On this day in…
1896
126 years ago
C H Whiting won the first motor race held on a racetrack Read more…
1899
123 years ago
Over a dozen motorcars, decorated with hydrangeas, streamers, lights, and Japanese lanterns, lined up to take part in America’s first parade of motor vehicles Read more…
1903
119 years ago
The Federation of American Motorcyclists was organized in New York by John McLaughlin, a member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Read more…
1908
114 years ago
The first Lovell Road Race (Massachusetts, US), a 254 Read more…
1912
110 years ago
The Blitzen Benz made its racing debut, as Bob Burman set a track record at Brighton Beach Speedway, NwYork time trials Read more…
1912
110 years ago
The Continental Motors Corporation was formed in Buffalo, New York, US by Gordon L Matthews, Frank V Whyland, Allen E Choate, Walter F Schniding and Reverdy L Hurd to produce the Comet automobile Read more…
1915
107 years ago
William A Besserdich was awarded a patent for his steering mechanism, a design still used on ot 4-wheel-drive vehicles Read more…
1924
98 years ago
Elizabeth Junek made her racing debut, winning the Plzen-Tremosna hillclimb in a Bugatti Read more…
1927
95 years ago
A six-wheeled covered-top bus went on a trial run in London, the same month in which buses were allowed to run past Buckingham Palace for the first time Read more…
1928
94 years ago
Mr J Read more…
1930
92 years ago
The Monza Grand Prix comprising of four 14-lap heats (separated by class), a 7-lap repêchage, and a 35-lap final, was won by Achille Varzi in a Maserati Read more…
1936
86 years ago
Raymond Mays established the ultimate lap record for the Mountains course at Brooklands of 49 Read more…
1940
82 years ago
Edmund Rumpler (68), Austrian automobile and aircraft designer, died Read more…
1946
76 years ago
John Cooper, driving a 500 cc prototype Cooper, won the 850-cc class at the first post-World War II Brighton Speed Trials, the first victory for the marque Read more…
1951
71 years ago
The first Allard J2X was sold Read more…
1952
70 years ago
Lee Petty grabbed the lead from Herb Thomas with five laps left and drives to victory at Central City Speedway in Macon, Ga Read more…
1952
70 years ago
José Froilán González emerged in first place at the start of Italian Grand Prix at Monza, ahead of Alberto Ascari in second Read more…
1953
69 years ago
Buck Baker took lead with 10 laps remaining to win the Southern 500 at Darlington, South Carolina (US) in the most competitive event in NASCAR Grand National history; four drivers swapped the lead a record 35 times Read more…
1957
65 years ago
Phil Hill made his Ferrari racing debut, finishing third at Monza in a Dino 246 Formula 1 car Read more…
1958
64 years ago
Tony Brooks won the Italian Grand Prix for Vanwall ahead of the Ferrari pair of Mike Hawthorn and Phil Hill Read more…
1958
64 years ago
George Constantine, drove an Aston Martin DBR2 to victory in the first USAC sanctioned sports car race, at Limerock, Connecticut, US Read more…
1962
60 years ago
An Austin A40 was the first car to leave British Motor Corporation’s newly completed Car Assembly Building 2 (CAB2) at Longbridge, Birmingham Read more…
1969
53 years ago
Jackie Stewart took his sixth victory of the season at Monza and in so doing secured his first world championship with three races remaining Read more…
1973
49 years ago
George Turnbull departed from British Leyland Motor Corporation Ltd “by mutual consent” Read more…
1975
47 years ago
Clay Regazzoni won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in a Ferrari 312T Read more…
1979
43 years ago
The Chrysler Corporation petitioned the United States government for $1 Read more…
1986
36 years ago
Nelson Piquet led home team-mate Nigel Mansell for a Williams 1-2 with Stefan Johansson grabbing third for Ferrari at the Italian Grand Prix Read more…
1987
35 years ago
Ford announced it had acquired a majority shareholder (75%) of the luxury sports car marque, Aston Martin Read more…
1988
34 years ago
Britain’s oldest two weekly motoring magazines Autocar and Motor merged Read more…
1988
34 years ago
Fiat SpA increased its ownership of Ferrari SpA to 90% Read more…
1991
31 years ago
Harry Gant (51) won the Miller Genuine Draft 400 in Richmond, Virginia, US to extend his own record as the oldest winner of a NASCAR race Read more…
1993
29 years ago
The Chrysler Corporation introduced its new Neon at the Frankfurt Auto Show Read more…
1997
25 years ago
Plans were announced to build a new Control Tower at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that resembled the historic Pagoda structures that stood at the track from 1913-1956 Read more…
2005
17 years ago
The BBC reported that the group who had been responsible for protest blockades in the UK in September 2000 was threatening to stage protests at oil refineries from 6 a Read more…
2008
14 years ago
Lewis Hamilton was controversially stripped of victory at the Belgian Grand Prix after stewards judged that he had gained an unfair advantage from passing Kimi Raikkonen after missing the chicane Read more…
2014
8 years ago
The Prescott Speed Hill Climb (Gloucestershire, England) ‘Long Course’ (1,128 yards) record was set by Jos Goodyear, who set a time of 35 Read more…
