blk/wh SWOOPER FEATHER FLAGS KIT with poles+spikes $291.21 |
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Wooden Race Car Flag Picks (Receive 144 Per Order) $5.00 These Wooden Checkered Flag Picks are great for any race fans party. Use them for snack platters or even cupcake toppers!… |
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Racing Checkered Flags Cupcake Picks $0.01 These picks are lower quality (paper) but for a low price these will add a great look to your party. The flags themselves are paper place on a plastic pic/pole…. |
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Race Car Candle and Cake Decoration $3.00 Top your cake with candles in the perfect colors and exciting designs. Set of 4These candles have been discontinued by Wilton, quanities are limited. … |
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Checkered Flag $10.44 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
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Checkered Flag $9.99 … |
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Checkered Flag [Vinyl] $13.25 In late 1963, California’s King of the Surf Guitar left the shore for the strip and created one of the classic albums of the hot-rod music genre. Dick Dale’s Checkered Flag is heavy with white-hot Dale instrumentals (”Night Rider,” ”Ho-Dad Machine”) and vocal car tunes from the pens of pop’s songwriters (Gary Usher, Gary Paxton, Carol Connors). Helping Dale stir up the nitro fuel are L.A. sess… |
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Checkered Flag [VHS] $9.95 … |
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NASCAR Winners – The Men Who Take The Checkered Flag [VHS] $0.23 … |
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‘The Checkered Flag is Mine’ Vinyl Art $34.79 Title: The Checkered Flag is MineProduct type: Vinyl wall artImage dimensions: 21 inches high x 29.7 inches wide |
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Los Angeles Pop Art NASCAR Women’s Checkered Flags Race Track T-shirt $20.99 Women’s shirt is created using list of NASCAR national series race tracksShirt features the checkered flag symbolic of the enormously popular racing worldShirt’s checkered flag design looks handwritten |
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Checkered Flag Contenders Nascar Slot Car Racing Set $75.43 This Checkered Flag Contenders Nascar Slot Car Racing Set includes nearly 20 feet of track built for speed. This Nascar themed racing set comes with Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin cars. |
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Race Car Rocker $0 Enhance your home decor with a race car rocking chairFurniture features a checkered flag and track seat back designKids chair features stickers on seat |
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NASCAR Hammer Down 12-inch Bicycle $75.99 Your child will take the checkered flag with a 12-inch NASCAR-themed monocoque bikeBicycle features mag wheels and reinforced training wheels for your little NASCAR fanBike features official NASCAR graphics and faceplate |
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NASCAR Hammer Down 20-inch Bicycle $86.05 Take the checkered flag with a 20-inch NASCAR-themed monocoque bikeBicycle features rear coaster brakesBike features official NASCAR graphics and racing-style faceplate |
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Wii – Sonic and Sega All-Star Racing $17.6 Get ready for the ultimate racing showdown with Sonic and his SEGA friends! Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing is a fast and furious battle to the finish line. In a frantic battle to the checkered flag, Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing sees Sonic and friends s… |
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