The 7 Flags of Racing (part 2)

So last week I gave you a breakdown of the 3 most used flags in NASCAR: the green flag, the yellow (caution) flag and the checkered flag. Now, we will go over some of the lesser known flags.

The White Flag

The white flag indicates to the drivers that only one lap remains in the race. It marks the beginning of the most exciting lap in motorsports! 

 

 

The Red Flag

The Red flag indicates that the track is dangerous to continue on and all cars are stopped. These cars are either escorted to the pit stalls or are stopped at a specific location on the track. Drivers and crews are not allowed to work on their cars during a red flag. Many different situations can cause red flags to be flown, including rain, debris, fires, etc.

The Black Flag

A black flag is flown when a driver or team has done something illegal and they are being penalized. In NASCAR, this flag is most often when a car has surpassed the pit row speed limit. If a part of the car is beginning to become a hazard to the rest of the drivers, such as a bumper hanging or falling off, the black flag will summon the driver into the pits to get it fixed before being allowed to continue racing.

The Blue Flag

The Blue with yellow striped flag indicates to slower traffic that faster traffic is approaching. It does not necessarily require the drivers to let the faster cars pass though, as many might believe. During races, these are usually only shown to lapped (cars that have been passed by a full lap) car, but during testing, practice and qualifying, the flag can be waved at anyone on the track.

There you have it! All 7 NASCAR flags! I hope that this helps you understand races a little more, and at the very least give you an understanding of the flags used. If you are looking for a racing flag set, please visit our site and check out the NASCAR flags!

The 7 Flags of Racing (part 1)

In honor of the newly formed NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Racing) Hall Of Fame, I have decided to do a breakdown of all 7 flags used in the sport today. Today we will break down the 3 most important: The green flag, checkered flag and yellow flag.

Green Flag

The green flag signals the start/restart of each race. It is flown at the beginng of the race and each time the race resumes following any cautions or delays. Sometimes you may hear the term “green flag conditions” which just means the laps are not under caution or delay. The only other time a green flag is used is at the entrance of pit road. When it is flown in this manner, it indicates to the drivers that pit road is available for pit stops.

Yellow Flag

The yellow flag (caution flag) indicates to the driver that either a wreck, debris or some other situation has forced the race to come “under caution”. When this happens, speed limits are restricted and passing is not allowed. In NASCAR, a pace car will come onto the track to limit the speeds of the drivers and essentially line them up for the restart. The only time passing is allowed under caution is during pit stops; however, pit “row” has a speed limit as well.

Checkered Flag

The most recognizable flag of NASCAR and racing in general is of course: the checkered flag. This flag simply means that the race is finished. Most often this occurs when all laps are completed but can also be used in times where weather or track conditions have made it impossible to continue and the end of the race has been determined by NASCAR officials. Many times following the end of the race, the winner will drive a “victory lap” around the track holding the flag outside of the window.

You can check out our NASCAR or racing flag set to get the racing flags you need! Check back for part 2 of our NASCAR flag breakdowns!

The Arizona Chronicles, Part II

Flagstaff

Ever wonder where those Arizona folk came up with the name “Flagstaff”? To be honest, it never really crossed my mind until my uncle decided to fill me in on the story!

We had made a quick pit stop at the Crown Railroad Café in Flagstaff, AZ to fuel up on some good eats before we puttered around the Grand Canyon. (By the way, if you have never had a pancake taco, I strongly suggest you go out there and find yourself one.) In any case, it was at this time that my Uncle John decided to clue me in. First, you have to understand that quite a bit of Arizona is fairly desert-like. The most common trees in most places are Mesquite and Palo Verde, with Pinyon Pines being more common at higher elevations. Other than that, there are a whole lot of cacti and shrubs. Needless to say, wood and timber is a little thin on the ground (no pun intended) in most of Arizona. The Flagstaff area is a big exception! The trees in this mountainous region are so tall and impressive that I could not believe we were still in Arizona.

According to my Uncle John, this abundance of tall trees is where Flagstaff got its name. Flagstaff became the popular spot with people all around the area, as the place to go to get a flagpole! That’s right, at that time people used these giant wooden trees as flagpoles. Being the dedicated flag and flagpole follower that I am, I did what I do best—I worshipped at the shrine of Google. Following below is the information that I collected for you, so that you can read it all in one place instead of in twenty.

Before the Industrial Revolution flagpoles, or “flagstaffs”, were made out of wood. They were crafted by chopping down a relatively straight tree, then basically whittling it into a pole by removing the limbs and smoothing it, most commonly with an ax or sandpaper. The result was a “flagstaff”. To erect these flagpoles, the tree was simply stuck back into the ground and the flag was attached to the top of the pole. One of the major problems with these early flagpoles was the rot experienced at the base of the pole, where it met the ground and was buried. To improve the lifespan of these poles, crafters later began using animal lard to act as a sealant on the poles. Pines were a very popular tree in the construction of these wooden flagpoles, due to their slimmer, straighter growth patterns. One of the oldest standing wooden flagpoles was located in Glenwood, AZ, and was constructed using this technique. It lasted 52 years. Another wooden flagpole still stands today, in Old Town San Diego.

At the turn of the century, in the late 1800’s, the Industrial Revolution prompted the next step in the evolution of the flagpole. The advent of major machinery and the use of steel led to these same materials being used in the construction of flagpoles. The resulting pole was much more durable with a vastly increased longevity. Manufacturers were also able to increase the height of these poles in ways they had not been able to before and used multiple sections of steel to achieve these heights and to create the first sectional flagpoles. Steel is still used to today for some of the taller flagpoles, which can reach heights of 400 feet and more! In our constant push to improve products and to maintain a competitive edge, manufacturers began using aluminum, fiberglass, and later anodized aluminum to mass-produce. Fiberglass flagpoles are an innovative material as they do not corrode, rust, conduct electricity and can be produced in a wide variety of colors that range from white to yellow, red, green, blue and more.

Since its humble origin as a wooden pole in the ground, the flagpole has come pretty far in its evolution to the sleek, modern metal and fiberglass poles of today. We owe a lot to our wooden flagpoles for holding up the flags of our ancestors, but just as importantly for giving Flagstaff its unique name!