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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 May 26th


Interesting and notable events from the history of motor sport.

1911

1st Indianapolis 500 auto race is run

1955

Just four days after surviving his unscheduled trip into the harbour during the Monaco Grand Prix, Alberto Ascari was killed testing at Monza.

Just four days after surviving his unscheduled trip into the harbour during the Monaco Grand Prix, Alberto Ascari travelled to Monza to watch his friend Eugenio Castellotti test a Ferrari 750 Monza that he was due to race together in the upcoming 1000Km race there. Not content with watching Ascari decided to have a go but not having planned to drive he did not have his luck blue helmet with him. Thus he borrowed Castellotti's. On his third lap the car, for no apparent reason, slid on exiting the Curva del Vialone, turned on its nose and somersaulted twice. Ascari suffered multiple injuries when he was thrown from the car. He died almost imediately.The corner was renamed in his honour, and when it was replaced with a chicane it was named Variante Ascari. There were a number of strange coincidences between his death and that of his father Antonio Ascari. Both died on the 26th of the month, both were 36 years old, drove car number 26 and had both won 13 Grand Prix. Both died four days after surviving previous accidents and both left a wife and two children

1963

Graham Hill took the first of five Monaco GP wins on a works BRM P57 from teammate Richie Ginther's BRM P57 and defending winner Bruce McLaren in a Cooper/Climax 66.

1997

Lola Cars went into administration after 39 years of building racing cars. Their demise was largely brought about by their failed F1 ambitions. Their F1 team only competed in two events, the Australian and Brazilian Grand Prix that year, failing to qualify for either.

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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