On this day in…
1831
193 years ago
Sir Charles Dance began a steam carriage service between Cheltenham and Gloucester, England – running four times daily, for a number of months – using vehicles designed by Sir Goldsworthy Gurney Read more…
1905
119 years ago
The Christie Direct Action Motor Car Company was organised to manufacture the front wheel drive cars developed by J Walter Christie Read more…
1907
117 years ago
Hendrik Spijker (52) of Spyker drowned when his North Sea steamer broke up in a storm off the coast of the Hook of Holland, the Netherlands, and his loss led to the bankruptcy of the company Read more…
1909
115 years ago
Bob Burman in a Buick Model 17 won the Mardi Gras Speed Contest in New Orleans, US Read more…
1912
112 years ago
Isotta-Fraschini was issued with an Italian patent for their 4-wheel brakes Read more…
1916
108 years ago
The Dixie Flyer was introduced in Louisville, Kentucky, US Read more…
1919
105 years ago
Enrico Zeno Bernardi an Italian engineer and one of Italian automobile pioneers died aged 77 Read more…
1922
102 years ago
Alfred P Sloan of General Motors gave the Oakland Motor Division a four-point directive specifying that no drastic changes should be made until the end of June 1923 Read more…
1937
87 years ago
The first a successful automobile-airplane combination had its first flight Read more…
1944
80 years ago
Giacinto Ghia, Italian automobile coachbuilder, founder of Carrozzeria Ghia died of heart failure aged 56, while overseeing the rebuilding of his company after his factory was eradicated during an Allied bombing raid in 1943 Read more…
1944
80 years ago
The winner of the first grand prix motor race Ferenc Szizs died in France aged 60 Read more…
1948
76 years ago
The National Association for Stock Car Racing – NASCAR – was officially incorporated Read more…
1954
70 years ago
A starting field of 136 cars, the largest ever in a NASCAR event, took the green flag in the 100-mile Modified-Sportsman race at Daytona (US) Read more…
1954
70 years ago
Crowds gathered at the 1954 Grand National at Daytona to see which of the two dominant models of stock car–the fast Olds 88 or the tight handling Hudson Hornet–would take control of the race Read more…
1960
64 years ago
Georg W Borg (71), inventor of automobile clutch improvements and Chairman of the Borg-Warner Corporation, died in Janesville, Wisconsin, US Read more…
1964
60 years ago
Dodges and Plymouths equipped with the new hemi engine dominated the twin 100 mile NASCAR GN qualifying races at Daytona International Speedway Read more…
1967
57 years ago
Ford recalled 217,000 cars in the UK to check brakes and steering Read more…
1967
57 years ago
Heston services located between junctions 2 and 3 on the M4 was opened by the then Miss United Kingdom, Jennifer Lynn Lewis and entertainer Joe Brown in a stunt designed to advertise the services’ proximity to London and Heathrow Read more…
1968
56 years ago
Iso was granted an international copyright for the Grifo name Read more…
1969
55 years ago
Don Yenko a 36 year old Chevrolet dealer from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, drove his Chevrolet Camaro to victory in the NASCAR Grand Touring ‘Citrus 250’ on the 3 Read more…
1974
50 years ago
Hall-of-Fame NHL defenseman Tim Horton (44), who played 24 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Buffalo Sabres, was killed in an automobile accident shortly after what would be his final professional hockey game Read more…
1976
48 years ago
Economy was the theme of the 1976 Chicago Auto Show Read more…
1979
45 years ago
The 100,000,000th Chevrolet, a 1979 Monza coupe, was produced Read more…
1981
43 years ago
Cars introduced on the opening day of the Chicago Auto Show included the Ford EXP, a two-passenger offshoot of the Escort, the Dodge Aries, the Plymouth Reliant, and the turbocharged Datsun 280ZX Read more…
1982
42 years ago
Dave Marcis stayed out during a caution while the leaders pitted and was at the head of the pack 5 laps later when rain stopped the NASCAR GN ‘Richmond 400’ after 250 laps at Richmond, Virginia (US) Read more…
1986
38 years ago
Canadian driver Bertrand Fabi suffered a terrible accident when testing a Ralt RT30 – Volkswagen for West Surrey Racing in a private session at Goodwood, England Read more…
1994
30 years ago
Honda sold its 20% stake of the Rover Group, allowing BMW to take full control Read more…
2000
24 years ago
A pioneer of bodysurfing and bodyboarding, Joe Wolfson (50), aka Dr Read more…
2001
23 years ago
Max Mosley offered his opinion on one of the most controversial sporting moments ever in F1 Read more…
2008
16 years ago
Southern California Automobile Club (Auto Club) purchased the naming rights ($50-70 million) to the California Speedway, Fontana, California (US) in a 10-year deal, creating the Auto Club Speedway Read more…
2016
8 years ago
Rookie Chase Elliott started the race from the pole position at the Daytona 500 Read more…
