On this day in…
1900
122 years ago
Miss Wemblyn, driving a 6-hp Panhard et Levassor, won the special Ladies Race in Ranelagh – although for women only, this race is often cited as the first female racing victory in Great Britain Read more…
1903
119 years ago
British Parliament discussed new legislation to regulate motor vehicles and motorists Read more…
1908
114 years ago
The Rolls Royce ‘Silver Ghost’ was sold as a used car to a London, England taxicab company Read more…
1914
108 years ago
Howard C Marmon was issued with a US patent for his “Power Train Mounting for Automobiles”, a system incorporating a universal joint between the engine and the frame Read more…
1915
107 years ago
The Chevrolet Motor Company purchased the Mason Motor Company Read more…
1931
91 years ago
The Cord Corporation was issued a United State patent for its 1931 Auburn radiator shell design Read more…
1935
87 years ago
Rudolf Caracciola driving a Mercedes-Benz W25/35 won the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps Read more…
1943
79 years ago
General Motors announced plans to acquire the assets of the Yellow Truck & Coach Manufacturing Company Read more…
1946
76 years ago
Tazio Giorgio Nuvolari became the oldest Grand Prix winner (in pre-World Championship days) when he won the Albi Grand Prix at Albi, France, aged 53 years 240 days, driving a Maserati 4CL Read more…
1951
71 years ago
Tony Bonadies drove a Nash Ambassador to victory in the 400-lap NASCAR Short Track Grand National race at Lanham, Maryland, US Read more…
1951
71 years ago
The British Grand Prix, contested over 90 laps of the Silverstone circuit was the first victory for José Froilán González, and was also the first of many for the Scuderia Ferrari team Read more…
1955
67 years ago
Volkswagen introduced the Karmann-Ghia coupe at the Kasino Hotel in Westfalia, Germany Read more…
1956
66 years ago
The Emeryson made its Formula 1 debut in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, but the Mark 1 designed and driven by Paul Emery retired with ignition problems Read more…
1956
66 years ago
The death of two one-race Formula One drivers – Bill Whitehouse (48) and Herbert MacKay-Fraser (30) – came during an Formula 2 race at Reims Read more…
1957
65 years ago
Marvin Panch rallied from 10th starting position to prevail in the final race for NASCAR’s premier series at Memphis-Arkansas (US) Speedway’s 1 Read more…
1969
53 years ago
Easy Rider, an American independent road drama film written by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Terry Southern, produced by Fonda, and directed by Hopper was released by Columbia Pictures Read more…
1973
49 years ago
Development of the Holden GTR-X sports car began Read more…
1973
49 years ago
Silverstone, the birthplace of the modern Formula One era in 1950, staged the British Grand Prix Read more…
1979
43 years ago
Clay Regazzoni, the oldest man in the field won the British Grand Prix, giving Frank Williams his first grand prix win Read more…
1986
36 years ago
Raymond Loewy (92), one of the best known industrial designers of the 20th century, died Read more…
1990
32 years ago
American David Campos, set both the AMA and FIM absolute speed records with an overall average speed of 518 Read more…
1991
31 years ago
All the talk ahead of the British Grand Prix had been about Nigel Mansell, who was second behind Ayrton Senna in the drivers’ championship, and the excitement heightened when he took pole Read more…
1991
31 years ago
Ford and Volkswagen formed AutoEuropa, joint venture to produce new multipurpose vehicles at Setubal, Portugal Read more…
1996
26 years ago
Williams’ Jacques Villeneuve in a Williams-Renault FW18 took his second win of the season at the British Grand Prix, from Benetton’s Gerhard Berger, with McLaren’s Mika Häkkinen coming home third for his first podium since his near-fatal crash at Adelaide the year before Read more…
1996
26 years ago
Rookie driver Jeff Krosnoff (31) died from injuries sustained in an accident on the 92nd lap of the 95-lap Toronto Molson Indy at Exhibition Place Read more…
1996
26 years ago
Ernie Irvan capped his miraculous comeback from life-threatening injuries by winning the Jiffy Lube 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway (US) Read more…
1998
24 years ago
America’s premier luxury automotive company became a California-based firm, when Lincoln Mercury opened its new world headquarters in Irvine, California Read more…
2000
22 years ago
An Oasis fan was killed when he tried to walk home along the M61 motorway in Manchester, England after Oasis had played a sold-out gig at The Reebok stadium Read more…
2001
21 years ago
The British Grand Prix race saw five drivers retire, as Jarno Trulli’s Jordan collided with David Coulthard’s McLaren in the first corner; Jacques Villeneuve’s BAR pushed his teammate Olivier Panis off the track at the start, forcing Panis to retire Read more…
2002
20 years ago
Ford’s SVT team introduced the 2003 5-door SVT Focus, with a top speed in excess of 120 mph and capable of 0 to 60 mph in just 7 Read more…
2003
19 years ago
Ford announced an all-new 3 Read more…
2005
17 years ago
Ford unveiled the NASCAR version of its new 2006 Fusion midsize sedan Read more…
2006
16 years ago
The 197-bhp Volkswagen Eos (derived from the Greek goddess of the dawn), a compact sports car capable of 144 mph, went on sale in the UK (on the road from £19,370) Read more…
2008
14 years ago
Ryan Newman said he would leave Penske Racing at the end of the 2008 season Read more…
2013
9 years ago
While attempting to break 300 mph in a single mile at the Loring Timing Association land speed meet, Bill Warner lost control of his motorcycle at 285 miles per hour (459 km/h) Read more…
