On this day in…
1887
137 years ago
The first motor car race in history took place, the Neuilly-Versailles-Neuilly, a distance of 20 miles, organised by the journalist Fossier Read more…
1888
136 years ago
Anglo American Oil Ltd Read more…
1907
117 years ago
The first production Chadwick was given its initial road test with company Sales manager Harold B Read more…
1920
104 years ago
Tommy Milton, driving a 16-cylinder Duesenberg-Milton Special at Daytona Beach, Florida established an unofficial land speed record Read more…
1921
103 years ago
T G John Ltd moved to larger premises in Coventry, England and changed its name to Alvis Car and Engineering Company Read more…
1922
102 years ago
Jimmy Murphy drove his Miller to victory in the ‘Raisin Day Classic’ 150 mile AAA Championship race on the 1 mile board Fresno Speedway Read more…
1924
100 years ago
The Targa Florio was run over four laps of the mountainous 108 km course along narrow roads of Sicily with over 7,000 bends, while the Coppa Florio required the competitors to complete an extra tour of the circuit, i Read more…
1926
98 years ago
John Godfrey Parry-Thomas established a new Land Speed Record of 169.30 mph driving the 450 hp (340 kW) V12 Liberty aero engine of 27 litre capacity Higham-Thomas Special Babs at Pendine Sands, Wales Read more…
1926
98 years ago
The Packard Motor Car Company was given trademark protection for its “Ask The Man Who Owns One” advertising slogan Read more…
1928
96 years ago
Designer Fritz von Opel took his rocket-powered RAK1 for its fourth test drive at Russelsheim, Germany, reaching 95 mph Read more…
1930
94 years ago
Jean de Maleplane in a Bugatti T35C won the Oran Grand Prix held at Arcole, France Read more…
1931
93 years ago
Petrol cost one and fourpence halfpenny in Great Britain after the Budget put twopence on a gallon. Read more…
1936
88 years ago
The UAW, or United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, gained autonomy from the AFL, becoming the first democratic, independent labor union concerned with the rights of unskilled and semi-skilled labourers Read more…
1947
77 years ago
Eugene Chaboud won the Grand Prix du Rousillon at Perpignan, France, in a Talbot 26 Read more…
1948
76 years ago
William Signius “Big Bill” Knudsen (67), a leading automobile industry executive and a General in the U Read more…
1952
72 years ago
Herb Thomas was leading when darkness forced the NASCAR Grand National race at Central City Speedway (Georgia, US) to be flagged after 198 of 300 scheduled laps Read more…
1957
67 years ago
Mike Hailwood took part in his first motorcycle race, at Oulton Park, England Read more…
1958
66 years ago
Jim Reed won a rainy NASCAR GN race on the 1/2 mile paved Old Bridge Stadium oval, New Jersey, US Read more…
1959
65 years ago
The Ford Motor Company announced that they would no longer abide by the Automobile Manufacturers Association (AMA) safety agreement and would market high-performance options Read more…
1963
61 years ago
The 8th Aintree 200 motor race, run to Formula One rules, was held at Aintree Circuit, England Read more…
1971
53 years ago
Public launch day of the rear-wheel-drive Morris Marina, which was available in the typical British Leyland colours of the day – Russet Brown, Harvest Gold, Limeflower Green, Midnight Blue, Teal Blue, Blaze Orange, Damask Red and Black Tulip Read more…
1973
51 years ago
Argentinean racing driver and polo player Carlos Alberto Menditeguy (58), who entered 11 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, achieving one podium, and scoring a total of nine championship points, died Read more…
1974
50 years ago
Frost & French Inc of Los Angeles, California, the world’s last Studebaker dealer, stopped trading as a business eight years after the last new Studebaker has been produced Read more…
1975
49 years ago
One of the most controversial and tragic races in the Formula 1 history after the death of five spectators who were hit by the crashing Hill GH1 of Rolf Stommelen at the Spanish Grand Prix at Montjuich Park Read more…
1975
49 years ago
Richard Petty drove past Darrell Waltrip with 21 laps to go, going on to win the NASCAR GN ‘Virginia 500’ at Martinsville Speedway, Virginia, US Read more…
1980
44 years ago
Darrell Waltrip came back from a penalty to win the NASCAR GN ‘Virginia 500’ at Martinsville Speedway, Virginia, US as a new tire rule wreaked havoc Read more…
1984
40 years ago
The first SEAT Ibiza rolled off the assembly line in the Zone Franca plant, the first entirely Spanish car of the new SEAT generation Read more…
1986
38 years ago
The San Marino Grand Prix was held at Imola Read more…
1988
36 years ago
Mrs Gert Edwards of Colne, Lancashire became the oldest woman at the age of 90 to pass the UK Department of Transport’s driving test. Read more…
1989
35 years ago
Mandatory seatbelt law came into effect in Italy Read more…
1991
33 years ago
David Green raced to his first NASCAR Nationwide Series victory in just his 10th start, winning the Nestle 200 at Lanier Speedway in Gainesville, Georgia, US Read more…
1997
27 years ago
Heinz-Harald Frentzen in the Williams, won the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola in time of 1:31 Read more…
2005
19 years ago
Touting technology as a way to solve the country’s energy problems, President Bush called for construction of more nuclear power plants and urged Congress to give tax breaks for fuel-efficient hybrid and clean-diesel cars. Read more…
2005
19 years ago
Over 50 people were killed in the Polgahawela level crossing collision when a bus was hit by train Read more…
2005
19 years ago
The £132 million M77 extension and Glasgow Southern Orbital (GSO) project, at the largest road construction projects undertaken in mainland Scotland, was officially opened by Scotland’s First Minister Jack McConnell Read more…
2008
16 years ago
At the Stafford Motorcycle show, Bonhams sold a 1934 Brough Superior SS100 for £166,500 – a world record and the highest price ever paid for a British motorcycle at auction Read more…
2008
16 years ago
Kimi Raikkonen led home Felipe Massa for a Ferrari one-two as Lewis Hamilton finished third in a rather uninteresting Spanish GP Read more…
2009
15 years ago
Struggling American auto giant General Motors (GM) stated it planned to discontinue production of its more than 80-year-old Pontiac brand Read more…
2009
15 years ago
A new 2-part modular motorcycle test was introduced Read more…
2011
13 years ago
Team Lotus owner Tony Fernandes announced that he had purchased Caterham Cars Read more…
