This Day in Automotive History
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#257
14th September
September 14, 1927
Isadora Duncan, the controversial but highly influential American dancer, was instantly strangled to death in Nice, France, when her trademark long scarf got caught in the rear wheel of a Amilcar driven by factory mechanic Benoit Falchetto, whom she called 'Buggati' and this lead to misconception that the unfateful car was a Buggati, but in actual it was an Amilcar.
Duncan was 49. The scarf was hand painted silk from the Russian-born artist Roman Chatov. The accident gave rise to Gertrude Stein's mordant remark that "affectations can be dangerous."
September 14, 1960
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries was founded on this day at the Baghdad Conference of 1960, established by five core members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. Originally made up of just these five, OPEC began as an attempt to organize and unify petroleum policies, securing stable prices for the petroleum producers. The organization grew considerably after its creation, adding eight other members and developing into one of the most influential groups in the world. The first real indication of OPEC's power came with the 1973 oil embargo, during which long lines and soaring gasoline prices quickly convinced Americans of the reach of OPEC's influence. OPEC's member countries currently supply more than 40 percent of the world's oil.
September 14, 1965
My Mother the Car, one of the shortest running television shows in history and first about a Car, premiered on this day. The show featured Ann Sothern as the reincarnation of the main character's mother - in the form of a classic 1928 Porter Automobile. Apparently, the idea of automobile reincarnation didn't appeal to the public then, and the series was canceled a few weeks after its debut.
September 14, 1982
Princess Grace of Monaco, also known as Grace Kelly, died on this day of injuries sustained in a car crash. The accident was one of the most tragic in modern memory, the car plunged down a 45-foot embankment after the Princess suffered a stroke and lost control of the car. Known as America's princess, Kelly's life had been a true fairy tale. She was born into a rich Irish Catholic family in Philadelphia where she attended private schools before enrolling in the Academy of Dramatic Art in New York. She soon rose to stardom both on Broadway and in Hollywood, winning the public's affection in such films as Rear Window and The Country Girl. However, she abandoned her acting career in order to marry Prince Rainier of Monaco, making her a real-life princess.
Isadora Duncan
OPEC headquarter in Vienna
September 14, 1927
Isadora Duncan, the controversial but highly influential American dancer, was instantly strangled to death in Nice, France, when her trademark long scarf got caught in the rear wheel of a Amilcar driven by factory mechanic Benoit Falchetto, whom she called 'Buggati' and this lead to misconception that the unfateful car was a Buggati, but in actual it was an Amilcar.
Duncan was 49. The scarf was hand painted silk from the Russian-born artist Roman Chatov. The accident gave rise to Gertrude Stein's mordant remark that "affectations can be dangerous."
September 14, 1960
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries was founded on this day at the Baghdad Conference of 1960, established by five core members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. Originally made up of just these five, OPEC began as an attempt to organize and unify petroleum policies, securing stable prices for the petroleum producers. The organization grew considerably after its creation, adding eight other members and developing into one of the most influential groups in the world. The first real indication of OPEC's power came with the 1973 oil embargo, during which long lines and soaring gasoline prices quickly convinced Americans of the reach of OPEC's influence. OPEC's member countries currently supply more than 40 percent of the world's oil.
September 14, 1965
My Mother the Car, one of the shortest running television shows in history and first about a Car, premiered on this day. The show featured Ann Sothern as the reincarnation of the main character's mother - in the form of a classic 1928 Porter Automobile. Apparently, the idea of automobile reincarnation didn't appeal to the public then, and the series was canceled a few weeks after its debut.
September 14, 1982
Princess Grace of Monaco, also known as Grace Kelly, died on this day of injuries sustained in a car crash. The accident was one of the most tragic in modern memory, the car plunged down a 45-foot embankment after the Princess suffered a stroke and lost control of the car. Known as America's princess, Kelly's life had been a true fairy tale. She was born into a rich Irish Catholic family in Philadelphia where she attended private schools before enrolling in the Academy of Dramatic Art in New York. She soon rose to stardom both on Broadway and in Hollywood, winning the public's affection in such films as Rear Window and The Country Girl. However, she abandoned her acting career in order to marry Prince Rainier of Monaco, making her a real-life princess.
Isadora Duncan
OPEC headquarter in Vienna
Source:
The History Channel
Wikipedia
The History Channel
Wikipedia
Thread Starter
#258
September 15, 1909
Charles F. Kettering of Detroit, Michigan, applied for a patent on his ignition system on this day. But the ignition system was only the first of Kettering's many automobile improvements, a distinguished list that includes lighting systems, lacquer finishes, antilock fuels, leaded gasoline, and the electric starter. His company Delco (Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company) was a leader in automotive technology and later became a subsidiary of General Motors. Kettering himself served as vice president and director of research for GM from 1920 to 1947.
September 15, 1909
Ford sues George B. Selden on this day.George Selden is rarely mentioned in accounts of automobile history, often lost among names like Ford, Daimler, and Cugnot. However, Selden reigned as the "Father of the Automobile" for almost 20 years, his name engraved on every car from 1895 until 1911. He held the patent on the "Road Engine," which was effectively a patent on the automobile - a claim that went unchallenged for years, despite the many other inventors who had contributed to the development of the automobile and the internal combustion engine. Almost all of the early car manufacturers, unwilling to face the threat of a lawsuit, were forced to buy licenses from Selden, so almost every car on the road sported a small brass plaque reading "Manufactured under Selden Patent." Henry Ford was the only manufacturer willing to challenge Selden in court, and on this day a New York judge ruled that Ford had indeed infringed on Selden's patent. This decision was later overturned when it became plain that Selden had never intended to actually manufacture his "road engine." Selden's own "road engine" prototype, built in the hope of strengthening his case, only managed to stagger along for a few hours before breaking down.
September 15, 1969
On September 15, 1969, the classic British heist movie The Italian Job is released in Swedish theaters. (It had opened in the U.K. in June and in the United States on September 3.) The film starred Michael Caine as Charlie Croker, the leader of a gang of goodhearted thieves determined to steal a 4-million-pound shipment of gold on its way from China to a bank in Turin, Italy. The film also featured three Mini Coopers--a red one, a blue one, and a white one--as getaway cars for the pilfered gold. The popular British-made “microcars” get Croker’s gang out of Turin in a spectacular chase through the city, across crowded shopping arcades and plazas, over rooftops, around a Fiat factory and even down the steps of a church during a wedding. In the end, the thieves escape Turin by zipping through its sewer pipes and head for the Alps.
But once the mobsters swap their Minis for a getaway bus en route to Switzerland, all does not end well. After taking a turn too fast on the twisting Alpine road, the bus winds up see-sawing on the edge of a great cliff, with the mobsters in the front end and their loot in the precariously swaying rear. The thieves are stuck: As Croker inches toward the gold, the gold slides closer to the door and the bus wobbles closer to the precipice. Just before the credits roll, in what director Peter Collinson thought would be the perfect setup for a sequel, Croker tells his accomplices to hold on: “I’ve got a great idea.” (Collinson’s sequel was never made; however, an updated remake of the film was released in 2003.)
In 2008, in honor of the film’s approaching 40th anniversary, the Royal Society of Chemistry proposed a contest to finish Croker’s thought. To the person who could come up with the most original and plausible way to save the gold and the crew before the bus tipped off the edge, the RSC promised an Italian holiday.
Early in 2009, the Society announced its winner: an information-technology manager named John Godwin, whose 6-page scientific proof proposed an elaborate scheme involving window-breaking, fuel-tank draining, tire-deflating, and rock-gathering, all to make the bus stable enough for one of the thieves to shimmy back and grab the gold.
George B Selden driving automobile in 1905
The Selden Road-Engine
The Italian Job movie poster
The iconic mini chase scene
Charles F. Kettering of Detroit, Michigan, applied for a patent on his ignition system on this day. But the ignition system was only the first of Kettering's many automobile improvements, a distinguished list that includes lighting systems, lacquer finishes, antilock fuels, leaded gasoline, and the electric starter. His company Delco (Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company) was a leader in automotive technology and later became a subsidiary of General Motors. Kettering himself served as vice president and director of research for GM from 1920 to 1947.
September 15, 1909
Ford sues George B. Selden on this day.George Selden is rarely mentioned in accounts of automobile history, often lost among names like Ford, Daimler, and Cugnot. However, Selden reigned as the "Father of the Automobile" for almost 20 years, his name engraved on every car from 1895 until 1911. He held the patent on the "Road Engine," which was effectively a patent on the automobile - a claim that went unchallenged for years, despite the many other inventors who had contributed to the development of the automobile and the internal combustion engine. Almost all of the early car manufacturers, unwilling to face the threat of a lawsuit, were forced to buy licenses from Selden, so almost every car on the road sported a small brass plaque reading "Manufactured under Selden Patent." Henry Ford was the only manufacturer willing to challenge Selden in court, and on this day a New York judge ruled that Ford had indeed infringed on Selden's patent. This decision was later overturned when it became plain that Selden had never intended to actually manufacture his "road engine." Selden's own "road engine" prototype, built in the hope of strengthening his case, only managed to stagger along for a few hours before breaking down.
September 15, 1969
On September 15, 1969, the classic British heist movie The Italian Job is released in Swedish theaters. (It had opened in the U.K. in June and in the United States on September 3.) The film starred Michael Caine as Charlie Croker, the leader of a gang of goodhearted thieves determined to steal a 4-million-pound shipment of gold on its way from China to a bank in Turin, Italy. The film also featured three Mini Coopers--a red one, a blue one, and a white one--as getaway cars for the pilfered gold. The popular British-made “microcars” get Croker’s gang out of Turin in a spectacular chase through the city, across crowded shopping arcades and plazas, over rooftops, around a Fiat factory and even down the steps of a church during a wedding. In the end, the thieves escape Turin by zipping through its sewer pipes and head for the Alps.
But once the mobsters swap their Minis for a getaway bus en route to Switzerland, all does not end well. After taking a turn too fast on the twisting Alpine road, the bus winds up see-sawing on the edge of a great cliff, with the mobsters in the front end and their loot in the precariously swaying rear. The thieves are stuck: As Croker inches toward the gold, the gold slides closer to the door and the bus wobbles closer to the precipice. Just before the credits roll, in what director Peter Collinson thought would be the perfect setup for a sequel, Croker tells his accomplices to hold on: “I’ve got a great idea.” (Collinson’s sequel was never made; however, an updated remake of the film was released in 2003.)
In 2008, in honor of the film’s approaching 40th anniversary, the Royal Society of Chemistry proposed a contest to finish Croker’s thought. To the person who could come up with the most original and plausible way to save the gold and the crew before the bus tipped off the edge, the RSC promised an Italian holiday.
Early in 2009, the Society announced its winner: an information-technology manager named John Godwin, whose 6-page scientific proof proposed an elaborate scheme involving window-breaking, fuel-tank draining, tire-deflating, and rock-gathering, all to make the bus stable enough for one of the thieves to shimmy back and grab the gold.
George B Selden driving automobile in 1905
The Selden Road-Engine
The Italian Job movie poster
The iconic mini chase scene
Source:
The History Channel
Wikipedia
The History Channel
Wikipedia
Thread Starter
#259
September 16, 1903
Frederick Henry Royce, of Rolls-Royce Ltd., successfully tested his first gasoline engine on this day. The two-cylinder, 10hp engine was one of three experimental cars designed by Royce during the automobile's early years, when gasoline-powered engines competed on equal footing with electric and steam engines. In fact, Royce's first company, Royce Ltd., built electric motors.
September 16, 1908
William C. Durant founded the General Motors Corporation (GM) on this day, consolidating several motor car companies, including Buick, Oldsmobile, and Cadillac, to form this Goliath of the automotive industry. GM's success was assured in 1912 when Cadillac introduced the electric self-starter, quickly making the hand crank obsolete and propelling sales. Throughout the next few years, the company continued to grow, buying out Chevrolet, Delco, the Fisher Body Company, and Frigidaire. In 1929, GM surpassed Ford to become the leading American passenger-car manufacturer, and by 1941, the company was the largest automotive manufacturer in the world. But the 1970s and 1980s brought darker times, and the company suffered under severe competition from imports. GM responded with attempts at modernization, but its efforts have yielded mixed results thus far; the company was forced to close a large number of plants in the U.S. during the early 1990s after several years of heavy losses.
William Durant, stands proudly by the Durant Star, 1922
Frederick Henry Royce, of Rolls-Royce Ltd., successfully tested his first gasoline engine on this day. The two-cylinder, 10hp engine was one of three experimental cars designed by Royce during the automobile's early years, when gasoline-powered engines competed on equal footing with electric and steam engines. In fact, Royce's first company, Royce Ltd., built electric motors.
September 16, 1908
William C. Durant founded the General Motors Corporation (GM) on this day, consolidating several motor car companies, including Buick, Oldsmobile, and Cadillac, to form this Goliath of the automotive industry. GM's success was assured in 1912 when Cadillac introduced the electric self-starter, quickly making the hand crank obsolete and propelling sales. Throughout the next few years, the company continued to grow, buying out Chevrolet, Delco, the Fisher Body Company, and Frigidaire. In 1929, GM surpassed Ford to become the leading American passenger-car manufacturer, and by 1941, the company was the largest automotive manufacturer in the world. But the 1970s and 1980s brought darker times, and the company suffered under severe competition from imports. GM responded with attempts at modernization, but its efforts have yielded mixed results thus far; the company was forced to close a large number of plants in the U.S. during the early 1990s after several years of heavy losses.
William Durant, stands proudly by the Durant Star, 1922
Source:
The History Channel
Wikipedia
The History Channel
Wikipedia
Thread Starter
#260
September 17, 1903
First coast-to-coast tour was completed on this day. At a time when driving across country was akin to climbing Mt. Everest, Lester L. Whitman and Eugene I. Hammond completed their coast-to-coast expedition on this day to national acclaim. Whitman and Hammond's journey, the third trans-U.S. automobile trip in history, contained a small detour, however. The two drivers decided to include a side trip from Windsor to Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, in order to dub their trek "international."
September 17, 1965
On September 17, 1965, four adventurous Englishmen arrive at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany after crossing the English Channel by Amphicar, the world’s only mass-produced amphibious passenger car. Despite choppy waters, stiff winds, and one flooded engine, the two vehicles made it across the water in about seven hours.
The Amphicar’s design, by the German engineer Hans Trippel, derived from the Schwimmwagen, the amphibious all-wheel-drive vehicle that Volkswagen had produced for the German armed forces during World War II. A company called the Quandt Group produced the Amphicars for seven years, from 1961 to1968; in all, they built about 3,900 of the little swimming convertibles.
Amphicars came in four colors--Beach White, Regatta Red, Lagoon Blue, and Fjord Green--and were powered from the rear by a 43-horsepower, four-cylinder Triumph Herald engine. On land, the cars used a four-speed-plus-reverse manual transmission. In the water, they used a transfer case that had two speeds: forward and backward. With the top and windows up, the Amphicar was remarkably seaworthy: Its front wheels acted as rudders and two nylon propellers chugged along in back. The car’s builders called it the “770,” because--in theory, at least--it could go 7 mph in the water and 70 mph on land. To see an Amphicar hit either one of these speeds was rare, however: According to one owner, it was “the fastest car on the water and the fastest boat on the road.”
The four Englishmen left London on the morning of September 16, rolled down the ramp at Dover, and headed for France. About halfway across the Channel, a blocked bilge pump flooded one of the Amphicars; the other towed it the rest of the way to shore. When they arrived at Calais, the four travelers (with the help of the crowd that had gathered to see them) managed to drag the cars over the beach and to the gas station. The next day, they headed off to Frankfurt.
About 3,000 Amphicars were imported into the United States. In fact, Quandt sold such a large proportion of the cars to Americans that in 1968, when the Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Act raised emissions standards to a level that the Amphicar couldn’t meet, the company just stopped building the cars altogether. Amphicar enthusiasts estimate that between 300 and 600 seaworthy vehicles remain on the road today.
September 17, 1986
In 1985, a car that had evolved from a first-class chassis was introduced in the form of the Bentley Turbo R. Superior suspension for road handling, firmer shock absorbers, and crisper steering were meant to entice sporting motorists--just in case the Turbo R's top speeds were not enough. Still, Bentley's turbo-charged model needed nothing but speed on this day, breaking 16 records for speed and endurance at the Millbrook, Bedfordshire, high-speed circuit in England.
Amphicars
Bentley Turbo R
First coast-to-coast tour was completed on this day. At a time when driving across country was akin to climbing Mt. Everest, Lester L. Whitman and Eugene I. Hammond completed their coast-to-coast expedition on this day to national acclaim. Whitman and Hammond's journey, the third trans-U.S. automobile trip in history, contained a small detour, however. The two drivers decided to include a side trip from Windsor to Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, in order to dub their trek "international."
September 17, 1965
On September 17, 1965, four adventurous Englishmen arrive at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany after crossing the English Channel by Amphicar, the world’s only mass-produced amphibious passenger car. Despite choppy waters, stiff winds, and one flooded engine, the two vehicles made it across the water in about seven hours.
The Amphicar’s design, by the German engineer Hans Trippel, derived from the Schwimmwagen, the amphibious all-wheel-drive vehicle that Volkswagen had produced for the German armed forces during World War II. A company called the Quandt Group produced the Amphicars for seven years, from 1961 to1968; in all, they built about 3,900 of the little swimming convertibles.
Amphicars came in four colors--Beach White, Regatta Red, Lagoon Blue, and Fjord Green--and were powered from the rear by a 43-horsepower, four-cylinder Triumph Herald engine. On land, the cars used a four-speed-plus-reverse manual transmission. In the water, they used a transfer case that had two speeds: forward and backward. With the top and windows up, the Amphicar was remarkably seaworthy: Its front wheels acted as rudders and two nylon propellers chugged along in back. The car’s builders called it the “770,” because--in theory, at least--it could go 7 mph in the water and 70 mph on land. To see an Amphicar hit either one of these speeds was rare, however: According to one owner, it was “the fastest car on the water and the fastest boat on the road.”
The four Englishmen left London on the morning of September 16, rolled down the ramp at Dover, and headed for France. About halfway across the Channel, a blocked bilge pump flooded one of the Amphicars; the other towed it the rest of the way to shore. When they arrived at Calais, the four travelers (with the help of the crowd that had gathered to see them) managed to drag the cars over the beach and to the gas station. The next day, they headed off to Frankfurt.
About 3,000 Amphicars were imported into the United States. In fact, Quandt sold such a large proportion of the cars to Americans that in 1968, when the Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Act raised emissions standards to a level that the Amphicar couldn’t meet, the company just stopped building the cars altogether. Amphicar enthusiasts estimate that between 300 and 600 seaworthy vehicles remain on the road today.
September 17, 1986
In 1985, a car that had evolved from a first-class chassis was introduced in the form of the Bentley Turbo R. Superior suspension for road handling, firmer shock absorbers, and crisper steering were meant to entice sporting motorists--just in case the Turbo R's top speeds were not enough. Still, Bentley's turbo-charged model needed nothing but speed on this day, breaking 16 records for speed and endurance at the Millbrook, Bedfordshire, high-speed circuit in England.
Amphicars
Bentley Turbo R
Source:
The History Channel
Wikipedia
The History Channel
Wikipedia
Thread Starter
#261
September 18, 1904
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Glidden completed the first crossing of the Canadian Rockies by automobile on this day, arriving exhausted from their 3,536-mile trip. The couple had driven from Boston, Massachusetts, to Vancouver, Canada, in their 24hp Napier.
September 18, 1955
The Ford Motor Company produced its 2,000,000th V-8 engine on this day, 23 years after the first Ford V-8 was manufactured. The popularity of the V-8 engine began in the late 1940s, when the engines of the time failed to satisfy the industry trend toward increased horsepower, experiencing vibration and size problems at the high pressures that accompany high horsepower. Engineers began developing a stiff, V-shaped configuration to combat the new problems, and the V-8 became the preferred choice for auto manufacturers. Trends began to reverse somewhat during the late 1960s with the advent of smaller cars, and four and six cylinder engines began to gain on the popularity of the V-8.
September 18, 2006
Ford bought rights to Rover name from BMW for approximately £6 million. Ironically no Rover branded cars were produced whilst Ford owned the brand. As part of Ford's agreement to sell their Jaguar & Land Rover operations early this year to Tata Motors, the Rover brand name was included in the deal.
Charles Glidden & his wife Lucy Gidden on their 24hp Napier.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Glidden completed the first crossing of the Canadian Rockies by automobile on this day, arriving exhausted from their 3,536-mile trip. The couple had driven from Boston, Massachusetts, to Vancouver, Canada, in their 24hp Napier.
September 18, 1955
The Ford Motor Company produced its 2,000,000th V-8 engine on this day, 23 years after the first Ford V-8 was manufactured. The popularity of the V-8 engine began in the late 1940s, when the engines of the time failed to satisfy the industry trend toward increased horsepower, experiencing vibration and size problems at the high pressures that accompany high horsepower. Engineers began developing a stiff, V-shaped configuration to combat the new problems, and the V-8 became the preferred choice for auto manufacturers. Trends began to reverse somewhat during the late 1960s with the advent of smaller cars, and four and six cylinder engines began to gain on the popularity of the V-8.
September 18, 2006
Ford bought rights to Rover name from BMW for approximately £6 million. Ironically no Rover branded cars were produced whilst Ford owned the brand. As part of Ford's agreement to sell their Jaguar & Land Rover operations early this year to Tata Motors, the Rover brand name was included in the deal.
Charles Glidden & his wife Lucy Gidden on their 24hp Napier.
Source:
The History Channel
Wikipedia
The History Channel
Wikipedia
Thread Starter
#262
19th September
September 19, 1887
Dr. Graham Edgar, developer of the octane rating system, was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on this day. Although he may not be a household name, evidence of Edgar's work lines every highway in America. His rating system measures a fuel's ability to resist any form of abnormal combustion, in other words, its ability to burn cleanly. Eighty-eight and 90 are the normal ratings for everyday unleaded gasoline, while racing gasoline will often have a rating as high as 115. Almost every gas pump in America sports an octane rating sticker.
September 19, 1919
Wary of the unpopularity of "German-sounding" names after World War I, August Beuck began using the name Buick rather than Beuck for the first time when he christened the new post office in his Colorado hometown. The new name of the General Motors marque seemed assuredly all-American in a time when anti-German feelings dominated the nation. The wave of intolerance had begun with the United States entrance into World War I, resulting in many a Schmidt becoming a Smith. Throughout the country, hundreds of German newspapers and publications were forced to shut down, and German language instruction came to an end in most states.
September 19, 1932
The Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah have been the site of dozens of world speed records, but Ab Jenkins set a new kind of record in Bonneville on this day. Jenkins completed the first 24-hour solo run, driving 2,710 miles nonstop in a single day. His stock Pierce Arrow V-12 averaged 112.94mph.
Ab Jenkins
September 19, 1887
Dr. Graham Edgar, developer of the octane rating system, was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on this day. Although he may not be a household name, evidence of Edgar's work lines every highway in America. His rating system measures a fuel's ability to resist any form of abnormal combustion, in other words, its ability to burn cleanly. Eighty-eight and 90 are the normal ratings for everyday unleaded gasoline, while racing gasoline will often have a rating as high as 115. Almost every gas pump in America sports an octane rating sticker.
September 19, 1919
Wary of the unpopularity of "German-sounding" names after World War I, August Beuck began using the name Buick rather than Beuck for the first time when he christened the new post office in his Colorado hometown. The new name of the General Motors marque seemed assuredly all-American in a time when anti-German feelings dominated the nation. The wave of intolerance had begun with the United States entrance into World War I, resulting in many a Schmidt becoming a Smith. Throughout the country, hundreds of German newspapers and publications were forced to shut down, and German language instruction came to an end in most states.
September 19, 1932
The Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah have been the site of dozens of world speed records, but Ab Jenkins set a new kind of record in Bonneville on this day. Jenkins completed the first 24-hour solo run, driving 2,710 miles nonstop in a single day. His stock Pierce Arrow V-12 averaged 112.94mph.
Ab Jenkins
Source:
The History Channel
Wikipedia
The History Channel
Wikipedia
Last edited:
Thread Starter
#263
September 20, 1945
War production halts. Automotive manufacturers had been at the heart of a seamless war machine during World War II, producing trucks, tanks, and planes at astounding rates. But only after the last shots were fired did auto factories begin to produce cars again, focusing their sights on the booming postwar market. A month after the surrender of Japan, Packard followed the lead of every other company and ceased military production, turning out its last wartime Rolls-Royce Merlin engine on this day.
September 20, 1979
Legendary Lee Iacocca makes a comeback. After being fired from the Ford presidency, he was elected chairman of the failing Chrysler Corporation. Despite dire predictions from his critics, Iacocca succeeded in rebuilding Chrysler through layoffs, cutbacks, hard-selling advertising, and a government loan guarantee. He became the epitome of the "can-do" executive, famous for his strong work ethic and no-nonsense style. During Chrysler's crisis years, Iacocca reduced his salary to $1 per year to set an example for the rest of the company, explaining that everyone must be willing to sacrifice a little in order for Chrysler to survive. By 1983, Chrysler had moved from the verge of bankruptcy to a competitive force in the automobile market, paying back all of its government loans in less than four years. His autobiography Iacocca became a best-seller in 1984, breaking all records for a business book, which accounts all of his such ventures.
September 20, 1960
On this day in 1960, California hot rodder Mickey Thompson takes another shot at the world land-speed record. A few weeks earlier, Thompson had become the first American to travel faster than 400 mph on land when he’d piloted his Challenger I (a car that he designed and built himself) across Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats at 406.6 mph. This drive had made Thompson the fastest man on wheels, but not officially: In order to win a place in the land-speed record books, racers must make a return pass within the hour, and Thompson’s car broke down in the middle of his second run, necessitating a follow-up attempt.
At the time, the world land-speed record was 394 mph, set at Bonneville in 1947 by the British driver John Cobb. On his first run across the flats (403.135 mph), Cobb became the first man to go faster than 400 mph. (His second run only reached 388.019 mph; the record speed was an average of the two.) To set a world speed record, drivers must make two passes over the same measured mile, one out and one back (to account for wind assistance), and beat the previous average by at least 1 percent.
After Thompson’s first pass across the Utah flats on September 9, he refueled the 7,000-pound, 2,000 horsepower Challenger and pushed off for the return trip. As the car gathered speed, however, something went wrong. For years, Thompson told people that something was the driveline: It had snapped, he said, forcing him to stop accelerating and coast back across the desert. In fact, one of the car’s four supercharged engines blew when Thompson shifted into high gear.
On September 20, Thompson tried again. This time, he only managed to coax the Challenger up to about 378 mph on his first run and 368 mph on his second. But it hardly mattered: The Challenger’s speedy trips across the desert won worldwide fame for the car and its driver, and by the time Thompson retired in 1962, he had set more than 100 speed records.
In 1988, two hooded gunmen murdered Thompson and his wife in their driveway and fled the scene on bicycles. Almost 20 years later, one of Thompson’s business acquaintances was convicted of the killings; he is serving two life sentences without parole.
September 20, 1984
Twelve people were killed on this day when a suicide car bomber attacked the U.S. embassy complex in Beirut, Lebanon. Car bombs have started to become the weapon of choice for terrorists from early 80s.. But car bombs has been used as early as 1920s. The car bomb method has sadly proven an effective way of achieving mass destruction, as it is much easier for a terrorist to find a parking space than bypass a building's internal security. From Beirut to Oklahoma City, entire buildings have been destroyed from car bomb blasts, and countless lives have been lost. Among the most noted in recent times were the dual U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, where two car bombs killed 257 people, and reduced several buildings to rubble. Similar setup has been used extensively by insurgents in Iraq.
Mickey Thompson in front of Challenger.
War production halts. Automotive manufacturers had been at the heart of a seamless war machine during World War II, producing trucks, tanks, and planes at astounding rates. But only after the last shots were fired did auto factories begin to produce cars again, focusing their sights on the booming postwar market. A month after the surrender of Japan, Packard followed the lead of every other company and ceased military production, turning out its last wartime Rolls-Royce Merlin engine on this day.
September 20, 1979
Legendary Lee Iacocca makes a comeback. After being fired from the Ford presidency, he was elected chairman of the failing Chrysler Corporation. Despite dire predictions from his critics, Iacocca succeeded in rebuilding Chrysler through layoffs, cutbacks, hard-selling advertising, and a government loan guarantee. He became the epitome of the "can-do" executive, famous for his strong work ethic and no-nonsense style. During Chrysler's crisis years, Iacocca reduced his salary to $1 per year to set an example for the rest of the company, explaining that everyone must be willing to sacrifice a little in order for Chrysler to survive. By 1983, Chrysler had moved from the verge of bankruptcy to a competitive force in the automobile market, paying back all of its government loans in less than four years. His autobiography Iacocca became a best-seller in 1984, breaking all records for a business book, which accounts all of his such ventures.
September 20, 1960
On this day in 1960, California hot rodder Mickey Thompson takes another shot at the world land-speed record. A few weeks earlier, Thompson had become the first American to travel faster than 400 mph on land when he’d piloted his Challenger I (a car that he designed and built himself) across Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats at 406.6 mph. This drive had made Thompson the fastest man on wheels, but not officially: In order to win a place in the land-speed record books, racers must make a return pass within the hour, and Thompson’s car broke down in the middle of his second run, necessitating a follow-up attempt.
At the time, the world land-speed record was 394 mph, set at Bonneville in 1947 by the British driver John Cobb. On his first run across the flats (403.135 mph), Cobb became the first man to go faster than 400 mph. (His second run only reached 388.019 mph; the record speed was an average of the two.) To set a world speed record, drivers must make two passes over the same measured mile, one out and one back (to account for wind assistance), and beat the previous average by at least 1 percent.
After Thompson’s first pass across the Utah flats on September 9, he refueled the 7,000-pound, 2,000 horsepower Challenger and pushed off for the return trip. As the car gathered speed, however, something went wrong. For years, Thompson told people that something was the driveline: It had snapped, he said, forcing him to stop accelerating and coast back across the desert. In fact, one of the car’s four supercharged engines blew when Thompson shifted into high gear.
On September 20, Thompson tried again. This time, he only managed to coax the Challenger up to about 378 mph on his first run and 368 mph on his second. But it hardly mattered: The Challenger’s speedy trips across the desert won worldwide fame for the car and its driver, and by the time Thompson retired in 1962, he had set more than 100 speed records.
In 1988, two hooded gunmen murdered Thompson and his wife in their driveway and fled the scene on bicycles. Almost 20 years later, one of Thompson’s business acquaintances was convicted of the killings; he is serving two life sentences without parole.
September 20, 1984
Twelve people were killed on this day when a suicide car bomber attacked the U.S. embassy complex in Beirut, Lebanon. Car bombs have started to become the weapon of choice for terrorists from early 80s.. But car bombs has been used as early as 1920s. The car bomb method has sadly proven an effective way of achieving mass destruction, as it is much easier for a terrorist to find a parking space than bypass a building's internal security. From Beirut to Oklahoma City, entire buildings have been destroyed from car bomb blasts, and countless lives have been lost. Among the most noted in recent times were the dual U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, where two car bombs killed 257 people, and reduced several buildings to rubble. Similar setup has been used extensively by insurgents in Iraq.
Mickey Thompson in front of Challenger.
Thread Starter
#264
21st September
September 21, 1921
The first Bentley was sold to Noel van Raalte, wealthy and influential playboy racecar driver.
September 21, 1945
Henry Ford II, grandson and namesake of Henry Ford, succeeded his father as president of the Ford Motor Company on this day, inheriting a company that was losing money at the rate of several million dollars a month. After recovering from the shock of his father's unexpected death, Henry Ford II was effectively given a crash course in management, but fortunately for the company, he turned out to have the magic touch. He quickly set about reorganizing and modernizing the Ford Motor Company, firing the powerful Personnel Chief Harry Bennett, whose strong-arm tactics and anti-union stance had made Ford notorious for its bad labor relations. He also brought in new talent, including a group of former U.S. Air Force intelligence officers, among them Robert McNamara, who became known as the "Whiz Kids." During his tenure as president, Henry Ford II nursed the Ford Motor Company back to health, greatly expanding its international operations and introducing two classic models, the Mustang and the Thunderbird.
September 21, 1947
The Grand Prix returns after the World War II. Driving his Talbot-Lago across the finish line in Lyon-Parilly, Louis Chrion emerged victorious at the French Grand Prix of 1947. The race was a continuation of the Grand Prix's long history and France's first major post-World War II race. The event had been suspended for several years during the war, along with almost all other car racing. In a side note, the Albert Lory designed CTA-Arsenal made a disgraceful debut at the Grand Prix that year, and was never raced again.
September 21, 1959
No-name Plymouth produced in Michigan. The first Plymouth Valiant was produced on this day at a plant in Hamtramck, Michigan, although it was not known by that name until 1961. Originally code named "Falcon" after the 1955 Chrysler Falcon, plans for the new model went awry when the Chrysler marketing team found out at the last minute that Ford had already registered the name "Falcon" for its compact car. The news resulted in a wild scramble, for the logo castings had already been made and marketing plans finalized. A company-wide contest was held for a new name, and "Valiant" emerged the winner. However, there was no time to make new logo castings, so the car was simply introduced as the Valiant, featuring only a mylar sticker on the engine for identification. It wasn't until 1961 that the Valiant became the Plymouth Valiant, new logo castings and all.
September 21, 2002
On September 21, 2002, Swedish engineer Nils Bohlin dies after a heart attack. Bohlin spent most of the 1950s developing ejection seats for Saab airplanes, and in 1958, he became the Volvo Car Corporation’s first safety engineer. At Volvo, he designed the first three-point safety belt--a seatbelt with one strap that crossed diagonally across the user’s chest and another that secured his or her hips.
At the time that Bohlin introduced his three-point belt, not many non–racecar-drivers used seatbelts at all. (In fact, they were optional equipment in most cars: buyers had to pay extra if they wanted them.) The belts that were in use consisted of a single lap belt with a buckle that fastened over the stomach. In high-speed crashes, they would keep a person in his or her seat, but the abdominal pressure they caused could result in serious internal injuries. Bohlin’s belt, by contrast, was much safer; it was just as easy to fasten; and it protected both the upper and lower body.
By 1959, the three-point belt was standard equipment in all Swedish Volvos, and by 1963, the company was installing the belts in all of its cars. Volvo even provided Bohlin’s design to other carmakers for free. The design has changed very little in the past 50 years--it was practically perfect just as Bohlin designed it--and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that buckling up with a Bohlin belt reduces a person’s risk of dying in a car crash by almost 50 percent.
On the day that he died, Bohlin was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio.
First generation Plymouth Valiant
September 21, 1921
The first Bentley was sold to Noel van Raalte, wealthy and influential playboy racecar driver.
September 21, 1945
Henry Ford II, grandson and namesake of Henry Ford, succeeded his father as president of the Ford Motor Company on this day, inheriting a company that was losing money at the rate of several million dollars a month. After recovering from the shock of his father's unexpected death, Henry Ford II was effectively given a crash course in management, but fortunately for the company, he turned out to have the magic touch. He quickly set about reorganizing and modernizing the Ford Motor Company, firing the powerful Personnel Chief Harry Bennett, whose strong-arm tactics and anti-union stance had made Ford notorious for its bad labor relations. He also brought in new talent, including a group of former U.S. Air Force intelligence officers, among them Robert McNamara, who became known as the "Whiz Kids." During his tenure as president, Henry Ford II nursed the Ford Motor Company back to health, greatly expanding its international operations and introducing two classic models, the Mustang and the Thunderbird.
September 21, 1947
The Grand Prix returns after the World War II. Driving his Talbot-Lago across the finish line in Lyon-Parilly, Louis Chrion emerged victorious at the French Grand Prix of 1947. The race was a continuation of the Grand Prix's long history and France's first major post-World War II race. The event had been suspended for several years during the war, along with almost all other car racing. In a side note, the Albert Lory designed CTA-Arsenal made a disgraceful debut at the Grand Prix that year, and was never raced again.
September 21, 1959
No-name Plymouth produced in Michigan. The first Plymouth Valiant was produced on this day at a plant in Hamtramck, Michigan, although it was not known by that name until 1961. Originally code named "Falcon" after the 1955 Chrysler Falcon, plans for the new model went awry when the Chrysler marketing team found out at the last minute that Ford had already registered the name "Falcon" for its compact car. The news resulted in a wild scramble, for the logo castings had already been made and marketing plans finalized. A company-wide contest was held for a new name, and "Valiant" emerged the winner. However, there was no time to make new logo castings, so the car was simply introduced as the Valiant, featuring only a mylar sticker on the engine for identification. It wasn't until 1961 that the Valiant became the Plymouth Valiant, new logo castings and all.
September 21, 2002
On September 21, 2002, Swedish engineer Nils Bohlin dies after a heart attack. Bohlin spent most of the 1950s developing ejection seats for Saab airplanes, and in 1958, he became the Volvo Car Corporation’s first safety engineer. At Volvo, he designed the first three-point safety belt--a seatbelt with one strap that crossed diagonally across the user’s chest and another that secured his or her hips.
At the time that Bohlin introduced his three-point belt, not many non–racecar-drivers used seatbelts at all. (In fact, they were optional equipment in most cars: buyers had to pay extra if they wanted them.) The belts that were in use consisted of a single lap belt with a buckle that fastened over the stomach. In high-speed crashes, they would keep a person in his or her seat, but the abdominal pressure they caused could result in serious internal injuries. Bohlin’s belt, by contrast, was much safer; it was just as easy to fasten; and it protected both the upper and lower body.
By 1959, the three-point belt was standard equipment in all Swedish Volvos, and by 1963, the company was installing the belts in all of its cars. Volvo even provided Bohlin’s design to other carmakers for free. The design has changed very little in the past 50 years--it was practically perfect just as Bohlin designed it--and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that buckling up with a Bohlin belt reduces a person’s risk of dying in a car crash by almost 50 percent.
On the day that he died, Bohlin was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio.
First generation Plymouth Valiant
Source:
The History Channel
Wikipedia
The History Channel
Wikipedia
Thread Starter
#265
22nd September
September 22, 1893
America's first automobile was not built by a Henry Ford or Walter Chrysler, but by Charles and Frank Duryea, two bicycle makers. Charles spotted a gasoline engine at the 1886 Ohio State Fair and became convinced that an engine-driven carriage could be built. The two brothers designed and built the car together, working in a rented loft in Springfield, Massachusetts. After two years of tinkering, Charles and Frank Duryea showed off their home invention on the streets of Springfield, the first successful run of an automobile in the U.S.
September 22, 1953
The world's first four-level interchange structure, was opened on this day in L.A. Los Angeles is widely known for its traffic and smog, miles of freeway stretching in every direction. The massive concrete structure connected the freeways of Hollywood, Harbor, Santa Ana, and Arroyo Seco.
September 22, 1989
Chrysler sells interest in Mitsubishi. In a move that sent ripples throughout the automotive world, the Chrysler Corporation sold 50 percent of its interest in the Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. The decision came at a time when most other American automobile manufacturers, including Chrysler's top rivals Ford and General Motors, were eagerly buying up shares of Japanese automobile stock and strengthening ties with Japanese manufacturers. Chrysler claimed that it was taking advantage of a bullish Japanese market at a potential gain of $310 million, but industry pundits speculated that the motive went much deeper. Chrysler's audacious move likely stemmed from disagreements between the two companies over Mitsubishi's U.S. sales and distribution. In many cases, Mitsubishi-made products were being sold under the Chrysler name, often in direct competition with the Mitsubishi marque.
Duryea Brothers
September 22, 1893
America's first automobile was not built by a Henry Ford or Walter Chrysler, but by Charles and Frank Duryea, two bicycle makers. Charles spotted a gasoline engine at the 1886 Ohio State Fair and became convinced that an engine-driven carriage could be built. The two brothers designed and built the car together, working in a rented loft in Springfield, Massachusetts. After two years of tinkering, Charles and Frank Duryea showed off their home invention on the streets of Springfield, the first successful run of an automobile in the U.S.
September 22, 1953
The world's first four-level interchange structure, was opened on this day in L.A. Los Angeles is widely known for its traffic and smog, miles of freeway stretching in every direction. The massive concrete structure connected the freeways of Hollywood, Harbor, Santa Ana, and Arroyo Seco.
September 22, 1989
Chrysler sells interest in Mitsubishi. In a move that sent ripples throughout the automotive world, the Chrysler Corporation sold 50 percent of its interest in the Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. The decision came at a time when most other American automobile manufacturers, including Chrysler's top rivals Ford and General Motors, were eagerly buying up shares of Japanese automobile stock and strengthening ties with Japanese manufacturers. Chrysler claimed that it was taking advantage of a bullish Japanese market at a potential gain of $310 million, but industry pundits speculated that the motive went much deeper. Chrysler's audacious move likely stemmed from disagreements between the two companies over Mitsubishi's U.S. sales and distribution. In many cases, Mitsubishi-made products were being sold under the Chrysler name, often in direct competition with the Mitsubishi marque.
Duryea Brothers
Source:
The History Channel
Wikipedia
The History Channel
Wikipedia
Thread Starter
#266
23rd September
September 23, 1939
A.P. MacArthur pulled across the finish line in Ballinascorney, Ireland, on this day, winning the last Irish hill climb before World War II. Hill-climbing events usually took place on a public road, and they became wildly popular in Great Britain and Ireland during the early days of the automobile. Cars of all shapes and sizes would race up a hill, with drivers gunning their engines and showing off the prowess of their new motor car. Cheered on by a crowd of onlookers, the fastest car up the hill won. World War II brought an end to hill climbs and car racing in general, as manufacturers funneled their efforts into military production. However, hill climbing returned after the war, more popular than ever, most popular being the Pikes Peak event.
September 23, 1969
Tapio Laukkanen, Finnish rally driver was born in Lahti, Southern Finland.
In 1996 he won the Finnish Rally Championship in a Volkswagen Golf GTi and in 1999 he won the British Rally Championship with a Renault Mégane Maxi twinned with fellow Finn, Kaj Lindström.
September 23, 1972
The famous Crystal Palace racing circuit in London, England, was closed by the Greater London Council on this day, ending a 45-year racing tradition. The closing had been announced a few weeks before the beginning of the 1972 season, prompted by noise complaints and safety concerns. During its long history, the Crystal Palace circuit had hosted everything from the first televised auto race to a few demonstration laps by Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Crystal Palace Circuit
September 23, 1939
A.P. MacArthur pulled across the finish line in Ballinascorney, Ireland, on this day, winning the last Irish hill climb before World War II. Hill-climbing events usually took place on a public road, and they became wildly popular in Great Britain and Ireland during the early days of the automobile. Cars of all shapes and sizes would race up a hill, with drivers gunning their engines and showing off the prowess of their new motor car. Cheered on by a crowd of onlookers, the fastest car up the hill won. World War II brought an end to hill climbs and car racing in general, as manufacturers funneled their efforts into military production. However, hill climbing returned after the war, more popular than ever, most popular being the Pikes Peak event.
September 23, 1969
Tapio Laukkanen, Finnish rally driver was born in Lahti, Southern Finland.
In 1996 he won the Finnish Rally Championship in a Volkswagen Golf GTi and in 1999 he won the British Rally Championship with a Renault Mégane Maxi twinned with fellow Finn, Kaj Lindström.
September 23, 1972
The famous Crystal Palace racing circuit in London, England, was closed by the Greater London Council on this day, ending a 45-year racing tradition. The closing had been announced a few weeks before the beginning of the 1972 season, prompted by noise complaints and safety concerns. During its long history, the Crystal Palace circuit had hosted everything from the first televised auto race to a few demonstration laps by Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Crystal Palace Circuit
Source:
The History Channel
Wikipedia
The History Channel
Wikipedia
Thread Starter
#267
September 24, 1908
The first factory-built Ford Model T was completed on this day, just one more step in Ford's affordable revolution. Affectionately known as the "Tin Lizzie," the Model T revolutionized the automotive industry by providing an affordable, reliable car for the average person. Ford was able to keep the price down by retaining control of all raw materials, and by employing revolutionary mass production methods. When it was first introduced, the "Tin Lizzie" cost only $850 and seated two people.
September 24, 1948
The Honda Motor Company, one of the world's leading automobile manufacturers, began as a research institute founded by engineer Honda Soichiro. The institute focused on creating small, efficient internal combustion engines, before it began incorporating these engines into motorcycles under the Honda name. It was on this day that the Honda Technical Research Institute officially became the Honda Motor Company, establishing a corporation that would become the leading producer of motorcycles in the world.
September 24, 1974
General Motors announced that the release of the "Monza," its rotary-engine sports compact, would be postponed due to problems complying with new EPA emissions standards. Environmental concerns had become an increasingly high priority with the American public, and the government had been responding accordingly. Pressures on the automotive industry had been riding high since the 1970 Clean Air Act, rising even higher with the new National Ambient Air Quality Standards of 1971. With both public opinion and the federal government against them, GM had no choice but to delay the new model's release.
The first factory-built Ford Model T was completed on this day, just one more step in Ford's affordable revolution. Affectionately known as the "Tin Lizzie," the Model T revolutionized the automotive industry by providing an affordable, reliable car for the average person. Ford was able to keep the price down by retaining control of all raw materials, and by employing revolutionary mass production methods. When it was first introduced, the "Tin Lizzie" cost only $850 and seated two people.
September 24, 1948
The Honda Motor Company, one of the world's leading automobile manufacturers, began as a research institute founded by engineer Honda Soichiro. The institute focused on creating small, efficient internal combustion engines, before it began incorporating these engines into motorcycles under the Honda name. It was on this day that the Honda Technical Research Institute officially became the Honda Motor Company, establishing a corporation that would become the leading producer of motorcycles in the world.
September 24, 1974
General Motors announced that the release of the "Monza," its rotary-engine sports compact, would be postponed due to problems complying with new EPA emissions standards. Environmental concerns had become an increasingly high priority with the American public, and the government had been responding accordingly. Pressures on the automotive industry had been riding high since the 1970 Clean Air Act, rising even higher with the new National Ambient Air Quality Standards of 1971. With both public opinion and the federal government against them, GM had no choice but to delay the new model's release.
Source:
The History Channel
Wikipedia
The History Channel
Wikipedia
Thread Starter
#268
25th September
September 25, 1926
Henry Ford of the Ford Motor Company announced the 8-hour, 5-day work week.
September 25, 1936
Bill Schindler, a race-car driver, met with misfortune on this day, crashing during a sprint race in Mineola, New York. Three days after the accident, Schindler's left leg had to be amputated. However, this loss did not prevent him from continuing his career.
September 25, 1987
Ray Harroun's place in history was sealed when the U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp featuring the famous racing champion. Called "Racing Car 1911," the stamp depicted Harroun and the Marmon Wasp which he drove to victory in the first Indy 500. Harroun, an engineer, had built the car himself and was the only driver on the Indianapolis track without a riding mechanic. The mechanics usually accompanied the driver in order to warn him of the other cars in the race, but Harroun went the race alone after he rigged up a device that allowed him to see the cars behind him--the first rearview mirror. The race took over six hours to complete, with Harroun coming from 28th place to finish first. He died in 1968 at the age of 89.
September 25, 2004
On September 25, 2004, Chinese officials gather at the brand-new Shanghai International Circuit racetrack in anticipation of the next day's inaugural Formula One Chinese Grand Prix. Though Formula One racing was traditionally a European sport, the builders and boosters of the state-sponsored Shanghai track--part of an elaborate complex called the Shanghai International Auto City--hoped that they could help the sport catch on in Asia. In particular, they hoped their high-tech raceway would draw attention and investment to the fledgling Chinese auto industry.
Formula One racing, in which drivers race around specially-designed circuits built to resemble twisting, irregular city streets is the offspring of European Grand Prix motor racing, an almost century-old sport in which drivers would zip from one town to the next on public roads. As the Grand Prix contests grew more popular, they grew more dangerous--to racers, spectators, and especially the ordinary drivers who happened to be on the roads during a race. Soon, race organizers decided to close the roads on the day of their events and to establish and enforce a set of official rules. In 1947, Grand Prix officials created the Federation Internationale de L'Automobile, which became the central governing authority of the championship races; its set of rules was known as the Formula One. Today, there are seventeen Formula One races every year, and they take place everywhere from Spain, Monaco, Belgium and Italy to Australia, Malaysia, Brazil, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and, of course, China.
Shanghai's International Circuit raceway was designed to help China cash in on the skyrocketing international popularity of Formula One competitions. It is 3.3 miles long, with two long straightaways and 16 corners. It cost $300 million in public money--about $100 million per mile of track--and can seat 200,000 spectators. The day after the raceway opened, some 150,000 people filled the stands as the Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello won its inaugural race.
Bill Schindler
Ray Harroun
Ray Harroun postal stamp
September 25, 1926
Henry Ford of the Ford Motor Company announced the 8-hour, 5-day work week.
September 25, 1936
Bill Schindler, a race-car driver, met with misfortune on this day, crashing during a sprint race in Mineola, New York. Three days after the accident, Schindler's left leg had to be amputated. However, this loss did not prevent him from continuing his career.
September 25, 1987
Ray Harroun's place in history was sealed when the U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp featuring the famous racing champion. Called "Racing Car 1911," the stamp depicted Harroun and the Marmon Wasp which he drove to victory in the first Indy 500. Harroun, an engineer, had built the car himself and was the only driver on the Indianapolis track without a riding mechanic. The mechanics usually accompanied the driver in order to warn him of the other cars in the race, but Harroun went the race alone after he rigged up a device that allowed him to see the cars behind him--the first rearview mirror. The race took over six hours to complete, with Harroun coming from 28th place to finish first. He died in 1968 at the age of 89.
September 25, 2004
On September 25, 2004, Chinese officials gather at the brand-new Shanghai International Circuit racetrack in anticipation of the next day's inaugural Formula One Chinese Grand Prix. Though Formula One racing was traditionally a European sport, the builders and boosters of the state-sponsored Shanghai track--part of an elaborate complex called the Shanghai International Auto City--hoped that they could help the sport catch on in Asia. In particular, they hoped their high-tech raceway would draw attention and investment to the fledgling Chinese auto industry.
Formula One racing, in which drivers race around specially-designed circuits built to resemble twisting, irregular city streets is the offspring of European Grand Prix motor racing, an almost century-old sport in which drivers would zip from one town to the next on public roads. As the Grand Prix contests grew more popular, they grew more dangerous--to racers, spectators, and especially the ordinary drivers who happened to be on the roads during a race. Soon, race organizers decided to close the roads on the day of their events and to establish and enforce a set of official rules. In 1947, Grand Prix officials created the Federation Internationale de L'Automobile, which became the central governing authority of the championship races; its set of rules was known as the Formula One. Today, there are seventeen Formula One races every year, and they take place everywhere from Spain, Monaco, Belgium and Italy to Australia, Malaysia, Brazil, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and, of course, China.
Shanghai's International Circuit raceway was designed to help China cash in on the skyrocketing international popularity of Formula One competitions. It is 3.3 miles long, with two long straightaways and 16 corners. It cost $300 million in public money--about $100 million per mile of track--and can seat 200,000 spectators. The day after the raceway opened, some 150,000 people filled the stands as the Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello won its inaugural race.
Bill Schindler
Ray Harroun
Ray Harroun postal stamp
Source:
The History Channel
Wikipedia
The History Channel
Wikipedia
Thread Starter
#269
September 26, 1910
William C. Durant, carriage maker and entrepreneur, was the original patriarch of the corporate behemoth General Motors. But financial difficulties cost him control of the company on this day. Determined to regain control of his brainchild, Durant joined forces with Louis Chevrolet to establish the Chevrolet Motor Company. Five years later, Durant and Chevrolet acquired control of GM and extended the massive umbrella of the General Motors Corporation, with Durant serving as president. Yet, he would go on to lose control of GM yet again in 1920, this time permanently.
September 26, 1910
On this day in 1928, work begins at Chicago’s new Galvin Manufacturing Corporation. The company had officially incorporated the day before. In 1930, Galvin would introduce the Motorola radio, the first mass-produced commercial car radio. The name had two parts: “motor” evoked cars and motion, while “ola” derived from “Victrola” and was supposed to make people think of music.
In 1921, engineer Paul Galvin and his friend Edward Stewart started a storage-battery factory in Marshfield, Wisconsin; it went out of business two years later. In 1926, Galvin and Stewart re-started their battery-manufacturing company, this time in Chicago. That one went out of business too, but not before the partners figured out a way for home radios to draw power from an electrical wall outlet; they called it the dry-battery eliminator. Galvin bought back the eliminator part of his bankrupt company at auction for $750 and went right back into business, building and repairing eliminators and AC radio sets for customers like Sears, Roebuck.
Soon, however, Galvin’s attention turned to the car-radio business. The first car radios--portable “travel radios” powered by batteries, followed by custom-installed built-in radios that cost $250 apiece (about $2,800 in today’s dollars)--had appeared in 1926, but they were way too expensive for the average driver. If he could find a way to mass-produce affordable car radios, Galvin thought, he’d be rich. In June 1930, he enlisted inventors Elmer Wavering and William Lear to retrofit his old Studebaker with a radio and drove 800 miles to the Radio Manufacturers Association’s annual meeting in Atlantic City. He parked outside the convention, turned up the music (for this purpose, Wavering had installed a special speaker under the Studebaker’s hood), and waited for the RMAers’ orders to come rolling in.
A few did, and Galvin sold enough of his $110 5T71 car radios to come close to breaking even for the year. He changed his company’s name to Motorola and changed the way we drive--and ride in--cars forever.
For his part, William Lear went on to invent the eight-track cartridge-tape system, which came standard in every Ford car starting in 1966. Meanwhile, carmakers developed their own radio-manufacturing divisions, gradually squeezing Motorola out of the market it had built. The company stopped making car radios in 1984. Today, it’s best known for making cellular phones.
September 26, 1982
The first episode of the television show Knight Rider aired on this day, starring David Hasselhoff as private eye Michael Knight. However, the real star of the show was "KITT," his talking car. KITT, a modified Pontiac Firebird, complete with artificial intelligence and glowing red lights, assisted Michael in his detective work. During the show's four years, KITT attracted a loyal fan following, and a few episodes even featured "KARR," KITT's look-alike nemesis.
William C. Durant, carriage maker and entrepreneur, was the original patriarch of the corporate behemoth General Motors. But financial difficulties cost him control of the company on this day. Determined to regain control of his brainchild, Durant joined forces with Louis Chevrolet to establish the Chevrolet Motor Company. Five years later, Durant and Chevrolet acquired control of GM and extended the massive umbrella of the General Motors Corporation, with Durant serving as president. Yet, he would go on to lose control of GM yet again in 1920, this time permanently.
September 26, 1910
On this day in 1928, work begins at Chicago’s new Galvin Manufacturing Corporation. The company had officially incorporated the day before. In 1930, Galvin would introduce the Motorola radio, the first mass-produced commercial car radio. The name had two parts: “motor” evoked cars and motion, while “ola” derived from “Victrola” and was supposed to make people think of music.
In 1921, engineer Paul Galvin and his friend Edward Stewart started a storage-battery factory in Marshfield, Wisconsin; it went out of business two years later. In 1926, Galvin and Stewart re-started their battery-manufacturing company, this time in Chicago. That one went out of business too, but not before the partners figured out a way for home radios to draw power from an electrical wall outlet; they called it the dry-battery eliminator. Galvin bought back the eliminator part of his bankrupt company at auction for $750 and went right back into business, building and repairing eliminators and AC radio sets for customers like Sears, Roebuck.
Soon, however, Galvin’s attention turned to the car-radio business. The first car radios--portable “travel radios” powered by batteries, followed by custom-installed built-in radios that cost $250 apiece (about $2,800 in today’s dollars)--had appeared in 1926, but they were way too expensive for the average driver. If he could find a way to mass-produce affordable car radios, Galvin thought, he’d be rich. In June 1930, he enlisted inventors Elmer Wavering and William Lear to retrofit his old Studebaker with a radio and drove 800 miles to the Radio Manufacturers Association’s annual meeting in Atlantic City. He parked outside the convention, turned up the music (for this purpose, Wavering had installed a special speaker under the Studebaker’s hood), and waited for the RMAers’ orders to come rolling in.
A few did, and Galvin sold enough of his $110 5T71 car radios to come close to breaking even for the year. He changed his company’s name to Motorola and changed the way we drive--and ride in--cars forever.
For his part, William Lear went on to invent the eight-track cartridge-tape system, which came standard in every Ford car starting in 1966. Meanwhile, carmakers developed their own radio-manufacturing divisions, gradually squeezing Motorola out of the market it had built. The company stopped making car radios in 1984. Today, it’s best known for making cellular phones.
September 26, 1982
The first episode of the television show Knight Rider aired on this day, starring David Hasselhoff as private eye Michael Knight. However, the real star of the show was "KITT," his talking car. KITT, a modified Pontiac Firebird, complete with artificial intelligence and glowing red lights, assisted Michael in his detective work. During the show's four years, KITT attracted a loyal fan following, and a few episodes even featured "KARR," KITT's look-alike nemesis.
Source:
The History Channel
Wikipedia
The History Channel
Wikipedia
Thread Starter
#270
September 27, 1925
Construction on the infamous Nurburgring racing circuit, often referred to as a "green hell," began today. The 12.9 mile course through the Eifel forests was considered the most dangerous segment of road on the planet, curving around 73 corners and covering a rise and fall of almost a 1,000 feet. The circuit held a strange spell over many drivers, beckoning the brave to test their skill. The "green hell" proved lethal to many, and was once rumored to average 20 accidents a day. Racing events are no longer officially held on the circuit, but the course is often used by auto manufacturers to test new models.
September 27, 1928
The first cornerstone of the Henry Ford Museum was laid today, the first step in establishing one of the most extensive collections of automotive history in the world. Although the museum is named after Henry Ford, its collection extends well beyond the Ford Motor Company. Its holdings include product literature, advertising and promotional materials, thousands of books, and almost 300 cars. The museum also hosts exhibits on everything from agriculture to industry and is located in Dearborn, Michigan.
September 27, 1990
Renault and Volvo signed an agreement of industrial cooperation on this day, outlining plans for an eventual merger. The merger plans were abandoned three years later, leaving a lot of unanswered questions and speculations. Many industry experts suspect that Volvo backed out of the deal due to their lingering suspicion of the French government. Renault, a state-owned company, was slated for privatization, but critics found the plans too vague and saw the French government as susceptible to pressure from its workers. Economic pundits pointed to Europe's recession and double-digit unemployment. Some merely felt that Volvo, a symbol of Sweden's industrial prowess, was being bargained away too cheaply.
Nürburgring circuit map
Construction on the infamous Nurburgring racing circuit, often referred to as a "green hell," began today. The 12.9 mile course through the Eifel forests was considered the most dangerous segment of road on the planet, curving around 73 corners and covering a rise and fall of almost a 1,000 feet. The circuit held a strange spell over many drivers, beckoning the brave to test their skill. The "green hell" proved lethal to many, and was once rumored to average 20 accidents a day. Racing events are no longer officially held on the circuit, but the course is often used by auto manufacturers to test new models.
September 27, 1928
The first cornerstone of the Henry Ford Museum was laid today, the first step in establishing one of the most extensive collections of automotive history in the world. Although the museum is named after Henry Ford, its collection extends well beyond the Ford Motor Company. Its holdings include product literature, advertising and promotional materials, thousands of books, and almost 300 cars. The museum also hosts exhibits on everything from agriculture to industry and is located in Dearborn, Michigan.
September 27, 1990
Renault and Volvo signed an agreement of industrial cooperation on this day, outlining plans for an eventual merger. The merger plans were abandoned three years later, leaving a lot of unanswered questions and speculations. Many industry experts suspect that Volvo backed out of the deal due to their lingering suspicion of the French government. Renault, a state-owned company, was slated for privatization, but critics found the plans too vague and saw the French government as susceptible to pressure from its workers. Economic pundits pointed to Europe's recession and double-digit unemployment. Some merely felt that Volvo, a symbol of Sweden's industrial prowess, was being bargained away too cheaply.
Nürburgring circuit map
Source:
The History Channel
Wikipedia
The History Channel
Wikipedia