On this day in…
1899
125 years ago
Ettore Bugatti driving a Prinetti & Stucchi won the 90 km Turin-Pinerolo-Avigliani-Turin road race. Read more…
1899
125 years ago
The first prototype gasoline-powered Stanley Locomobile was completed at the company’s factory in Bridgeport, Connecticut, US Read more…
1910
114 years ago
1920
104 years ago
The first Studebaker Light Six was produced Read more…
1921
103 years ago
Joe Thomas won the 150 mile AAA Championship race on the 1 mile banked board Fresno Speedway, California, US Read more…
1921
103 years ago
The Miller 183 8-cylinder engine made its racing debut in a 150-mile race in Fresno, California, US Read more…
1925
99 years ago
The inaugural Melbourne International Motor Show was officially opened Read more…
1925
99 years ago
Pete DePaolo won the ‘Raisin Day Classic’ 150 mile AAA Championship race at Fresno Speedway, California, US Read more…
1925
99 years ago
The Dodge heirs sold Dodge Brothers Inc to the New York City banking firm of Dillon, Read & Company for $146 million plus $50 million for charity Read more…
1932
92 years ago
The British Empire Trophy at Brooklands was won by John Cobb driving a Delage V12/LSR Read more…
1933
91 years ago
Fréderic Toselli and mechanic Jacques Peltran crashed in practice for the Val de Cuech Read more…
1933
91 years ago
Trapped between the Monaco and Tripoli Grand Prix, the Alessandria Grand Prix race was a dull event in rainy weather and was dominated by the Scuderia Ferrari trio of Nuvolari, Trossi and Brivio who finished in positions 1-2-3 Read more…
1935
89 years ago
Petrol in the UK cost one and sixpence a gallon. Read more…
1936
88 years ago
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the Park-O-Meter had been recommended by Chief Administrative Officer Alfred Cleary Read more…
1937
87 years ago
Peter Walker established the first lap record to be recognized for the twisting Campbell course at Brooklands who’s ERA lapped at 70 Read more…
1939
85 years ago
The New York World’s Fair, billed as a look at “the world of tomorrow,” officially opened Read more…
1948
76 years ago
The Land Rover was officially launched at the Amsterdam Motor Show Read more…
1950
74 years ago
The Paris Grand Prix, a Non-Championship Formula One motor race was held at the Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry Read more…
1956
68 years ago
The Mille Miglia was held on a course made up entirely of public roads around Italy, mostly on the outer parts of the country on 28–29 April 1956 Read more…
1956
68 years ago
Junior Johnson took advantage of Fred Lorenzen’s engine woes to win the NASCAR GN ‘Virginia 500’ Sweepstakes race at Martinsville Speedway, Virginia, US Read more…
1958
66 years ago
The Land Rover Series II was officially released to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the Land Rover launch date Read more…
1960
64 years ago
The first Nissan Cedric, the ’30’ series, was unveiled Read more…
1961
63 years ago
The Olivier Gendebien/Wolfgang von Trips Ferrari Dino won the Targa Florio Sports Car race Read more…
1961
63 years ago
South African motorcylist Richard H Read more…
1961
63 years ago
Walt Hansgen led a Maserati 1-2-3 finish in the SCCA National sports car event at Virginia International Raceway in Danville, Virginia, USA Read more…
1962
62 years ago
The 47,000,000th Chevrolet is produced Read more…
1966
58 years ago
American folk singer and writer, Richard Farina (29) died in a motorcycle crash Read more…
1966
58 years ago
Richard Petty won the Darlington 400 NASCAR stockcar race in a Plymouth Belvedere at Darlington, South Carolina Read more…
1967
57 years ago
Mark Donohue drove his Roger Penske Lola to his 2nd straight USRRC Sports Car victory, winning the 70 lap, 182 mile race at Riverside International Raceway, California, US Read more…
1967
57 years ago
Taking the lead when Bobby Allison spun and collected 2nd place Dick Hutcherson, Richard Petty won the NASCAR GN ‘Richmond 250’ on the Virginia State Fairgrounds 1/2 mile dirt oval, Virginia, US Read more…
1970
54 years ago
Richard Petty prevailed as little known independents starred in the NASCAR GN ‘Columbia 200’ on the 1/2 mile dirt Columbia Speedway, South Carolina, US Read more…
1972
52 years ago
Richard Petty took advantage when 2 leaders were sidelined in the last 110 laps, going on to win the NASCAR GN ‘Virginia 500’ at Martinsville Speedway Read more…
1972
52 years ago
Richard Petty trounced the field at Martinsville Speedway, taking the lead when David Pearson’s transmission fails with 30 laps left in the Virginia 500, Virginia, US Read more…
1978
46 years ago
The Mazda RX7, featuring a 1,146 cc twin-rotor Wankel rotary engine and a front-midship rear-wheel drive layout, made its US debut Read more…
1978
46 years ago
The Mercedes-Benz C-111/3 research car sets nine world records for diesel-engined cars, including 2,345 miles in 12 hours (an average of 195 Read more…
1987
37 years ago
Bill Elliott set the all-time NASCAR qualifying record, winning the pole for the Winston 500 at a speed of 212 Read more…
1989
35 years ago
John Bowe drove a Ford Sierra to victory in the ATCC Group A race in Wanneroo, Western Australia Read more…
1991
33 years ago
After 34 years of production the 3,096,099th and last 18 hp two-stroke 600 cc Trabant rolled off the assembly line Read more…
1994
30 years ago
Roland Ratzenberger (33) who was competing in his first Formula 1 season for Simtek was killed instantly during practice for the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, when struck a wall Read more…
1995
29 years ago
Damon Hill driving a Williams-Renault FW17 won the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola Read more…
1995
29 years ago
Saab and Scania who merged in 1969 agreed to split Read more…
1999
25 years ago
Warren Johnson set an NHRA Pro Stock speed record of 202 Read more…
2000
24 years ago
Dave Hill, Chief Engineer of Corvette, unveiled the 2001 Z06 model Corvette, with new 385 HP LS6 engine Read more…
2001
23 years ago
The ‘Boost America!’ Campaign was launched, with Ford giving away a million booster seats and offering education on booster seat safety. Read more…
2002
22 years ago
Inspector Morse’s burgundy Jaguar Mk II, arguably the most recognisable Jaguar in the world, was sold for £53,000 at auction. Read more…
2003
21 years ago
Peter Raymond George “Possum” Bourne, (47) a champion New Zealand rally car driver died of head injuries sustained in a non-competitive car crash on April 18, 2003 Read more…
2007
17 years ago
Seven-times Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher honoured the success of his county in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, by presenting A1 Team Germany with the World Cup trophy at the series’ end of season awards ceremony Read more…
2009
15 years ago
Chrysler filed for bankruptcy protection after overnight talks broke down with a small group of the company’s creditors Read more…
