May 16th


On this day in…

1862

161 years ago

Jean Joseph Etienne Lenoir built the first automobile with an internal-combustion engine Read more…

1891

132 years ago

The first Daimler engine was imported into England by Frederick R Simms Read more…

1903

120 years ago

George Wyman left San Francisco on the first transcontinental motorcycle trip riding a 1902 California Motorcycle Company motor bicycle Read more…

1907

116 years ago

The Ardsley Motor Car Company was officially dissolved Read more…

1908

115 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

102 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

101 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

92 years ago

Trolleybuses first ran in London Read more…

1933

90 years ago

Richard M Read more…

1936

87 years ago

The first ever motor race in Ireland, the 200 mile Cork Road Race, was held Read more…

1938

85 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

75 years ago

Racer Ralph Hepburn (51) died when his Novi crashed during a practice run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Read more…

1948

75 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…

1951

72 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

71 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

70 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

67 years ago

The 100,000th MG, a left hand drive MGA 1500, was produced. Read more…

1956

67 years ago

General Motors (GM) dedicated its brand-new GM Technical Center in Warren, Michigan Read more…

1956

67 years ago

John J Read more…

1970

53 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

50 years ago

British Leyland announced the Austin Allegro Read more…

1976

47 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

41 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

40 years ago

Wheel clamps were first used to combat illegal parking in London Read more…

1986

37 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

31 years ago

Lights were installed at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and it became the first non-short track to host night racing Read more…

1996

27 years ago

Mazda and Ford entered into a closer tie-up with Ford increasing its equity share from 25% to 33 Read more…

1999

24 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

17 years ago

At least 35 died when two buses collided head-on near Kumasi, Ghana Read more…

2006

17 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

13 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

10 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…

2013

10 years ago

Short track racing great Richard “Dick” Trickle took his own life Read more…

365 Days Of Motoring

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