On this day in…
1904
119 years ago
Colonel Harley Tarrant won the first automobile race in Australia, held at Sandown Racecourse Read more…
1908
115 years ago
Lewis Strang drove an Isotta to victory in the 342 mile Savannah Challenge Cup race Read more…
1928
95 years ago
Kurt Volkhart took the Opel RAK-1 rocket-powered car for its first test run, in Russelsheim, Germany Read more…
1928
95 years ago
The British Racing Drivers’ Club was founded Read more…
1938
85 years ago
Eric Fernihough riding his 996cc Brough Superior covers one kilometre at 143 Read more…
1947
76 years ago
The first ever Ferrari, a Tipo 125 Spyder Corsa, was completed Read more…
1952
71 years ago
Mercedes introduced the 300SL to the press Read more…
1959
64 years ago
Fiat introduced two new six-cylinder models, the 1800 and 2100, at the Geneva Motor Show Read more…
1961
62 years ago
Fireball Roberts lapped the field twice to win the final NASCAR Grand National race at Marchbanks Speedway in Hanford, California, US Read more…
1964
59 years ago
Mercedes-Benz acquired a license to manufacture diesel Wankel rotary engines Read more…
1964
59 years ago
The first production Lamborghini, the 350GT, debuted at the Geneva Motor Show as a statement of Lamborghini’s intent to be a true player in the sports car market Read more…
1967
56 years ago
The Race of Champions at Brands Hatch, UK was won by Dan Gurney, in a Eagle-Weslake T1G Read more…
1970
53 years ago
The Mercedes C111, the first of a series of experimental cars, made its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show Read more…
1972
51 years ago
Bobby Isaac won the Carolina 500 at Rockingham for his 37th and final Cup victory Read more…
1982
41 years ago
The Ford Ranger pickup truck was introduced Read more…
1987
36 years ago
A bus and a van collided in western Rajasthan, India, killing 12 and injuring 20 Read more…
1987
36 years ago
Enzo Ferrari unveiled the F40 – built to celebrate 40 years of Ferrari Read more…
1990
33 years ago
Roy S Read more…
1993
30 years ago
Alain Prost answered those who doubted he could return from his year’s sabbatical as sharp as he was before by setting the fastest time for the South African Grand Prix, the first round of the 16-race 1993 world championship Read more…
1994
29 years ago
In Amsterdam, the birthplace of André Citroën, a six-week exhibition entitled “Citroën, 75 Years of Looking into the Future” opened to the public Read more…
1995
28 years ago
Ray Bellm and Mauricio Sandro Salla won the Four Hours of Paul Ricard in France driving a Gulf McLaren F1 GTR Read more…
1998
25 years ago
Ferrari revealed it was prepared to offer Schumacher £52 million to remain with them for the rest of his career, and then to continue to act as its ambassador when he did retire Read more…
2000
23 years ago
Dale Earnhardt and Bobby Labonte engaged in a terrific late-race duel at Atlanta Motor Speedway (US) Read more…
2000
23 years ago
The Australian Grand Prix was held at the Melbourne, Read more…
2005
18 years ago
The first American stop for the A1GP (and so far only) was doomed to fail from the start Read more…
2006
17 years ago
The Bahrain Grand Prix (formally the III Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix) was held at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain Read more…
2007
16 years ago
The Ford Motor Company sold Aston Martin to a consortium comprised of David Richards, John Sinders, Investment Dar and Adeem Investment Co Read more…
2007
16 years ago
A consortium led by Prodrive chairman David Richards purchased Aston Martin for £475m (US$848m) Read more…
2012
11 years ago
In Benicia, California, the first electric Coda saloon rolled off the assembly line Read more…