Flags - Where do I get them & how much?

[PipSqueak111]

I understand some of you flaggies buy your own sets of flags sometimes. Where do you get them from and how much do they cost?

I'm asking as our car club doesn't currently have its own flags, and we can't always borrow some from the tracks we run track days at (and hand-signals don't always work! ).

Do you buy them as a complete set, or on a per flag basis? All we really need are some reds, yellows, blues, black-n-white 1/4s, a black, a green and a chequered. Don't think we need any others really as we run speed events (can't call them track days anymore ), not races.

Any advice on which flags to get (cheaply) and where from would be much appreciated.

Phill

[brickkicker]

Have you thought about making them yourself?? Some handles and a bit of fabric. Sizes are in the blue book

[KayBee]

Most of the circuit flags which I have seen are made of cotton and from a Liverpool (0151) based firm. Unfortunately these flags tend to hold the water when it rains making them very heavy and unwieldy to use.

I, however, have acquired a set of flags made from a manmade fibre and they were made by:
Black and Edgington Flags
Orpington Trading Estate
Sevenoaks Way
Orpington
Kent
BR5 3SR

Phone: 01689 839389
Fax: 01689 870236

Unfortunately I am unable to tell you how much they cost because I was given the set by a fellow marshal.

[Flaggie]

We tend to use Sailcloth here in Australia. Most flag and banner supply shops will supply it and it's not expensive, is color fast and wont hold water. plus cause the fabric has a little bit of stiffness to it, it's a lot easier to wave in high winds.

[upaulao]

demon tweeks motorsport stocks flags and have a mail order service,not sure of their website address,but they are based in wrexham,n.wales.

[Dave Brand]

Demon Tweeks website's URL is:

www.demon-tweeks.co.uk

Their flag prices, from the 2002 catalogue, issue M.N.2, are:

All single colour flags £14.80
'naughty boy' £24.67
meatball £30.14
oil £34.90
chequer £46.76

(all prices exclusive of VAT)

The catalogue doesn't state what material the flags are made of.

[rick vaux]

Buy my own flags, buy my own flags, these bast$%ds get enough time and money out of me each year let alone pay for something else...Dont` waste your money, use the ones` provided , they do the job...
Meatball ???

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by rick vaux
Meatball ???

Black with orange disc.

[PipSqueak111]

Originally posted by rick vaux
Buy my own flags, buy my own flags, these bast$%ds get enough time and money out of me each year let alone pay for something else...Dont` waste your money, use the ones` provided , they do the job...
Meatball ???

Like I said, these are for my car club, as they aren't always provided! We marshal ourselves, taking it in turns to go out inbetween our own track sessions. A couple of the tracks we use like Curborough have flags there, but when we use airfield tracks like Alconbury and Bruntingthorpe, we have to provide our own. We've managed to borrow some in the past, but the guy that got them has left so now we're stuck without any.

I have seen two different flag marshals at Castle Combe that have brought their own sets of flags with them this year. Didn't ask them why, but from different things I've seen on this forum, I'm guessing it's to do with feeling comfortable with them, being able to hold on to them in high winds and what they're like in the rain.
Each to their own I suppose.

Thanks for all the help so far people,

Phill

[rick vaux]

PS111, I was only being sarcastic in a jovial way.
I must admit that flags provided usually are quite large, and in the windy conditions we have at many circuits, this can prove quite a problem.
There are some flags that i have seen, they are small, easy to hold,and the material is of a breathable kind, plus when wet, they dont` resemble a pair of Y fronts fresh from the river....Trouble is, where you get them from i dont` know, but i know a man that does..

Watch this space for more info...

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by rick vaux
PS111, There are some flags that i have seen, they are small,

Smaller than 30" x 24"? If so, they ain't legal!

[MagnetON]

Originally posted by Dave Brand


Smaller than 30" x 24"? If so, they ain't legal!

If it's for a track day then MSA flag sizes don't apply.

If you REALLY want accurate sized flags then FIA regulations apply, these generally supercede MSA regulations. So, from Appendix H -

4.1 Flags:
Dimensions - the minimum size of all flags is 60cm x 80cm except the red and chequered flags which should be at least 80cm x 100cm.

Colours – flag colours should correspond to the following references in the Pantone coding system:
Red: 186C
Yellow YellowC
Light blue: 298C
Green: 348C
Black: BlackC
Orange: 151C

And you need at least:

b) a set of signalling flags comprising:
2 yellow ;
1 yellow and red striped ;
1 blue ;
1 white ;
1 green ;
1 red.
Any supplementary or relay posts must also be equipped with a similar set of flags.
Certain posts may, at the request of the Clerk of the Course, also be equipped with a black flag and a black/orange flag.

Additionally, each post should be equipped with a board with the letters 'SC' written on it in black, 40cm high on a white background measuring at least 60 cm x 80 cm, for use when a Safety Car is deployed.

Appendix H is great fun to read

[rick vaux]

Boys , who gives a 4x what size they are !

[MagnetON]

Originally posted by rick vaux
Boys , who gives a 4x what size they are !

FIA, MSA...

[EvilPumpkin]

It's true you know - besides if they weren't a standard size, people would start getting competitive!

I've always wanted a set of flags with poles long enuff for me to THWAP the driver on the head if he was being bad!

[Alan Green]

long poles aren't needed on certain posts I can think of -p1 + p18 at Croft are both good for giving the car/driver a clout as they go past (not intentionally, obviously!).

Al.