On this day in…
1889
137 years ago
The Benz automobile was exhibited at the Paris (France) World Fair Read more…
1906
120 years ago
The inaugural running of the Targa Florio, the legendary open-road endurance race held in the mountains of Sicily near Palermo Read more…
1913
113 years ago
Vanden Plas (England) Ltd was formed by the merger of the firm founded two months earlier and the parent Theo Masui Ltd organisation Read more…
1923
103 years ago
The first Circuit of Mantua (Italy) race was won by Antonio Ascari in an Alfa Romeo RLTF Read more…
1928
98 years ago
The first Algerian Grand Prix was first held over a road course in Staouéli, west of the capital Algiers Read more…
1928
98 years ago
Chrysler introduced the DeSoto as the corporation’s new brand Read more…
1930
96 years ago
The last of 32,642 Dodge Senior Sixes was produced Read more…
1933
93 years ago
JCC International Trophy at Brooklands run over 250 miles (100 laps) was won by Hon Read more…
1934
92 years ago
The Formula Libre Tripoli Grand Prix was held on the high-speed Mellaha circuit in Libya (an Italian colony in those days) Read more…
1935
91 years ago
Louis Fontes driving an Alfa Romeo 2 Read more…
1937
89 years ago
In an effort to induce manufacturers to develop new cars that would be competitive with the dominant Germans, in 1937 the French government announced the Prix du Millioní, or the Million Franc Race in Monthléry Read more…
1939
87 years ago
The Maserati 4CL race car debuted in the Brooklands International Trophy dash in Surrey, England Read more…
1941
85 years ago
Victor Lee Emerson (78), the inventor of the bevel-gear drive and the universal joint, died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US Read more…
1951
75 years ago
Curtis Turner drove his reliable Oldsmobile to win the 100-mile NASCAR Grand National event at Martinsville Speedway Read more…
1956
70 years ago
Tim Flock racked up his third win of the season at North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, US Read more…
1956
70 years ago
Robert Manzon driving a Gordini T16 won the Naples Grand Prix held at Posillipo Read more…
1961
65 years ago
Vanwall made its final racing appearance, as John Surtees finished fifth at the Intercontinental Formula International Trophy race in Silverstone, England in the unique rear-engined VW14, known as ‘The Whale’ Read more…
1973
53 years ago
Henri Pescarolo lapped the 8 Read more…
1977
49 years ago
A merger between Volvo and Saab was proposed, but failed to materialise Read more…
1984
42 years ago
The Winston 500 held at Talladega Superspeedway, Alabama (US) set a motorsports record with 75 lead changes in a single race Read more…
1984
42 years ago
McLaren driver, Alain Prost from his outside pole position, won the San Marino Grand Prix in a time of 1:36:52 Read more…
1987
39 years ago
Mario Andretti set the one-lap speed record at Indianapolis 500 at 218 Read more…
1991
35 years ago
NASCAR racer Harry Gant broke his own record to become the oldest man to win a NASCAR race, when he won the Winston 500 at the Alabama Superspeedway in Talladega Read more…
1994
32 years ago
French President Mitterrand and Queen Elizabeth II jointly opened the Channel Tunnel linking Britain and France underneath the English Channel Read more…
1995
31 years ago
Brian Gerster won the USAC Midget feature race at Indianapolis Raceway Park Read more…
