In motorsports, from Formula 1 to NASCAR, the waving of the checkered flag signals the end of the race.
But the story of how this iconic flag became a racing tradition dates back to the early 1900s, rooted in a clever pun.
Origins of the Checkered Flag
The American Automobile Association (AAA) played an important role in popularizing the checkered flag.
During the early 20th century, the AAA organized races like the Glidden Tour, which began in 1904. These races, spanning hundreds of kilometers across the USA and Canada, aimed to promote automobile use and road safety.
The races were divided into stages, with participants’ times recorded at checkpoints by judges stationed at the finish lines.
These judges were tasked with verifying times and determining the standings—earning them the nickname “checkers” for their role in "checking" results.
This was reported by the Historie magazine.
The word "checker" in English not only refers to someone who verifies but also to something "checkered" or patterned. This double meaning inspired the judges to use checkered flags to identify themselves at the finish line.
By 1906, these flags were being waved to mark the conclusion of a race stage, symbolizing that the judges, or "checkers," had taken over to finalize results.
The idea caught on quickly.
Later in 1906, at the prestigious Vanderbilt Cup in New York, the checkered flag was famously captured in photographs, solidifying its association with motorsports.
