Born on this day in…
1822
200 years ago
Born on this day, Jean Joseph Étienne Lenoir, who developed the first internal combustion engine, a single-cylinder two-stroke engine which burnt a mixture of coal gas and air ignited by a “jumping spark” ignition system by Ruhmkorff coil and which he patented in 1860 Read more…
1874
148 years ago
Born on this day, Carl Fisher, one of the founder of the Indianpolis Speedway Read more…
1879
143 years ago
Born on this day, Ray Harroun, winner of the first Indianapolis 500 (1911) and the AAA season champion in 1910 Read more…
1914
108 years ago
Born on this day, Albrecht Graf Goertz, German who designed cars for BMW including the BMW 503 and BMW 507 Read more…
1924
98 years ago
Born on this day, Olivier Gendebien, French war hero, cited as “one of the greatest sportscar racers of all time” winning Reims 12 Hour race (1957, 1958), Targa Florio (1958, 1961, 1962), 12 Hours of Sebring (1959, 1960, 1961), 24 hours of Le Mans (1958, 1960, 1961, 1962), and the 1000km Nürburgring (1962) Read more…
1928
94 years ago
Born on this day, Lloyd Ruby, US race driver, twice World Sportcars Champion (1966, 1968), winner of Le Mans 24 hours (1967), Daytona 2000 km (1965), 24 Hours of Daytona (1966) and 12 Hours of Sebring (1966) Read more…
1938
84 years ago
Born on this day, Alan Rees, a founding member of March Engineering, his initials “A Read more…
1962
60 years ago
Emanuele Pirro Read more…