On this day in…
1902
122 years ago
King Edward VII became the first reigning British monarch to travel by car, when John Scott-Montague drove him through the New Forest in a 24 hp Daimler Read more…
1903
121 years ago
The first municipal motor omnibus service in the world was inaugurated, between Eastbourne railway station and Meads, East Sussex, England Read more…
1921
103 years ago
Ford announced they were producing 1 million cars a year Read more…
1922
102 years ago
The International Motor Truck Corporation changed its name to Mack Trucks, Inc Read more…
1926
98 years ago
The British businessman who built Rolls-Royce Limited, Claude Johnson (61), died Read more…
1928
96 years ago
The first official Opel rocket car test run was made for the press Read more…
1934
90 years ago
According to government statistics, 126 people died in road accidents in the UK since April 7th, but the introduction of traffic lights reduced the number of accidents in London. Read more…
1951
73 years ago
Motorcycle racer Wilhelm Herz succeeded in setting a new world record on a section of the Munich-Ingolstadt autobahn, by reaching a speed of 180 mph on a supercharged 500 cc NSU racing motorcycle Read more…
1952
72 years ago
Buck Baker won the 100-mile NASCAR Grand National race at Columbia, South Carolina, US, and Lee Petty vaulted to the top of the points standings Read more…
1954
70 years ago
The Hudson Jet Family Club Sedan, Hudson’s lowest priced 1954 car, was introduced as a mid-year model Read more…
1961
63 years ago
John Dykstra was elected Ford company president Read more…
1962
62 years ago
Ron Flockhart (38), Australia Scottish racing driver died on a test flight in preparation for a Sydney to London record attempt to gain publicity for the UDT Laystall racing team Read more…
1968
56 years ago
Heinrich Nordhoff (69), German engineer famous for his leadership of the Volkswagen company as it was rebuilt after World War II, died Read more…
1970
54 years ago
Pedro Rodriguez completely dominated in the rain, driving his Porsche 917 to victory in the 1000 Kilometer World Sports Car Championship race on the Brands Hatch circuit, England Read more…
1971
53 years ago
Brian Redman drove his McLaren M18A to victory in both 20 lap heats of the European Formula 5000 race held on the Brands Hatch circuit Read more…
1971
53 years ago
Graham Hill won the Yellow Pages Jochen Rindt Trophy at the Thruxton circuit in a Brabham-Ford, at the age of 42 years, 56 days – becoming the oldest driver to win a Formula 2 race Read more…
1973
51 years ago
Meade F Moore (78), a 46 year veteran of the Nash Motors Company and American Motors who is credited with developing unit-body construction and Nash’s noted ‘Weather Eye’, died in Phoenix, Arizona, US Read more…
1977
47 years ago
General Motors (GM) announced it had dropped plans to produce a Wankel rotary engine Read more…
1980
44 years ago
Sri Lankan international cricketer, Stanley de Silva (22), died in a motorcycle accident Read more…
1981
43 years ago
Nelson Piquet won the Argentine Grand Prix in a Brabham BT49C Read more…
1981
43 years ago
Giorgio Francia and Lella Lombardi won the World Endurance Championship race at Mugello, Italy, in an Osella Read more…
1985
39 years ago
Allan ‘Bootsie’ Herridge became the first British drag racer driver to go under five seconds at Santa Pod’s Easter Internationals Meeting Read more…
1987
37 years ago
Dale Earnhardt won the Valleydale Meats 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway after leading 180 laps, including the final 115 Read more…
1987
37 years ago
Reigning world champion, Frenchman Alain Prost driving a McLaren MP4/3 won the Brazilian Grand Prix at Jacarepagua Read more…
1990
34 years ago
Easter weekend, marked the first holiday in nearly 40 years that Germans were free to visit family on the other side of the border separating East Germany from West Germany Read more…
1990
34 years ago
A 1931 Bugatti Type 41 ‘Royale’ Sports Coupe was sold by Nicolas Harvey of Great Britain to the Meitec Corporation of Japan for $15 million (£8.45 million). Read more…
1992
32 years ago
Ilario Bandini (80) an Italian businessman, racing driver, and racing car builder died Read more…
1992
32 years ago
Racing with a rib injury, Davey Allison led the final 88 laps and held off Rusty Wallace to win the First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway Read more…
1992
32 years ago
Racing with a rib injury, Davey Allison led the final 88 laps and held off Rusty Wallace to win the First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway Read more…
1994
30 years ago
Bob Cryer (59) Labour MP died when the Rover he was driving on his way to London overturned on the M1 motorway near Junction 5 at Watford Read more…
1995
29 years ago
In a move that stunned the business world, billionaire Kirk Kerkorian and former Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca made an unsolicited $22 Read more…
1997
27 years ago
Jeff Burton won the Moore’s Snacks 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway Read more…
1998
26 years ago
The Argentine Grand Prix held at Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires was won by Michael Schumacher driving a Ferrari F300 Read more…
2003
21 years ago
The all-new 170 mph British built Invicta S1 sportscar made its race track debut at the Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire, England Read more…
2003
21 years ago
David Green slipped past Johnny Sauter on the final lap to win the NASCAR Xfinity (Busch Grand National) Series Pepsi 300 at Nashville Superspeedway for his sixth career series victory Read more…
2006
18 years ago
The JK series 2007 Wrangler Unlimited was unveiled at the New York Auto Show, priced near $21,000 Read more…
2006
18 years ago
BMW 3 Series was named World Car of the Year at the New York Auto Show Read more…
2006
18 years ago
The all-new Hyundai Santa Fe SUV went on sale in the UK Read more…
2007
17 years ago
Toyota named the first non-Japanese to its board of directors, appointing American James Press, the automaker’s president of North American operations, amid growing fears of a political backlash for its booming US sales Read more…
2008
16 years ago
Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus played a fuel strategy game that paid off with a win in the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix Raceway Read more…
2012
12 years ago
Transport for London banned an advertising campaign due to run on buses by a Christian group suggesting that gay people can be cured by therapy Read more…
2013
11 years ago
Kyle Busch scored his fourth win of the season when he picked up the checkered flag in the NASCAR Xfinity (Nationwide) Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway Read more…
2014
10 years ago
Kevin Harvick became the first repeat winner of the season when he won the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway Read more…
2019
5 years ago
Cole Custer won the NASCAR Xfinity Series ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond Raceway to take home the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus Read more…
