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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Red Flag Horseless Carriage Motor Tour held
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
The last week of September is highly anticipated at the Dover Museum and in the New London community, as Dover Historical Society prepares breakfast for the drivers and support staff of the Red Flag Tour. Saturday, Sept. 28, the reenactment of the (New) London to Brighton route finally happens.
The original Red Flag Road Race occurred in the United Kingdom in 1896. The “race” ran from London to Brighton, England. The event celebrated the raising of the speed limit on “horseless carriages” — the preferred term for automobiles, at the time — from four miles per hour to 14 mph. More importantly, the new law dropped a requirement that every such vehicle be proceeded by a man on foot carrying a red flag. His job was to warn oncoming horse and ox travel of the approaching “locomotive.” This race still occurs and is known as the Dondon to Brighton Run. Another great part of the celebration is the burning of the Red Flag as the run starts. In 1903, the Motor Car Act increased the speed limit to a brisk 20 mph.
The agenda for Mount Pleasant’s Road Tour always includes visits to Southeast Iowa places of historical interest, while touring leisurely through the beautiful roadsides of our weird and wonderful Iowa.
This year the group visited the Pearl Button Museum in Muscatine and had Lunch at the History and Innovation Center. The return trip included a break at the Ardon Creek Winery and the day closed out with an Ice Cream social in Mount Pleasant. On Friday, the tour drove through Lake Geode State Park on the way to Crapo Park. A tour of the Memorial Auditorium and the history of Burlington and its extensive transportation history was shared. The long way back included a break in Mediapolis at the Flour Barn Creamery. The day ended with the Tour Banquet.
The final day of the Red Flag Tour begins at New London’s City Park. All the beautiful restored vehicles are parked along at the square so that visitors can view the pre-1928 cars and motorcycles. Many of the drivers and their companions are dressed in period clothing. This year the clothing was needed, as the wind was vigorous along the scenic roadways. After breakfast at Dover, the automobiles and their owners are introduced. They drive down Main Street and are off on their last journey to Brighton. It takes about two and a half hours to get there, but peed is not the objective in this race. This last excursion includes a stop at the Amish Store north of Lockridge.
This year’s Horseless Carriage Tour certainly met its mission and purpose. The vintage vehicles were gorgeous. Spectators and participants are left with a deep appreciation of the era these vehicles were built and many harbor thoughts of a slower trip through Southeast Iowa.
