On this day in…
1899
127 years ago
Henry Ford resigned from the Edison Illuminating Company and with others, organised the Detroit automobile company and taking one-sixth of its shares became Chief Engineer Read more…
1909
117 years ago
The first race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway took place Read more…
1927
99 years ago
Ford Model T production ended in England Read more…
1934
92 years ago
The first All-American Soap Box Derby was held in Dayton, Ohio Read more…
1946
80 years ago
Marquis Jules Félix Philippe Albert de Dion de Wandonne, a pioneer of the automobile industry in France, died aged 90 Read more…
1950
76 years ago
Curtis Turner qualified his Oldsmobile at 82 Read more…
1956
70 years ago
Joe Weatherly scored a flag-to-flag victory to win the only race for the NASCAR Convertible Series at Heidelberg Raceway just outside of Pittsburgh, US Read more…
1957
69 years ago
Thelma Chrysler Foy, daughter of Walter Chrysler and wife of former DeSoto executive Byron C Foy, died in New York City Read more…
1958
68 years ago
Production of the Packard, the classic American luxury car with the famously enigmatic slogan “Ask the Man Who Owns One” came to a halt Read more…
1959
67 years ago
The first conviction for speeding based on a radar trap in the UK was recorded in Lancashire. Read more…
1964
62 years ago
The Vanden Plas Princess 4-litre R was launched at a list price (including tax) of £1,994 Read more…
1973
53 years ago
Ronnie Peterson won the Austrian Grand Prix for Lotus ahead of Jackie Stewart and Carlos Pace Read more…
1975
51 years ago
Mark Neary Donohue, Jr Read more…
1979
47 years ago
Rick Mears drove a Penske-Cosworth to victory in the USAC Championship race in Trenton, New Jersey, US Read more…
1984
42 years ago
McLaren’s Niki Lauda took the lead in the World Championship with his 23rd career win at the Austrian Grand Prix Read more…
1985
41 years ago
Robert E Barber broke the 79-year-old speed record for a steam car when Steamin Demon, built by Barber-Nichols Engineering Co Read more…
1986
40 years ago
Warren Johnson became the first NHRA Pro Stock drag racer to hit 190 mph at the end of the quarter-mile when he ran 190 Read more…
1992
34 years ago
One of the great pioneers of the front-wheel drive car Jean-Albert Grégoire (93), died Read more…
1999
27 years ago
Michael Schumacher got behind the wheel of his Ferrari for the first time since his crash at Silverstone resulted in a broken leg Read more…
2000
26 years ago
A 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe was sold for $4 Read more…
2001
25 years ago
Michael Schumacher won his fourth World Championship and equalled Alain Prost’s record of 51 Grand Prix victories at the Hungarian Grand Prix Read more…
2001
25 years ago
Sterling Marlin drove a Dodge to victory in the Pepsi 400 at Michigan Speedway (US) for his first win of the season Read more…
2004
22 years ago
Sky Sports, the UK’s leading broadcaster of motorsport, signed an exclusive deal to televise A1 Grand Prix, the first of 30 networks to back the series around the globe Read more…
2004
22 years ago
A controversial incentive scheme for traffic wardens was scrapped Read more…
2005
21 years ago
A 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C was sold at auction in the US for $3 Read more…
2009
17 years ago
Germany launched a campaign to put a million electric cars on the road by 2020, making battery research a priority as the country tried to position itself as a market leader. Read more…
