Preserved for close to a century

A 1920s wooden handle screwdriver, which was used by one of the original mechanics before Major Henry Segrave broke the 200mph barrier, had been dropped into the filler neck of its engine oil tank while he checked the levels – and stayed inside for almost a century. Meanwhile, a preserved shilling with a 1921 stamp was found in solidified oil on top of the rear suspension spring, when bodywork was taken off to expose the chassis. An adjustable spanner from the time of its landmark run was also uncovered after being similarly ‘glued’ to the chassis with vegetable-based Castrol R oil.

What’s making that noise?

National Motor Museum Senior Engineer Ian Stanfield explained: “It’s the first 200mph screwdriver, which couldn’t have been removed from the oil tank because it was buried under the engine. We cleaned out the tank where the oil had solidified, using hot water and detergent, and after shaking the tank the vintage screwdriver eventually tipped out. After the LSR breaking run, the oil would have stuck like glue on top of the chassis which is where we made the other discoveries. It is like a time capsule which is all part of the incredible history of Sunbeam 1000hp. It has only ever been driven for 50 miles to break the world record and these are the style of tools the mechanics would have used when they built it.”

The National Motor Museum’s specialist workshop team has needed to make its own bespoke tools to fit the iconic record breaker to dismantle it. Visitors to Beaulieu can see the exposed chassis on show in the National Motor Museum until Sunbeam 1000hp is taken to motoring events at the end of the summer.

Future plans

The Sunbeam 1000hp Restoration Campaign was launched with Hampshire-based Brookspeed Automotive in March. To help raise the profile of the vehicle’s centenary celebrations and fundraising campaign – through individual donations and corporate sponsorship – there are plans to take it to Europe and on tour to motoring museums across America. Opportunities will also be offered for schools, colleges and universities to get involved with STEM workshops and activities.

The Sunbeam’s 22.5 liter engines, each producing 435bhp, have not run since before World War II more than 80 years ago – after corrosion attacked internal workings. With painstaking rebuilding, using specialist knowledge and bespoke parts, National Motor Museum engineers will recapture the sounds, sights and smells of this ground-breaking machine and help to preserve it for future generations.

Donations welcome

Funds are now needed to turn back the clock and complete the full restoration project. Donations for the Sunbeam 1000hp Restoration Campaign can be made online HERE.

Sponsors and corporate donors who would like to be associated with the campaign are urged to contact by emailing michelle.kirwan@beaulieu.co.uk.

Original story here

The post Historic 1000hp Sunbeam restoration yields historic artifacts appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

3
Penske Racing debuts their AMC-powered F5000 Lola T330 in the L&M Continental Series race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Mark Donohue drives the car to third place in both heats (1973).

4
The first F1 Detroit Grand Prix is won by John Watson, driving a McLaren (1982).

5
John Surtees wins the CSCC Players 200 sports car race at Mosport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, driving a Lola T70 Spyder (1965).

6
Mansour Akram Ojeh, McLaren shareholder and head of investment for TAG, dies at age 68 (2021).

7
Arie Luyendyk is declared the winner of the 500km IRL race at Texas Motor Speedway after Billy Boat is initially, and mistakenly, named the winner because of a lap scoring error. Boat’s team owner, AJ Foyt, slaps Luyendyk in the winner’s circle before results are sorted out (1997).

8
1976 F1 World Champion James Hunt announces his retirement from racing (1979).

11
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is won by the Sauber Mercedes C9 driven by Jochen Mass, Manuel Reuter, and Stanley Dickens (1989).

12
Sports and touring car racer Manuel Reuter is born in Mainz, West Germany (1961).

14
All professional racing is cancelled at the bankrupt Watkins Glen race track, in New York (1982).

15
F1 Champion and TV commentator James Hunt dies from a massive Heart attack at age 45 (1993).

17
George Follmer wins the Watkins Glen, New York, SCCA Trans-Am race driving a Roy Woods Racing AMC Javelin (1972).

18
A corner at the Nürburgring in Germany is named after the late Sabine Schmitz, “Queen of the Nürburgring” (2022).

19
Chris Bristow and Alan Stacey die in separate accidents during the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa. The race is won by Jack Brabham in a Cooper-Climax (1960).

20
Derek Bell and Jackie Ickx drive a Porsche 956 to victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1982).

21
The Fina BMW M3 E30 of Johnny Cecotto, Christian Danner, Marc Duez, and Jean-Michel Martin wins the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany (1992).

22
The 180-degree crankshaft used by Audi in the DTM is ruled illegal. Audi immediately withdraws from the series (1992).

25
Future F1 race winner and two-time Can-Am champion (1977 & 1980) Patrick Tambay is born in France (1949).

26
Peter Gregg drives a Porsche 934 to victory in the IMSA sports car race at Portland, Oregon (1977).

28
The March 707 Group 7 race car makes its race debut in the Interserie race on the Norisring in Nuremburg, West Germany, with Ralph Kelleners driving (1970).

30
The Porsche 935/2 “Baby” is driven for the first time, just days before its first race (1977).

The post June in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
Danny Ongais drives a Porsche 934 to victory in the 100-mile IMSA sports car race at Laguna Seca Raceway near Monterey, California (1977).

2
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Robert William “Bobby” Unser dies at the age of 87 (2021).

3
Charles Anthony Standish “Tony” Brooks, the last living Grand Prix winner of the 1950s, dies at age 90 (2022).

4
16-time NHRA funny Car Champion John Force is born (1949).

6
Hans-Joachim Stuck drives an Audi V8 Quatro to victory in the DTM race on the Avus Circuit in Berlin, Germany (1990).

8
Mark Donohue, driving a Penske AMC Javelin, wins the SCCA Trans-Am race at Lime Rock, Connecticut (1971).

9
Hurley Haywood drives a Porsche 934 to victory in the SCCA Trans-Am race at Pocono, Pennsylvania (1976).

10
Paul Greifzu is killed in an accident during a race in Dessau, East Germany (1952).

12
Jochen Mass and Jackie Ickx win the Silverstone 1000-kilometer sports car race driving a Porsche 962C (1985).

13
Richard Petty drives a Plymouth to victory in the NASCAR Grand National race at Darlington, South Carolina. It is Petty’s 55th career victory, making him the winningest driver in NASCAR history (1967).

14
Denny Hulme, driving a Sid Taylor Lola T70 MkII spyder, wins a race during the International Trophy meeting at Silverstone (1966).

19
Swedish racer Ulf Norinder is born (1934).

20
Jackie Ickx wins the Can-Am race at Charlotte Motor Speedway driving a Lola T333CS-Chevrolet (1979).

22
The DRM race on the Mainz-Finthen Flugplatz near Mainz, West Germany, is won by Rolf Stommelen in the Gelo Racing Porsche 935 (1977).

24
Al Unser Sr. wins his fourth Indy 500 in a car that was a show car only weeks earlier. Unser was hired by Roger Penske to replace Danny Ongais, who was hurt in practice (1987).

27
Arie Luyendyk wins his second Indianapolis 500 (1997).

28
Henry Taylor drives a Cooper to victory in the Formula Junior race at Monaco (1960).

29
George Follmer drives the Roy Woods racing AMC Javelin to victory in the SCCA Trans-Am race at Bryar Motorsports Park in Loudon, New Hampshire (1972).

30
John Crouch, who played a part in the formation of three Australian racing organizations (New South Wales Sporting Car Club, Vintage Sporting Car Club, and the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport) dies at the age of 84 (2004).

31
Howdy Wilcox drives a Peugeot to win in the first post-WWI Indianapolis 500. First Indy 500 win for Goodyear tires. First playing of the song “Back Home Again in Indiana” at the 500 (1919).

The post May in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
Mario Andretti, driving a Newman Haas Lola-Ford, wins the first CART Long Beach Grand Prix (1984).

2
Tommy Milton drives the Durant Special to victory in a race at Beverly Hills, California (1922).

3
Ronnie Peterson drives a March 722 to victory in the European F2 Championship race at Thruxton, England (1972).

4
Jochen Mass and Jackie Ickx drive a Porsche 935 to victory in the Six Hours of Vallelunga in Italy (1976).

6
Kevin Cogan wins the CART Phoenix 200 driving a Patrick Racing March 86C-Cosworth (1986).

7
Alain Prost wins the Brazilian Grand Prix at the wheel of a McLaren MP4/2B-Tag/Porsche (1985).

11
George Follmer wins the USRRC race in Pensacola, Florida, driving a Porsche-powered Lotus 23 (1965).

12
Lella Lombardi and Giorgio Franca drive an Osella PA9-BMW to victory in the Mugello Six Hour race (1981).

15
The European Rally Championship Saarland Rally is won by Walter Röhrl and Geistdörfer Christian in a Lancia Stratos (1978).

17
The Ferrari 333SP scores its debut 1-2 finish in the IMSA WSC race at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. Jay Cochran wins over Gianpiero Moretti and Eliseo Salazar (1994).

18
Gordon Spice, racer and constructor (Spice Engineering), is born in London, England (1940).

19
Louis Chiron, driving a Bugatti Type 51, becomes the first Monégasque to win the Monaco Grand Prix (1931).

20
Racer Mark Donohue marries Sue Warren (1963).

22
Luigi Fagioli wins the Monaco Grand Prix at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz (1935).

23
Pilot and racer Hugh Dibley is born in Hong Kong (1937).

25
The first Ford Cosworth DFV F1 engine is delivered to Lotus (1967).

26
Warren Johnson becomes the first NHRA Pro Stock driver to break the 200mph barrier at the end of the ¼-mile (1996).

27
Christian Werner wins the Targa Florio. First win for a supercharged Mercedes (1924).

28
Luigi Villoresi, driving a Ferrari Tipo 340 Vignale, wins the Mille Miglia in Italy (1951).

30
The CART Rio 200 is won by Adrian Fernandez driving a Patrick Racing Reynard 2KI-Ford/Cosworth (2000).

The post April in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
Bob Garretson, Brian Redman, and Bobby Rahal drive a Porsche 935 K3 to victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona, the first IMSA GTP race. Bill Koll, Rob McFarlin, and Jeff Kline win the GTU class in a Porsche 911 (1981).

3
Art Christman makes the first sub-10 second (9.40) run on a 1/4-mile drag strip (1953).

4
Racecar builder Joe Huffaker is born in Terra Haute, Indiana (1927).

5
The Porsche-powered Kreepy Krauly March 83G driven by Darel van de Merwe, Tony Martin, and Graham Duxbury wins the Sun Bank 24 Hours of Daytona (1984).

6
Midget and sports car racer Phil Walters, AKA Ted Tappett, dies at age 84 in Florida, USA (2000).

9
Carl Fisher, James Allison, Arthur Newby, and Frank Wheeler form the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation (1909).

11
Fred Offenhauser, of Offenhauser engine fame, born in Los Angeles, California (1888).

12
The New York-to-Paris race begins in Times Square, New York, NY.  Over five months later, the Thomas driven by Schuster, Roberts, and Williams will win the race (1908).

13
F1 and Indy car racer Jim Crawford born in Funfermline, Scotland (1948).

14
Mark Donohue, driving a Porsche 911 Carrera, wins the final race of the initial International Race Of Champions series, clinching the IROC title. Last race win of Mark’s career (1974).

16
Hendrick Motorsport Chevys finish 1-2-3 in the Daytona 500.  Jeff Gordon wins followed by Terry Labonte and Ricky Craven (1997).

19
The Lancia Stratos of Antonio Carello and Perissinot Maurizio wins the European Rally Championship Rally Costa Brava (1978).

20
A.J. Foyt wins the NASCAR Daytona 500 at Daytona Beach, Florida (1972).

22
It is announced that key elements of the Champ Car World Series will be merged into the Indy Racing League (2008).

23
Lee Roy Yarbrough drives a Junior Johnson Ford to victory in the Daytona 500 (1969).

24
The Gran Premio Eva Perón in Argentina is won by José Froilán González driving a Ferrari (1954).

25
Dentist and Grand Prix winner Tony Brooks is born in Dunkinfield, Cheshire, England (1932).

27
Dan Gurney’s All American Racers team track test their 1970 Plymouth Baracuda Trans-Am racer for the first time (1970).

28
Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby drive a Ford GT40 to victory in the 2000 kilometer World Prototype Championship race at Daytona, Florida (1965).

The post February in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
The Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD is homologated for Group A rallying (1992).

2
First South Africa Grand Prix to be held on the Kyalami track near Johannesburg is won by Pedro Rodriguez at the wheel of a Cooper-Maserati.   First F1 win for Rodriguez and last for Cooper (1967).

4
Otto Walker, riding a Harley-Davidson, wins the 100-mile motorcycle race at Ascot Park in Los Angeles, California (1920).

6
1956 Indy 500 winner Pat Flaherty born (1926).

8
Author, photographer, and racer Arthur Grant Evans, Jr. is born in Santa Barbera, California (1934).

9
Roberto Moreno, driving a Ford-powered Ralt RT4, wins the Formula Pacific New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe (1982).

11
Racer, team owner, constructor, and automotive consultant Carroll Shelby is born in Leesburg, Texas (1923).

12
Hans Stuck gives the Auto Union “P-Wagen” Grand Prix car its first official test runs on the Avus Circuit in Germany (1934).

13
Juan Manuel Fangio, driving a Maserati 250F, wins the Argentine Grand Prix at Bueno Aires (1957).

14
The American Motors Corporation is created by the merger of the Hudson Motor Car Company and the Nash Kelvinator Corporation (1954).

17
Andrew Craig is hired as President and CEO of CART (1994).

18
A.J. Foyt drives a Ford Torino to victory in the NASCAR Riverside 500 stock car race on the road course in Riverside, California (1970).

19
F1’s first Concorde Agreement is confirmed at the FIA’s headquarters in Paris, France (1981).

21
AMC wins their first NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National race when Mark Donohue wins the Winston Western 500 at Riverside, California, in a Penske-prepared Matador (1973).

22
Porsche 959s finish first (Metge/Lemoyne), second (Ickx/Brasseur), and sixth (Kussmaul/Unger) in the Paris-Dakar Rally (1986).

23
Sandro Munari and Mario Mannucci pilot the winning car to victory in a Lancia Stratos 1-2-3 finish in the Monte Carlo Rally (1975).

27
Emerson Fittipaldi drives a Marlboro McLaren M23-Cosworth to victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos (1974).

28
Endurance racer Harold Grohs is born in Essen, Germany (1944).

29
Stirling Moss and Carlos Menditéguy drive a Maserati 300S to victory in the 1000 Kilometers of Buenos Aires at the Autodromo Municipal Avenida Paz (1956).

31
Swedish formula and sports car racer Jo Bonnier is born in Stockholm(1930).

The post January in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1

Dan Gurney drives an AAR Eagle to victory in the USAC Rex Mays 300 at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California. Bobby Unser clinches the USAC championship (1968).

3

NASCAR great Robert Arthur “Bobby” Allison is born in Miami, Florida (1937).

4

The 1:1 foam model, from which the body molds of the first Porsche 956 will be taken, is completed (1981).

5

The paved track at Marouba, New South Wales, Australia, opens (1925).

6

CART driver Dario Franchitti makes his TV sitcom debut on the program “Suddenly Susan”, on America’s NBC network (1999).

7

Racer, builder and entrepreneur, Marion Lee “Mickey” Thompson born in Alhambra, California (1928).

8

Penske Racing announces they will run an AMC Matador in NASCAR Winston Cup races (1971).

9

Racecar designer Harry Miller is born (1875).

11

Masten Gregory drives a Ferrari 375MM to victory in the “Nassau Heat” during Nassau Speed Week in the Bahamas (1954).

12

F1 and Indy 500 champion Emerson Fittipaldi born in Sao Paulo, Brazil (1946).

14

Mark Donohue, USRRC, Trans-Am, Can-Am, and Indy 500 champions, marries Eden White (1974).

16

Ron Dennis and John Barnard buy out Tyler Alexander, Teddy Mayer, and Creighton Brown to take full control of McLaren International (1982).

17

Peter Gethin drives a Chevron B26 to victory in the sports car race in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa (1972).

21

German racer and rallyist Eberhard Mahle, son of Mahle KG co-founder Herman Mahle, dies at age 88 (2021).

22

NHRA Top Fuel drag racer Shelly Anderson is born (1965).

25

Grand Prix and sports car racer Giancarlo Baghetti born (1934).

26

Jim Clark makes his single-seater debut driving a Gemini MkII Formula Junior at Brand Hatch, in Kent, England. Peter Arundell wins the race in an Elva-DKW (1959).

28

David Hobbs, driving a Chevrolet-powered Surtees TS5, wins both heats of the SCCA Formula A Race at Sebring, Florida. Tony Adamowicz wins the season championship (1969).

29

Graham Hill wins his first Grand Prix driving title when he drives his BRM to victory in the South African GP at East London.  BRM also clinches the manufacturer’s title (1962).

31

Kenny Roberts Sr., 3-time and first American 500-cc motorcycle Grand Prix World Champion, born in Modesto, California (1951).

The post December in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
John Henry Bradley and Rodolfo Ponce drive a stripped-down Nash Ambassador to victory in the 500-kilometer Miguel Grau Road race in South America (1946).

3
FISA announces the total ban of ground effects in F1 (1982).

4
Bernard Darniche and Alain Mahé win the WRC Tour de Corse rally in a Lancia Stratos (1979).

5
Ludwig Heimrath drives a Porsche 935 to victory in the Trans-Am race in Mexico City, Mexico (1978).

7
Al Unser drives a Parnelli-Cosworth to victory in the USAC Bobby Ball 150 Indy car race at Phoenix, Arizona (1976).

8
Victor Hemery establishes a new speed record at Brooklands of 202.691 kmh in a “Blitzen Benz” (1909).

9
British Touring Car Championship driver David Leslie is born (1953).

10
The Bank of New York buys the Watkins Glen racing circuit in New York at auction (1982).

12
American sports car racer and driving school founder Robert Lewis “Bob” Bondurant dies at age 88 (2021).

14
Anton “Tony” Hulman buys the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from Eddie Rickenbacker for $750,000 (1945).

15
Ferdinand Porsche first discusses designing a mid-engined, single-seater with his associates.  The car later becomes the Auto Union Type A (1932).

18
The first heat of the non-championship DTM race at Kyalami, South Africa, is won by Klaus Ludwig in a Mercedes 190E. The second heat and overall victory goes to Roland Asch, also driving a 190E. First race victory for a racecar equipped with an anti-lock braking system (1990).

19
The SCCA announces the official end of the original Can-Am series after nine years (1974).

20
Mario Andretti, driving the Offenhauser-powered Dean Van Lines Brawner/Brabham, wins the USAC Championship Phoenix 200 in Phoenix, Arizona (1966).

23
Donald Robert Nichols, founder of the Shadow Can-Am and F1 racing team, is born in Eldon, Missouri (1924).

24
Bobby Allison drives the Penske AMC Matador to victory in the NASCAR L.A. Times 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California. Afterwards, they are fined $9100 for running a “cheater” engine (1974).

26
Dan Gurney drives an Eagle to victory in the Rex Mays 200 Indy car race at Riverside, California.  He becomes the first driver to win in the four major racing disciplines of Indy cars, stock cars, F1, and sports cars (1967).

27
Hurley Haywood wins the IMSA Championship race at Daytona, Florida (1977).

28
British American Tobacco concludes a deal to buy Tyrrell Racing (1997).

30
David Bruce-Brown, driving a Fiat, wins his second consecutive American Grand Prize at Savannah, Georgia.  Final race at Savannah (1911).

The post November in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
F1 & sports car racer Willy Mairesse is born in Momignies, Belgium (1928).

2
The Lancia-Bertone Stratos HF rally car is homologated for Group 4 by the FIA (1974).

4
Emerson Fittipaldi drives a Patrick racing March 85C-Cosworth to victory in the CART Indy Car race at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (1986).

5
F1 and sports car racer Andrea de Cesaris dies at age 55 in a motorcycle accident on a freeway near Rome, Italy (2014).

6
German racer Manfred Winkelhock is born (1951).

7
Gilles Villeneuve drives a Ferrari to victory in the United States Grand Prix. Final F1 GP drive for Jackie Ickx (1979).

8
Innes Ireland wins his first and only Grand Prix at the third United States Grand Prix. First USGP at Watkins Glen, New York. First GP win for the Lotus team. First GP win for a Scotsman. Last World Championship GP for Tony Brooks and Sterling Moss (1961).

9
Jackie Stewart wins the exhibition USAC Fuji 200 (actually 206 miles) road race for Indy cars at Fuji International Speedway in Japan driving a Lola-Ford (1966).

10
The Chaparral 2C is introduced to the public (1965).

11
Ralf Kelleners drives a March 707 to victory in the Interserie race at Hockenheim, West Germany (1970).

13
The Automobile Association of Australia stops sanctioning auto races (1952).

15
Craig Breedlove sets a new Land Speed Record of 526.28 MPH. Unfortunately, his jet-powered Spirit of America is wrecked when it’s parachute and brakes fail. It takes out two utility poles and crashes into a water-filled ditch (1964).

17
John Watson is announced as the replacement for the allegedly retiring James Hunt at McLaren (1978).

18
Stirling Moss wins the Watkins Glen, New York, Formula Libre race in an F1 Cooper-Climax (1959).

19
The USAC Championship race in Kent, Washington, is won by Mario Andretti driving an STP/Granatelli Racing Brawner/Hawk-Ford (1969).

22
The Nash-Healey sports car debuts at the Paris Salon de l’Automobile (1950).

24
Jorge de Bagration and Manuel Barbeito pilot a Lancia Startos HF to victory in the Rallye de España of the European Rally Championship (1976).

26
Rick Mears wins the CART Indy Car race in Mexico City driving a Penske PC9-Cosworth (1980).

31
Five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell is born in Pinner, England (1941).

The post October in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
NASCAR driver Richard “Richie” Panch dies in an airplane crash near Winnsboro, South Carolina (1985).

2
Wolfgang Kaufman and Hubert Haupt drive a Porsche GT2 to victory in the FIA GT Championship race on the Lausitzring in Germany (2000).

3
Leighton Reese wins the SCCA Trans-Am race at Texas World Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, driving a Pontiac Grand Prix (2000).

4
Jochen Mass and Jackie Ickx drive a Porsche 935 to victory in the 6 Hours of Dijon at Dijon-Prenois in France (1976).

5
Swiss F1 and sports car racer Gianclaudio Giuseppe “Clay” Regazzoni is born (1939).

7
The Valelunga 6 Hours race is won by Giorgio Franoa & Roberto Marazzi in an Osella BMW P8 (1980).

8
Jody Scheckter drives a Ferrari to victory in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Of the 24 starters, 13 previously had won F1 races. Eight of the others would go on to win Grands Prix (1979).

10
Gordon Spice, racer and constructor (Spice Engineering) dies from cancer at age 81 (2021).

11
Jackie Ickx drives a Ford Lotus Cortina to victory in the Coupes de l’Avinir touring car race at Zolder, Belgium (1966).

12
Jos Verstappen drives a Dallara 393 Opel to victory in the German F3 race on the Avus circuit in Berlin (1993).

15
Chevrolet announces they are withdrawing from CART Indy Car competition (1993).

16
Touring and sports car racer Jörg Obermoser, who also built Toj sports cars and later made and sold scale model car kits, dies after a long illness (2020).

19
Karl Kling drives a Mercedes to victory in the Berlin Grand Prix on the Avus circuit (1954).

20
Erwin George “Cannonball” Baker drives a Nash Ambassador up Mount Washington in New Hampshire in a record time of 15 minutes 27.67 seconds (1947).

21
Ike Krupp wins the SCCA B/Production race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan, driving an American Motors AMX (1969).

23
Ferdinand Porsche drives a self-designed Lohner-Porsche electric car up the Semmering mountain road in Austria at a record speed of 40 KPH/26 MPH (1900).

24
Fritz von Opel wins the first race ever held on the Avus circuit in Berlin, Germany, driving an Opel (1921).

28
Mario Andretti secretly visits Weissach, Germany, to test the new Porsche Indy Car (1987).

30
NASCAR holds its last Cup race (until 2021) on a dirt track in Raleigh, North Carolina. Richard Petty wins the race (1970).

The post September in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
The Women’s Global GT race at Portland, Oregon, is won by Sara Senske in a Panoz Esperante GT (1999).

2
Tony Brooks wins the German Grand Prix on the Avus circuit in Berlin driving a Ferrari 246 (1959).

3
Ernesto “Tito” Brambilla, Italian motorcycle and formula car racer and brother of Vittorio Brambilla, dies at age 86 (2020).

5
Drag racer Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins’ racecar hauler, with racecar, is stolen out of an IHOP restaurant parking lot. The truck is recovered later in the day, but the stripped Pro Stock Chevrolet Vega is not found until two days later (1973).

6
Jeff Gordon wins the inaugural NASCAR Brick Yard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (1994).

7
Julian Bailey and Jamie Campbell-Walter drive a Lister Storm GTL to victory in the first of two British GT races at Donington, England (1999).

8
Julian Bailey and Jamie Campbell-Walter drive a Lister Storm GTL to victory in the second of two British GT races at Donington, England (1999).

12
Phil Hill and Maurice Trintignant drive a Ferrari 290MM to victory in the Swedish Grand Prix for sports cars at Kristianstad. Ferrari clinches the World Sports Car Championship (1956).

13
Tim Richmond, NASCAR driver and 1980 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, dies of complications from AIDS at age 34 (1989).

15
Mark Donohue drives a Penske AMC Javelin to an SCCA Trans-Am race win at Watkins Glen, New York (1971).

16
The Austrian Grand Prix at Zeltweg is won by Jackie Ickx in a Ferrari 312B (1970).

19
Antonio Fassina and Mauro Mannini guide a Lancia Stratos to victory in the European Rally Championship Volta á Madeira Rally in Portugal (1979).

20
Mechanic, McLaren race team coordinator, and author Jo Ramirez is born (1941).

24
Mike Thackwell and Henri Pescarolo win the 1000km World Endurance Championship race on the Nürburgring in a Sauber C8 Mercedes (1986).

25
Dario Franchitti wins the CART race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (2002).

27
Mario Andretti pilots the Dean Van Lines Brawner/Brabham-Ford to victory in the 200 mile USAC Championship race in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1966).

28
Hans Stuck wins the Grossglockner mountain climb in Germany driving an Auto Union (1938).

30
Jackie Ickx wins the F2 race on the Salzburgring in West Germany driving a BMW 270 (1970).

31
Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme finish 1-2 in their Team McLaren M8B-Chevrolets in the Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, Can-Am race (1969).

The post August in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
Louis Chiron leads an Alfa Romeo 1-2-3 finish in the French Grand Prix at Montlhéry (1934).

2
AMC wins its second straight SCCA Tran-Am title when George Follmer drives his Roy Woods Javelin to a race win at Donnybrooke Speedway near Brainerd, Minnesota (1972).

4
Carl Goudy wins the 300-mile motorcycle race at Dodge City, Kansas (1914).

5
Emerson Fittipaldi drives a Patrick Racing March 87C-Chevrolet to victory in the CART Indy Car race at the Burke Lake Front Airport in Cleveland, Ohio (1987).

7
F1 race winner and Argentine politician Carlos Alberto Reutemann dies at age 79 (2021).

9
Jochen Mass and Jackie Ickx drive a Porsche 935-77 to victory in the 6 Hour endurance race at Watkins Glen, New York (1977).

11
Rudolph Caracciola wins the German Grand Prix on the Avus circuit in Berlin driving a Mercedes (1926).

12
Bobby Allison scores his first NASCAR Grand National victory at Oxford Plains, Maine (1966).

13
Achille Varzi drives an Alfa Romeo 158 to victory in the first Bari Grand Prix, in Bari Italy.  It would be Varzi’s last race win (1947).

16
Hugh Dibley wins the British Eagle Trophy race at Brands Hatch, England, in a Lola T70 (1966).

18
The Oreca Viper GTS-R of Olivier Baretta and Karl Wendlinger wins the FIA GT race at Zolder, Belgium (1999).

19
Mark Donohue drives a Penske AMC Javelin to victory in the SCCA Trans-Am race at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (1970).

20
The European Rally Championship Rallye CS 1980 in Spain is won by Jorge de Bagration and Llopis Nuria in a Lancia Stratos HF (1980).

22
Driving a Ferrari 312B2, Jackie Ickx wins the German Grand Prix on the Nürburgring (1972).

23
Mauro Baldi and Kenny Achison drive a Sauber Mercedes C9 to victory in the 480 kilometer World Endurance Championship race at Brand Hatch, England (1989).

24
Mario Andretti drives the Dean Van Lines Brawner/Brabham-Ford to victory in the USAC Championship race on the road course at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Indiana (1966).

25
Cindi Lux drives a Panoz Esperante GT to victory in the Women’s Global GT race at Sear Point Raceway in Sonoma, California (1999).

26
Bernd Rosemeyer drives an Auto Union to victory in the German Grand Prix on the Nürburgring (1935).

29
Alberto Ascari drives a Ferrari 375 to victory in the German Grand Prix on the Nürburgring (1951).

31
Lancia claims the 500^th Stratos is completed, thereby satisfying the FIA Group 4 homologation requirements. In reality, less the 500 will ever built (1974).

The post July in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1

Frederick Woodruff “Ted” Field, entrepreneur, media mogul, and owner of Interscope Racing is born (1953).

3

Jackie Ickx, driving a Lola T333CS-Chevrolet, wins the SCCA Can-Am race at Mosport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada (1979).

5

Herbert Schnitzer, co-founder (along with brother Josef) of Schnitzer Motorsport, is born in Bavaria, Germany (1941).

6

Mike Hawthorn drives a Ferrari to victory in the French Grand Prix at Reims. Luigi Musso dies after crashing his Ferrari. First F1 race for Phil Hill, Carroll Shelby, and Troy Ruttman. Juan Manuel Fangio’s last F1 race (1958).

7

Bobby Rahal wins the CART Detroit Grand Prix driving a Chevrolet-powered Lola T92/00 (1992).

8

Franz Konrad, 1983 German F3 champion and founder of Konrad Motorsports GmbH, is born in Graz, Austria (1951).

10

Canadian Eppie Wietzes, the 1981 SCCA Trans-Am champion, dies at age 82 (2020).

11

The SCCA Can-Am race on the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, is won by Alan Jones in a Lola-Chevrolet (1978).

12

Bruce Leven, racer and owner of the Bayside Disposal Racing team, is born in Chicago, Illinois (1938).

15

Jean Rondeau and Jean-Pierre Jaussaud drive a Rondeau M379B to victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Rondeau becomes the first and only person to win Le Mans in a car he built himself (1980).

16

The Indy Racing League terminates their sanctioning agreement with the United States Auto Club because of major errors made at the previous two IRL races (1997).

17

Henri Pescarolo and Klaus Ludwig win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the New Man Porsche 956B. John Morton, John O’Steen, and Yoshimi Katayama win the C2 class in a BFG Lola T61-Mazda (1984).

19

Jack Hinkle wins a sports car race in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, driving a Maserati Tipo 61 (1960).

20

The Opel Kadett GT/E makes its DRM race debut in Hockenheim, West Germany (1976).

21

Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori drive an Aston Martin DBR1 to victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1959).

22

Bobby Unser drives a Penske to victory in the CRL Indy Car Pocono 500 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania (1980).

24

Jorge de Bagration and Nuria Llopis, in a Lancia Stratos HF, win the ERC Rally de Ourense in Galicia, Spain (1979).

27

Jim Clark wins the French Grand Prix at Clermont-Ferrand in a Lotus 33-Climax (1965).

28

The very first Interserie race, on the Norisring in West Germany, is won by Jürgen Heuhaus in a Gesipa Racing Porsche 917K (1970).

30

The board of Hulman & Company removes Tony George as CEO of the company and of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2009).

The post June in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1

The BPR Global GT race at Dijon, France, is won by the Venturi 600LM of Michel Ferté and Michel Neugarten (1994).

2

Sid Collins, the Voice of the Indianapolis 500, commits suicide after being diagnosed with ALS (1977).

3

A Porsche 906 driven by Tetsu Ikuzawa wins the sports car Grand Prix of Japan at Mt Fuji (1967).

9

Spanish auto manufacturer SEAT (Sociedad Española de Automóvile de Turismo, S.A.) is founded (1950).

10

Walter Röhrl, Harold Grohs, and Dieter Schornstein drive the winning Porsche 935J in the Silverstone 6 Hours sports car race (1981).

11

Manfred Schurti wins the BMW M1 Procar series race on the AVUS circuit in Berlin (1980).

13

Jochen Mass and Jackie Ickx, driving a Porsche 956-83, win the Silverstone 1000km sports car race in England (1984).

14

Alan Jones drives a Lola-Chevrolet to victory in the SCCA Can-Am race at Road Atlanta, Georgia (1977).

15

Leopold von Zedlitz and Rudi Golderer win the 6-hour ADAC touring car race on the Nürburgring, in West Germany (1960).

16

Lola Cars enters administration (bankruptcy) (2012).

18

First victory for a car bearing the Lola name occurs when Eric Broadley wins a race at a Maidstone and Mid-Kent Motor Club meeting at Silverstone, England (1957).

21

Hazel Williams, who co-founded Lotus Cars with her husband Colin Chapman, is born in London, England (1927).

22

The movie “Winning” is released (1969).

24

Paul Tracy wins the CART Motorola 300 at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis, Missouri. The win is Penske Racing’s 99^th Indy car victory (1997).

25

Canadian racer Maurice Carter is born (1921).

26

Jackie Ickx, driving a Ford Mustang, wins the Coupe de Spa touring car race on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium (1968).

27

Rick Mears drives a Cosworth-powered Penske PC-6 to victory in the Indianapolis 500 (1979).

28

The McLaren F1 sports car is unveiled to the public in Monte Carlo (1992).

30

Roger Lee Hayden, the youngest of three motorcycle racing brothers, is born in Owensboro, Kentucky (1983).

31

Howdy Wilcox drives a Peugeot to win in the first post-WWI Indy 500.  First Indy 500 win for Goodyear tires.  First playing of the song “Back Home Again in Indiana” at the 500 (1919).

The post May in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
The Mercedes 450 SLC is homologated into Group 4 for rallying (1979).

2
Tom Sneva wins the USAC Texas 200 Indy car race at Texas World Speedway in College Station, Texas, driving a McLaren M24-Cosworth for Penske Racing (1977).

4
The Opel Ascona 400 of Ari Vatanen and Terry Harryman wins the Safari Rally in Africa (1983).

5
Bobby Rahal drives a Team Rahal Lola T92/00-Chevrolet to victory in the CART Indy Car Phoenix 200 on the Phoenix International Raceway oval in Avondale, Arizona (1992).

6
The CART Indy Car Australian 300K in Surfers Paradise, Australia, is won by Patrick Racing’s Scott Pruett driving a Ford/Cosworth-powered Reynard 97I (1997).

7
James Hunt drives a Hesketh 308-Ford to victory in the non-championship Daily Express International Trophy Race at Silverstone, England (1974).

12
Racing great Sir Stirling Moss dies after a long illness (2020).

13
Mario Andretti, driving for STP/Granatelli Racing, wins the USAC California 200, at Hanford Motor Speedway in Hanford, California, driving a Brawner/Hawk-Ford (1969).

14
Jochen Mass and Jackie Ickx win the 1000 KM of Mugello driving a Porsche 962C (1985).

17
Allan Moffat wins the Australian Touring Car Championship race at Sandown, Australia (1977).

18
Posthumous 1970 F1 World Champion Jochen Rindt born (1942).

19
Jim Clark wins the Lavant Cup at Goodwood, England, driving a Lotus 30 (1965).

21
The Porsche 962 LM GT-1 is presented to the ACO for approval to race at Le Mans. Although “not in the spirit” of the regulations, it is eventually approved (1994).

22
Doug Chivas and Margaret Halliday win the Grand Prix of Mount Panarama for 1000cc motorcycle sidecars. Halliday becomes the first woman in the world to win a national motorsport Grand Prix (1984).

23
Ian Scott-Watson, who will provide Jim Clark with cars to race in club level events in Scotland, is born (1930).

25
Mike Mosley drives a Watson-Ford to victory in the USAC Championship race at the New Jersey State Fairgrounds in Trenton, New Jersey (1971).

26
The Monza 1000 km race is won by a Porsche 935 K3 driven by Edgar Dören, Jürgen Lässig, and Gerhard Holup (1981).

28
Marc Surer and Manfred Winkelhock drive a C1 Kremer Porsche 962C to victory in the Monza 1000 KM World Endurance Championship race (1985).

29
Australian Touring Car legend Dick Johnson is born in Brisbane, Australia (1947).

30
Preston Henn, racer and entrant (T-Bird Swap Shop), dies at age 86 (2017).

The post April in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
Wendy Markey-Amey, British dancer and touring car racer dies at the age of 75 (2021).

4
NASCAR great Buck Baker born (1919).

5
Gregg Hansford dies when his Ford Mondeo crashes at Phillip Island, Australia, on the second lap of the first race of the new Australian 2-liter Touring Car series (1995).

6
The McLaren MP4, the world’s first car with a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis, debuts for the press at Silverstone in Northamptonshire, England (1981).

7
David Piper takes delivery of Lola MkIIIB chassis SL76/150 (1969).

9
Vic Elford drives the Inaltera GTP endurance racer in its first track test, on the Mas du Clos circuit in France (1976).

11
IHRA and NHRA Pro Stock champion Lee Shepherd is killed in a testing accident in Ardmore, Oklahoma. He is 40 years old (1985).

12
Hurley Haywood, Bob Holbert, and Bruce Leven drive the Bayside Disposal Porsche 935 to overall victory in the 12 Hours of Sebring. The GTO class is won by the Porsche 911 RSR driven by Chuck Kendall, Pete Smith, and Dennis Aase (1981).

13
Tazio Nuvolari drives a Bugatti 35C to victory in the Grand Prix of Tripoli for his first international auto racing win (1928).

15
The Böblingen, Germany, district administration issues a registration certificate for the road legal Porsche 962 Dauer Le Mans GT (1994).

18
Trans-Am and Can-Am champion and Indy 500 winner Mark Donohue is born (1937).

19
Jim Clark wins the Formula Junior race at Goodwood, England. Second is John Surtees in his first ever auto race (1960).

20
Kurt Ahrens Sr. & Jr. test Stanguellini Formula Junior cars at Modena, Italy (1960).

21
At Silverstone, England, Adrian Newey performs his new job as race engineer for Christian Danner in an F2 March for the first time. Danner DNFs (1982).

22
The 360-kilometer WEC race at Jarama, Spain, is won by the Silk Cut Jaguar XJR-8 driven by John Watson and Jan Lammers (1987).

24
Juan Manuel Fangio and Eugenio Castellotti drive a Ferrari 860 Monza to victory in the 12 Hours of Sebring (1956).

27
Jackie Ickx drives a Ford Mustang to victory in the Grand National Touring Car race at Zolder in Belgium (1966).

28
Adrian Fernandez drives a Patrick Racing Reynard 98I-Ford/Cosworth to victory in the CART Budweiser 500K race at Twin Ring Motegi in Motegi, Japan (1998).

29
Racer David Prophet dies in a helicopter crash at age 43 (1981).

31
Racecar designer (Ti22, Shadow MKII, Shadow MkIII) Peter Bryant dies at the age of 71 (2009).

The post March in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
Randy Bernard is introduced as the Indy Racing League’s new CEO (2010).

2
Mark Donohue and Chuck Parsons drive the Penske Lola T70 MkIII B to victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona (1969).

3
A.J. Foyt, Bob Wollek, Al Unser Sr. (all suffering from the flu) and Thierry Boutsen drive the Swap Shop Porsche 962 to victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona (1985).

5
Mario Andretti agrees to become the official test driver of the AVS Shadow Can-Am car (1969).

6
Mike Dunn sets an NHRA Top Fuel 1/4 mile ET record of 4.503 seconds at Pomona, California (1999).

7
Bruce McLaren drives a Cooper-Climax to victory in the Argentine Grand Prix at Buenos Aires (1960).

11
Fred Offenhauser, of Offenhauser engine fame, born in Los Angeles, California (1888).

12
Tony Godfrey rides a Norton to victory in the FIM 500-cc motorcycle Grand Prix at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida (1961).

14
Bobby Allison wins the NASCAR Daytona 500 stock car race (1982).

15
Rally driver Kristian Sohlberg born in Espoo, Finland (1978).

16
Hendrick Motorsport Chevys finish 1-2-3 in the NASCAR Daytona 500.  Jeff Gordon wins followed by Terry Labonte and Ricky Craven (1997).

18
José Froilán González wins the Gran Premio Presidente Perón, in Argentina, driving a Ferrari (1954).

19
German motorsport photographer Rainer Schlegelmilch is born (1941).

20
Roger Penske, racer, team owner, and owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is born in Shaker Heights, Ohio (1937).

22
It is announced that key elements of the Champ Car World Series will be merged into the Indy Racing League (2008).

24
Klaus Niedzwiedz, touring car race winner and Interserie champion, is born (1951).

25
The Inaltera GTP endurance racer is presented to the press in Paris (1976).

26
Australian Touring Car Legend Peter Brock born in Hurstbridge, Victoria, Australia (1945).

28
Le Mans winner, 2002 F3000 champion, and 4-time Champ Car World Series champion Sebastien Bourdais is born in Le Mans, France (1979).

The post February in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
Test driver Norman Dewis O.B.E. begins a 33-year career at Jaguar (1952).

2
Tobacco advertising on radio and TV is banned in the United States. This will help cause an influx of tobacco sponsorship money into U.S. auto racing (1971).

3
John “Hogie” Hogan, who was in charge of Marlboro’s racing budgets from 1973 to 2002, dies from COVID-19 complications (2021).

4
Otto Walker, riding a Harley-Davidson, wins the 100-mile motorcycle race at Ascot Park in Los Angeles, California (1920).

7
Racer and engineer Jackie Epstein dies (2009).

9
Roberto Moreno, driving a Ford-powered Ralt RT4, wins the Formula Pacific New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe (1982).

10
NASCAR stock car racer Harry Gant is born (1940).

11
Dan Gurney and Frank Arciero drive a Lotus 19B to victory in the Daytona Continental 3-Hour race in Daytona, Florida, USA (1962).

13
US Tobacco announces that Ron Capps will drive the Copenhagen Camaro funny car in NHRA events. Don Prudhomme will serve as team manager (1997).

16
Anthony Joseph “A.J.” Foyt, 4-time Indianapolis 500 winner, is born in Houston, Texas (1935).

18
First FIA sanctioned Argentine Grand Prix won by Alberto Ascari driving an F2 Ferrari 500 (1953).

19
Valerio Colotti, founder of Colotti Transmissioni, passes away (2008).

20
Preston Henn, racer and entrant (T-Bird Swap Shop), is born (1931).

23
The formation of Nippon NASCAR, an organization intended to foster stock car racing in Japan, is announced (1964).

26
Drag racer Irv Beringhaus dies when his Pro Stock Ford Pinto crashes during a race at Scottsdale, Arizona (1974).

27
Buzz Calkins wins the Indy 200, the first Indy Racing League race ever run, at Disney World near Orlando, Florida (1995).

28
Jean-Pierre Wimille is killed when his Simca-Gordini crashes in practice for the Gran Premio del Juan Peron y de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires in Argentina (1949).

29
Alpine A110s finish 1-2-4-8-9 in the 40^th Monte Carlo Rally. The winning car is driven by Ove Andersson, with David Stone navigating (1971).

30
Racer and journalist Paul Frere is born in Le Havre, France (1917).

31
John Paul Sr. and Jr. and Rolf Stommelen drive a Porsche 935 JPL-3 to victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona (1982).

The post January in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
Scuderia Ferrari is formed (1929).

2
British sports car racer and entrant David Piper is born (1930).

The post December in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
Ricardo Rodriguez dies in an accident during the non-championship Mexican Grand Prix on the Magdalena Mixhuca Circuit in Mexico City, Mexico (1962).

3
FIA declares that, beginning in 1993, all F1 cars must have flat bottoms.  Ground effects chassis are outlawed (1982).

4
Hulman & Company announces they are selling the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IMS Productions, and the NTT Indy Car Series to the Penske Entertainment Corporation (2019).

5
Phil Hill, driving a Jaguar XK120, wins the first auto race ever held at Pebble Beach, California (1950).

6
Jochen Mass and Jackie Ickx drive a Porsche 956 to victory in the 9 Hours of Kyalami in South Africa (1982).

7
British auto racer Chris Craft is born (1939).

11
Johnny Parsons drives a Kurtis-Offenhauser to victory in the AAA Bay Meadows 150 on the dirt track at Bay Meadows Race Track in San Mateo, California (1951).

13
Multiple 24 Hours of Daytona winner Jim Pace dies of COVID-19 at age 59 (2020).

14
Ford announces there 1997 works Escort WRC team will be run by Malcolm Wilson’s M-Sport operation (1996).

16
Bobby Labonte repeats as victor in the NAPA 500 at Atlanta, Georgia.  Jeff Gordon clinches his second NASCAR Winston Cup crown (1997).

18
Porsche engine designer Hans Mezger (pictured top) is born in Ottmarsheim, Germany (1929).

19
Mario Andretti drives a Brawner/Brabham-Ford to victory in the 200 mile USAC Championship race at Phoenix, Arizona (1967).

20
Jean-Louis Schlesser & Jochen Mass, driving a Sauber-Mercedes, win the 360km WEC race at Sandown Park, Australia (1988).

22
Drag racer Geno Redd is killed in a crash while testing his Pro Stock Plymouth Barracuda at Orange County International Raceway in Irvine, California (1971).

23
Shadow racing team founder Don Nichols is born in Eldon, Missouri (1924).

24
Bobby Isaac sets a new World Closed Course Speed Record of 201.104 mph at Talladega, Alabama (1970).

27
Ralph Mulford drives a Lozier to victory in the first Vanderbilt Cup race to be held in Savannah, Georgia (1911).

29
Edoardo Weber, creator of the Weber carburetor, is born in Torino, Italy (1889).

30
CART team owners elect Pat Patrick as their first president and announce that they will run their own races, without USAC sanction (1978).

The post November in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
Australian touring car driver Tony Longhurst is born in Sidney, New South Wales, Australia (1957).

4
Bobby Rahal wins the CART Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, driving a Team Rahal Lola T92/00-Chevrolet (1992).

The post October in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
The Spa 1000 km WEC race is won by Bob Wolleck, Mauroi Baldi, and Ricardo Patrese in a Lancia LC2-85 (1985).

2
Indy car racer Robbie Buhl is born in Detroit, Michigan (1965).

3
Barbara Skinner wins the MAC Ladies Cup at the Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb (1932).

5
Jochen Mass and Jackie Ickx drive a Porsche 936 to victory in the 500 Km of Dijon-Prenois race in France (1976).

6
New Zealand racer Rob Wilson is born in Auckland (1952).

7
Eddie Perkin and Arthur Smith drive a Volkswagen to victory in the Mobil Gas Trial Rally from Sydney to Melbourne in Australia (1958).

8
Racer and rally driver Barrie Williams, who’s 1964 Wales Rally win was the first international victory for a Mini Cooper S, dies at age 79 (2018).

11
Ralph Kent-Cooke, team owner (Cooke Racing and Cooke-Woods Racing) and Le Mans participant, dies of liver failure at the age of 58 in Lexington, Kentucky (1995).

12
Jackie Ickx wins the Limborg Trophy touring car race in Belgium driving a Ford Mustang (1965).

15
Bruce Leven, racer and owner of the Bayside Disposal Racing Team, dies at age 78 (2017).

16
Niki Lauda, driving an Alfa Romeo-powered Brabham BT48, wins the non-championship Gran Premio di Dino Ferrari at Imola, Italy (1979).

18
Derek Warwick and John Fitzpatrick win the Brands Hatch 1000 km European Endurance Championship race in a JDavid Porsche 956 (1983).

19
John Surtees drives a Lola T70 MkII spider to victory in the CSCC sports car race at Mont-Tremblant in St. Jovite, Quebec, Canada (1965).

21
British industrialist and F1 racer Kenneth McAlpine OBE DL is born (1920).

22
Lola Cars International Ltd. founder Eric Broadley is born in Bromley, Kent, England (1928).

26
Nigel Mansell captures his ninth F1 pole (at Portugal), breaking Ayrton Senna’s single-season record (1992).

27
Erwin Kremer, one of the brothers who founded the Kremer racing team, dies at age 69 (2006).

28
The Porsche 935 of Jurgen Barth and Henri Pescarolo wins the Dijon 1000 km race (1980).

30
Elliott Forbes-Robinson drives a Spyder-Chevy to victory in the SCCA Can-Am race at Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada (1978).

The post September in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

2
The Tony Southgate designed TWR Jaguar XJR-5 is tested for the first time, at Snetterton, England (1985).

3
Kurt Ahrens Sr. drives a Cooper to victory in the Halle-Saale-Scheife Formula II race in East Germany (1955).

The post July in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
Zora Arkus-Duntov, who will go on to become the “Father of the Corvette”, is hired as an engineer by General Motors (1953).

2
Sixty-six year old Warren Johnson becomes the oldest NHRA drag race winner when he wins in Pro Stock at the Triple A Midwest Nationals in Madison, Illinois (2010).

The post May in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
The Subaru Impreza 555 is homologated for Group A rallying (1993).

4
Niki Lauda drives a McLaren-Cosworth to victory in the USGP West at Long Beach, California (1982).

The post April in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
Engineer Adrian Newey joins Red Bull Racing (2006).

3
Ernst Loof, engineer, racer, and co-founder of Veritas GmbH, dies in Bonn, West Germany, of a brain tumor (1956).

The post March in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
Karl Mauer replaces Tony Fall as head of European Motorsports at Opel (1989).

2
Preston Henn, Bob Wollek, Claude Ballot-Lena, and A.J. Foyt drive the T-Bird Swap Shop “Moby Dick” Porsche 935L to victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona (1983).

The post February in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
The Lancia Rally (037) Evo 2 is homologated for Group B rallying (1984).

5
Billy Wade is killed when his Bud Moore Mercury Marauder crashes during a tire test at Daytona, Florida (1965).

The post January in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
Jackie Ickx and Jochen Mass win the 800Km of Selangor in Sham Alam, Malaysia, driving a Porsche 962C (1985).

2
Roger Penske drives a Ferrari 250 GTO to victory in the Tourist Trophy race at Nassau in the Bahamas (1962).

The post December in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

1
Allan Moffat and Jackie Ickx drive a Ford Falcon Cobra to victory in the Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama in Australia (1977).

3
FISA announces a ban on underwing tunnels on race cars. The ground effects era ends (1982).

The post November in Racing History appeared first on Sports Car Digest.