On this day in…
1914
109 years ago
Erwin “Cannonball” Baker began the cross-continental motorcycle trip that would influence the way Americans would think of the “big bike” forever more Read more…
1927
96 years ago
The Graham Brothers Company, manufacturers of motor trucks in Illinois, US, purchased the Paige-Detroit Motor Car Company from Harry M Read more…
1927
96 years ago
The LaSalle was introduced as a companion marque of Cadillac Read more…
1929
94 years ago
The 20th Targa Florio received 29 entries comprising eight Bugattis, four Alfa Romeos, three Maseratis, two each of Fiats and Salmsons Read more…
1935
88 years ago
Achille Varzi in an Auto Union Typ B won the Tunis Grand Prix held at the Carthage Circuit in France Read more…
1938
85 years ago
The 5,000,000th Ford V-8 was produced Read more…
1944
79 years ago
Bertha Benz (71), wife of Karl Benz, and the first person to drive a motor car over a long distance, died Read more…
1945
78 years ago
Rene Lalique (85), an artist noted for his custom glass automobile radiator mascots, died in Paris, France Read more…
1950
73 years ago
The first La Carrera Panamericana road race began Read more…
1951
72 years ago
Reg Parnell driving Ferrari 375 won the International Trophy at Silverstone Read more…
1953
70 years ago
Alberto Ascari in a Ferrari 500 won the F2 Bordeaux Grand Prix Read more…
1955
68 years ago
Wild youngster Junior Johnson drove an Oldsmobile to his first career NASCAR Grand National victory at Hickory Speedway in North Carolina, US Read more…
1956
67 years ago
Driving a Vanwall, Stirling Moss won the VII BRDC International Trophy run over 60 laps of the Silverstone circuit, at an average speed of 100 Read more…
1967
56 years ago
The first motorway tunnel in the UK, the 370 metre long M4 twin-bored Crindau (or Brynglas) Tunnel near Newport opened Read more…
1967
56 years ago
Britain’s first motorway project of 1967 was completed when the elevated motorway section of the A57 road was officially opened (by Harold Wilson) to form a by-pass around the south of Manchester city area Read more…
1979
44 years ago
In a trial, Dr Hans Liebold lapped the 7 Read more…
1982
41 years ago
BL Cars Ltd reintroduced the MG marque as a non-sporting variant of its Metro Read more…
1985
38 years ago
Limited fuel allowances played a big part in the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, as a succession of drivers ran out in the last few laps Read more…
1985
38 years ago
Bill Elliott set a 500-mile race record, winning the Winston 500 held at Talladega Superspeedway, Alabama (US), at an average speed of 186 Read more…
1990
33 years ago
Phil Brachtvogel ran the first six second pass on a bike in the UK, 6 Read more…
1995
28 years ago
The new Ford plant in Valencia (Spain) started producing Zetec-SE4-cylinder engines Read more…
1996
27 years ago
Williams driver, Damon Hill set the fastest lap at the San Marino Grand Prix on his way to the win in a time of 1:35:26 Read more…
1998
25 years ago
Jaguar unveiled its fastest-accelerating production car, the XKR Read more…
2001
22 years ago
Bill Homeier (82), AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1953–1955 and 1958–1960 seasons with 14 starts, including the 1954 and 1960 Indianapolis 500 races, died Read more…
2004
19 years ago
Professional stuntman Derek Lea (UK) achieved the longest ramp jump with a caravan when he jumped a distance of 57 Read more…
2006
17 years ago
The Fiat 500 was announced Read more…
2007
16 years ago
The record for the largest parade of Ferrari cars is 128 and was achieved by el Ayuntamiento de Alcázar de San Juan with the support of Ferrari Club Spain, in Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain Read more…
2013
10 years ago
Legendary custom car builder, painter, and Hollywood stuntman Dean Jeffries passed away at the age of 80 Read more…
