Know Your Flags

By Dale Willis
reprinted from Going Places, the official newsletter of the Arizona Region PCA

If you haven’t noticed, the AZ Region is becoming more of a “big time” Porsche club, conducting ever more professional Driver’s Education events on purpose-built racecourses, as well as hosting an annual stop in the national PCA Club Race series. If you are going to be involved in these events as a driver, participant, or would just like to be a better, more knowledgeable racing spectator, is important that you develop a thorough knowledge of the meaning and use of race flags.

While at the typical “parking lot” autocross we use the green, yellow and checkered flags in a relatively informal setting, at DE events and the PCA Club Race we employ a full selection of flags with flag stations manned by professional SCCA crews supplemented by AZ Region members. Volunteering to work a corner with these professionals is great fun and gets one very close to the action. As one who has served as Official Starter for the last two PCA Club Races, I can tell you it is the best seat in the house!

And, as any of our rookie driver’s in the recent Technodyne PCA Club Race can attest, when you are fender-to-fender racing, immediate recognition and response to a warning flag can become critical.

Okay, let’s talk about the flags: Figure 1 starts with a no-brainer, the green flag which is used to start a race or session and to signal that the course is clear.



The yellow flag serves several cautionary purposes: as a single, waving flag it indicates trouble such as a spin or disabled car on/near the track following the flag station. It signals caution, slow with no passing (other than of vehicles causing the flag) within the zone following the flag to the next clear flag station. The vigor with which the flag is being waved can be a hint to the immediacy or seriousness of the event causing the caution.

A single, standing yellow may be displayed at the station prior to the waving yellow as an advance warning. In the event of a more serious event or track blockage double yellow flags at all stations may signal a full-course yellow condition. Again, slow, use caution, no passing for the full course. Additionally, for the initial warm-up lap of a session double yellow flags are displayed at each flag station and are withdrawn at the green flag start.

A blue flag with a yellow diagonal stripe is an advisory flag alerting the driver that a faster car is approaching, check your mirrors and prepare to be passed. It is used sparingly in an actual race simply to advise drivers of possible overtaking traffic, after all, they are racing. Occasionally in DE events, particularly in beginner or novice groups, the event chairman may designate the blue/yellow “passing” flag as mandatory. It is usually “popped” or opened and pointed specifically at your vehicle. Pay attention at your driver’s meeting or you may see one of the next series of black flags.

Figure 2 shows the surface condition flag, yellow with two red horizontal stripes, which advises drivers that there is a slippery surface with oil, water, or debris near the flag station. Sometimes it is dirt or stones kicked out by an off-track excursion also known as “agricultural driving.” The important thing to remember about the debris flag is that it is local and is displayed for up to three laps and then usually withdrawn. The assumption is that, once warned, drivers will remember the surface challenge.



The next two variations of the black flag are what I call “consultation” flags. This means when you see either of these flags you specifically, are being summoned to the hot pits. They are usually displayed at the starter’s stand or the last flag station prior to the pit entrance and are normally “popped” or opened pointing directly at you. Sometimes a board with your car number will accompany the black flag to make things absolutely clear.

A solid black flag is a warning and summons to a driver for a rules violation, unsafe condition or mechanical problem. It is very important to acknowledge you have seen the flag with a wave or a nod to the flag person or you will see another black flag at the next appropriate flag station until you do acknowledge. Since it often indicates a safety concern, you must slow and go immediately to the pits where a steward will be standing by to advise you of the problem. The “meatball” flag, black with an orange circle, specifically signals a mechanical condition, slow and go to the pits.


Figure 3 shows one flag you would normally see only during a race or a continuing action situation on the course and is the solid white flag. Often used in conjunction with waving or standing yellow flags it alerts you that an ambulance, emergency, service or slow moving racecar is on the course following the white flag. It is usually displayed at the station immediately prior the vehicle’s position. The white flag is displayed and withdrawn from flag station to station as the slow vehicle proceeds around the course so you know when you are approaching such a vehicle. For a long-term situation a standing white flag may also be displayed at the starter’s position. Note that emergency and service vehicles should always move in the same direction as traffic, but be alert and prepared for the unexpected mistake.



A solid red flag is the most serious of all flags and indicates a significant track event that requires you to come to an immediate, controlled stop near the inside edge of the track and await instructions. It can be as simple as an incident causing blockage of the track or an accident needing immediate response requiring all cars to stop for safety reasons. This flag is used very sparingly and should be immediately obeyed.

One of the most recognized and “happier” flags is the black and white, or checkered, flag. It signals the end of the race, qualifying or practice session and is particularly pleasing to the race winner.

During the cool-down lap be sure to acknowledge and thank the course workers at the flag stations with a wave, “thumbs-up” signal or nod of appreciation. They will be waving back.

By the way, did you know you can evaluate a starter or flag person by the quality of their “pop?”