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Fred Luther and one of the world's first (if not the first) automobile powered motorcycles

21-Jun-23 historicracing.com

Fred Luther was a pioneering motorcycle rider who had been competing since 1915. By 1934 his life must have become somewhat mundane as he came up with the idea of building a motorcycle to break the Land Speed Record....continue reading

LEGENDS SERIES

Grover Bergdoll

08-Jul-23 historicracing.com

Grover Cleveland Bergdoll was a wealthy early aviator, racing driver and notorious World War I draft dodger who fled to Germany to avoid service....continue reading
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The Donington Grand Prix in 1937

21-Apr-23 historicracing.com

The Donington Grand Prix in 1937. The first chance the British public had to see the Mercedes and Auto Union cars racing and, what a spectacle it proved to be! Though the reputation of the machines preceded them, no-one was prepared for that first lap. ...continue reading

Valdir Fauirin twin engined special

19-Apr-23 historicracing.com

Now then! The history of motoring has seen any number of twin-engined adventures, usually to nobody’s worthwhile benefit. But this wonderful little, Brazilian, home-build race car from 1971, was a bit special. Even for that sphere of novelty....continue reading

Behold the GAZ-TP

17-Apr-23 historicracing.com

Built in 1954, under official approval from the Supreme Presidium of the Soviet Socialist Republic, it’s claimed to have been the world’s first car ever jet-driven land vehicle, loaded, as it was, with the motivational extracts of a MIG-17....continue reading

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Events on June 11st


Interesting and notable events from the history of motor sport.

1895

The first rganized long-distance automobile race was held on June 1114, 1895, on a round-trip course between Paris and Bordeaux, France, a distance of 732 miles (1178 kilometers).

1955

Dissaster occurred during the Le Mans 24 Hour race when the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR of Pierre Levegh flew into a crowd of spectators leaving Levegh and 82 spectator dead.

Levegh was following Mike Hawthorn's leading Jaguar D-type along the pit straight at the end of Lap 35. Hawthorn had just passed Lance Macklin's slower Austin-Healey 100 when Hawthorn began slowing to make a pit stop. Hawthorn, whose Jaguar had disc brakes, slowed much more quickly than other competitors using drum brakes. Macklin's Austin-Healey swerved into the path of both Pierre Levegh and Juan Manuel Fangio.

Levegh did not have time to react and was launced off the Healey, became airborne and hit an earth mound by the side of the track. It was then launched into a series of somersaults with parts of the car flying off.

The engine block broke free and shot into the spectators. Levegh was thrown out and perished.

The fuel tanks ruptured and the ensuing fire ignited the magnesium bodywork which exploded into white hot flames.

Attempts to put the fire out only exaserbated the situation and the car burned for several hours. In total, 82 spectators were killed either by flying parts or from the fire.

Fangio, driving behind Levegh, narrowly escaped the heavily damaged Austin-Healey which was now skidding to the right of the track, in his path. Macklin then hit the pit wall and bounced back to the left, crossing the track again. He impacted the barrier near the location of the now burning 300 SLR, leading to the death of another single spectator, although Macklin survived the incident.

1995

Jean Alesi won his first and only Formula One Grand Prix in Canada on his 31st Birthday.

LOST THIS YEAR

Basil van Rooyen

19/4/1939 - 14/9/2023

Ken McAlpine

21/9/1920 - 8/4/2023

Craig Breedlove

23/3/1937 - 4/4/2023

Slim Borgudd

25/11/1946 - 23/2/2023

Jean-Pierre Jabouille

1/10/1942 - 2/2/2023

Ken Block

21/11/1967 - 2/1/2023

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