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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

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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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A list of the drivers born on this day. Note this is not a compete list, if you know of any driver who should be added, please contact us by clicking here. Thank you.



Events on May 13rd


Interesting and notable events from the history of motor sport.

1950

The first ever grand prix to count towards the World Championship took place.

May 13, 1950, was surely one of the most auspicious days in motor racing history. On that day the Formula One World Championship was born when 21 cars took part in the British Grand Prix, grandly named Grand Prix dEurope for the first event to count towards the new series. And a Royal occasion it was, too, as the drivers lined up to meet King George VI and Queen Elizabeth before the start. After World War II, motor racing had begun as early as September 1945 (this was already the third British Grand Prix) but now Silverstone, Monaco, Bremgarten in Switzerland, Spa-Francorchamps, France (in champagne capital Rheims) and Monza would stage World Championship events. The fabled Indianapolis 500 would also count towards the series, but the Europeans didnt go there and the Americans didnt travel to race in Europe either. It was the wonderful era of the Three Fs: Farina and Fagioli of Italy, Fangio of Argentina, all driving for Alfa-Romeo. For that great Silverstone day they invited local favourite Reg Parnell to be a guest driver too. All four Alfas duly filled the front row, with Farina on pole in a time of 1 minute 50.8 seconds. Some 70 laps later the Italian Doctor of Laws was also the first race-winner in World Championship history. Fangio had made a rare mistake, clipping a straw bale (yes, they were used as trackside markers!) and retiring after 62 laps, but Farina, Fagioli and Parnell made it an all-Alfa 1-2-3 and Farina claimed fastest lap to boot. While Fangio and Farina both won three races that year, Farina it was who claimed the first Drivers World Championship in early September.

1950

The first Official World Championship Formula One Grand Prix ever was held at Silverstone in England.

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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