On this day in…
1899
123 years ago
The Automobile Company of America officially adopted ‘Locomobile’ as its tradename Read more…
1909
113 years ago
The Buick Motor Company acquired the Cadillac Motor Company on behalf of General Motors for $4 Read more…
1916
106 years ago
Samuel B Stevens and four relief drivers arrived in San Francisco in their Marmon 34, broke the trans-United States record recently set by ‘Cannon Ball’ Baker, by 41 hours Read more…
1928
94 years ago
The Mercedes-Benz SSK made its racing debut as Rudolf Caracciola won a hillclimb at Gabelbach, Germany Read more…
1934
88 years ago
Mercedes and Auto Union teams withdrew from the Belgian Grand Prix after customs asked the teams to pay BF180,000 duty on their alcohol based fuel Read more…
1950
72 years ago
British racing driver Joe Fry (34), a distant member of the Fry’s Chocolate family died Read more…
1951
71 years ago
Fonty Flock started from the pole position and held off Gober Sosebee to prevail on Asheville-Weaverville (North Carolina, US) Speedway’s half-mile dirt track Read more…
1951
71 years ago
Alberto Ascari drove a Ferrari 375 to victory in the German Grand Prix on the Nurburgring Read more…
1951
71 years ago
The AAA Sprint car Championship got underway at Winchester Speedway in Indiana Read more…
1954
68 years ago
Franz Josef Popp (68) was one of three men responsible for the founding of BMW AG and the First General Director of BMW AG from 1922 to 1942, died Read more…
1956
66 years ago
The British Jaguar team of Ninian Sanderson and Ron Flockhart won the Le Mans 24 hour race, driving a 3 Read more…
1959
63 years ago
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Charlotte Motor Speedway, North Carolina (US) took place on a sultry summer morning Read more…
1962
60 years ago
Although Roger Penske and Hap Sharp each won one heat of the USAC Road Race Championship Hoosier Grand Prix at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indianapolis Read more…
1966
56 years ago
Bob Dylan was severely injured in a motorcycle accident near his home in Woodstock, New York Read more…
1973
49 years ago
Roger Williamson (25) was burnt to death at the Dutch Grand Prix in his March 731 racing car Read more…
1978
44 years ago
The spectacular Group 5 Zakspeed Capri was introduced to the world at the support race for the German Grand Prix at Hockenhei – half way through that year’s DRM championship Read more…
1979
43 years ago
Alan Jones, in a Williams-Cosworth FW07 won the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim Read more…
1990
32 years ago
The last Formula One Grand Prix to be held in West Germany prior to its re-unification with East Germany, was won by 1988 World Champion, Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna driving a McLaren MP4/5B Read more…
1993
29 years ago
Ford’s one-millionth vehicle fitted with dual air bags rolled off the Atlanta (Georgia) Assembly Plant line Read more…
2000
22 years ago
The British Conservative Party organised a day of protest to draw attention to how fuel prices had increased under the Labour government, visiting town centres with petitions and distributing leaflets Read more…
2001
21 years ago
Juan Pablo Montoya dominated qualifying and the first part of the German Grand Prix in his Williams car, until he retired after the first pit stop with a broken engine Read more…
2001
21 years ago
The longest ever horizontal power slide in a car of 2 hours 11 minutes 18 seconds, was performed by Britain’s Simon de Banke, at the wet-grip circle at the MIRA Proving Ground, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK Read more…
2002
20 years ago
The 10 millionth North American-made Toyota rolled off the line at Toyota’s Kentucky plant Read more…
2007
15 years ago
ESPN returned after six seasons away from broadcasting NASCAR Sprint Cup events Read more…
2007
15 years ago
Hoosier Tony Stewart won his second Allstate 400 at the Brickyard over runner-up Juan Pablo Montoya, the 2000 Indianapolis 500 champion Read more…
2011
11 years ago
President Barack Obama and automobile manufacturers announced a deal designed to save American drivers money at the pump and dramatically cut heat-trapping gases coming from tailpipes Read more…
2011
11 years ago
The Hindhead Tunnel on the A3, the longest non-estuary road tunnel in Britain Opened Read more…
