starting lights
Countdown before acceleration
Starting lights are the signal system used to begin motor races, typically a vertical or horizontal array of colored lights that count down before turning green or going dark to indicate the start.
In drag racing, this is called a Christmas tree.
The phrase also applies to similar countdown systems in other competitive contexts: The starting lights went out and the cars launched off the grid.
- greenColor of vegetation
- redPrimary color, warm
- yellowHue between green and orange
- dragResistance through fluid
- drag stripStraight track for acceleration races
quarter mile · race · countdown · on your marks · grid · launch · signal · reaction time · Christmas tree · staging · burnout · throttle · revving · engines · track · sprint · go · ready
starting lightscheckered flag
Racing's final signal
chequered flag · finish line · red flag · victory lap · stop signal
starting, lights, start, light, started, starts, starter, starters, lit