On this day in…
1862
164 years ago
Jean Joseph Etienne Lenoir built the first automobile with an internal-combustion engine Read more…
1891
135 years ago
The first Daimler engine was imported into England by Frederick R Simms Read more…
1903
123 years ago
George Wyman left San Francisco on the first transcontinental motorcycle trip riding a 1902 California Motorcycle Company motor bicycle Read more…
1907
119 years ago
The Ardsley Motor Car Company was officially dissolved Read more…
1908
118 years ago
Middlesex County Automobile Club became the first organisation in Britain to receive written permission, from the Commissioner of Police, to hold a motoring competition on a public road Read more…
1921
105 years ago
Frank C Clement, driving the second experimental Bentley 3-litre, won the Brookland Whitsun race, the first victory for the marque Read more…
1922
104 years ago
During practice at Brooklands, Kennelm Lee Guinness as timed by friends on the Railway Straight reached 144 mph driving a V12 Sunbeam Read more…
1931
95 years ago
Trolleybuses first ran in London Read more…
1933
93 years ago
Richard M Read more…
1936
90 years ago
The first ever motor race in Ireland, the 200 mile Cork Road Race, was held Read more…
1938
88 years ago
Sir Charles Bressey and Sir Edwin Lutyens published a Ministry of Transport report, The Highway Development Survey, 1937, which reviewed London’s road needs and recommended the construction of many miles of new roads Read more…
1948
78 years ago
From 1938 to 1947, the Monaco Grand Prix could not be held due to both financial difficulties and a shortage of competitors as well as a deteriorating international climate Read more…
1948
78 years ago
Racer Ralph Hepburn (51) died when his Novi crashed during a practice run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Read more…
1951
75 years ago
Ibsley Circuit, situated at RAF Ibsley, on the Fordingbridge to Ringwood Road in Hampshire, UK, staged its first motor racing meeting Read more…
1952
74 years ago
Porsche and Studebaker signed an agreement calling for the German fir to design a small car for the South Bend, Indiana, US company Read more…
1953
73 years ago
Tim Flock, with riding companion “Jocko Flocko,” prevailed in a 100-mile NASCAR Grand National event at Hickory, North Carolina, US Read more…
1956
70 years ago
General Motors (GM) dedicated its brand-new GM Technical Center in Warren, Michigan Read more…
1956
70 years ago
John J Read more…
1956
70 years ago
The 100,000th MG, a left hand drive MGA 1500, was produced. Read more…
1970
56 years ago
Stylist Alex Tremulis drove an aerodynamic Ramona Travoy motor home at El Mirage Dry Lake, California, US to a speed of 97 Read more…
1973
53 years ago
British Leyland announced the Austin Allegro Read more…
1976
50 years ago
The Belgian Grand Prix was won by Niki Lauda driving a Ferrari 312T2, who increased his lead in the World Drivers’ Championship to 29 points by doing so Read more…
1982
44 years ago
The Porsche 956 made its race debut in the World Endurance Championship 6-hour race at Silverstone, England, with Jackie Ickx and Derek Bell starting on pole and winning the Group C class while a Group 6 Lancia LC1 wins overall Read more…
1983
43 years ago
Wheel clamps were first used to combat illegal parking in London Read more…
1986
40 years ago
Joe Schwarzkopf-Bowers, of Watford, Herts drove his modified battery-powered Bond Equippe from Heathrow Airport, London to Crewkerne, Somerset, a distance of 132 miles on a single charge costing an estimated 60p Read more…
1992
34 years ago
Lights were installed at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and it became the first non-short track to host night racing Read more…
1996
30 years ago
Mazda and Ford entered into a closer tie-up with Ford increasing its equity share from 25% to 33 Read more…
1999
27 years ago
The Monaco Grand Prix, contested over 78 laps, was won by Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher after starting from second position Read more…
2006
20 years ago
At least 35 died when two buses collided head-on near Kumasi, Ghana Read more…
2006
20 years ago
It was announced that speed humps in the town of Yate in South Gloucestershire would be removed after a successful campaign by local residents Read more…
2010
16 years ago
Mark Webber won for the second GP in a row, at Monaco, leading home Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica, who drove brilliantly all weekend to keep his Renault in contention Read more…
2013
13 years ago
Short track racing great Richard “Dick” Trickle took his own life Read more…
2013
13 years ago
It was reported that George Michael had been injured after the car in which he was travelling in crashed on the M1 during the evening rush-hour Read more…
