Events on November 12nd
Interesting and notable events from the history of motor sport.
1894
A meeting was held at the home of Count Jules de Dion, out of which was born, the Auto Club de France.
1910
American Grand Prix. Won by David Bruce-Brown in a Benz.
Driving a Benz, American David Bruce-Brown won the second American Grand Prize race. It was the closest Grand Prix finish up to that time as Bruce-Brown defeated fellow Benz driver Victor Hemery by 1.42 seconds and in doing so, became the first American to win an international Grand Prix.
1965
"Goldenrod", an LSR car, powered by four Chrysler Hemi engines, averaged 409 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats for a new wheel-driven World Land Speed Record.
1967
Grand Prix of Spain (non-championship), Jarama, Spain.. Won by Jim Clark in a Lotus-Ford.
Jim Clark won the non-championship Formula One 'Grand Prix of Spain' on the new 2.11 mile Jarama circuit. Clark took his Lotus-Ford across the finish line 25.2 seconds ahead of his teammate Graham Hill. Jack Brabham was another 45 seconds back in 3rd. As was the custom of the time, the race was used as a run through in preparation for the awarding of a full fledged championship GP the next season.
1967
Can-Am Race, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Won by John Surtees.
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA...When Mark Donohue's Lola ran out of fuel less than 2 turns from the finish, John Surtees swept by and went on to win the season closing SCCA Can-Am Sports Car race. It was the second straight year that Surtees had won the season closing event on the 3 mile Stardust International Raceway.
1995
Australian Grand Prix, Adelaide. Won by Damon Hill in a Williams.
Adelaide, Damon Hill won the Australian Grand Prix by two complete laps over the opposition. That has only been achieved once before in the history of the Formula 1 World Championship, at the 1969 Spanish Grand Prix when Jackie Stewart took his Matra to a two lap victory over Bruce McLaren at Montjuich Park in Barcelona. Damon had answered his critics in the best possible way.