On this day in…
1900
123 years ago
Andrew L Riker, driving a Riker electric racer, covered one mile in 1 minute 46 seconds, at Guttenberg, New Jersey to set a United States speed record of 33 Read more…
1904
119 years ago
Mr and Mrs Charles Glidden completed the first crossing of the Canadian Rockies by automobile, arriving exhausted from their 3,536-mile trip Read more…
1915
108 years ago
The Narragnasett Park Asphalt Speedway in Providence, Rhode Island staged its first races Read more…
1932
91 years ago
Ab Jenkins began a solo 24-hour drive in a new Pierce-Arrow V-12 at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, US Read more…
1932
91 years ago
Societe Nouvelle des Automobiles Delage was founded to assure service for the Delage marque by the Delahaye organisation Read more…
1948
75 years ago
In the week ending 18 September 1948, Austin produced 2,705 vehicles made up of 2,127 cars and 578 trucks and vans Read more…
1948
75 years ago
The first race meeting took place at the Goodwood race circuit, West Sussex, England organised by the Junior Car Club and sanctioned by the Duke of Richmond and Gordon Read more…
1949
74 years ago
The fifth race of the inaugural NASCAR Strictly Stock season was held at Hamburg Speedway, New York, US Read more…
1953
70 years ago
The Veteran Car Club of Great Britain staged a re-enactment of the 1903 Thousand Miles Trial – Frederick Stanley Bennett and his Cadillac were the only original contestant and car to participate Read more…
1953
70 years ago
Charles de Tournaco (26) died Read more…
1955
68 years ago
The Ford Motor Company produced its 2 millionth V8 engine, 23 years after the first was manufactured Read more…
1956
67 years ago
The North Indiana Toll Road opened to the public Read more…
1958
65 years ago
The Austin A40 Farina was unveiled at the Austin works Read more…
1964
59 years ago
The final episode of the TV show Route 66 was broadcast, bringing to an end to the roadside adventures of Buz and Tod in Tod’s Corvette Read more…
1966
57 years ago
Jerry Titus drove his Shelby Mustang to victory in the Riverside, California Trans-Am event Read more…
1981
42 years ago
Canada’s West Edmonton Mall made the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest parking lot in the world with it’s 20,000 parking spaces Read more…
1987
36 years ago
The fast-action, motorcycle-riding, knuckle-busting, gang-beating, crime-drama movie “The Principal” starring Jim Belushi (John’s brother) was released in the US Read more…
1998
25 years ago
The US Postal Service awarded a $206 Read more…
2001
22 years ago
Organisers of the US Grand Prix ended speculation that the September 30 event could be cancelled in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks Read more…
2003
20 years ago
Jenson Button was forced to quit testing in Jerez after a high- speed accident when he lost control of his BAR and smashed into a wall Read more…
2004
19 years ago
The BMW 1 Series was launched with five doors, four engine sizes and three trim levels, but just one aim – ‘to set a new standard for compact hatchbacks through unique BMW design and engineering solutions’ Read more…
2004
19 years ago
The Economist announced its annual prizes for technology innovators Read more…
2005
18 years ago
Martin Groves set a record time of 36 Read more…
2006
17 years ago
Ford bought the rights to the Rover name from BMW for approximately £6 million Read more…
2006
17 years ago
Olivier Panis announced his retirement from Formula One, ending a 12-year participation in which he had won once in 157 starts Read more…
2017
6 years ago
Vauxhall’s official company name was changed from ‘General Motors UK Limited’ (in use since 16 April 2008), back to its original ‘Vauxhall Motors Limited’ Read more…
2019
4 years ago
It was reported that Ineos, the petrochemicals firm run by pro-Brexit billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, Britain’s third-richest person, would build a new 4×4 vehicle in the UK, a boost to an industry hit by closure announcements earlier in the year Read more…
