On this day in…
1903
121 years ago
Sir David Barbour Read more…
1904
120 years ago
The Chicago Motor Show opened at the Coliseum Read more…
1911
113 years ago
Rolls Royce appalled by mascots on owners cars, commissioned the ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ statuette Read more…
1911
113 years ago
Rolls-Royce’s “Spirit of Ecstasy” mascot was registered as a trademark Read more…
1951
73 years ago
The second series Kaiser Dragon was introduced Read more…
1952
72 years ago
NASCAR distributed over $40,000 in points money at the annual Victory Dinner at the Princess Issena Hotel in Daytona Beach Read more…
1954
70 years ago
The stylish gull-wing door Mercedes 300SL coupe was shown to the public Read more…
1955
69 years ago
Herb Thomas won a hard fought 100-mile NASCAR Grand National race on the 1/2 mile dirt Palm Beach Speedway Read more…
1958
66 years ago
The Sunbeam Rapier Series II was announced, available in hardtop and convertible forms Read more…
1960
64 years ago
Bruce McLaren drove a Cooper-Climax to victory in the Argentine Grand Prix at Buenos Aires Read more…
1962
62 years ago
Jerry Richert won the Florida State Fair IMCA Sprint Car race in Tampa, Florida (US) Read more…
1964
60 years ago
Britain and France agreed to build a Channel tunnel Read more…
1966
58 years ago
The first Daytona 24 Hour event was won by Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby driving a Ford Mk Read more…
1971
53 years ago
Iggy Katona won the ARCA 300-mile Stock Car race at the Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida (US) Read more…
1972
52 years ago
Graham McRae drove his McRae GM1-Chevrolet to victory the Tasman Cup race on the 2 Read more…
1972
52 years ago
Reliability concerns for the 3 liter cars led to the Daytona 24 Hours being replaced by a 6 hour event Read more…
1974
50 years ago
The speed limit in the Netherlands was reduced to 100 km/hr due to oil crisis Read more…
1975
49 years ago
Jensen, the luxury car maker, made 700 workers redundant – cutting its workforce by two thirds Read more…
1977
47 years ago
The Porsche Carrera RSR of John Graves/Hurley Haywood/Dave Helmick won the Daytona 24 Hours Sports Car race at Daytona International Speedway Read more…
1981
43 years ago
The political battle between the sport’s governing body FISA and the Formula One Constructors’ Association (FOCA) came to a head when FOCA held a non-championship race in Kyalami and threatened to create a breakaway series Read more…
1985
39 years ago
Walter L Read more…
1986
38 years ago
The Conservative government in the UK dropped plans to sell Austin Rover to Ford after considerable post-Westland back bench pressure Read more…
1986
38 years ago
Willard “Bill” Cantrell (71), the “Silver Fox” because of his gray hair and the sly tricks he used to win races, died Read more…
1988
36 years ago
Frankie Kerr won the American Midget Racing feature race at the Volusia County Speedway, Barberville, Florida, US Read more…
1990
34 years ago
Rock star Billy Idol suffered serious injuries when he failed to pull up at a stop sign and crashed his Harley-Davidson motorbike into a car in Hollywood Read more…
1993
31 years ago
The 1993 Chicago Motor Show opened to the public Read more…
1995
29 years ago
The Ferrari 412 T2 was introduced by Chairman Luca di Montezemolo Read more…
1998
26 years ago
Falco Read more…
1999
25 years ago
Mike Dunn set a NHRA Top Fuel 1/4 mile ET record of 4 Read more…
2000
24 years ago
In the Rolex 24 at Daytona, a surprise win for the ORECA, French-based Dodge Viper team who started 21st Read more…
2000
24 years ago
Edo Ronchi Read more…
2000
24 years ago
Midget and sportscar racer Phil Walters, AKA Ted Tappett, died at age 84 in Florida, US Read more…
2001
23 years ago
Niki Lauda was appointed CEO of Ford’s premier performance division Read more…
2003
21 years ago
Felipe Massa was named as a Ferrari’s test driver after being replaced at Sauber by Heinz-Harald Frentzen Read more…
2003
21 years ago
MG Rover entered the commercial vehicle sector Read more…
2004
20 years ago
On the cover of the official 2004 Chicago Auto Show program were the door-prize Lexus SC 430 convertible and the Acura TL four-door sedan during the First Look for Charity evening event Read more…
2007
17 years ago
Henry George (Harry) Webster, CBE was a British automotive engineer who inspired the creation of iconic Triumph cars throughout the 1950s and 1960s died aged 89 Read more…
2008
16 years ago
Tony Rolt, the last surviving driver from the very first F1 race in 1950, died in Warwickshire (England) aged 89 Read more…
2009
15 years ago
The Honda Insight, billed as “the world’s first affordable hybrid,” went on sale in Japan Read more…
2018
6 years ago
In the Philippines bulldozers and backhoes pounded more than two dozen seized luxury cars, including Porsches, Mercedes, Jaguars and Corvettes, in a dramatic demolition showcasing the no-nonsense leader’s crackdown on crime and corruption Read more…
