365 Days Of Motoring

Georg Lankensperger
Wednesday 31st March 1779 Born on this day, Georg Lankensperger, the German wheelwright who invented the steering mechanism that is today known as Ackermann steering geometry. Lankensperger invented his steering mechanism in 1816 as Hofwagner (Head waggoner) in Munich, to allow the front wheels of a carriage to individually follow the natural arc of its…
March 31, 1779
Born on this day
The Major of London laid the foundation stone of the Maidenhead Bridge over the River Thames
Monday 19th October 1772 The Major of London laid the foundation stone of the Maidenhead Bridge over the River Thames. Designed by Robert Taylor, the bridge cost £19,000. Tolls were abolished on 31st October 1903 and at midnight a crowd tore down the toll gate and threw it into the river.
October 19, 1772
On this day
Chief Pontiac (48 – 49), legendary Indian leader and namesake of the General Motors marque, was murdered at Cahokia, Illinois, US
Thursday 20th April 1769 Chief Pontiac (48 – 49), legendary Indian leader and namesake of the General Motors marque, was murdered at Cahokia, Illinois, US. The Odawa war chief who became noted for his role in Pontiac’s War (1763–1766), an American Indian struggle against British military occupation of the Great Lakes region and named for…
April 20, 1769
On this day
John Loudon McAdam
Tuesday 21st September 1756 Born on this day, John Loudon McAdam, who gave his name not only to the road surface that he invented in the nineteenth century, but also indirectly, to Edgar Purnell Hooley’s 20th- century invention tar macadam, which has been known since 1903 as Tarmac.
September 21, 1756
Born on this day
Francois Isaac de Rivaz
Tuesday 19th December 1752 Born on this day, Francois Isaac de Rivaz, a French internal combustion engine pioneer. He invented an internal combustion engine with electric ignition and described it in a French patent published in 1807. A mixture of hydrogen and oxygen was manually ignited by electric spark powered it, but the engine neither…
December 19, 1752
Born on this day