Christmas Tree (Drag Racing Lights)

The Christmas tree is the vertical light tower between the lanes at the start line of a drag strip. It got its name from its rows of coloured lights.

At the top are small pre-stage and stage lights that come on when the front wheel breaks timing beams at the start line. Then three amber lights count down, either one after another (a full tree) or all at once (a pro tree), followed by the green light that starts the race. A red light means the rider left too early and is disqualified in that round.

Reaction time, measured from the green light to the bike leaving the beam, often decides close races, so drag racers practise their launch and clutch control to respond to the lights consistently. Drag racing and street sprint events are also held in the Baltics.